What did the declassified documents reveal?

From the Central Intelligence Agency, this is a declassified record concerning a missile installation near Lien-shan, China. Dated October nineteen sixty-two, this photographic intelligence report offers a unique insight into a moment of heightened global tension. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act by the Central Intelligence Agency, with a declassification date of May ninth, two thousand. The information contained herein is sourced from archive.org. This is National Photographic Interpretation Center Report R-one-forty-seven slash sixty-two, titled "Photographic Interpretation Report, Missile Installation near Lien-shan, China." It is marked Top Secret Ruff and No Foreign Dissem. The document states: "This photographic interpretation report, prepared under N P I C Project J N-two-zero-seven slash sixty-two in response to requirements D I A X X-two-two-sixty-two and C I A slash O S I slash R-one-ninety-four slash sixty-two, is based primarily on CHURCH DOOR Mission." [four lines redacted under exemption B1] "Supplementary and comparative material was taken from KEYHOLE" [two lines redacted under exemption B1] "photography. All structural measurements are given to the nearest five feet. Geographic coordinates and distances between installations were obtained by accurate plotting on available mosaics and maps." The summary section reads: "Through detailed analysis of recent CHURCH DOOR photography, an installation southeast of Lien-shan, China, has been identified as a missile launch installation." [one line redacted under exemption B1] "This installation, first observed on KEYHOLE photography of" [one line redacted under exemption B1] "consists of a missile launch area (having one definite and one possible launch position), a support area, and a housing and administrative area. The general layout and the support facilities are typical of missile installations. However, the launch position configuration cannot be associated with that of any known S A M, M R B M, or I C B M launch positions. The extensive housing and support facilities at this installation indicate that it is a research and development or training facility. The location and configuration of the definite launch position substantiate it as being associated with a cruise-type missile system." Under the "Details" section, the report elaborates: "The missile installation, situated in a mountainous area along the northern coast of the Gulf of Liaotung, is located at forty degrees, forty-two minutes North latitude, one hundred twenty degrees, fifty-two minutes East longitude, three point seven nautical miles southeast of Lien-shan and twenty-seven nautical miles south-southeast of Chin-chou. The installation is served by a spur rail line which branches at Lien-shan from the Pei-ning Railroad, passes through part of the Housing and Administrative Area, and terminates in the Support Area. A road which formerly served a now abandoned petroleum-storage area has…

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.

From The Central Intelligence Agency, This Is A Declassified Record

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From the Central Intelligence Agency, this is a declassified record concerning a missile installation near Lien-shan, China. Dated October nineteen sixty-two, this photographic intelligence report offers a unique insight into a moment of heightened global tension. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act by the Central Intelligence Agency, with a declassification date of May ninth, two thousand.

Date: SEP 11 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was From The Central Intelligence Agency, This Is A Declassified Record about?: From the Central Intelligence Agency, this is a declassified record concerning a missile installation near Lien-shan, China. Dated October nineteen sixty-two, this photographic intelligence report offers a unique insight into a moment of heightened global tension. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act by the Central Intelligence Agency, with a declassification date of May ninth, two thousand.
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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