· . Approved for Release: 2018/11/16 C05115151 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON 

OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY 

April 7, 1965 

Dear Bennie, 

I am writing in response to your letter to me of 

18 March on TAGBOARD. It is gratifying to realize the 

excellent support that AFSC has rendered to this program, 

and I am reassured by your confidence in meeting the test 

requirements. 

I believe that the points raised in your letter 

concerning details of future test requirements merit, as 

you have indicated, a specific directive. The attached 

fact sheet should provide adequate information upon which 

you can issue a suitable directive through cleared channels. 

I further agree on the need for continued stringent 

security and that documentation be held to a minimum. A 

direct liaison has existed between the program office here 

and your program monitor, and I am sure whatever additional 

limited documentation or directives that are essential can 

be mutually agreed upon between the program director and 

your program monitor. 

1 Attachment 

TAGBOARD Program 

General B. A. Schriever 

Commander 

Air Force Systems Command 

Andrews Air Force Base 

Brockway McMillan 

Director 

National Reconnaissance Office 

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Approved for Release: 2018/11/16 C05115151 
.. ( ., 

.. Approved for Release:2018/11 116 C05115151 . " 

TAG BOARD PROGRAM 

1. The TAGBOARD Program is to be included in the USAF Progranuning 

Document with precedence and priority of 1 - 3. The identifier has not 

yet been assigned but, together with priority, will be authorized for 

use by specified units when actively supporting TAGBOARD. The priority 

will be likewise applicable in resolving schedule conflicts where assets 

in limited quantity may be required simultaneously by competing programs. 

2. AFSC support will be required in both the test and operational 

phases. 

a. At this time we anticipate the test phase to continue 

12 - 18 months. JC-130 support now provided from Edwards for parachute 

recovery tests should conclude by 1 June 1965. The next objective is 

separation of drone from carrier for which JC-130, PMR, and AFWTR 

support will be required. These tasks have been identified in detail 

by PMR directive. After initial separation, one flight per month is 

planned until tests are concluded. Two weeks' notification of separation dates will be provided all units participating. 

b. The operational phase will require support from the 6594th 

Recovery Group only. Assuming an expenditure of ten drones during test, 

an additional ten will be available for actual operations. (There is 

some possibility of a follow-on buy of 15 drones). We contemplate a 

consumption no greater than two drones/month dependent upon target 

priority and weather conditions. At this time, all recovery operations 

are planned from Incirlik or Kadena (not simultaneously). 

3. Since it would seem somewhat revealing for the 6594th, with 

its known mission, to suddenly begin deployment to either of the above 

bases, propose that cover flights be scheduled beginning FY 66. Prior 

to such deployment, coordination with the respective commands will 

be effected by this office. You will be further advised as to the date 

for actual initiation of this requirement; frequency should be approximately once per two months to either location on a random basis. 

Approved for Release: 2018/11/16 C05115151 

BYE-38328-65 

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