Se oimesaenanmtticemetn al [tog totos-t0743) « HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS STAFF MEMBERS ns FILE TITLE/NUMBER/VOLUME: HSCA Request Ltr 8 May 1978 OLC 78-1573 RETURNRTOLCA INCLUSIVE DATES: Directorate of S §& T Memo 22 June 1978 CUSTODIAL UNI T/LOCATION : ROOM: DELETIONS, IF ANY: DATE DATE RECEIVED | RETURNED REVIEWED BY (PRINT NAME) SIGNATURE OF REVIEWING OFFICI. 7-10-74 |7 - 1o-78 NO DOCUMENTS MAY BE COPIED OR REMOVED FROM THIS FILE
? 7 ig ROUTING NAME AND ADDRESS DATE = a ©}. w : Top Secret NITIAL Scott Breckenridge, OLC FT (Security Classification) 6D15, Has. fd Ee ee ee ee rap CONTROL NO. SC-01836-78 [ACTION | [OIRECT REPLY =] PREPARE REPLY | Copy [_{APPROVAL —s|~—S([ DISPATCH = RECOMMENDATION] [ {COMMENT | |FlE | [RETURN | LGONCURRENCE | __[ INFORMATION | [SIGNATURE FROM: NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NO. DATE Handle Via ere oh (A fe Channels Access to this document will be restricted to those approved for the following specific activities: Warning Notice Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to C riminal Sanctions Ae Ke sy Top Secret (Security Classification) E2 iMPDET 5 TOS cea As bet od
14-00000 . ' TOP SECRET‘- EIDER - CHESS SC-01836-78 Copy i BS) » orn FOR Oo SUM bs ¢ MEMORANDUM FOR: Office of Legislative Counsel ATTENTION : Scott Breckenridge SUBJECT >: HSCA Request REFERENCE >: HSCA Letter Dated 8 May 78, OLC 78-1573 1. (U) Reference requests access to information in six areas pertaining to the U-2 Project. As you know the U-2 Project files include about 150 boxes and over 650 reels of microfilm, all located at the Records Center. We have reviewed the shelf listing titles to identify pertinent files that might be responsive to the areas of request. The information requested covers an era and an organization which was not a part of this Directorate. As a result much of the corporate memory is no longer available and research of the files by current personnel is time consuming and requires almost a learning process. We have depended a great deal on the written History of the U-2 Project for leads to files and for information contained in this memorandum. 2. (U) The primary interest of reference refers to the U-2 Project, Detachment C, while stationed in Atsugi, Japan. Attached are replies keyed to the six areas in the HSCA letter. 3. (U) We realize that the information supplied by this memorandum does not fully respond to all the areas requested. Because of the broad and encompassing nature of some of the requests in the HSCA letter and the fact that our files are not organized to readily respond to such broad requests we request that the HSCA staff review the material and determine if their requests could be limited or narrowed in some way. Yue 4 Ubi, Thomas G. Ward Acting Executive Officer Directorate of Science and Technology Attachments: As stated a May be downgraded to Unclassified when removed from attachment. CL BY: 469804 TOP SECRET - EIDER - CHESS
14-00000 uP TOP SECRET - EIDER - CHESS Attachment To: SC-01836-~78 SUBJECT: DDS&T Interim Reply to HSCA Request, 8 May 78, OLC 78-1573 General Background: Detachment C advance party of security and communication personnel departed the U.S. for Atsugi, Japan, on 20 February 1957, the second echelon of administrative personnel departed 4 March, and the main body of the detachment with two U-2 aircraft and equipment began deployment on 15 March. On 29 March Headquarters was notified that all personnel and equipment were on base. Operational readiness was forecast for the week of 8 April. Operating procedures and liaison had been accomplished with the following major U.S. components: Far East Air Force 3-3 Far East Command and Theater Commander Agency's| pnd local support unit 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Atsugi Naval Air Station Details or specific operating agreements or procedures with the above components have not been located. By mid-May 1957 the Detachment had flown 30 sorties. All of these operations were preparations for the primary mission of the Detachment. The first primary mission of the Detachment, a flight over part of the USSR, occurred on 20 June 1957, however, this mission did not originate or recover at Atsugi. The first overflight of the USSR from Atsugi occurred on 1 March 1958 and this flight was the only and last flight. This flight, as other previous flights by other Detachments, was tracked by Russian radar, even though the U-2 aircraft had anti-radar applications, and a Soviet protest was made on 5 March 1958 by the Soviet Ambassador to Washington, Mikhail Menshikov. Attached are copies of the Soviet Aide Memoires of 5 March and 21 April 1958 (Tab A). The Detachment continued to perform non-USSR missions in the Far East area until the Powers flight of 1 May 1960. Redeployment of the Detachment began in early July, the last U-2 aircraft departed Japan on 9 July and all personnel and other equipment cleared the base and turned the facilities back to the Navy on 19 August 1960. ; ‘TOP SECRET - EIDER - CHESS
14-00000 TOP SECRET - EIDER - CHESS During the deployment of Detachment C it performed approximately 86 operational missions, of these only 43 originated and recovered at Atsugi. 1. <Any and all information pertaining to the take- offs and landings of the U-2 at Atsugi, Japan, limited to the years 1959 through 1962. We have been unable to locate files which would contain logs of all take-offs and landings of the U-2 aircraft assigned to Detachment C. In addition to the mission flights stated above we must assume that there were a large number of take-offs and landings which would include flights for pilot familiarization, training, equipment testing, transitional and flights 2. Any and all information concerning the radar procedures, facilities, and staff involved with the U-2 flights at Atsugi, Japan, limited to the years 1959 through 1962. As stated in the General Background above we have not located details or specific operating procedures or agreements with the local Navy base at Atsugi. 3. Any and all information pertaining to contact between Marine Air Control Squadron #1, Air Group II, lst Marine Wing, and U-2 personnel at Atsugi, Japan, including but not limited to housing, recreational, and eating facilities - limited to the years 1959 through 1962. We have not identified any relationship between Detachment C and Marine Air Control Squadron #1. On the subject of housing, we have noted that late in 1957 families were permitted at Detachment C and as a result housing was provided in the compound assigned to the Agency Support Unit and ten houses were rented on the local market. 4. Any and all information pertaining to defectors with knowledge of the U-2 program. The DDS§T has not located any information pertaining to defectors. We defer this request to the DDO. - 2 - TOP SECRET - EIDER - CHESS
14-00000 ' TOP SECRET’ - EIDER - CHESS 5. Any and all information within the U-2 program file pertaining to defectors with knowledge of the U-2 program. See above. 6. Any and all information concerning Soviet knowledge of the U-2 program previous to May 1, .1960. Attached is an extract from a report dated 3 March 1958 concerning Soviet Air Defense which gives a summary of Soviet knowledge of the U-2 overflights between 20 June and 10 July 1956 (Tab B). Also attached is a copy of the Soviet protest note of 10 July 1956 concerning Mission 2013 on 4 July 1956 which was the first penetration of the Soviet borders (Tab C). TOP SECRET - EIDER - CHESS
14-00000 5 March 1958 EMBASSY OF THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS AIDE MEMOIRE According to precisely established data, on March 2, 1958, at 4:05 hours Moscow time, an American military jet aircraft, having appeared from the direction of the Sea of Japan, violated the state border of the Soviet Union in the area of the settlement of Velikaya Kema and penetrated into the airspace of the Soviet Union, remain- ing over its territory for a considerable period of time. Thereafter, the aircraft left in the direction of the Sea of Japan in the area south of the Olga Bay. The information on this ‘violation has been carefully checked and there is no doubt as to its authenticity. The military representa-~- tives of the United States, who in this case acted possibly without the knowledge of the Gove rnment of the United States, will perhaps deny the said violation, as has happened in the past. However, sucha denial cannot eliminate the fact of violation itself. In any case, the Soviet side would have no interest in commenting on this incident if it had not actually taken place. A the present time, when negotiations are being conducted on the holding of a summit meeting which could contribute to an im- provement of relations and to strengthening trust between states, the violation of the Soviet border by an American military aircraft | “nay be evaluated as an attempt to undermine the efforts aimed at convening such a meeting and to aggravate the international situation. From the messages of the President of the USA and his con- versations with the Soviet Ambassador, as well as from statements by other government officials of the USA, it is known to the Soviet Government that the Government of the USA desires a rapprochement between our governments and improvement in the relations between them. There can hardly be any doubt that such facts of violation of the borders of the USSR can have only one result--that of hindering this cause and upsetting Soviet-American relations.
14-00000 The attention of the Government of the USA is invited to the fact that in the present situation the violation of the airspace of the USSR by an American military aircraft takes on a particularly dangerous character since, as has been repeatedly reported, Ameri- can military planes make flights around the clock over many countries of the world carrying thermonuclear bombs. The Government of the USA cannot fail to be aware of what genuinely catastrophic consequences | ‘for the cause of peace will ensue when an American plane with sucha load will find itself shot down. The attention of the Government of the USA has already been % previously directed to cases of violation of the state boundaries of the Soviet Union by American military aircraft. However, as proven by the case cited, the authorities of the USA have not taken the necessary measures to prevent such violations. It is absolutely obvious that it is the duty of the governments of the USSR and the USA to do everything possible to prevent any acts . ; capable of complicating the situation and the relations between the Soviet Union and the USA. The Soviet Government cannot but protest against the violations of Soviet frontiers by. an American military aircraft and it expects that the Government of the United States will punish severely those guilty of the violation of the airspace of the USSR which has taken place and tha: it will take steps to prevent such violations in the future. Taking into account the present situation, where a summit con- ference is being prepared, and also the spirit and purpose of the nego- tiations being conducted between our governments, the Soviet Government would not like to make this matter public or subject it to discussion in the UN. The hope is expressed that this matter will be settled satisfac- torily between the governments of the USSR and the USA and that there will be no need for the Soviet Government to resort to other means for tts settlement. {initialled by M. Menshikov) Washington, March 5, 1958
74-90000 “ yee 21 April 1958 EMBASSY OF THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS Note No. 9 The Embassy of.the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics presents its compliments to the Department of State of the United States of America and, referring to the Aide-~-Memoire of the Depart- ment of State dated March 31, 1958 and containing a reply of the Government of the United States of America to the Aide-Memoire of the Soviet Government dated March 5 concerning a violation of the Soviet state border in the Far East by an American military jet air-. craft, has the honor to communicate the following: In the reply Aide-Memoire of the Department of State an attempt is made to deny the fact of an American military aircraft. having violated the Soviet border. : As has already been communicated, the Soviet Government has atits disposal carefully verified data on this violation, the reliability of which leaves no room for doubt, According to these data, on March 2, 1958, at 4:05 a.m. Moscow time, an American military reconnaissance aircraft of the Lockheed U-2 type, having appeared from the direction of the Sea of Japan, violated the state border of the Soviet Union in the area of the settlement Velikaya Kema, 32 kilometers south of that: settlement. Then the violating aircraft deeply penetrated the airspace of the USSR and, after remaining over its territory for a considerable period of time, passed beyond the limits of the Soviet territory 45 kilo- meters south of the Olga Bay at 8:ll a.m. In the light of the established facts the reply of the Government of the United States of America can in no way be recognized as satis-~ factory. Naturally, the question arises as to how to explain sucha reply of the American Government: whether it was misled deliberately by its military representatives in the Far East or whether it considered it possible to protect such persons subordinate to it, who, without re- ward to the possible consequences, sanction violation of Soviet borders, thus creating a threat of international complications.
14-00000 Such a reply of the Government of the United States of America to the communication of the Soviet Government cannot fail to cause serious concern, the more so since the new case of violation of Soviet airspace took place after warnings on the part of the Government of the USSR to the effect that American authorities should take the necessary steps to prevent such violations. In connection with the foregoing the Soviet Government expects that the Government of the United States of America will undertake further investigation of this act of violation of the airspace of the USSR by an American military aircraft and will punish severely those guilty of this violation. The Soviet Government also expects that the Government of the United States of America will take the necessary steps to prevent violations of Soviet airspace by American aircraft in the future and _ states that in the event of new violations full responsibility for their consequences will rest with the Government of the United States. Washington, D. C.. April 1958
4-90000 ’ ‘ ‘ . . ' me YY ‘ - . . aan ‘ ;
(OP SECREL mm EIDER —Uned5 SC~O2164—56 | Suczesy of Initial Missions in the period from 20 June to 10 July 1956 the Soviet Bloc air defense systen +2s subjected to elgnt penetrations of an unprecedented nature, seven : chin a period of only eight deys. It must be renembered that s the only basis of judging the performance of e Soviet “ts important because it is clear from Eowever, some tentative conclusions may be crawn from thease initial flights and these are indicated as follows: L. In spite of the fact that these missions come as a surprise, none of them went undetected. This is clear evidence that their reader coverage extends above eet. ~ 23 = TAD cr Cr ar qrec: cee pete vee emma ae em fees op ee agence eee ener ye ca gene ana
14-00000 a % One positive action wag the standdow of civil flights while the mission aircraft was over the USSR, and a second action which is believed related is the moving of MIG-19 aircraft into Fast Germany and Poland on 7 duly 1956. Also MIG-19's were moved ‘inte Hungary at about this time. - 3- The performance of the Soviet system on the 5 July mis ion, - 2011, was indeed curious. While the action evident fron zy ' is not clear an explanation which appears to fit the known facts is offered as follows: As 3 result of the previous missions, the Soviets had eomeluded the essential Pacts concerning the missions 24 i.e., that they were for reconnaissance, that they flew above feet, and that a penetration as deep as Moscow wes bossible. They brovably surmised that the 5 duly mission was headed for Moscow when _the track appeared on & northeasterly heading. a ~~ 4. By 9 duly 1956, in addition to the evident recogaition of the great height of the mission flights ) tracking was better and in general the performance of the warning system was much improved. eR ee next day. 10 July 1956,\ 6. The first Gight missions broved that the air defense arming — oysten is deployed in depth.. ous > 2), = i TOP SECRET—EIDER—CHESS —
14-00000 twr JCUNE! A SVE ore Do 7. Confusion and track loss seamed to de related | SC-021 64-58 iy fo NN B/py - 25 = TOP SECRET — EIDER—CHESS
cones (Text of Russian Protest: Unofficial Translation) Embassy of the Union of Soviet . Socialist Republics a 10 July 1956. Note No. 23 The Embassy of the Union of the Soviet Socialist. Republics presents its compliments to the Department of State of the United States of America and, acting on in- structions from the Soviet Government, has the honor to state the following: According to precisely verified data, on July 4 of this year, at 8:18 a.m. Moscow Time, a twin-engined medium bomber of the United States Air Force appeared from the American Zone of Occupation in Western Germany and flew over the territory of the German Democratic Republic, entering ~ the air space of the Soviet Union from the direction of the Polish People's Republic at.9:35 in the area of Grodno. The aircraft which violated the air space of the Soviet Union flew on the route Minsk, Vilnyus, Kaunas and Kaliningrad, penetrating territory of the Soviet Union to the depth of 320 kilometers and remaining over such territory for one hour and 32 minutes. On July 5 of this year, at 7:41 Moscow Time, a twin- engine medium bomber of the United States Air Force, coming from the American Zone of Occupation in Western Germany, flew over the territory of the German Democratic Republic, and at 8:54 penetrated the air space of the Soviet Union in the area of Brest, coming from the direction of the Polish People's Republic. The aircraft violating the air frontier ' of the Soviet Union flew along the route Brest, Pinsk Bara- novichi, Kaunas, and Kaliningrad, having penetrated Soviet territory to a depth of 150 kilometers and having remained one hour and 20 minutes over such territory. The same day another twin-engine bomber of the United States Air Force Department of State of the United States of America Washington, D. C.
14-00000 Semone! invaded the air space of the Soviet Union and penetrated to a significant depth over Soviet territory. On July 9 there took place new flights of United States aircraft into the Soviet air space. The above-mentioned violation of the air frontiers of the Soviet Union by American aircraft cannot be inter— preted as other than intentional and conducted for purp— oses of reconnaissance. , It must be underscored that these £ross violations of the air space of the Soviet Union took place at a time ~ when, as a result of the efforts of the Soviet Union and - other peace-loving governments, a definite lessening of international tensions has been achieved, when relations between governments are improving, and when mutual confi- dence between them is growing. Such a development of inter- national relations is fully Supported by the peoples of all countries who are vitally interested in strengthening peace. One cannot, however, fail to recognize that reactionary circles hostile to the cause of peace in a number of coun~ tries are worried by the relaxation of international tension which has taken place. These circles do everything possible to interfere with further improvement of relations between countries and the creation of mutual trust among them. Among such attempts is the said gross violation by the American Air Force of the air space of the Soviet Union, which consistently carries out a policy of strengthening peace and broadening businesslike cooperation with all countries, including the United States of America. In this connection, the fact attracts attention that the said violations of the air frontier of the Soviet Union by American aircraft coincided with the stay of General Twining, U. S. Air Force Chief of Staff, in the Federal Republic of Germany. , The Soviet Government energetically protests to the Government of the United States against such gross viola- tion of the air space of the Soviet Union by American mili-~ tary aircraft and considers this violation-as an intentional act of certain circles in the United States, planned to ag- gravate relations between the Soviet Union and the United States of America.
14-00000 Calling the attention of the Government of the United States to the inadmissibility of such violations of the air space of the Soviet Union by American aircraft, the Soviet Government states that all responsibility for possible consequences of such violations rests with the Government of the United States. The Soviet Government expects that steps will be taken by the Government of the United States to punish those guilty for the said violations and to prevent such viola— tions in the future. , Washington, D. C. July 10, 1956 .