What did the declassified documents reveal?

Replacement aircraft for the RB‑45 detachment of the ninety‑first Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, memorandum dated June twentieth, nineteen fifty‑two. This top‑secret Air Force communication appears in the United States intelligence collection on China, cataloged by The Black Vault. The document was uploaded to The Black Vault archive as a digitized text file. The release is part of the public‑domain material made available by the National Archives and the Central Intelligence Agency under the Freedom of Information Act. The entry was posted on the archive website on an unspecified date, and the declassification authority is listed as the originating Department of the Air Force. Top secret, top secret, Department of the Air Force, Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington, District of Columbia. Memorandum for General Ramey. Subject: Replacement aircraft for RB‑45 detachment of the ninety‑first Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. This Headquarters received a message from Far East Air Forces, transmission six eight six four, advising that RB‑45 serial number forty‑eight zero one six four was destroyed on June sixth, nineteen fifty‑two due to an engine explosion on take‑off; the crew parachuted safely, sustaining only minor injury. Far East Air Forces requested a replacement as soon as possible in view of a reconnaissance operation of utmost importance planned for the immediate future, which requires three aircraft for a one‑time minimum coverage. Upon the direction of the Chief of Staff, three RB‑45 aircraft were deployed to Far East Air Forces in October nineteen fifty for ninety days temporary duty, later extended to an indefinite period. Subsequently one RB‑45 was lost, cause unknown, and replaced by Strategic Air Command. Strategic Air Command presently has twenty‑two RB‑45 aircraft, including the remaining two in Far East Air Forces, against a United States European authorization of forty‑five. Recently Strategic Air Command returned a rotational B‑45 unit from the United Kingdom because of a shortage of spare parts and the inability to maintain the ninety‑first Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at a high degree of operational readiness. At that time Strategic Air Command requested the return of the RB‑45 flight from Far East Air Forces. Project “Roundout,” the air‑targeting program in Europe, utilizes all available effort of strategic reconnaissance units rotated to the United Kingdom; RB‑50 aircraft are presently filling the rotational mission. However, upon their return, any rotational strategic reconnaissance unit will, of necessity, come from the RB‑45 wing. The operation Far East Air Forces plans to accomplish with three RB‑45 aircraft is undoubtedly the securing of reconnaissance of China coastal areas and Manchuria. The Joint Staff has noted this program—Joint Chiefs of Staff document two one five zero slash eleven dated twenty‑seventh January nineteen fifty‑one and Joint Chiefs of Staff document two one five zero slash twelve dated…

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 Replacement Aircraft For The Rb‑45 Detachment Of The Ninety‑first Strategic

◆ BLUF — The short version

Replacement aircraft for the RB‑45 detachment of the ninety‑first Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, memorandum dated June twentieth, nineteen fifty‑two. This top‑secret Air Force communication appears in the United States intelligence collection on China, cataloged by The Black Vault. The document was uploaded to The Black Vault archive as a digitized text file.

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

↯ Dispatch — press play1:00

0:001:00

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was CIA Replacement Aircraft For The Rb‑45 Detachment Of The Ninety‑first Strategic about?: Replacement aircraft for the RB‑45 detachment of the ninety‑first Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, memorandum dated June twentieth, nineteen fifty‑two. This top‑secret Air Force communication appears in the United States intelligence collection on China, cataloged by The Black Vault. The document was uploaded to The Black Vault archive as a digitized text file.
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.

intelligence-vault

Related cases

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

CIA Replacement Aircraft For The Rb‑45 Detachment Of The Ninety‑first Strategic

Questions about this case

Related cases

CIA C I A Record Concerning U.s

CIA United States Intelligence Report On The Republic Of China, Prepared

CIA From Declassified, A Storyflo Podcast.

Central Intelligence Agency Record On United States Intelligence

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

Questions about this case

Related cases

CIA C I A Record Concerning U.s

CIA United States Intelligence Report On The Republic Of China, Prepared

CIA From Declassified, A Storyflo Podcast.

Central Intelligence Agency Record On United States Intelligence

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

Get the next declassified case in your inbox