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MEMORANDUM FOR DIRECTOR, NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE 

SUBJECT: Implementation of OPIC Agreements 

References: (a) Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on 

Overseas Processing and Reporting -

26 February 1965. CAtch #1) 

(b) Memorandum for the United States 

Intelligence Board, subject: Overseas 

Handling, Processing and Reporting on 

Selected Nationally Programmed Photographic Reconnaissance Missions (USIBD-46.l/2) - 21 June 1967 (Atch #2~ 

Memorandum for USIB, same subject, 

(USIB-D-4l.ll/4) - 1 June 1965 CAtch #3) 

1. In December of 1964, the DNRO directed the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee "to review and update policies 

and procedures for overseas handling, processing, and reporting of sensitive photographic reconnaissance missions." 

2. In late February 1965, the Ad Hoc Committee reported 

the results of their review to the DNRO, with their recommendations. . These recommendations were the following: 

a~ The previQUS 1957 CIA/USAF URPIC Ope~atlons Agreements would be cancelled. 

b. Two Overseas Processing and Interpretation Centers 

(OPIC) would be established. The Asian Center would continue 

at the 67th Recon Tech Sqdn in Yokota. A new European OPIC 

should be manned and operated by the 7499th Support Group and 

the 497th Recon Tech Sqdn at Wiesbaden, Germany and designated 

OPIC-E. 

c. The mission of the OPIC was defined as follows: "It 

shall be t·he mission of the OPIC I s to process, reproduce and 

report on such reconnaissance missions as directed by the NRO 

wi th the .. advice of the USIB." The report was submitted to the 

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DNRO on 26 February 1965 with the concurrence of DIA/USAF/ 

CIA and NPIC. DNRO approved the report and forwarded it to 

the USIB. On 21 June 1967, USIB (by Memorandum USIB-D-46.1/2) 

approved the statement of Policy included as Tab "A" of the 

Ad Hoc report. USIB further concurred infue designation of 

both Yokota and Wiesbaden as OPIC's. 

3. In their report, the Ad Hoc Committee recommended that 

responsibility for the establishment and operation of the OPIC's 

be the joint responsibility of the .NRO, the COMOR, the DIA, 

NPIC and the military departments. The NRO was essentially 

responsible for certification of operational capability, provision of technical assistance and quality standards and basic 

guidance on National plans (as required). The COMOR for overall 

mission/policy guidance and specifically current listings of 

USIB (COMOR) reconnaissance ·requirements. DIA is to act as 

executive agent for NRO/COMOR/NPIC contacts with the OPIC, with 

NPIC providing the background data base on target objectives 

through DIA. The military services through the unified and 

specified commands are responsible for insuring that "adequate" 

facilities, personnel, equipment and supplies for processing 

(and exploitation) are provided the OPIC's in accordance with 

the standards established by the NRO. 

4. These are the basic outlines of the Agreements which 

established the OPIC facilities in Europe and Asia in 1965. 

The Statement of Policy approved by the USIB on 21 June 1967, 

however, also fUrther limited the responsibilities of an OPIC 

by the definition contained in its title as follows: 

"Policy and Procedures for Overseas Handling, 

Processing and Reporting on Selected Nationally 

Programmed Photographic Reconnaissance Missions 

(Excluding Satellite Reconnaissance)" 

By these limiting words, the OPIC's were approved and so 

designated to support only selective National programs - and 

then only the aeronautical programs. 

5., OPIC-A in Yokota was activated fully in 1967 in order to 

support Black Shield as a National aeronautical program. However, when the ORI was performed, it was found not operationally ready from the standpoint of training and equipment. Since 

the NRO is responsible for the "emergency procurement and shipment of photographic processing equipment and supplies", new 

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processors were airlifted in on a "crash" basis and an 

Eastman support team assigned to insure quality control. 

OPIC-A is now processing on the basis of national standards 

for the SR-7l Giant Scale missions. The 67th had in being 

a data base computer capability, and in early 1968 the NRO 

also provided an approved secure data link between Yokota, 

SAC, DIA and the NPIC which allowed direct distribution of 

the SR-7l mission recorder data and, as required, intelligence data base update by DIA. 

6. OPIC-E in Wiesbaden, while approved by the USIB in June 

of 1967, has not been activated. Clean room facilities were 

constructed for the 7499th Support Group, through the support 

of the DNRO, in late 1964. However, primarily because of 

Asian priorities, little more has been done about its activation. In the past year, in recognition of the continuing 

instability in Europe, the NRO Staff, after discussion with 

DIA did budget for some of the key (long lead) items for 

OPIC-E. These are: Fultron processors similar to those in 

use in OPIC-A at Yokota; supporting chern mix equipment and 

Niagra printers. 

7. Wiesbaden is a designated OPIC but from our present knowledge of its status, it could not process national products 

in an approved manner. It is approximately in the same condition as was Yokota when Black Shield was assigned. To update 

Yokota on a crash basis was expensive. Therefore, in view 

of the present European political climate, it is believed 

timely to take the steps necessary to place it in an ORr 

condition in an economical manner. The OPIC Agreements stipulate the minimum (by type) of processing equipments required 

of an OPIC. The majority of these are on hand in the NER, or 

in the case of the fultron processors, in production. It 

would seem prudent to start the installation of this equipment now, and bring OPIC-E up to standard following which an 

ORI can be arranged. However, in addition to the processing 

capability, there is one other decision that must be reached -

and that is with regard to the reporting capability stipulated 

in the Agreement. Yokota had on hand a computer which is 

essential in today's National reconnaissance operations. To 

the best of our knowledge, there are no plans for one to be 

installed in Wiesbaden. Exploitation is the responsibility 

of DIA; however, the NRO would be responsible for providing 

both secure communications and a data link as provided for 

Yokota. The costs schedules and means of providing this link 

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is also essential for the transmission of the mission data 

from the SR-71 if it is deployed to Europe. ~/ 

8. In conclusion, it is requested that the DNRO approve the 

following actions to establish OPIC-E in Wiesbaden: 

a. A survey should be made as soon as possible of the 

7499th/497th facilities to determine their current status and 

actions required to install the equipment required for OPIC-E. 

.1 

b. The NRO Staff be authorized to withdraw the required 

equipments from the NER and in coordination with the Air Staff, 

DIA and Hq USAFE, install the items of processing equipment 

required by TAB C of the OPIC report of 26 Feb 65. The majority 

of the equipments required are on hand or in production. Additional costs will be primarily install ation and checkout costs. 

c. DIA be requested to update the EUCOM billet structure 

to establish the necessary clearances for OPIC-E. 

d. The NRO communications staff be authorized to establish 

the required data communications/data processing center (similar 

to the AFSPPF facility) as outlined in TAB A of this memorandum 

on a standby basis. First year costs (including one-time costs) 

are estimated at $670,000 with annual costs of $123,000 or less, 

as noted in the communications plan. This would be the primary 

new cost for the establishment of OPIC-E. Communications fund-. 

ing support for the NRP is provided through AFCS. 

e. That upon completion of the actions outlined above, and 

the necessary training period, that the NRO Staff certify OPIC-E 

as a National processing facility as outlined in the 1965 Agreements. 

/ ,('U II,,};',; ) 

3 Atch FRANK W. HARTLEY,! JR. 

Colonel, USAF 

Director, Program D 

Approved 

Disappro-v-e-d~---------

2:./ While there are staff discussions as to the need of another 

SAC OL in Europe, we assume that proceSSing for the SR-71 

would be accomplished at the·· OPIC in the same manner and for 

the same reasons as the Kadena/Yokota arrangements - unless 

the OPIC Agreements were cancelled. 

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