What did the declassified documents reveal?

From the Declassified archives, this is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency memorandum, dated March eighteenth, nineteen sixty-five, detailing a discussion with Secretary McNamara and Secretary Vance concerning aerial reconnaissance over Communist China. This document reveals high-level discussions regarding the escalating risks and future of U-two and drone operations. This record is available to the public via The Black Vault at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released by the Central Intelligence Agency, with portions redacted under exemption B-one of the Freedom of Information Act, on February thirteenth, two thousand seven. The declassification authority is cited as C-I-A-R-D-P-eighty-B-zero-one-six-seven-six-R-zero-zero-one-four-zero-zero-zero-three-zero-zero-two-zero-four. This is a primary source from the Central Intelligence Agency's public records. The document, a memorandum for the record, states: "Subject: Discussion with Secretary McNamara and Secretary Vance concerning Aerial Reconnaissance over Communist China. One. I reported that recent problems with the drones causing the loss of three of them and the M-I-G twenty-one attack on the March fourteenth U-two mission, which apparently (though not absolutely confirmed) involved three air-to-air missile firings, led to the conclusion that: a. The use of U-two's over Communist China is becoming increasingly hazardous because of S-A-M-S and M-I-G twenty-one attack techniques; b. The recent problems with drones may cause an hiatus in the activity which would necessitate use of U-two's for South China coverage of priority targets east of Kunming. [Four lines redacted under exemption B-one] highly unlikely. (In a separate conversation [one line redacted] confirmed this; said four or five drones were ready; a team was [one line redacted] to examine trouble; production of new drones – one per week.) Two. U-S-E-B, in considering the problem on March seventeenth, reaffirmed the necessity for continuing aerial reconnaissance of South China. Secretaries McNamara and Vance concurred in this judgment. Three. Therefore it was decided to continue the use of U-two's on priority targets west of Kunming and to extend this coverage to all of South China if drone operations are temporarily stood down. There was no disagreement that the need for intelligence outweighed the risk. It was further agreed that we should proceed immediately with all preparatory steps necessary to operate the OXCART over Communist China, flying out of Okinawa. It was agreed that we should proceed with all construction and related arrangements. However this decision did not authorize the deployment of the OXCART to Okinawa nor the decision to fly the OXCART over Communist China. The decision would authorize all preparatory steps and the expenditure of such funds as might be involved. [Six lines redacted under exemption B-one] Note: After some discussion it was decided that Okinawa was preferable to Formosa…

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 From The Declassified Archives, This Is A Declassified Central Intelligence

◆ BLUF — The short version

From the Declassified archives, this is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency memorandum, dated March eighteenth, nineteen sixty-five, detailing a discussion with Secretary McNamara and Secretary Vance concerning aerial reconnaissance over Communist China. This document reveals high-level discussions regarding the escalating risks and future of U-two and drone operations.

Date: AUG 28 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was CIA From The Declassified Archives, This Is A Declassified Central Intelligence about?: From the Declassified archives, this is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency memorandum, dated March eighteenth, nineteen sixty-five, detailing a discussion with Secretary McNamara and Secretary Vance concerning aerial reconnaissance over Communist China. This document reveals high-level discussions regarding the escalating risks and future of U-two and drone operations.
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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