SUMMARY OF OSA ACTIVITIES FOR WEEK ENDING 23 NOVEMBER 1963

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03056998
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: February 6, 2017
• Case Number: F-2015-02615
• Publication Date: December 2, 1963

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BYE-3714-63
Copy\ of'\
2 December 1963
MEMORANDUM FOR: Assistant Director for Special Activities
Deputy Assistant Director for Special Activities
SUBJECT
� � Summary of OSA Activities for Week Ending
23 November 1963
1. THE ASSASSINATION OF THE PRESIDENT
On 22 November 1963 at approximately 1330 hours EST,
President john F. Kennedy was fatally assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
Our foreign detachments were notified and placed on an emergency
alert basis until further notice. They were directed to be prepared
for deployment from their assigned bases within twleve hours after
receipt of a final directive. All leaves were cancelled until the
end of the emergency. This action was a precautionary measure.
2. OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
a. IDEALIST
(1) Tao Yuan, Taiwan: Based on the alert message,
the detachment at Tao Yuan immediately increased its
readiness condition. The currently available aircraft
was completely torn down and was undergoing a periodic
inspection and installation of the BIRDWATCHER equip-
ment. A Lockheed Aircraft Corporation project engineer
arrived on 21 November with the BIRDWATCHER kit to as-
sist in the installation. No estimated-time-in-commission
was available for the aircraft during the early modifi-
cation stages.
(2) Ban Takhli, Thailand,: Redeployment of the
FLAMINGO/THREE staging team has been completed. This
was begun on 19 November at 1310 hours EST when the
C-133 cargo aircraft left. The KC-135 and the U-2
departed shortly thereafter. Things went smoothly
until nearing Hawaii where the KC-135 lost number
four engine, but landed safely. A replacement en-
gine has been located, but suitable airlift was not
immediately available The U.S. Air Force substi-
tutea a C-118 to transport the remaining members of
the FLAMINGO team to Edwards Air Force Base. All
hands have arrived safely with the exception of the
KC-135 crew who are to follow later.
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(3) Edwards Air Force Base, California: Our
detachment at this base was placed on an alert status
for deployment to Puerto Rico to support operations
over the Northeastern part of South America. Edwards
Air Force Base has reported that one of the aircraft
is out of commission because of the BIRDWATCHER in-
stallation which is now in progress. The other aircraft
has only 24.8 hours of operating time remaining be-
fore it must underp-o an engine change and periodic
inspection,
(4) Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico: In pre-
paration for possible deployment of the Edwards Air
Force Base detachment to cover Venezuelan targets, a
Headquarters team of Operations, Security, Communications,
and Materiel personnel visited Ramey Air Force Base
to coordinate facility requirements for staging at
that station. Several conferences and a Tactical Air
Command exercise were scheduled for later this month.
The team met with the Ramey Air Force Base Commander
and a report on the meeting is now in preparation.
b. BRASSKNOB/GOLDEN TREE
(1) On 20 November, BRASSKNOB Mission #3777 was
lost on its return from a flight over Cuba. This air-
craft was an Agency U-2 (#350) which was on loan to
SAC. The pilot, Captain Hyde, reported operations
normal on the coast out point at mission altitude
(69,000 feet) and after passing Key West, Florida,
the aircraft made a rapid descent to below 2,000 feet
where it was lost by radar. A recovery team was imme-
diately dispatched to the area and the aircraft was
raised by a Navy salvage vessel for inspection by a
flight safety team. It is understood that the pilot
ejected through the canopy, but the seat and the pilot
have not been found to date. Additional information
obtained by the accident investigation team will be
reported after a detailed analysis has been made.
(2) As of 22 November 1963 the code word "BRASSKNOB"
has been changed to 'GOLDEN TREE" because of a possible
compromise of the former name during the ill-fated
flight mentioned above.
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c. SATELLITES. There was no satellite activity this
week. ,The next launch is scheduled for a CORONA/MURAL
Mission (9061) on 27 November.
3. OXCART PROGRAM
a. OXCART RECORD FLIGHT. On Flight #92 aircraft #121.
attained a maximum speed of Mach 3.11 and an altitude of
76,000 feet. None of the roughness usually encountered
at this speed was present. Aircraft #121 has been modi-
fied with aerodynamic shapes in the inlet which reduce
air flow separation from the sides of the duct prior to
entering the engine. While a low intensity roughness
was encountered at Mach 3.08, the vibrations normally
experienced were not present. Additional tests to verify
the value of this inlet modification will be conducted
before modification of the other aircraft are approved.
4. GENERAL
a. REORGANIZATION AT THE LOCKHEED MISSILES AND
SPACE COMPANY FACILITY: In discussTions
during the past weeic, who is manager
of the Lockheed Missiles and. space company, reported
that a reorganization will take place about 1 December
of this year. He indicated that the Systems Engineering/
Technical Direction Committee for the CORONA Program
will be disbanded. He further indicated that the systems
engineering type of work for CORONA will be taken over
and integrated into the Lockheed Missiles and Space
Company's responsibility at the Advanced Projects Division
of the Company. stated that this organiza-
tion has been ap0bYe7bi7--C-bibnel Worthington, Discovery
Program Manager, Space Systems Division, United States
Air Force.
b. REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING. In response to
a memorandum dated 25 October L963 from the NRO Comptroller
concerning Photographic Material and Processing, OSA has
requested additional funds and explained why this funding
is necessary. OSA 1.1c concurred in a revised estimate
submitted by Eastman Kodak Company covering the period
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from 1 July 1(46 through 30 June 1964. OSA requested
that be made available for obligation against (W(1)
this program within the second half of Fiscal Year 1964. (b)(3)
It was stated that to �proceed at a lesser contractual
level would be considered a frustration of the terms of
the contract with Eastman Kodak, and, over such a serious
consequence, an immediate re-examination of the Government/
Agency relationship would be required.
c. FISCAL YEAR 1964 BUDGET, PROGRAM B. A memorandum
to the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office was
forwarded expressing appreciation for relaxation of the
terms concerning the obligation of funds required in the
execution of Program B at the described annual levels.
In keeping with the critical funding situation, it was
stated that OSA will continue to request cash transfers
on a quarterly basis. In the event of emergency require-
ments, OSA will apprise the DNRO of the details and
recommend reprOgramming or new funding,as required. It
was also stressed that Program B continues to be signifi-
cantly under-funded and the areas of critical interest
were presented to the attention of the DNRO. In addition
to these critical areas, the interface and possible legal
implications of continuing these programs without con-
tingency reserves to cover the possibility of contract
terminations were also described as matters of concern.
A request for consideration of these critical items was
stressed.
d. ACQUISITION OF U-2 AIRCRAFT FROM DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE. A memorandum was forwarded to the Del by the
WgET-outlining our current operational capability in the
line of recent U-2 losses. The DD/S&T stated that we
should not request additional U-2's until a new look could
be taken some time next spring at our over-all commit-
ments versus our currently operational aircraft. He feels
that we are in good shape on cameras with the acquisition
of three improved B cameras plus the current order for four
high resolution CORONA-type cameras from ITEK. Because of
high quality maintenance and experience in operating with
the J75 engine, OSA is able to program more effective uti-
lization of its current aircraft in 1963 than it was in
1958 when the J75 program began.
(b)(6)
Chief, Programs aff
(Special Activities)
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Distribution:
Copy 1 - AD/OSA
2 - DAD/OSA
3 - EXO/OSA
4 - EO/DD/S&T
5 - D/TECH/OSA
6 - D/FA/OSA
7 - C/SD/OSA
8 - PS/OSA
9 - PS/OSA
10 - RB/OSA
PS/OSA:
(2 December 1963)
*quire
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