(404-10106-10211 ° A’ -achment to: S 01836-78 SUBJECT: DDS&T Interim Reply to HSCA Request, $ 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 ; Far East emis and Theater Commander Agency's Station] and local support unit S4th Weathér 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. a 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 Ce
14-00000 LULL ODGUKIEL - bivERK - bbtibS®>D ( . i 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 purely for cover purposes. 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 #l, 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. a 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 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, 1969. 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 2 July 1956 which was the first penetration of the Soviet borders (Tab C). TOP SECRET - EIDER - CHESS