What did the declassified documents reveal?

From "Declassified", a Storyflo podcast. This briefing presents a declassified memorandum from the United States Air Force, dated January thirteenth, nineteen-fifty-nine. It concerns the training of Chinese Nationalist pilots in advanced jet aircraft, a significant aspect of Cold War military cooperation. This document is archived at vault.fbi.gov. This record was released through the public archive of The Black Vault, accessible via documents2.theblackvault.com. The specific entry for this document is available as CI01335, provided by John Greenewald Junior, and was declassified on May seventh, two-thousand-fourteen, under mandatory declassification review. The document reads: Subject: Training of Chinese Nationalist pilots in advanced jet aircraft. Background: The United States provided [multiple lines redacted] training [multiple lines redacted]. Current Status: Handed to General Goodpaster by General Twining, January thirteenth, nineteen-fifty-nine. With the concurrence of the Department of State, Department of Defense, the J-C-S, and the agency, the U-S-A-F arranged to negotiate this training with the Chinese military later in the month. Essential elements are: a. Training is to commence on or about April first, nineteen-fifty-nine, in the United States with a readiness date of September first, nineteen-fifty-nine. b. Details of any operations to be undertaken will be finalized at a later [one line redacted]. c. The United States is not committed to the completion of any part of this program. d. The utmost consideration is being given to the security aspects of this plan. The Black Vault's editorial summary notes that the document pertains to U.S. intelligence on China. It confirms the training of Chinese Nationalist pilots in advanced jet aircraft, as coordinated between the U.S. Air Force, Department of State, Department of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The training was slated to begin in April nineteen-fifty-nine, with a readiness date of September first, nineteen-fifty-nine. The United States retained the right to not be committed to the program's completion, and security was a primary concern. This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. Find this document and more at storyflo.com, and archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI01335/CI01335djvu.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.

Case File · ARCHIVE-376Declassified

Filed SEP 20 · 2026Runtime 1 min

FBI From "declassified", A Storyflo Podcast.

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated September 20, 2026

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From "Declassified", a Storyflo podcast. This briefing presents a declassified memorandum from the United States Air Force, dated January thirteenth, nineteen-fifty-nine. It concerns the training of Chinese Nationalist pilots in advanced jet aircraft, a significant aspect of Cold War military cooperation.

Date: SEP 20 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was FBI From "declassified", A Storyflo Podcast. about?: From "Declassified", a Storyflo podcast. This briefing presents a declassified memorandum from the United States Air Force, dated January thirteenth, nineteen-fifty-nine. It concerns the training of Chinese Nationalist pilots in advanced jet aircraft, a significant aspect of Cold War military cooperation.
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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