,I0P-SteRET

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

OFFICE or THE CHIEF Off STAFF

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

WASH !ROTOR. D. C.

[CIA[ HANDLING REQUIRED

imuspipwrio

24 November 1958

SUBJECT: Project CORONA-(S

TO: Commander

Air Research & Development Command

-Andrews Air Force Base, D.C.

This letter transmits information relating to Project CORONA

which may be helpful to you in accomplishing the actions requested

in my letter of 19 November, subject as above.

A meeting was held in this office, this date, with Mr. Richard

M. Bissell, Jr of CIA during which the following occurred:

a. Mr. Bissell reaffirmed CIA's responsibilities for Project

CORONA to be:

Over-all security.

Covert procurement.

(3) The preliminary physical processing of the product.

(This is considered to be essential not only for

security reasons but to utilize the specialized

processing equipments and techniques which the

agency has effected through Eastman Kodak.)

b. Mr. Bissell made reference to a memorandum which was

written late last year or early this year which specified, among other

things, CIA's role in Project CORONA, the fact that BAG) would be

the agency responsible for research and development, integration,

procurement, operation of the system, and established CIA-BMD

relationships. A copy of this memorandum will be furnished this

office and forwarded to you upon receipt.

c. Mr. Bissell read my letter to you of 19 November, concurred

in the objective t therein, and reed to work with zour reRresena yes in furthermilrt Aqe .Werves. He expressed the hope, MN.

/;;;;;;;;;1"--Alat dIA's role parti-ZarIctivity and others of a

SPECIAL HANDLING REQUIRED

This decunont consists of 2, pages.

rs 487

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Ltr to Comdr ARDC, Subj: "Project CORONA -481," dtd 24 Nov 58

similar nature would be progressively reduced and eventually be

limited to the receipt of the operational product as one of our

customers. We should help in achieving this.

d. In order to obtain maximum benefit from the product of

CORONA and subsequent systems, specialized equipments will be

required. Much of this equipment can be procured off the shelf.

Other equipment may have to be developed. The character and

amount of equipment required and the skills and numbers of people

required to operate it should be determined as early as practicable.

With this in mind, the Assistant Chief of staff, Intelligence will be

read into Project CORONA and will work with CIA on this matter.

Major General James H. Walsh therefore should be included as one

of the persons in this headquarters with whom representatives of your

command may discuss CORONA. Your assessment of this project

should include inquiry as to adequacy of preparations to exploit fully

the product.

Attached hereto as Inclosure 1 is a copy of a memorandum from

Undersecretary Maclntyre to the Director of ARPA, dtd 17 Nov 58,

Subj: "FY '59 117L Program."

Attached as Inclosure 2 is a draft reply to Inclosure 1 which

was furnished this headquarters for review as to adequacy prior to

signature and dispatch. This headquarters proposes to concur in the

attached memorandum with a request that agreements on funding referred

to in the fourth paragraph of the proposed memorandum be promptly

resolved.

5. Attached as Inclosure 3 is a proposed memorandum to the Secretary

of the Air Force, Subj: "Public Information - Project DISCOVERY," with

two attachments. This memorandum was referred to the Air Force for

review as to adequacy prior to dispatch. This memorandum and attachments thereto are currently being reviewed along with efforts to develop

public relations policy guidance for Vandenberg AFB. USAF reaction

to the proposed memorandum and attachments will be communicated to

ARPA subsequent to 26 November. If you desire to comment upon either

of these matters, your thoughts will be appreciated.

3 Incls

As stated