What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is Declassified. Today, a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record from December twenty-fourth, nineteen-fifty-two, concerning US intelligence collection programs in China, specifically Project Town Plan and Project Wringer. This document provides insight into the intelligence gathering efforts during the Korean War era. You can find this record on archive.org, sourced from documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released by the Central Intelligence Agency in October, two-thousand-and-thirteen, under the Freedom of Information Act. The declassification authority is specified as the Automatic Declassification Program, originating from the C-I-A Directorate of Operations. This record is available for public review through The Black Vault's archive. The document, marked "Secret Security Information," is a letter from the Headquarters of the Far East Command, Military Intelligence Section, General Staff, to the Chief of Staff G2, Department of the Army, Washington D.C. It addresses the synthesis of finished intelligence from a vast quantity of raw information. The letter states: "Although a very close working relation normally is maintained between Geographic Branch and D/I F-E-A-F, additional discussions were held regarding paragraph two of your letter. [It] F-E-A-F states that Wringer is not expanding in the areas of consideration. The recent establishment of Wringer in the Philippines takes in only a minor portion of the potential available at Hong Kong. Specifically, no consideration has been given to the establishment of Wringer in either Hong Kong or Taiwan. Further, Wringer does not have the capability, qualified personnel, or responsibility for production of Town Plans. For this reason all town plan work for Communist dominated areas has been assigned to Geographic Branch and is conducted on a joint priority basis, in which F-E-A-F requirements are given first consideration both as to coverage and [three lines redacted]." The letter continues: "Tentative plans at Hong Kong include expansion of interrogation and, subject to your approval and support, we visualize our contribution as follows: General Airey, with prior London approval for interrogation expansion, will initiate through Military Liaison Office a request to have one town plan expert from F-E-C assigned to the Military Liaison Office to work with the British. The individual would be an experienced person capable of acting as team captain. The British will hire an initial five Chinese interrogators who will be under the supervision of our representative. Procedures will be identical to those which have been so successful here. The scope of the project will be limited to those cities of importance to F-E-C, Washington, and London." Regarding Taiwan, the document states: "Plans held with General Chase and the Military and Air Liaison Officers in Taipei indicates that General Chase is not thoroughly satisfied with his inability to return processed information about…

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.

Today, A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record From December

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is Declassified. Today, a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record from December twenty-fourth, nineteen-fifty-two, concerning US intelligence collection programs in China, specifically Project Town Plan and Project Wringer. This document provides insight into the intelligence gathering efforts during the Korean War era.

Date: OCT 10 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was Today, A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record From December about?: This is Declassified. Today, a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record from December twenty-fourth, nineteen-fifty-two, concerning US intelligence collection programs in China, specifically Project Town Plan and Project Wringer. This document provides insight into the intelligence gathering efforts during the Korean War era.
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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Today, A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record From December

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