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UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD 

SUBJECT Overseas Handling, Processing and Reporting on 

Selected Nationally Programmed Photographic 

Reconnaissance Missions 

REFERENCES: a. USIB-D-41. 11/7 (COMOR-D-36/7), 3 May 1967, 

Limited Distribution 

b. DCID No. 1/13 

1. The United States Intelligence Board (USIB), including the 

Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) for this 

matter, approved as of 20 June 1967 the following actions after consideration 

of reference a. : 

a. Approved the attached statement on "Policy and Procedures 

for Overseas Handling, Processing and Reporting on Selected 

Nationally Programmed Photographic Reconnaissance Missions 

(Excluding Satellite Reconnais sance) ", 

b. Concurred that Yokota be designated an Overseas 

Processing and Interpretat;ion Center (OPIC-A) for the 

processing and reporting of the photographic results of 

selected nationally programmed reconnaissance missions in 

the Far East as a..ssigned and certified after technical review 

by NRO. 

c.. Concurred that the USAFE facility (Wiesbaden) be 

designated OPIC-E for the European theater, its certification 

to await a technical review by NRO. 

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d. Concurred that the NRO give con.sideration to 

readjustment in the present arrang~ments for processing 

of Far Eastern reconnaissance missions looking 

toward the utilization of Yokota whenever this is advantageous, 

and that at the institution of any new program the use of 

Yokota be given prime cons ide ration. 

e. Directed that the Committee on Imagery Requirements 

and Exploitation (COMIREX), in consultation with reconnaissance management authoritie s, continually review and 

update policies and procedure s of mutual concern relating 

to the effe'~tive interface of overseas operational, processing, 

exploitation, and reporting activities involving OPICs. 

This review should include comments and recommendations 

concerning the adequacy of the OPIC program. 

2. Accordingly,the above USIB-approved actions are circulated 

for the information and guidance of all concerned, and for appropriate 

implementation by the Committee on Imagery Requirements and Exploitation 

(COMIREX), the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and other departments and agencies designated in the attachment hereto. 

Attachment 

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LAY, J 

Executive Secret y 

y. 

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Attachment 

USIB-D-46.1/2 

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Policy and Procedures for Overseas Handling, 

Processing and Reporting on Selected Nationally 

Programmed Photographic Reconnaissance Missions 

(Excluding Satellite Reconnaissance) 

.. 

1. PURPOSE: To establish policies and procedures for the overseas 

handling, processing, and reporting on selected nationally programmed 

photographic reconnaissance missions. (DEFINITION: Nationally p'rogrammed 

photographic reconnaissance mis sions are those conducted by the ~ 

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) or other agencies in response to United 

States Intelligence Board (USI:8) requirements-:-) 

2. CANCELLATION: Upon implementation of these policies and procedures 

the 1957 agreement governing the European Photographic Interpretation 

Center (URPIC) operations is null and void. 

3. GENERAL: In order to provide for the most expeditious processing and 

reporting of nationally programmed photographic reconnaissance missions, 

two fixed photographic processing and reporting facilities, one in the European 

theater and one in the Pacific theater, have been designated. Other existing 

processing and reporting facilities will be used to meet United States intelligence needs cons istent with operational considerations. 

The determination of assignment of a nationally programmed task for 

these field units will be the subject of consultation between the USIB and the 

NRO and is subject to the approval of each. When field proces sing and readout are directed, these centers will be responsible, primarily, for processing 

to meet ¢ NRO standards and expeditiou~ reporting in response to requirements of the USIB and, additionally, requirements of the respective parent 

Unified Command. 

4. FACILITIES: In order to provide the required facilities and personnel, 

the Department of Defense (DoD) has designated as Overseas Processing 

and Interpretation Centers (OPIC), the followi~g: 

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a. Location 

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(1) Overseas Proce ssing and Interpretation Center--

Asia (OPIC-A): Manned and operated by the 67th Reconnaissance 

Technical Squardron (67RTS) at Yokota, Japan. 

(2) Overseas Processing and Interpretation Center--Europe 

(OPIC-E): Manned and operated by the 497th Reconnaissance 

Technical Squardron (497RTS) and 749% Support Group at 

Wiesbaden, West Germany. 

(3) Such other facilities as may, 

required by the MNRO to support the 

Program. 

on an interim basis, be 

~ National Reconnaissa~ce 

b. Requirements: To meet both theater and national intelligence 

needs, each OPIC should provide for the following: 

(1) Secure facility 

(2) Quality processing 

(3) Volume production of original negatives and 

duplicates 

(4) Secure communications 

(5) Sufficient number of properly trained exploitation 

personnel 

, 

(6) Intelligence data handling/,system 

-5-:-- MISSrON~ It shall be the mission of the OP!C I s. to process, reproduce, and 

report on such reconnaissance missions as aSSigned. In fulfilling this 

_mission the following tasks will be accomplished~ 

a • ..(.B1'National Reconnaissance Office (NRO): 

., 

(1) Certify that deSignated OPIC's are operational. 

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(2) Assign proce ssing responsibilities to specific OPIC's 

(reporting should be accomplished at the processing site for 

reason of speed). 

(3) On a priority basis provide for the shipment of a 

duplicate positive and mission track of all nationally 

programmed reconnai ssance missions from the OPIC's to the 

National Photographic Interpretation Center (NPIC). 

(4) Provide designated OPIC timely mission alerting 

information as required. 

(5) Provide mission track to the designated OPIC as soon 

as practicable, commensurate with mission security. 

(6) Provide OPIcr s technological assistance and quality 

standards for photographic processing. 

(7) Receive complaints from consumers and initiate 

remedial action if and as required. 

(8) Provide OPIC's with emergency procurement and 

shipment of photographic proce ssing equipment and supplies. 

(9) Provide emergency funding to support OPIC operations. o 

(10) Provide basic guidance on nati()nal plans (e. g .• 

anticipated sorties rates, emergence of new capabilities, etc.) 

which will affect the accomplishment of Ol?IC mis sions. 

b. Committee on Imagery Requirements and Exploitation (COMIREX) 

(1) On behalf of USIB, advise the ¢ NRO as to the degree of 

urgency on processing and reporting of each mission. 

(2) Provide each OPIC with current listings of establioshed 

USIB (COMIREX) reconnaissance requirements. 

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(3) Provide ~ NRO with a priority schedul e of the 

community's needs for duplication of film. 

c. ~ National Photographic Interpretation Center (NPIC): 

(1) Provide each OPIC background data on COMIREX 

target objectives and support to enhance the maintenance of an 

OPIC intelligence library, in response to arrangements made 

with NPIC by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) on behalf 

of the OPIC. 

(2) Provide each OPIC, on request, photographic interpretation as sistance and services, as appropriate, for the reporting 

of COMIREX target obj ectives. 

d. Department of Defense (DoD) : 

(1) Unified and Specified Commands: 

(a) Insure adequate facilities, personnel, equipment, 

and supplies for processing are provided the OPIC's in accordance with the standards established by the ~ NRO. 

(b) Insure adequate facilities, personnel, equipment, 

and supplies for photographic exploitation are provided the 

OPIC's in accordance with standards established by the 

DoD. 

(c) Insure implementation of instructions and tasks 

as established by the (S) NRO, 'and, as appropriate, by 

the USIB. I. I' 

(2) Defense Intelligence Agency '(DIA): 

(a) Act as the ex ecutive agent for ~ NRO, COMIREX, 

and NPIC in their contacts with the OPIC' s, through Unified 

and Specified Commans. 

(b) Receive complaints from consumers regarding Photo 

Interpretation, and initiate remedial action when and if 

required. 

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USIB -D-46. 1/2 

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Limited Dist<i-ibution 

(3) The Military Departments: 

(a) Provide personnel, facilities, and equipment as 

required to support the OPIC's. 

(b) Provide and maintain secure communications _ 

facilities responsive to the need for prompt reporting. 

(4) Overseas Processing and Interpretation Centers (OPIC): 

(a) Maintain required security of their de signated 

operating area s. 

(b) Procure and maintain their processing equipment and supplies in accordance with the standards 

established by.k8fNRO. 

(c) Acquire and maintain on board adequately 

cleared and appropriately qualified personnel required 

for sustained operations. 

Cd) Acquire and maintain an intelligence reference 

library to enhance the timeliness and accuracy of reporting. 

(e) Process original negatives of assigned missions. 

(f) Reproduce <;lnd ship copie s as directed. 

(g) Prepare Immediate Photographic Interpretation 

Report and transmit cable to ThEfater and ZI recipients 

under identical priority. . 

6. FUNDING: 

a. Overseas Processing and Interpretation Centers operated by the 

U. S. Air Force will be funded through Air Force channels. USAF in 

conjunction with fr81 NRO will insure that sufficient funds are budgeted 

annually to cover the anticipated cost of National Program support. As in 

. the past, extraordinary costs, beyond that for which funds have been 

budgeted, and emergency procurement support will continue to be furnished 

by the (2(NRO. 

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21 June 1967 ~ 

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b. Overseas Processing and Interpretation Centers operated 

by the U. S. Navy will be provided direct material support by the ($') NRO 

on an as required basis. 

7. COMMUNICATIONS: All communications bearing on nationally 

controlled operations will be handled via SSO channel s, except in those cases 

where authorization has been received from the ~NRO. 

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