What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record titled “Intelligence Summary – Annex A to Operation Plan FEAF No. 6‑52,” dated June sixth, nineteen fifty‑two. The document is notable because it provides a contemporaneous assessment of Chinese Communist air strength and its potential threat to Formosa during the early Cold War. The material was made publicly available through The Black Vault archive. The digitized text was released as part of a broader declassification effort by the Central Intelligence Agency, with the release posted on the archive’s website at the URL https://archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI00912/CI00912djvu.txt. Now, the document itself. “May twentieth, nineteen fifty‑two, Annex A, Operation Plan FEAF No. 6‑52, Part I – Intelligence Summary A. Summary of the Situation: The Chinese Communists have repeatedly declared publicly their intention to capture both Formosa and the Pescadores. Although available information continues to indicate the possibility of a Communist attack, there is still no firm evidence of an operations timetable. Recently there has been no discernable trend of movement of Chinese Communist armies to South China. At present there are nineteen Chinese Communist Armies, approximately six hundred twenty‑three thousand troops, in South and Central China. Opposing this threat stand the United States Seventh Fleet and twelve Chinese Nationalist Armies, approximately four hundred thirty‑six thousand troops. It is estimated that the Chinese Central Air Force has a total of one thousand eight hundred thirty aircraft, of which two hundred twenty are jet fighters, ninety are piston fighters, forty‑five are ground‑attack aircraft, and seventy are light bombers, believed to be in the East Military District and the South and Central Military Districts. If required, a substantial portion of the CCAF currently stationed in Manchuria could be brought to South China to support an attack on Formosa. Area of Operations: The area covered by this plan is that portion of Communist‑dominated territory east of approximately one hundred twelve degrees longitude, commonly known as South China, and the Formosa Straits, between the island of Formosa and the Chinese mainland. The Straits are currently under surveillance by the United States Seventh Fleet. Of primary concern is that portion of South China from which the Communists might stage air attacks against Formosa and the Pescadores. This area would lie approximately between the thirty‑third and twenty‑first parallels of north latitude. The Communist air forces would in all probability utilize the airfields within this geographical area because of the range limitations of their present aircraft, with jet fighters being based from coastal airfields. Estimate of Enemy Situation: Conclusion 1 – The Chinese Communist Air Force possesses superiority in numbers of combat aircraft. Reports indicate that since the start of nineteen fifty‑one a considerable number of…

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 Intelligence Summary – Annex A To Operation Plan Feaf No. 6‑52

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record titled “Intelligence Summary – Annex A to Operation Plan FEAF No. 6‑52,” dated June sixth, nineteen fifty‑two. The document is notable because it provides a contemporaneous assessment of Chinese Communist air strength and its potential threat to Formosa during the early Cold War.

Date: OCT 11 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was CIA Intelligence Summary – Annex A To Operation Plan Feaf No. 6‑52 about?: This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record titled “Intelligence Summary – Annex A to Operation Plan FEAF No. 6‑52,” dated June sixth, nineteen fifty‑two. The document is notable because it provides a contemporaneous assessment of Chinese Communist air strength and its potential threat to Formosa during the early Cold War.
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 Intelligence Summary – Annex A To Operation Plan Feaf No. 6‑52

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