What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is Declassified. Today, we examine a Central Intelligence Agency record from October fifth, nineteen-fifty, detailing estimated Chinese Communist Air Strength. This document provides a snapshot of U.S. intelligence assessments during a critical period of the Korean War. You can find this declassified record at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document, identified as CI Zero Zero Five Zero Six, was part of a larger collection of U.S. intelligence on China released to the public. It provides insight into the information available to U.S. intelligence agencies concerning Chinese military capabilities at the time. The document's declassification authority is not specified on the archival entry, but it is publicly available. The document reads: Memorandum for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration. Subject: Estimated Chinese Communist Air Strength. The following is predicated upon U.S.A.F. Estimate dated September fifteenth, nineteen-fifty. One. Chinese Communist Air Force strength is estimated to total two-hundred-twenty combat type aircraft, one-hundred-twenty fighters, forty ground attack planes, forty light bombers, and twenty transports, and ten-thousand to fifteen-thousand personnel, including four-hundred pilots. For estimated dispositions of aircraft strength see Enclosure. Two. Soviet air Activity in China. No operational air units of the U.S.S.R. are carried in China in the U.S.A.F. estimate. It is believed, however, that there are thirty-six jet fighters, believed to be M-I-G-fifteen type, based in the Shanghai area. It is considered probable that they are manned by Soviet pilots and are based in China for non-combatant purposes. The exact relationship between these jet aircraft and the Chinese Communist Air Force has not been established. Note: The following was not included in the U.S.A.F. estimate of September fifteenth, nineteen-fifty, cited above, but represents the current U.S.A.F. estimate. The Soviets maintain in China a staff of advisers and technicians estimated to total upward of one-thousand-eight-hundred. This staff is engaged in numerous activities such as training the Chinese Communist Air Force, technical assistance and advice in aircraft maintenance, airfield construction, operation, and maintenance, et cetera, and assistance to Chinese Communists in the creation of an indigenous Air Force. The enclosed table, titled "Estimated Disposition of Aircraft Strength," lists: For Peiping Area: eighty L-A-nine type fighters, forty L-I-two type transports, twenty T-U-two type light bombers. For Shanghai-Hsuchou-Tsingtao Area: eighty L-A-nine type fighters, twenty L-A-eleven type fighters, ten L-I-two type transports, twenty T-U-two type light bombers. For Canton Area: one-hundred I-L-ten type ground attack aircraft. The total aircraft number is two-hundred-twenty. In addition to the foregoing are some one-hundred to two-hundred obsolete Japanese fighters, light bombers and trainers being utilized in China and Manchuria…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

Case File · ARCHIVE-008Declassified

Filed NOV 2 · 2026Runtime 1 min

Today, We Examine A Central Intelligence Agency Record From October Fifth

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated November 2, 2026

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This is Declassified. Today, we examine a Central Intelligence Agency record from October fifth, nineteen-fifty, detailing estimated Chinese Communist Air Strength. S. intelligence assessments during a critical period of the Korean War. com. S. intelligence on China released to the public.

Date: NOV 2 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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This is Declassified. Today, we examine a Central Intelligence Agency record from October fifth, nineteen-fifty, detailing estimated Chinese Communist Air Strength. This document provides a snapshot of U.S. intelligence assessments during a critical period of the Korean War. You can find this…

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What was Today, We Examine A Central Intelligence Agency Record From October Fifth about?: This is Declassified. Today, we examine a Central Intelligence Agency record from October fifth, nineteen-fifty, detailing estimated Chinese Communist Air Strength. S. intelligence assessments during a critical period of the Korean War. com. S. intelligence on China released to the public.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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