(SANITIZED); STUDIES IN INTELL. ARTICLE ON CIA INTELL. OFFICERS JUDGE JOHN T. DOWNEY & MR. RICHARD FECTEAU

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0001375762
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 22, 2015
• Document Release Date: June 11, 2009
• Case Number: F-2009-00485
• Publication Date: October 16, 2006

Mr. Scott Koch
Information and Privacy Coordinator
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, DC 20505
Reference: F-2006-01043
Dear Mr. Koch:
I wish to formally invoke,my right to appeal the extensive redactions made to the "Studies in
Intelligence" article received per my 24 May 2006 FOIA request.
At this late date in my opinion the range and scope of redactions is both too broad and
unnecessary. Fifty-four years after the fact a conservative interpretation serves little if any real
secrecy purpose. I can only speculate whether the redacted sections contain references
previously cleared. I am therefore appealing based on the following heartfelt arguments:
1. This incident took place over five decades ago. I can't imagine sources and methods
concerns apply due to one irrefutable fact -- before the People's Republic of China's Ministry
of Foreign Affairs granted access to the Jilin crash site for the US JPAC Search & Recovery
teams, undoubtedly the Chinese government thoroughly examined their archival records of
this incident.
2. The portions of Mr. Richard Fecteau's debriefing released previously under FOIA strongly
indicate that there is nothing about Operation TROPIC, the personnel, techniques and
sources & methods that the Chinese haven't known since shortly after the capture of the two
intelligence officers.
3. As proof of the above, the Chinese readily agreed to allow the JPAC recovery teams
unlimited access to the crash site, a first for a Cold War repatriation effort inside their
boundary. Nor did they force the USG to jump through hoops in order to gain access.
4. As demonstrated by their full cooperation, this incident is not a sensitive matter for the other
side.
5. The declassified Operation TROPIC material I received from an earlier FOIA request
contained greater detail than found in the recent Studies in Intelligence article.
6. There are countless open-source references in the public domain pertaining to this infamous
Cold War incident. Its time the many unfortunate myths surrounding this incident are put to
bed.
While it doesn't hold sway with the appeal process, I would like to add a brief personal
perspective. The early Cold War years was not a period friendly to families of missing personnel,
especially the contractors. It was a different era. For the three elderly siblings of Capts
Schwartz and Snoddy, a better understanding of the mission may add a degree of closure.
tin
APPROVED FOR
RELEASE DATE:
02-Jun-2009