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AIR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMAND

23 November 1938

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kilIMORANDUM FOR MORAL ANDORSON

SUBJECT: Meeting with Mr. Dick Resell, General Flicidspr and Colonel Appold

The following limns repress* the esseutial points covenid in the

subject mesdag this dote. Mr. Bissell Indicated that his agreement with

General Smart's direcdves to you was related to the postal intuit to clarify

Air Force sad other organisations' relations sad responsibilities is the Corms

Program. He told, however, diet to accomplish in detail what °moral Smart

desires may seriously compromise the security of the program and agreed

that the Presidia might also object from a seaway paha at view.

Mr. Wesell also was wareinely cosceraed over the action of

Mr. Cesare at ARIA, priedpally with most to die most recent efforts os

the part of Cesare to sat up a visit directly with Hammen, thus by-passing

the Agency, DAD, aid ARDC Hemiluerters. He gemmed that you discuss

Oesaro's acdees with regsrd to the 117L Program with Mr. Dick Homer at

your wiliest convadeece.

Regard log the financial sinisdes, Mr. Bissell indicated that for the

remalader of gds 'Wad er, the Apices cadribudons is the smolt of

approximately .

comae purposes was assured but that the

please for sissified. At this point, he also stated that

It was imports" that Cameral Walsh be Weigle In as the program is order

that diectissioes betwese the Agsecy and the Air Force could miss* regarding

the cost of procesidris roducts of the Corms shots. This apparently

MOWS roved ambers. .

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la con eecdas with the above, Mr. Bissell was concerned over the •

possible adjustments which WA must snake regarding 117L in fiscal yaw

1960 slate the WA budget ceiling is being equeseed to a. figure of

appradmately 300 million for all space activities. This probity will

affect the. support dot AM cos give 117L la 1960.
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Regarding the Smart directives, Mr. Bissell concurs that the

over-all program appraisal and reports which are desired to be prepared

following that appraisal be reduced in scope, that the number of individuals

involved in the review or appraisal be limited, and that extreme care be

exercised in the preparation of and distribution of new reports. He agreed

that perhaps Colonel Sheppard (IIMD), General Friedman, USAF Comptroller,

General Anderson, General Flickinger and Colonel Appold would be a team

of sufficient size and capability to conduct an appraisal of the program and

prepare a suitable report. As a framework for this action, he released a

copy of a letter to General Smart, dated 25 November 1958, which outlines

Mr. Bissell's understanding of the responsibilities of the organizations

concerned with Project Corona.

Mr. Bissell made the statement that several aspects of the 117L

Program appear to be in a state of confusion and that the Air Force judgment

and thinking should be submitted to ARPA in an effort to influence the follow-on

117L Program (reference here is specifically made to the proposed limited

number of Atlas boosted 117L reconnaissance packages).

7. As you know, General Flicldnger and I stand ready to participate

in the conduct of the appraisal effort pending the outcome of your discussions

with General Smart. You were also going to inquire as to the suitability of

naming myself as the Washington area central point of contact on Corona

matters between the Agency, ARPA and the Air Force.

Colonel, USAF

Assistant to Deputy Commander/Weep.=

Systems

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