Ak 10E10E11

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

OFFICE CF THE CHIEF Or STAFF

UNITED STATES Ant FORCE

WASHINGTON. D. C.

19 NOV 1958

SPECIAL HANDLING REQUIRED

SUBJECT: Project CORONA ta)-

TO: Commander

Air Research & Development Command

Andrews Air Force Base, D.C.

Activities incident to Project CORONA have reached such

proportions that it is considered necessary to make an appraisal

of the project in its entirety. The sensitive nature of the project

as well as the number of non-Air Force agencies interested therein

add to management complexity.

It is desired that you convene a meeting of appropriate Air

Force re resentatives at the earliest practicable date and that you

ariCise lea ep in appraising CORONA. The objectives of this

appraisal effort should include but not necessarily be limited to the

following:

Preparation of clear statement of the primary and secondary v

objectives of the project.

A clear delineation between the covert and overt objectives. '

A clear statement of the actions being taken to provide 3

cover for the covert aspects of the project.

A clear delineation of the responsibilities assigned the Air

Force in this project. (If there is no document which delineates the Air

Force responsibility, your appraisal activities should include the drafting of a DOD directive to the Secretary of the Air Force which will be

recommended to the Secretary of Defense for signature.)

e. A clear statement of the responsibilities that have been

assigned non-Air Force agencies as they are known to us. If available

information is inadequate, you should initiate or recommend this headquarters initiate actions which are desieed to assure that each responsible

participating agency knows what is expected of it and of other participants

means of effecting prompt coordination are established.

This document conSists of_ •3 pr, z, s.

Copy No. off Copies.

7: S

i/ 13

SPECIAL HANDLING REQUIRED

4

Tel
The drafting of a document from the Chief of Staff of the Air

Force to appropriate subordinate AF elements in which appropriate

responsibilities of the Department of the Air Force are redelegated

to subordinate elements.

A clear delineation of the functions that must be performed

within the Air Staff and the designation of the appropriate Air Staff

element to serve as a focal point for all matters relating to this

project which must be resolved in this or higher headquarters.

A clear delineation 44 responsibility for funding . the project

by theyougLagenglesinmaxed.,Andm Agrekii funding

activities can be properly coordinated and affected in a time; manner.

The determination of means whereby regard sort can b ms

procured from elements of the Air Force not directly involved in tt";

project without endangering the secy....IV of the project.

The following Air Staff personnel will participate in your appraisal

efforts:

Brig General Homer A. Boushey - DCS/Development 3

Maj General Howell M. Estes, Jr - DCS/Operations)

Maj General Maurice A. Preston It

Colonel Charles C. Andrews

Colonel Leo P. Geary 11

Brig General Robert J. Friedman - Comptroller '-

Colonel Richard B. Uhle - DCS/Materiel

Colonel Glen W. Clark - Information Services, SAF

Each of the above named officers have been cleared for this

project. It is believed important that representatives of BMD and BMO

also participate.

It is requested you advise me of the date and place of the initial

meeting in order that participants may be advised. In the event I am

not available, Major General Estes or Brigadier General Boushey

should be advised and requested to inform other participants.
1

•

r/wor r ,

JACOB E. SMART

Major General, U.S. Air Force

Assistant Vice Chief of Staff

5. This letter if classified TOP-SECRET because of the sensitive

nature of this project.