What did the declassified documents reveal?

Declassified. Today, from vault.fbi.gov, we bring you a declassified F-B-I document, "Chinese Air Capability," a Top Secret memorandum dated June nineteenth, nineteen fifty-one, detailing U.S. intelligence on China's air force during the Korean War. This seven-page document was originally released by the Central Intelligence Agency and made available to the public through the F-B-I's electronic reading room. The document begins: "MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. From the air point of view, the most significant fact about the Korean situation is the continued build-up of the Chinese Air Force, and the probability that the C.A.F. will soon attack the U.N. air, sea and land forces. The latest figures I had before going to Korea were that the C.A.F. had been built up from its original two hundred planes level of about a year ago, to a total of eight hundred fifty-six planes as of two May nineteen fifty-one, of which about three hundred were jets. All of this increase is from Russian sources. In Tokyo, I learned that this figure of eight hundred fifty-six had been increased by one hundred fifty additional planes as delivered by Russia during the course of about a month, of which one hundred were M.I.G.s, making a total C.A.F. of one thousand planes, of which six hundred are jets. This information is rated as very reliable by U.S.A.F. Intelligence. This contrasts with United Nations combat and reconnaissance forces as follows: U.S.A.F.: Piston Medium Bombers: zero Piston Light Bombers: thirty-nine Piston Fighters: eighty-two Piston Reconnaissance: fifteen Total U.S.A.F. Piston: one hundred thirty-six Jet Fighters: three hundred seventy-eight Jet Reconnaissance: zero Total U.S.A.F. Jet: three hundred seventy-eight U.S. Navy: Piston Fighters/Reconnaissance: two hundred ninety-two Jet Fighters/Reconnaissance: fifty U.S. Marines: Piston Fighters/Reconnaissance: one hundred fourteen Jet Fighters/Reconnaissance: eighty-four British: Piston Squadron: not in Korea Jet Squadron: (approx) seventy-five Total Allied Aircraft: six hundred fifty-three Grand Total: one thousand three hundred fifty-six. The R.A.A.F. squadron is at present in the process of converting from Mustang (P-fifty-one) aircraft to Meteors in Japan. Note: there are in addition some transport aircraft operated by the U.S., Greece, Belgium, Canada, and Thailand. It thus appears that if the rate of build-up of the C.A.F. by the Russians of one hundred fifty a month is continued, the C.A.F. will be numerically equal to the U.N. Air Forces in three to four months, and will contain about the same proportion of jet planes. From that time on, the ability of the C.A.F. to attack successfully will depend only on the training program currently being carried on by the Russians and on the logistical support the C.A.F. is able to master. Our information about the training program is not as definite as that about the size of the C.A.F. It is, however, clear that the training program is being actively…

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.

CIA Today, From Vault.fbi.gov, We Bring You A Declassified F B I Document, "chinese

◆ BLUF — The short version

Declassified. S. intelligence on China's air force during the Korean War. This seven-page document was originally released by the Central Intelligence Agency and made available to the public through the F-B-I's electronic reading room. The document begins: "MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.

Date: OCT 19 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Declassified. Today, from vault.fbi.gov, we bring you a declassified F-B-I document, "Chinese Air Capability," a Top Secret memorandum dated June nineteenth, nineteen fifty-one, detailing U.S. intelligence on China's air force during the Korean War. This seven-page document was originally released…

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Questions about this case

What was CIA Today, From Vault.fbi.gov, We Bring You A Declassified F B I Document, "chinese about?: Declassified. S. intelligence on China's air force during the Korean War. This seven-page document was originally released by the Central Intelligence Agency and made available to the public through the F-B-I's electronic reading room. The document begins: "MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.
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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CIA Today, From Vault.fbi.gov, We Bring You A Declassified F B I Document, "chinese

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