MEMORANDUM TO THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE FROM DONALD H. GALLOWAY

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02218604
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 30, 2024
• Document Release Date: November 28, 2023
• Case Number: F-2022-00955
• Publication Date: April 8, 1948

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MEMORANDUM FOR* The Director of Central Intelligence
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April 8# 1948
Referenoes Memo for Assistant Director for Special Operations,
dated 24 March 1948
1. For communication planning purposes, the Office of Special Operations
has proceeded on the following baseas
a. To provide secure means of oommunioations for intelligence reports
throughout the world during normal peacetime.
b. To provide continuous and secure means of oommunications for
intelligence reports in areas of local politioal trouble or vivre normal facilities
are inadequate.
o. To train and recommend location of radio operators to stay behind,
in case of invasion.
ds To establish and maintain comMunications bases for the control of
agent, stay-behind or clandestine radio operators.
e. To provide, in the event of war, continuous and secure means of
communications for intelligence reports throughout the world and from the scene
of action for the period immediately following the outbreak of hostilities (a
matter of weeks and perhaps months). This is to be expanded during the war to
long-term strategic intelligence and tactioal intelligence in the immediate
support of combat units.
2. The basic responsibilities outlined above are met by utilizing existing
facilities where such facilities are adequate or approach satisfactory service,
by supplementing existing faoilities in some oases where suoh action can be
taken, and by providing facilities when non-existent. The practice of not
duplicating existing facilities, except when definitely recpited to afford security
for emergency usage, dictates the extent to which CIA installations are made.
3. So far, the Communications Division, OSO, through liaison with State,
War, and Navy Departments, has established continuous and Bemire facilities through-
out the world, either by using existing facilities or by supplementing them where
nooessary. The supplementary stations established to date have been located in
an attempt to carry out the basio assumptions. It must be recognised that the
job of establishing normal poseetime facilities has had first priority and that
wartime aspects of our responsibilities have not been Sully met.
4. The problem of having communications bases available to support
clandestine radio operations has led to the establishment by CIA of three main
communications bases overseas, one in Europe, one in the Middle East, and one in the
Far East. The bases in the addle and Far East have several sub-bases operating
under them. The problem is not completely solved by these stations, and it in
believed that at: least one more station should be acip,Cto the networks.
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6. The base station in Europe was to provide a communications control
point for Europe, and to relay the traffic back to the
U. S,6 To accomplish this, a location under U. S. control had to be found, which
Oer;74'i; Germany. For added security and to utilize Army trans-Atlantic facilities,
tfie.altimate looation was decided to be the Rhine-Main Air Station. Until this
could be activated, a temporary base Was established at Heidelberg, which has
recently boon shifted to Karlsruhe. This base handles the normal daily com-
munications services to OSO installations in Europe and serves as a training area
for agents and stay-behind operators for this area. In the event of an oznerceni(61(1)-
this base would provide an emergency radio terminal and relay point for Europe,'
and would sorvioe clandestine operations until overrun., (b)(3)
6. The Middle Eaat Base Station,
a network of sub-base stations 'throughout
to the U. S.
station was originally planned
position encountered, Was situated
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(b)(1) '
(b)(3)
controls (W(1)
the area and serves as a relay station0DX3)
L.The location of this base
but due to the op-
There is now some indication that
desires the station removed. This base station and its sub.
bases handle the CIA and State Department traffic for thia area and can, in the
event of emergency, service limited clandestine operations in the !addle and (b)(1)
Near East and the Balkans. (b)(3)
7. The problem of relocating the Middle East Base Station has been studied
with several possible solutions being presented as follows:
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
S. Since both the European Base Station and the present Middle East Base
station can be expected to be useful only during peacetime, a rear echelon base
station should be considered and established. The following locations have been
considered with results as follows:
(b)1(1)
(b)(3)
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DONAMD H. CALLOW .
Assistant Director
Special Operations
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b)(1)
b)(3)
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24 March 3.960
LIEMORAIIDITII FOR: Assistant 'Amster for Opeoial Operations
I poem to remember that one of the difficulties in control-
lin2; underground and subversive groups in the early stages of the
European war was due to the fact that the base communications centers
more not located and on the beam with the radio sets in the hands of
Underground units.
It seems to me we should inTestigate this condition at ono*
with tha view to poSiAbly locating a base radio communication
center\
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
If I am correct in these assumptions it is suggested that the
matter be discussed with the proper Air Force officials and the
project initiated as early as possible in order that we ma 40
funds now available*
would like to have your comment forepart on this matter as
soon as anything can be reported*
' R. N. MILLEMETTMR
Rear Admiral* WIti
LOireetor of Central Xatelligenoe
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