DOWNGRADED AT 12 YEAR INTERVALS; 

NOT AUTOMATICALLY DECLLSSIFIED 

DOD DTR. 5'00.10 

PHILIP F. 

Deputy Under Socratary 

(intemotionai Affairs) 

. - • 

Attoclunent 

',IS 67 -4 95O/1G 

SAF-GC 

SAF-SL ✓ 

SAF-USI Subj 

SAF-USI RF 

SAF-AAE 

SAF-SL 

NIZQA'PRReVED FOR 

RPSE 1 JULY 2015 

February 24, 1767 

V. Dir 

T. Dir 

Info 0 

Sec 0 

SLA 

SLM 

SLP 

V MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF, USAF 

suagal MOL Requirement at Easter island 

SLS 

SLR 

SL Read 

SCG Read 

SAF-SS 

SAF-SS9 

1.• 

The MOL Program has a rovirament for a staging base in the South Pccific 

Ocean from which to conduct search and rescue operations in the event of on 

abort. Easter Wand, a possession of the Government of Chile, is a seogrophically suitable location from which to conduct such operations, and the existence 

of an airfield there acrd -permanent installation make it economically 

the most advantageous site. The Goverrar.ent of Chile hos csreed In principle 

to our use of Easter !stand for this purpose, =Id the Department of State has 

agreed that our un&::ntc.viciin---4- be formalized by en exchange of letters between 

you and General Errazuriz. These letters would provide 0 basis for f..ie Air 

Force to neGotiote detailed arrangements with the Chilean Air Foret, far the 

operations and their support. As you will recoil, your exchange of letters last 

year with General Errozuriz constitutes our formai ageernent with the Chilean 

Air Force facilities in Chile, and those letters have served as a 

model for the proposed lett= on MOL operations. 

if you concur, we propose to request that State send the otre,z1-4.....' !nzssacie 

contoininr, the praised letters, to our Em b=y icy Senna o. if the totters are 

acceptebre to the Chilean Government and Air Forces we would thon request 

that you sign the *geed letter to General Errozuriz. 

Lieutonont General L.f. Davis, AFSC, and Brigadier General Rwtit, AFXOP, 

have been briefed on this approach, and the letters and this memorandum have 

been coordinated with Molar General Evans, SAF41,.. 
••• 

NRO APP „OWED FOR 

REC. 1 JULY 2015 

ACTIONI ..AnlEmbessy SANTIAGO:, 

5UBJECTs :„. MOL- • Ecster Island 

STA DEFENSE MESSAGE 

After response received to Emhosey's Ai Xieteoirts re MC,1 operation . on 

• 

Easter Island next step lxhould be exchange_of lett = between Air Force Chiefs of 

. • 

• . 

Staff.:Proposed text for letter front Geeral,McConnell lend suggested reply from • 

„Generol Ertoeuriz 

Dear General Errazurizt 

Govern.nent he =storied to the USAF the lapOnsibility for deVetoping 

• a capability for rescuing astronauts who may have to ateke an emorgeacq 

• 

lag la the South Pacific Ocean. The tiS/4 would very much oppreclate 

• cssistance and cooperation of the Air. Force of Chile,in the development of a 

capcatliry to conduct search and rescue operations in support of treztnc spaze 

I undentend that Chilean Air Force? airport facilities at Motoveri 

Easter would be a suitable location from which to ear duct puck oporatlar4. 

I would suzzest that proposed Seettch ond rescue operations be conducted 

'Wilily by the USAF and the-Air farce; of Chile celd that the provisions of the 

Mutuol Defense Assistance Agreement of 1952 be mode appliaable to tills 

effort. I would further sUggest that Motaveri airport fo'cilities be used for this 

, . • 

purpose, and that, since Ienvision that these facilities will be required for a 

' •!, • 

substantioi period of Hine,' thei.4e'rnade .availablo for a MintreUrn of ten years 

• 
cr4 afterwards until ono" year after either Air Fore; gives notice of its desire 

to discontinue the toinfoperottons. 

; 

if thosa proi)osals are accepted by the Mr Force of Chile, I shell clionoto; 

= USA offieers who call.Svork cut mutuolly satisfactory Wei kd orranceeleas with 

Dear Gencrol'h4Connell: 

hlii ecopition of the scientific value of =mad spaco fil,ght and out of 

consideration for thlt It'afoty of cstronauts, ti-,a Air Force of alio welcomes to 

opportunity to assist and cooperate with tho United Stoter: Air Forza in developto make, an emerzency landing in the South Pocifia Ocean. am pleased 

toined in your letterere entirety aecepteLla 

I shell oppointofficers of the Ait..foree Chit a who will fro'rt4 with 

44g:caeca United States Air Faroe dicers "ecIncluding rnutuaily satisfactie 
NRO P GED FOR.: 

E 1 JULY 2015:. 

will be sent to grabazy for delivery to. General Errazuriz, and General Errazuriz 

• 4 

should si c,r1 his reply at that 

J. view of previous exchonze of letters 1-4tween Chiefs, we do not forciea . 

that GOC or FAC' wilt have any serious difficulty with proposals except possibly 

sentence on tenure. We rer,ord tenure provision as verf important since USAF anti-. 

cipates it will require uSa of Coster Island for taetontial pagod.of :time end in Vicw.of.:: 

Conaresslonal intere.st ire tenure rif;rits when lartIe expenditures or reque.Iterl for 

reancit: construction. If GOC or FAO: seriously object to length of terra, we con: 

accept five year initial.period. If oftor explanation cf it of to provision 

• . - : - • • . 

to USG, GCC or EACH should :elect inclusion of any t.snvre prevision in.lettcrs or 

they desire any other substantive c1-4cnoes, Embassy NT:lasted furnish detailed repor 

 • • • • .• : • .. 

arca larzzautaildcticals for further WcishInoton consideration. 

4.- After loiters have seen sloe d, arrangements will be made throuah Eatba'Ay • 

for USAF representatives to meet with MACH officers to conclude details. 

• 

y• 

:• .