HEADQUARTERS

AIR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMAND

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

Peri 1 DEC i958

SUBJECT: Project DISCOVERY

TO: Assistant Vice Chief of Staff
Headquarters USAF
Washington 25, D.C.

1. It is my understanding that the questions asked
in sub-paragraphs 2a through 2e of your letter (subject
classified) of 19 November 1958 have been adequately
answered by a Memorandum from Mr. Bissell dated 25 November
1958 and in intervening conferences, It is my further
understanding that as a result of our discussion with
General Schriever you no longer require the document
mentioned in sub-paragraph 2f. v

2. Relative to Air Staff participation, the
DISCOVERY program should be handled as an Air Force SECRET
program through channels already established for SENTRY and
with equal priority. Appropriate offices in the Deputy
Chiefs, in AFCIN, SAFIS, AFCGM and AFOOP have been cleared
on the special aspects and for the past several months have
assisted periodically, While an Air Staff focal point is
desirable, such an office must have a self-evident reason
for leading the participation in an exclusively "R&D" program.
My recommendation, and that of Air Staff representatives
present at our 1 December meeting, is that the Director of
Advanced Technology, assisted by one designated subordinate,
be the Air Staff focal point. The above mentioned specially
cleared offices should assist AFDAT‘as required in.
determining any future overall USAF requirements and
policies in support of the currently established program,

3. %It appears to me that if the cover plans are at all
satisfactory then the DISCOVERY program can be supported by
any Air Force element on an "as required" basis. Suitable
directives can be generated by normal Air Staff action
through the procedure mentioned above upon request or in
accordance with the normal DISCOVERY Development Plan.

4, The following comments concern the funding problems
mentioned in sub-paragraph 2h of your 19 November 1958
letter and in your 24 November 1958 letter:

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" @ Generally, the project is limited to a research
and development effort, As such, funding responsibility
rests with ARPA, Operational requirements, even though
initially utilized in support of the effort, are the funding
responsibility of the Air Force, Navy or other Service or
Department as appropriate. The details of funding for
specific items within these general guidelines must be
.derived by referral to the approved program and by coordination
between the Air Force, OSD, et al. As of November 15, such
detailed understanding was in hand, Since that date the
subject of "funding" is again under study due to the desire on
the part of ARPA to modify the progran,

b. Administratively, the Under Secretary of the Air
Force has requested that ARPA funding and programs be
channelled into the Air Staff to assure coordination and
review. This procedure will serve to eliminate the problems
arising early in the program wherein ARPA dealt directly
with Air Force subordinate commands - SAC, ARDC, CINC Alaska,
etc. .

ce. With respect to those items for which procurement
is sensitive, Mr. Bisseil's group has undertaken to furnish
same. There are no problems in this area,

dad. As regards FY 1960 budgeting, discussions held
with the Secretary and Under Secretary of Defense on
26 November indicate preliminary approval of a need to
augment ARPA funding. The dollar amounts finally approved
will be derived by re-programming. They will not be itemized
in the Congressional submit. Certain FY 1960 construction
needs (Air Force} will be budgeted under the WS-117L program.
Such matters as vrocurement cf four (4) added THOR missiles,
though currently unresolved, would eventualiy be funded, by
re-programming, when finally approved,

5. Your letter (subject classified) of 24 November
1958 asked my comments relative to @ public information
release on DISCOVERY. I agree with the substance of the
release and of the comments vrepared for Secretary McIntyre.
It is very urgent that the release be made almost immediately
in order to forestail the increasing number of erronious
press speculations,

6. In addition to the aspects mentioned in your letter,
there are two cther which deserve mention:

a. It is mandatory for reasons of security and it
is our intent to make a complete administrative separation

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of DISCOVERY fron SENTRY. ‘This primarily is a matter

of documentary and program review separation and witl .
be accomplished by AFBMD. Some implementing Air Starr .
action probably will be required. AFBMD can coordinate
directly with the Air Staff focat point. It should be
borne in mind that both DISCOVERY and SENTRY are managed
by cne Program Office and by one prime contractor -
Lockheed. The field management of the programs is
therefore inseparable, However, the time separation of
the two programs and the actual physical separation © .
the sensitive operations adequatily provide for both cover
and security,

bd. It 1s expected that Executive Office approval
will be required to initiate ana continue firings in the
DISCOVERY series. The following procedure is suggested,
Mr. Bissell will be responsible for informing General

AFBMD, as agent, will proceed to fire each vehicle as
determined by technical considerations, and as determined

by weather considerations as furnished by Mr. Bissell'ts

group to AFEMD. Subsequent to each firing a report will

be made to the Executive Office by Mr. Bissell, after
apprepriate coordination, of results and reaction experienced,
and, in the event of no objections from the Executive Office,
Subsequent firings in series will be made pursuant to the
existent schedule,

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