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July 17, 1969 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD 

SUBJECT: Documents for Jason Committee 

On July 1 Col Allen passed me the Harry Davis/Stevie note, 

attached, and asked that I call Dr. Flax and in a very positive 

way ascertain just what the status of all these understandings and 

misunderstandings was. 

On July 2 I called Dr. Flax and before I was even able to 

broach the question, Dr. Flax asked me to apologize to Col Allen 

for the previous mix-up and indicated that he had had another call 

from Harry Davis and that it turned out that the ground rules had 

completely changed and the request for the documents was now~an 

entirely different ball game, i.e., that there were no new clearances involved and that a thorough review of the question had resulted in the confirmation of the Jason Committee rs need for the 

reports. 

I passed this information to Col Allen on July 2 and he asked me 

to call Mr. Chapman,.. Col Allen suggested that I point out very 

clearly to Mr. Chapman that ( 1) Mr. Davis was not involved in NRO 

activities (2) Mr. Davis r peripheral involvement in the 11white" Air 

Force had obviously caused the requirement for the study and related 

need for the reports (3) we in the NRO were not sponsoring this 

activity by the Jason Committee and (4) we would look to Mr. Chapman's judgement (based on perhaps a requirement that he might have) 

as to whether or not the Jason Committee really needed these documents. 

On July 9, I received a call from~-----~in Mr. Chapman's 

office. ~-----~ indicated that he and Mr. Chapman had reviewed 

the matter and had decided that the Jason Committee needed the reports. 

I asked him to indicate to me the accredited facility to which they should 

be sent and the individual to whom they would be addressed. He stated 

SECRET 

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that he would ask the security officer to provide that information. 

I suggested that he have his security officer call Capt Rose. I 

briefed Capt Rose on the matter and asked that he make whatever 

arrangements necessary with SAFSP to have the documents delivered. 

On July 11 Capt Rose advised me that the documents would be 

delivered to Martin-Denver for the use of the Jason Committee on 

Monday, July 14. I called Mr. Chapman and passed this word to 

him. 

The arrangement calls for the recipients to return the reports 

to SAFSP just as soon as they have completed their study. 

WILL 

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USAF 
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June 23, 1969 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD 

SUBJECT: Jason Committee 

At 0915 on June 23 Mr. Davis called me. He wanted to discuss 

the Jason Committee activities on image analysis and enhancement. 

He stated that~----~was sponsoring the activity and that the 

Committee had been approved to do work on material classified no 

higher than SECRET. Mr. Davis stated that Dr. Mc Lucas wants 

the Jason Committee to do the study on ima sis and that he, 

Mr. Davis, wanted me to provide to hree volumes 

of the EK image analysis report.-----~~-~-~ I asked Mr. 

Davis whether Dr. McLucas ha approve ason Committee 

receiving the documents and he stated that "Dr. McLucas wants 

them to do the study. 11 

I discussed the Jason Committee study with Col Allen and 

prepared a memo per his instructions to Dr. McLucas. I requested 

his guidance. 

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THE NRO STAFF 

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MEMORANDUM FOR DR. McL UCAS 

SUBJECT: Jason Committee 

Sometime ago I met with~----~------~and 

McDonald to discuss a proposed study of image enhancement by the 

IDA/ Jason Committee. We discussed the capability of the Jason 

Committee to study enhancement of exotic photography and NRO 

photographic products. At that time, there was no firm understanding of the scope of the Jason Committee's study. 

We have received a request for documents containing very detailed information on the GAMBIT system. We believe this request 

for information reflects a scope of activity in excess of our understanding of the Jason Committee effort. In general, an in-depth 

study of image enhancement by this Committee would probably not 

add much to our previous activity in this area and is not critically 

important to our efforts. Rather, this study should be approached 

as a broad research topic. We understand that NPIC has provided 

briefings to the Committee along with tacit sponsorship of the study. 

We recommend that the NRO not provide direct or tacit indorsement of the Jason Committee study of image enhancement. Further, 

we recommend that only photographic product documentation be provided to the Committee via NPIC. We do not believe that the BYE MAN 

operational characteristics of NRP projects should be provided to the 

Jason Committee. 

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With your concurrence we will inform the sponsors of the study 

that BYEMAN details of NRP projects may not be used by the Jason 

Committee. 

LEW ALLEN, JR. 

Colonel, USAF 

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MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD 

SUBJECT: Jason Committee 

June 19, 1969 

On Tuesday .June 17 Col Worthm1n received a call from 

~------------------~Jis working with an IDA 

study group at Martin-Denver. This study group is working on 

image enhancement. He desires the three volumes of the GAMBIT 

extended life system analysis. Col Worthman set up a meeting for 

me with I I at 1500 on June 18. 

I met witH~----~I and~-------~ security officer 

for ORD on June 18 and discussed the documents. The Jason Committee of IDA is doing a study on image analysis and enhancement 

to be led by I ~f the University of California at San Diego. 

~----~ 

stated that the effort has Mr. Helms' support and that 

Mr. Helms had said that any security access could be provided to 

any members of the Committee. The Jason Committee has already 

had an NPIC briefing, has obtained briefings from contractors, and 

is presently asking for information on camera systems. 

I stated t ~------------~that to our knowledge 

the study was not sponsored by the NRO and we have been directed 

not to provide information to individuals or groups who do not 

directly assist the conduct of the NRP. At this point ~----~ 

stated that the discussion was be ond the scope of his activities 

and they asked ~~-----~~to join.:the meeting. I discussed 

the situation with~----~~ and he decided it was beyond the 

scope of his activities. Finally, I visited Mr. Chapman, who is 

the head of ORD for DDS&T. I iterated for Mr. Chapman my earlier 

statements to~---------~ I told Mr. Chapman that if the 

documents are required, Dr. Mc Lucas is the only individual who 

can authorize the Jason Committee to have them. I informed Mr. 

Chapman that if their activities are sponsored by NPIC, NPIC has 

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available KEYHOLE manuals on the KH-8 system which may solve 

their information problem. Mr. Chapman understood our position 

and has asked Carter to review the KH-8 manual to see if it satisfies 

the information requirements of the Jason Committee. If the 

KH-8 manual does not satisfy the requirements, a request will be 

forthcoming to Dr. McLucas. 

In the context of peripheral information, I understand that 

DDS&T is sponsoring the Jason Committee by contract, although it 

appears that Chapman was not very thrilled with their studying 

image analysis. Further, I understand tha~----~(I believe 

IDA) has talked to Dr. Foster and Dr. Flax on this subject. 

When I returned to the Pentagon, ~-----~called to ask 

the control number on the KH-8 manual, which I provided to him. 

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1 July 69 

Col Allen from H. Davis: 

Dr. Flax ealled; some mixl..up in releasing a document. I had 

suggested it be released. Flax advised Allen not to release it. He 

called me; he had made a mistake: it should be released. No extra 

clearances are involved. I ~s mad at Flax. Flax misunderstood. 

He now agrees with me that it should be released. 

Davis/S 

~~ Q'"JZ~?!<' ,) 1.t~ 

W,e._ {rt --~- I/-} . el. 41.iia..::> 

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June 27, 1969 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD 

On June 27, Col Allen discussed the Jason Committee image 

enhancement study with Dr. Flax. Col Allen related the substance 

of his conversation with Dr. Flax to me: 

Dr. Flax did not believe that the Jason Committee needed the 

detailed specifications of our systems. He felt that the material 

in the KH manuals was sufficient for the purposes of the Jason 

Committee study. 

~---~ 

Col Allen spoke to me later on and suggested that I call Mr. 

~---~ 

CIA, and tell him of Col Allen's conversation with Dr. 

Flax and state that he did not indorse the study and felt that the 

KH ri:i/3,/;J/ documents were sufficient. I suggested to Col Allen 

that I talk with Mr. Chapman rather tha ~-----~since 

Mr. Chapman had been the individual in a position to make a 

decision on the problem. At 1530 I called Mr. Chapman and stated 

that Col Allen had had discussions with Dr. Flax and they both 

agreed that the detailed specifications did not appear to be necessary for the Jason study. I stated that the information contained 

in the KH manuals was considered sufficient. I further added that 

we did not indorse the Jason committee study. I stated that should 

information be required by the Jason Committee on system characteristics ,,;;we O}~,t~{b~ ad to address specific requests. Mr. 

Chapman,,· not ta "umbrage II with that and that probably the 

only area where information would be required would be on the 

question of error budget. I stated that should the Jason Committee 

still require this documentation we would appreciate it if Mr. Duckett 

would express that request to Col Allen. I also told Mr. Chapman 

that if the Jason Committee needs specific information we might be 

able to provide briefings or possibly even a representative to consult 

with the Jason Committee. Mr. Chapman requested that I call 

and state that the documents were not available and 

that if he had any further discussion on this, was to ~-----~ 

talk to Mr. Chapman. 

I attempted to cal ~-----~ but on this date he was on 

sick leave. 

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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 

MEMORANDUM 

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