What did the declassified documents reveal?

From the Central Intelligence Agency, an intelligence report regarding U-Two reconnaissance missions over South China, dated February twenty-first, nineteen sixty-five. This record is available at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was declassified by the C-I-A on December twenty-third, two-thousand-three, under the authority of the Automatic Declassification Review for records older than twenty-five years. It offers a glimpse into high-altitude reconnaissance operations during the Cold War. The document is titled, "Mission CO55C, February twenty-first, nineteen sixty-five." It begins with a table of contents: "One. Mission track. Basic mission data on reverse side of map, and special equipment. Two. Map with known S-A-M's, M-I-G-twenty-one bases plotted. Three. Signature blocks as appropriate. (On reverse side of map.) Four. Map with current fighter A-O-B. Five. Vulnerability estimate for current mission. Six. Authority for mission (C-O-M-O-R slash U-S-I-B slash three-oh-three Committee). Seven. Cable to N-P-I-C and reply P-L S-A-M System search - Attachments one and two." The report outlines "Mission Proposal Number C-O-five-five-C." Launch date slash time: "twenty-first slash zero-zero-three-zero-Z February." Total distance: "two-thousand, three-hundred-ninety-four." Total time slash denied territory time: "six plus twenty slash three plus zero-six." Penetration altitude: "sixty-nine-thousand feet." Maximum altitude: [one line redacted under exemption B1] Fuel reserve: "one-hundred-forty." Route: "See map (reverse side)." Special equipment: "B configuration, S-Y-S six, S-Y-S nine, S-Y-S twelve, and S-Y-S thirteen." The map shows plotted M-I-G bases and suspected Surface-to-Air Missile locations in South China and North Vietnam. The document includes a "Vulnerability Estimate for Mission C-O-five-five-C," dated February twenty-first, nineteen sixty-five. Conclusion: "There are no known surface-to-air missile defenses in North Vietnam or South China capable of interfering with Mission C-O-five-five-C. The risk of a successful U-Two intercept by a M-I-G-twenty-one on this mission is less than twenty-two percent." General: "The M-I-G-fifteen, seventeen, and nineteen do not present a threat to the U-Two at sixty-nine-thousand feet. Of these three fighter types, none can cruise supersonic and though the M-I-G-nineteen can exceed Mach one it can perform a dynamic climb to approximately sixty-two-thousand feet and cruise sub-sonic steady state at fifty-nine-thousand plus or minus a one-thousand feet. The M-I-G-nineteen does not have sufficient power to perform an effective zoom maneuver. The M-I-G-twenty-one has the capability of intercepting the U-Two at sixty-nine-thousand feet by performing a zoom maneuver and launching an A-A-two Sidewinder type I-R missile." Air Order of Battle for South China: "There are eight airfields in South China and North Vietnam pertinent to Mission C-O-five-five-C: Hanoi, Haiphong, (both in North Vietnam), Meng…

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, An Intelligence Report Regarding U Two

◆ BLUF — The short version

From the Central Intelligence Agency, an intelligence report regarding U-Two reconnaissance missions over South China, dated February twenty-first, nineteen sixty-five. com. This document was declassified by the C-I-A on December twenty-third, two-thousand-three, under the authority of the Automatic Declassification Review for records older than twenty-five years.

Date: AUG 29 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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From the Central Intelligence Agency, an intelligence report regarding U-Two reconnaissance missions over South China, dated February twenty-first, nineteen sixty-five. This record is available at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was declassified by the C-I-A on December twenty-third…

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What was From The Central Intelligence Agency, An Intelligence Report Regarding U Two about?: From the Central Intelligence Agency, an intelligence report regarding U-Two reconnaissance missions over South China, dated February twenty-first, nineteen sixty-five. com. This document was declassified by the C-I-A on December twenty-third, two-thousand-three, under the authority of the Automatic Declassification Review for records older than twenty-five years.
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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