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This document contains information referring to Projects: 

OXCART/TAGBOARD 

(CLASSIFICAT10N) 
SUBJECT: 

Approved for Release: 2018/11/16 C05114820 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON 25, D.C. 

26 March 1965 

~ / 

OXCART/TAGBOARD Flight Test Progr 

Contingency Procedures ~ 

The quoted statement for TAGBOARD was C ordinated 

with Generals LeBailly and Casey prior to d·ssemination. 

It was their suggestion, as stated in ADIC ,223, that 

release in the event of emergency was to be! only on an 

"if inquired" basis. They do not retain this statement 

in their files but understand it will be provided them 

as required. 

8YE-38331/65 1 4 

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'B~@tll Bt~~n Approved for Release: 2018/11/16 C05114820 

BYE-38331-65 

Cy 1 of 2 copies 

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;.' . 

I 

I OXCART 

SAfSS 

Mr. Mazza/nac/22 Mar 65 

1%5 ~l/\r 2S 09 I' 05 ,/ .1.:;:( . 

MEMOR.ANDID4 FOR COLON~ LEO P. GEARY, AFlGO-S 

SUBJEC1': OXCART/TAGBOARD Flight Test Program 

Contingency Procedures 

I have reviewed ADIe 1223 which sets ;forth uEmergency Procedures for Tagboard Flight Testsll in conjunction with 

BYE oxe 6873 (Emergency Procedures for Non-operational A-12 

Flights) which the former supplements for purposes of this 

test program. I find that these documents set £orth sound 

procedures and are lucid in every respect, with the possible 

exception that it is not clear wha.t specific informa.tion 

will be released by SAPOI in response to inquiry in the event 

of a mishap. 

It is my understanding that the language appearing in 

paragraph 2 of ADIC 1223; "This vehicle is a supersonic 

test bed deSigned to further investigate the phenomena associated with supersonic flight, especially the various 

stress factors encountered at high speedsH relates to the 

Tagboard drone vehicle. The cover story prescribed in BYE 

oxe 6873, Section V, A, 2: "The aircraft is an F-l2 

(presumably we will now use the YF-12-A designator) and is 

the property of the U.5.'· Air Foree and is presently involved in 

a classified research problemH relates of course to the A-12 

vehicle. 

A mishap aight occur under anY' number of circumstances 

whieh might result in exposure of: (1) the Tagboarddrone only; (2) the A-12 vehicle only; (3) or both. It is not clear from 

the present plan if in too event of exposure s1 tuation #1, we 

would gratul tausly confirm: tn-e Y-l2A as being the launch 

vehicle, if in the event of exposure situation #3 just how the 

two cover statements would be linked, and it is also not clear 

as to what, if anything, would be-said concerning the point 

of departure of the drone or the A-12 (depending on the 

circumstance) • 

OXCART 

i , , 

DISTRIBUTION: 

1 to Addressee 

2 to Prog Dir B 

3 to SS-3 

4 to RF #1 

f -. ·~r~ . .2.'l])J·:~i-G; 

, APPlY 

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Approved for Release: 2018/11/16 C05114820 

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OXCART . ~ 

I teel it is impQZtant that SAPO! be g1venat this 

time an approved statement (or statements) which leave no 

area for misunderstanding lOr that they are advised that no 

statement will be released until such time as specific - direction has been Biven by the Under Secretary of the Air 

Foree resulting from a careful examlnation of all known c1~tance8 relating to the incident. 

Copy to: 

PropUl Director B 

OXCART 

2 

JAMES T. STEWART 

Brigadier General, USAF 

Director 

lfflO Staff 

.... Approved for Release: 2018/11/16 C05114820