What did the declassified documents reveal?

Declassified presents a November twenty-fourth, nineteen-fifty-four Top Secret Naval message regarding the suitability of Chinese mainland air bases as targets for retaliatory air attack. This declassified record from the U.S. Navy highlights an internal debate on military strategy. You can find this document at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released to the public under the Freedom of Information Act without a specific FOIA case number indicated. It was declassified by the U.S. Navy and made available through public archives. The document is a Naval message, marked Top Secret, from Admiral Carney to Admiral Stump, dated November twenty-fourth, nineteen-fifty-four. It begins: "Exclusive for Admiral Stump from Admiral Carney. I have noted exchange of views between you and General Chase relative to suitability mainland air base complexes as targets for retaliatory Chinat air attack, as contained in your P-S-five-zero-two-three-eight-Z in P-E-O-two-five-five-two and G-H-M-A-A-G Formosa zero-five-nine-three-four-eight-Z. While I concur that raids on the three specific air fields mentioned in your zero-five-nine-three-eight-Z might be successful, it appears to me that the risks are disproportionate to the possible gains and that probable Chicom reaction to such attacks would not be in the best interest either U-S or Chinats." The message concludes by stating "Reproduction of this document in whole or in part is prohibited except with permission of the issuing office. Top-Secret." The Black Vault archive provides an editorial summary of this document, noting it to be a cable from November twenty-fourth, nineteen-fifty-four, one page in length, categorized as U.S. Intelligence on China. It is listed under the archive identifier C-I-zero-one-one-four-seven and named "Chinese Air Bases as Targets." This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. Find this document and more at storyflo.com, and the canonical U-R-L for this record at archive.org/download/us-china-intel-C-I-zero-one-one-four-seven/C-I-zero-one-one-four-sevendjvu.txt.

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.

Navy: Declassified Presents A November Twenty Fourth, Nineteen Fifty Four Top Secret

◆ BLUF — The short version

Declassified presents a November twenty-fourth, nineteen-fifty-four Top Secret Naval message regarding the suitability of Chinese mainland air bases as targets for retaliatory air attack. S. Navy highlights an internal debate on military strategy. com. This document was released to the public under the Freedom of Information Act without a specific FOIA case number indicated.

Date: SEP 28 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Declassified presents a November twenty-fourth, nineteen-fifty-four Top Secret Naval message regarding the suitability of Chinese mainland air bases as targets for retaliatory air attack. This declassified record from the U.S. Navy highlights an internal debate on military strategy. You can find…

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Questions about this case

What was Navy: Declassified Presents A November Twenty Fourth, Nineteen Fifty Four Top Secret about?: Declassified presents a November twenty-fourth, nineteen-fifty-four Top Secret Naval message regarding the suitability of Chinese mainland air bases as targets for retaliatory air attack. S. Navy highlights an internal debate on military strategy. com. This document was released to the public under the Freedom of Information Act without a specific FOIA case number indicated.
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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Navy: Declassified Presents A November Twenty Fourth, Nineteen Fifty Four Top Secret

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