What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency memorandum titled “Aerial Activity of the Chinese Air Force During 1955,” dated May eighth, nineteen fifty‑six. It is notable because it provides the only monthly breakdown of Nationalist air sorties over South China for that year, compiled from official sources. The document was released to the public through The Black Vault archival collection. The release appears as part of a broader declassification effort, posted on the archive’s website on an unspecified date. The record can be accessed at archive dot org under the identifier CI01245. The memorandum reads as follows. SECRET No. of five copies. Series A. Memorandum. United States Government. Date: May eighth, nineteen fifty‑six. From: Mr. Stephen A. Comiskey, DRE/C. To: Harald W. Jacobson. Subject: Aerial Activity of the Chinese Air Force During 1955. In response to your request for information on the number of flights over South China conducted by the Chinese Nationalist Air Force during 1955, the following monthly figures have been compiled from official sources: January – seven hundred thirty‑four. February – eight hundred five. March – six hundred. April – four hundred seventy‑three. May – six hundred fourteen. June – five hundred sixty‑one. July – four hundred five. August – three hundred forty‑one. September – four hundred forty‑six. October – four hundred fifty‑seven. November – four hundred fifty‑five. December – five hundred seventy‑one. For nineteen fifty‑six the figures are: January – three hundred sixty‑six. February – three hundred ninety‑eight. March – three hundred fifty‑four. The above figures include all patrol, visual and photo‑reconnaissance, and leaflet‑drop flights reported during the year. The official sources do not indicate how many of these extended over mainland China or how many were over South China, nor do official reports provide any indication that the ratio of overflights increased toward the end of the year. It should be noted, however, that during the first three months of nineteen fifty‑five the total number of sorties was higher than during the other months of the year, except that May was higher than March. This appears to have been due to the general concern over the Taiwan Strait crisis at that time and the Ta‑cheng and I‑chiang Shan evacuation, which required an increase of aerial reconnaissance. The operations in the Ta‑cheng‑I‑chiang Shan area were beyond the range of Hong Kong‑based radar. The Shan area also compelled the Nationalists to concentrate air‑force activity farther north than was subsequently the case, perhaps well beyond the range of Hong Kong radar. Thus it might be quite true that after the successful evacuation of I‑chiang Shan was accomplished the primary area of Nationalist air activity shifted southward and that, although the total number of sorties toward the end of the year decreased compared with the first three months, the number of sorties within range of Hong Kong‑based…

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.

Case File · ARCHIVE-384Declassified

Filed SEP 23 · 2026Runtime 1 min

CIA Aerial Activity Of The Chinese Air Force During 1955

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated September 23, 2026

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◆ BLUF — The short version

This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency memorandum titled “Aerial Activity of the Chinese Air Force During 1955,” dated May eighth, nineteen fifty‑six. It is notable because it provides the only monthly breakdown of Nationalist air sorties over South China for that year, compiled from official sources.

Date: SEP 23 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was CIA Aerial Activity Of The Chinese Air Force During 1955 about?: This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency memorandum titled “Aerial Activity of the Chinese Air Force During 1955,” dated May eighth, nineteen fifty‑six. It is notable because it provides the only monthly breakdown of Nationalist air sorties over South China for that year, compiled from official sources.
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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