What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is a declassified government record regarding reconnaissance restrictions along the coast of China, dated December fifth, nineteen-fifty-one. It offers a detailed look into the U.S. military's internal discussions concerning intelligence gathering during the Korean War era. This document is available through the Black Vault archive at documents two dot the black vault dot com. This two-page memorandum for record was released under the Freedom of Information Act. It was declassified by an unspecified authority on an unknown date, reflecting standard procedures for records of this nature once their sensitive information is deemed safe for public release. The document, titled "Memorandum for Record: Reconnaissance Restrictions, China Coast," details an internal communication from the G-Two section to the Chief of Staff, through G-Three and the Joint Strategic Plans and Operations Group, recommending approval of a proposed message to the Joint Chiefs of Staff regarding reconnaissance along the China coast. It cites several references including Joint Chiefs of Staff document one thousand two hundred fifty-nine, slash twenty-seven, "The Unified Command Plan," and Joint Chiefs of Staff document one thousand seven hundred seventy-six, slash two hundred thirty-four, which assigns missions to Commander in Chief, Far East, and Commander in Chief, United Nations Command. The memo notes that Commander in Chief, Far East, Commander in Chief, Alaskan Command, and Commander in Chief, Pacific, agreed on areas of responsibility for reconnaissance, effective May first, nineteen-fifty-one. It then outlines specific restrictions: "Paragraph eleven, Appendix A. Aerial reconnaissance over all Korean territory, including coastal waters, is authorized up to the Yalu River on the west coast but short of the Korean-Soviet international boundary on the east coast." "Paragraph five, Appendix B. You are authorized to conduct aerial reconnaissance over the coastal area of China to determine the imminence of attack upon Formosa, but such reconnaissance will be limited to areas south of the thirty-second parallel and north of Hong Kong." "Paragraph thirteen, Appendix B. Without the approval of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and except as specified in paragraph five herein, air and surface patrols will not operate within twelve miles to seaward of [four lines redacted under exemption B one] the U-S-S-R or U-S-S-R-held territory." The G-Two section points out that these references make no mention of portions of the China coast from the Manchuria-China border south to the thirty-second parallel, and from Hong Kong to Pulo Obi lighthouse, located at eight degrees fifty-five minutes North, one hundred four degrees fifty minutes East. The Theater Strategic Reconnaissance Plan restricts aircraft flight over water areas within a three-mile limit of China or Chinese Communist-held territory north of the thirty-second parallel, citing common acceptance of this limit as comprising…

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.

Government Record Regarding Reconnaissance Restrictions Along The Coast

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is a declassified government record regarding reconnaissance restrictions along the coast of China, dated December fifth, nineteen-fifty-one. S. military's internal discussions concerning intelligence gathering during the Korean War era. This document is available through the Black Vault archive at documents two dot the black vault dot com.

Date: OCT 16 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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This is a declassified government record regarding reconnaissance restrictions along the coast of China, dated December fifth, nineteen-fifty-one. It offers a detailed look into the U.S. military's internal discussions concerning intelligence gathering during the Korean War era. This document is…

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Questions about this case

What was Government Record Regarding Reconnaissance Restrictions Along The Coast about?: This is a declassified government record regarding reconnaissance restrictions along the coast of China, dated December fifth, nineteen-fifty-one. S. military's internal discussions concerning intelligence gathering during the Korean War era. This document is available through the Black Vault archive at documents two dot the black vault dot com.
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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Government Record Regarding Reconnaissance Restrictions Along The Coast

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