What did the declassified documents reveal?

Today on Declassified, we examine a Central Intelligence Agency memorandum from June twenty-ninth, nineteen-sixty-two, titled "Proposal for TACKLE Coverage of Northeast China." This Top Secret document reveals the ongoing intelligence gathering efforts on Chinese military and industrial capabilities during the Cold War. You can find this document on The Black Vault at documents2.theblackvault.com. This record was declassified under the Automatic Declassification Program, released to the public on March fifth, two-thousand-four. It offers a glimpse into the methods and findings of the Committee on Overhead Reconnaissance, or C-O-M-O-R, as they assessed TACKLE missions over China. The document reads: MEMORANDUM FOR: The Special Group SUBJECT: Proposal for TACKLE Coverage of Northeast China One. The Committee on Overhead Reconnaissance in late May submitted to the United States Intelligence Board an evaluation of the four TACKLE missions which had been accomplished prior to that time together with a recommendation for two missions to cover targets in Northeast China and the Shuang Cheng Tzu missile test range. These two missions have been accomplished. Two. The C-O-M-O-R has reviewed the results of Mission One-Twelve which was directed against Northeast China and has evaluated the extent to which the recommended requirements were met. Evaluation of Mission Northeast China. Three. The mission covered approximately forty percent of the total objectives in the area concerned. Included were airfields, the area adjacent to North Korea, (limited because of the obliquity and haze), naval complexes at Lu Shun and [one line redacted], urban and industrial complexes and some areas which were suspected of possible missile deployment. Four. The mission confirmed the industrial expansion and conventional military capabilities that were suspected in Northeast China and has produced a significant impact on the following intelligence subjects: A. Prior to the mission, the A-O-B estimate on M-I-G-nineteen fighter aircraft in China was twenty-five to thirty. On this mission we saw over fifty M-I-G-nineteens at two airfields. This information, coupled with previous collateral data, will significantly increase the estimate. B. The previous order of battle estimates of W class submarines has been confirmed. C. The industrial/urban expansion suspected at Shen Yang, Ha Erh Pin and Chi Lin has been confirmed. In addition, a number of new industrial areas have been observed for the first time. D. A large number of military installations have been identified for the first time. E. In the areas covered where [one line redacted] deployment was suspected, no such missile deployment has been identified. Justification for Additional Coverage Five. It is expected that high resolution photo coverage of the remaining objectives in Northeast China will reveal additional industrial expansion and military capabilities on which we have no current intelligence confirmation, except from…

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 Proposal For Tackle Coverage Of Northeast China.

◆ BLUF — The short version

" This Top Secret document reveals the ongoing intelligence gathering efforts on Chinese military and industrial capabilities during the Cold War. com. This record was declassified under the Automatic Declassification Program, released to the public on March fifth, two-thousand-four.

Date: SEP 12 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Today on Declassified, we examine a Central Intelligence Agency memorandum from June twenty-ninth, nineteen-sixty-two, titled "Proposal for TACKLE Coverage of Northeast China." This Top Secret document reveals the ongoing intelligence gathering efforts on Chinese military and industrial…

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was CIA Proposal For Tackle Coverage Of Northeast China. about?: " This Top Secret document reveals the ongoing intelligence gathering efforts on Chinese military and industrial capabilities during the Cold War. com. This record was declassified under the Automatic Declassification Program, released to the public on March fifth, two-thousand-four.
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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CIA Proposal For Tackle Coverage Of Northeast China.

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