What did the declassified documents reveal?

This declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, dated April second, nineteen-sixty-five, is a Top Secret intelligence map detailing Chinese aircraft deployments in Southern China during the Cold War. It is publicly available via The Black Vault at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released under Freedom of Information Act case number C-I-A-R-D-P-six-six-B-zero-zero-five-nine-seven-R-zero-zero-zero-two-zero-zero-one-two-zero-zero-three-nine-eight-nine, with declassification authority granted on May third, two-thousand. The map details the disposition of Chinese military aircraft, primarily jet fighters and bombers, across various airbases in Southern China. Notations include: One, Luichow, at twenty-five degrees, forty-six minutes north: thirty-two M-I-G-fifteen, Fagot, M-I-G-seventeen, Fresco; one M-I-G-nineteen, Farmer; two M-I-G-twenty-one, Fishbed. Subordination unknown. Two, Mengtzu West: forty-eight M-I-G-fifteen, Fagot, M-I-G-seventeen, Fresco; six M-I-G-twenty-one, Fishbed; one M-I-G-nineteen, Farmer, M-I-G-twenty-one, Fishbed. Subordination unknown. Three, Nanning South: thirty-four M-I-G-fifteen, Fagot. Subordination unknown. Four, Ningming Phuc Yen: three M-I-G-nineteen, Farmer. Subordination unknown. A summary table on the document indicates: Aircraft total: M-I-G-fifteen, Fagot, M-I-G-seventeen, Fresco: three hundred and forty-three. M-I-G-nineteen, Farmer: seventy-nine, with a change of plus three. M-I-G-twenty-one, Fishbed: sixteen. I-L-twenty-eight, Beagle: sixteen. Total aircraft: four hundred and fifty-four. Further details indicate: Five, Leiyang: sixty-four M-I-G-fifteen, Fagot, M-I-G-seventeen, Fresco. Ninth Division, Eighteenth Division. Six, Canton, Nanhai: eighty M-I-G-fifteen, Fagot, M-I-G-seventeen, Fresco; one M-I-G-twenty-one, Fishbed. Twenty-sixth Division. Seven, Swatow: nineteen M-I-G-nineteen, Farmer. Subordination unknown. Eight, Foochow: thirty-five M-I-G-fifteen, Fagot, M-I-G-seventeen, Fresco; eight I-L-twenty-eight, Beagle. Eighth Naval Division, Fourth Naval Industrial Regiment, First Naval Division. Subordination unknown. Nine, Shanghai, Chiahsing: thirty-four M-I-G-fifteen, Fagot, M-I-G-seventeen, Fresco; two M-I-G-twenty-one, Fishbed. Fourth Naval Air Division. Ten, Shanghai, Hsinchien: three M-I-G-nineteen, Farmer. Subordination unknown. The Black Vault’s archive entry notes that this map provides a snapshot of the tactical air disposition of Communist China at a specific point in the Cold War, reflecting the U.S. intelligence community's ongoing efforts to monitor military capabilities and deployments in the region. This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. Find more at storyflo.com, and explore this document further at archive.org/download/us-china-intel-C-I-zero-one-six-six-nine/C-I-zero-one-six-six-ninedjvu.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.

This Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, Dated April Second

◆ BLUF — The short version

This declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, dated April second, nineteen-sixty-five, is a Top Secret intelligence map detailing Chinese aircraft deployments in Southern China during the Cold War. com. This document was released under Freedom of Information Act case number C-I-A-R-D-P-six-six-B-zero-zero-five-nine-seven-R-zero-zero-zero-two-zero-zero-one-two-zero-zero-three-nine-eight-nine, with declassification authority granted on May third, two-thousand.

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

↯ Dispatch — press play1:00

0:001:00

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was This Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, Dated April Second about?: This declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, dated April second, nineteen-sixty-five, is a Top Secret intelligence map detailing Chinese aircraft deployments in Southern China during the Cold War. com. This document was released under Freedom of Information Act case number C-I-A-R-D-P-six-six-B-zero-zero-five-nine-seven-R-zero-zero-zero-two-zero-zero-one-two-zero-zero-three-nine-eight-nine, with declassification authority granted on May third, 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.

intelligence-vault

Related cases

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

This Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, Dated April Second

Questions about this case

Related cases

CIA Declassified, A Storyflo Podcast

Tonight, We Examine A Declassified Situation Room Log From April Ninth, Nineteen

Today, We Examine A Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum From April Seventh

From The United States Central Intelligence Agency, This Is A Declassified

CIA Post‑mortem On Nie 13‑3‑65, Communist China

Questions about this case

Related cases

CIA Declassified, A Storyflo Podcast

Tonight, We Examine A Declassified Situation Room Log From April Ninth, Nineteen

Today, We Examine A Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum From April Seventh

From The United States Central Intelligence Agency, This Is A Declassified

CIA Post‑mortem On Nie 13‑3‑65, Communist China

Get the next declassified case in your inbox