What did the declassified documents reveal?

On December thirteenth, nineteen-sixty-two, a Central Intelligence Agency memorandum addressed to the Director of Central Intelligence and the Deputy Director for Research discussed the approval system for BOW TIE missions over the Taiwan Strait. This document is archived at The Black Vault. This record, a two-page memorandum, was approved for release on January ninth, two-thousand-two, under the authority of the Central Intelligence Agency's declassification review program. The document states: "MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence VIA: Deputy Director (Research) SUBJECT: Approval System for BOW TIE Missions (Taiwan Strait). I. [redacted] [redacted] felt it desirable to alert the Director to the fact that at the Special Group on Thursday, December thirteenth, the J-R-C would be requesting approval for C-I-N-C-P-A-C to execute a specified number of BOW TIE missions over the Taiwan Strait program without referral in each case to the D-D-I or Special Group. In answer to my question, [redacted] stated that these missions would be flown against C-I-N-C-P-A-C theater requirements. I told him that I would advise [redacted] on December thirteenth of the intended J-R-C action, looking toward a C-O-M-O-R determination of the Community's requirements for this area inasmuch as the Taiwan Strait situation is of D-D-I as well as C-I-N-C-P-A-C concern. I also believe for the most part our requirements are mutually compatible. For your information, in the last three months there were two BOW TIE missions in August, one in October, none in November, and one in December. If the Special Group is willing to grant a specific number of missions for the coming months (I believe seven is the number J-R-C will request) I recommend a method for including C-O-M-O-R targets. Specifically, as information from other sources convinces C-O-M-O-R that certain targets need BOW TIE coverage, C-O-M-O-R will forward these to J-R-C. If J-R-C judges these to be compatible with C-I-N-C-P-A-C objectives or will not interfere with its progress, these can then be forwarded for action without reference to the Special Group. C-O-M-O-R targets rejected by J-R-C would of course have to be forwarded to you for Special Group approval. [redacted] Subject: Overflight Reconnaissance. Copies to: [three lines redacted]." The Black Vault's archive notes that this document refers to a Cold War intelligence mission from the period of the Taiwan Strait Crisis, which saw heightened tensions between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China. This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. Find this and other declassified documents at storyflo.com, and the canonical P-D-F at archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI01531/CI01531djvu.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.

On December Thirteenth, Nineteen Sixty Two, A Central Intelligence Agency

◆ BLUF — The short version

On December thirteenth, nineteen-sixty-two, a Central Intelligence Agency memorandum addressed to the Director of Central Intelligence and the Deputy Director for Research discussed the approval system for BOW TIE missions over the Taiwan Strait. This document is archived at The Black Vault.

Date: SEP 10 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was On December Thirteenth, Nineteen Sixty Two, A Central Intelligence Agency about?: On December thirteenth, nineteen-sixty-two, a Central Intelligence Agency memorandum addressed to the Director of Central Intelligence and the Deputy Director for Research discussed the approval system for BOW TIE missions over the Taiwan Strait. This document is archived at The Black Vault.
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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On December Thirteenth, Nineteen Sixty Two, A Central Intelligence Agency

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