S~T:tn : A65 7 ~ 

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USCIB: 13.7/41 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE MEMBERS OF USCIBEC: 

Subject: Categorization of COMINT. 

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APPENDED DOCUMENT CONTAINS 

CODEWORD MATERIAL 

18 May 1955 

Reference: USCIB 13.7/35 of 20 September 1954. 

1. The enclosed reconnnendation by the Air Force Member of USCIB to 

assign certain COMINT to Category I is circulated herewith together with 

comments by the NSA Member indicating difficulty in reaching agreement 

amongst the intelligence agency representatives on the Air Force proposal. 

2. Accordingly, this matter will be included on the agenda for discussion and resolution at an early meeting of USCIBEC. 

Enclosure 

NSA Serial 3222 dtd 11 May 1955. 

USCIB: 13.7/41 

aptain, U. • Navy 

ax:j!!t.CJ,.lirr.i ve Secretary, USCIB 

kPPEiNBBB BOOUMill'i' GON'i':A:INS 

SOm!iWORB !tA'fER!Afi 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 01-26-2015 pursuantto E .0. 1352a 

SECRE'f24 
SfifilEfn : A65 7 Q 

• 

NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY 

WASHINGTON 25, D. C. 

Serial: 3222 

ll MAY 1955 

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, USCIB 

SUBJECT: Categorization of COMINT 

l. In accordance with the provisions of USCIB 13.7/35, the 

attached request for assignment of COMINT information to Category-

! was subrnj.tted by the Chief of Staff, USAF, to the Director, NSA. 

2. It was not possible to receive the approval of the 

intelligence agency representatives with whom this agency must 

coordinate actions in the assignment 0£ COM.INT to the various 

categories. In view of the wide scope of the request, important security considerations, and possible relationship of the 

request to the recent recommendation of the Killian Committee, it 

was conside~ed the matter should be referred to USCIB. 

3. It is requested that action be undertaken to place this 

ma.tter before USCIB or USCIBEC as you consider appropriate. 

FOR THE DIRECTOR: 

In closure 

a/s 

(Signed) 

JOHN B. ACKERMAN 

Major General, U.S. Air Force 

Vice Director 

APPENDED DOCUMENTS CONTAIN 

COPEWORD MATERIAL 

~BLE 11r!A eOMIN'f etb\fllffiLS ONfif 

Enclosure with USCIB 13.7/41 dtd 18 May 1955. 

SECRl!!'f 
AFOIN-1A3 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

Headquarters United States Air Force 

Washington 25, D. C. 

SUBJECT: (Seni'id:en'bie:l) Categorization of Comint 

TO: Director 

National Security Agency 

3801 Nebraska Avenue 

Washington 25, D. C. 

SS#l2,404 

19 APR 1955 

1. Reference is made to USCIB 13.7/35 wherein you were 

designated as the USCIB "Agent responsible for the preparation 

and maintenance of lists of Comint assigned to categories. 

2. Concepts in Air Force planning for tactical Comint support 

of air commanders are based primarily upon the passing of Category 

I Comint to non-indoctrinated persons of the air operations system. 

In order that maximum operational benefit consistent with security 

may be derived therefrom, Comint close-support plans must be a 

reality in all overseas theaters, as well as the Zone of Interior, 

before the outbreak of hostilities. 

3. As Comint is presently categorized, Radio Squadrons, 

Mobile in support of air units facing an enemy in other than the 

South China area are not permitted to pass information derived 

from enemy air voice traffic to U.S. air controllers without prior 

approval. It is therefore vital that action be taken now to approve 

for ~ediate assignment to Category I all information of immediate 

operational use and of extreme perishable nature resulting from the 

monitoring of enemy air defense circuits, voice-ground controller, 

and air-to-air voice and/or CW traffic, regardless of the nationality 

or origin or language employed. 

4. It is recommended that the "assigned" Category I be reconstituted to include the following: 

a. Plain-text tactical or operational traffic emanating 

from either ground or airborne transmitters, which relates to the 

activity and/or control of aircraft, early warning, artillery 

direction and movement of front line units, regardless of the 

language employed or point of origin. This does not include the 

results of advanced traffic analysis or interpretations of complex 

changing call-sigp systems derived from Category II or III sources. 

b. Procedural and map reference systems used in conjunction 

sRl PIVnr 
55#12,404 

19 APR 1955 

with material listed in paragraph 4a above except those specifically 

assigned to Category II or III. 

c. Crypt intelligence from Naval tactical maneuvering 

codes, when used as such, and from jargon codes. 

d. Traffic intelligence and crypt intelligence from analysis 

of radar tracking reports and visual observation reports as found in 

tactical or operational traffic, provided that interpretations of 

complex changing call-sign systems are not included. This includes 

low-level enciphered position reports and related data derived from 

Soviet bloc air defense and navigational nets except as specifically 

excluded. 

e. Comint concerning weather which is derived from Category 

I Com.int sources. This includes "by-product" weather intelligence 

derived from sources described in sub-paragraphs a and b above. 

f. Traffic intelligence relating to D/F mission assignments, 

bearing reports and fix reports (i.e., Target frequencies, callsigns, 11piped signals", other signal information, bearings and fixes), 

provided that no interpretations of complex changing call-sign 

systems are included. 

5. In accordance with the reference, it is requested you take 

the action necessary for accomplishing the categorization of Com.int 

as described in paragraph 4 above. 

FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF: 

- 2 -

(Signed) 

MILLARD LEWIS 

Major General, USAF 

Deputy Director of Intelligence