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14 September 1019

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Owleral Thomas D. Whit.

Chief et Stall

United States Air roses

Wm:Mayon 23, D. C.

Dear General White:

AF recommends RIP

I am deeply concerned ever the WOOS which are bast jag .

the SAMOS Program. These welds lave jeopardised the Air /Awes

objective to achieve the capability al perierming satellite rocasnalessece is the visual and brut areas is satiseassies el stated

natioual intelligeece requirements.

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a. ARPA directed in Jass et Ws year a delerment of the . •• recoverable capsule planned ter the SAMS Program sad withdrew ;

all IrT *60 program support tos this ponies el the system. Os

4 September ARPA authorised s to pressed is as extremely Ratted • 4.% t•

babies ea canals leafs lead time items, bet as yet have set d•rifisd • •

the twang states. lastead, we are impaired to sole rommauese this • *"

ponies and provide a detailed technical and leading breakdown item y . •

!tem against projected madhly expeadits“ rates. The Air Peres has • .:1

reacted to ARPA's :Mies by ladseiski• sad yetis net esigtallsed es the :•;•;,=.!

opportunity to place this vital element al the program wader Arm Al, '•

Force centres. In this particular case I strengly realism the facts "

and reconanwedatioss made to you in my letter el 1 Assume 1159. •

again emphatically urge immediate positive Mr Fens support oe the .

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b. ARPA funding support of the SAMOS R&D prevent has bees •

narked by ch•ngleg decides which denote essestially • sheathes where -

we are leveed into • d•y.to-day type planning tor .sudust el the pregrana.::..•5,•r:

totablialusent el • logical plea and executise se that plaa is terms et .

sreeereaseet. scheduling, preemies, test and opeastiee of SAMOS hal

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01 major censers to me are the problem areas that fellow: .

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bee* reaolere4 seireatially impossible. I dieessesi Wit iiatter aloe •

la say letter to yea of 1 Aegast. I well recognise the erect deleterious

effect the ehaegiag WA *seal plane hers ea the Air terse Seed • •

portion el the R&D program. The eersially reeelpgatml and aseepesi

vespeasibilitios et ARPA sag the Air Terse make

it appropriate that the Air Twee Lund and tapper! the ape

aspect at SAMOS. Tasting aathexisades EININS the Air Twee is rewired

immediately to permit ideation procuremeat actions aseessary in

the planned sportier' program if we are to rotate October 1%1 as the

date we are to realise operational capability. To date. I bum ea

received official nod/leaden aa Air Verse decision regardiug the

extent at loading semen Owned ter either the R&D se operational

programs et SAMOS.

c. A oats el indecidens ousts within the Al, Twee as to the 

pleased availability of the Vandeaberg Launch Complex iS-1 fee nee is •

the operating pardon of the SAMOS Program. Although this has bees

a much diseased point by niondiere of be* the Air Vesper Beard sad

the Air Commit. the Mg usAr imissasse AZOOP•IL 1111T4S06 to lit SAC ' .

stating that Launch Complex 454 will set be made widish** to Ole

SAMOS Program is the latest official prier d which I have keeidedgo. • '121?

Considerable augmeatatioa of bath TT *40 and PT Air ?err fend '

requiseassata tow the operational SAMOS Program is needed immediately ;;;;...•::

if SAMOS is deprived the use el 63-1. to attempt to maintain the integrity •

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of the SAMOS schedule.

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""AVY d. There is growing crews that the problems associated with ' • : •

construction and use of the PS Point Arguello complen for the SAMOS - 44

R&D larches are Weyer's* and threaten to slip the planned SAMOS .

launch schedule. Although this is uadoubtedly part d the overall • ..!:•lf Navy/Air Verge Phil problem. my people are Mermeng tops* INS

with the job as expeditiorly as possible in *is area regardless of the . •

overall eituatios. Detinitisatiee of Ister-service roles and revert. • beide. at Pt. Arguello ter SAMOS will be required. particularly whoa

It is becoming clear that overseer' launches should also be coasidered •

e. I received a letter dated S August from Gm.= y. Anbjecd . • •

(V) Assignment of Operational Pluming Responsibility." eildch assigidel

the operational pleasing responsibeity of SAMOS to SAC and rescinded

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all ether preview erectives Ode Is view d the matting . • • . • • 'i.:.i.,4

policy with respect to spas* the Seerdary d legatee and . • • '''• '-

... AIWA agreed te the the Air Verse se IN swathed • 2 • ::;. . L. • respossibility for the pregrain NO 611 /ADC ter the am* . ?.....:- .. ,..i..

several years awl sell lad ebjestiveo US *Weed. lakes Skews .; oe• •

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has bees a major shift Is wolead pokey It appears that there Is sense ..

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essiblieity is the S Avow directive. It Ns cortaialy bona mole clear •,•:

to me that Al= is to Wildly be the speraties esmanaal ler the . .:

system. letter did net sewed altering Oda arraege-• • -

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...; As the 641111111111111 responsible few operetta. the system. AZDC . • . (.. ,,

must accomplish the pleasing required to effectively Will these

respeasibilities sed-Halliweetrboortiossrearbe •enpesteide•beeense • '

lbrampreibUblywiltIMIRINIONSIMMISw la eseardaase with all

previous directives I bare waited est wilt Coassel Pliffer an taint.. • ! c . ' . •

command agreement as was approved by the VierellenfillOr 1#1**0.• z ..% ..•

: ••• 'Melt provides ler joist speratieed plawdei by SAC sea AIM. ' • This agreemeat bas bees upheld and augnssated Is detail. HOYMMNis I '

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a recent message Irma the Aix Sun to SAC directed that SAC subonft . .. ,

a preliminary speraliese plan to Kt USAir. I consider thst this Islay .*.-. ,. " 14•::::.

responsibility sat ant preparlas the asmassury *ado' desumentatles - • •••.: :'•• • 1:

. •-: ter ceerdiesties with ihe Stralegle Alt Cemmead prier to submittin ••:,••, ... •• . - .• ea

to the Air Steer ter approval. .

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Is adulates to the pleads( ter the system operation wad orgaid.. • ..:C!

stational comemead awl whodaistratien that is preseady being dam .4 -4. T:1

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jobs*, by SAC awl MUM. there is a respdrerasat ter same detailed • planniag la the ineelligeace requirasents area. 14. am !eel that ASDC'.• ••• • 3'

is is a poetess to provide this bled d plawdas. It would appear fla• • • .

that Is view d the SAC responsibility to presses sal dieat. all . ••• .

"live false" dudes both the OW and eve:stead phases. SAC shed*

also preside AMC with the required detailed iatelligease ebjestivea .

is terms d priority areas et interest. photo sod MUST sewerage ' •• rk.71

requirements. treginecy d repeat coverage by area and .Sher dstellet e -,: • •

eye:edema requirements as apps I assume this bind el planting

is welded to be the SAC respeasibility eudiaed la GeneeddiallimIs 11147:11*,,

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letter.

Is ceadnelas. it is my uwierstaading that there bas beim as diem*

Is the eatienal policy with respect to space operations. irsather. the . • • r..,.?.:Teh,

requirement bet ARDC to esonnwed. administer. sad operate the /AMOS •

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eyeless three* the median el the 4594th Test Wingis Win valid..

Tingly. I assume this operettas, with MC as a elassifted sliest

partner, will a the ?elitism& atesesphere dears sad

permits spas treader el the erganiailliest pereensid. and facilities

to SAC.

I am proceeding with one amnia plowing and progrananing

as outlined above and would appreciate war sennseats ea ray views.

Is view el the naslanal importance elthe SAMOS Program and

the pave itipaet delayed dodgems sea have ea the Air recce capability

to satlidy unload Intelligente sygnireateetes I snugly ergs est

a liras Air Twee position be estaWlshed regarding the SAMOS Program,

that loading amisss he takes be permit iinplententalioa el the program

activities required is support el that position. sad that cedes be tam

at the highest levels to resolve the ArMary postdate regarding the

Pt. Arguello problems.

dincerely.

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Z. A. 11Cialilirtli

Ususeaant General, USAF .

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ammonium

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efia. kria0.44 (4=11 Ette:tzi-i)

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