SECRETARY QUARLES BRIEFING (RECONNAISSANCE PROGRAM)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP33-02415A000200230062-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 28, 2003
• Sequence Number: 62
• Publication Date: October 22, 1955
• Content Type: MFR

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22 October 1955
SUBJECT : Secretary Quarles Briefing (Reconnaissance Program)
1. The following persons attended the briefing:
Mr. Donald A. Quarles, Secretary of the Air Force
Mr. James H. Douglas, Under Secretary of the Air Force
Mr. Lyle S. Garlock, Asst. Secretary of the Air Force
for Financial Management
Mr. Trevor Gardner, Asst. Secretary of the Air Force
for Research and Development
General Nathan F. Twining, Chief of Staff, USAF
Lt. Gen. Donald L. Putt, Deputy Chief of Staff, Development
Maj. Gen. F. A. Bogart, Deputy Comptroller, USAF
Mr. Richard E. Horner, Deputy Asst. Secretary of the Air Force
for Research and Development
Colonel Alman T. Culbertson, DCS/D
Colonel 0. J. Ritland
Colonel Russell A Berg, DCS/O
Colonel Gerald F. Keeling, DCS/M
Lt. Col. Joseph J. Pellegrini, ARDC
Messrs. Douglas and Garlock were not knowledgeable of Project AQUATONE.
Before the meeting Mr. Quarles attempted to telephone Mr. Allen Dulles
and obtain authorization for these two individuals to become knowledgeable.
Since he was unable to make a contact, he elected to assume the
responsibility for their presence at the meeting. Follow-up action will
be taken by the Air Force to clear Messrs. Douglas and Garlock through
normal channels. General Twining and Mr. Gardner arrived late, but
actively participated thereafter.
2. Colonel Pellegrini gave a twenty minute presentation of the
entire Air Force reconnaissance development program and outlined military
requirements under which each of these developments was initiated.
Although he referred to Project AQUATONE, no details of our project were
presented by him. Through this briefing, all participants became
thoroughly familiar with the USAF program and were aware of the necessity
to readjust and/or reorient programs consistent with the rapid develop-
ment and capability of Project AQUATONE.
3. I followed Colonel Pellegrini and gave a complete review of our
project, starting first with the history of the project, followed by
a description of the aircraft and a summary report of its performance
USAF review(s) completed.
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to date. A few minutes were spent in naming the various systems we
intend to incorporate in the aircraft plus the present concept of our
operational deployment and operational dates. The main point stressed
was the problem of obtaining and training pilots for the operational
phase.
L. My presentation was followed by Colonel Culbertson who reviewed
the status of the USAF aircraft procurement plan to purchase the Lockheed
aircraft. His report was essentially the same as described in my memo-
randum for the record of 28 September. No change has taken place in
Air Force planning for the procurement of additional articles; however
the four intruder versions for the Agency have been dropped.
Mr. Garlock stated that because o
Department of Defense auditing requirements such a procedure was very
bad from a security point of view and recommended that the USAF finance
the entire procurement. His recommendation was approved; thus all
additional aircraft will be financed solely by the Air Force. A major
effort was made by all concerned to justify action now being taken to
cancel the Bell X-16. Mr. Cuarles seemed particularly interested in
this project and wanted to be certain that this decision was a sound one
and unanimously concurred in by the Air Staff. He was convinced that
this action is justified.
5. At the conclusion of the informal briefings considerable dis-
cussion was held on the soundness of the over-all Air Force program.
Specific subjects were: the acceptance of the new Air Force procurement
program for the Lockheed aircraft, a specific review of the X-16 program, 25X1
the procurement of facilities at Adana, Turkey, operational pilots,
and the RB-57-D. In summary, the following decisions were 25X1
made and approved by all concerned:
b. Mr. Quarles directed that the planned action of cancelling
the X-16 program be expedited,
c. It was inferred that the Air Force would take the necessary
action to finance and build facilities at Adana, Turkey. Mr. Garlock
-n r"Ir
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stated that the only funds that could be used for this project,
consistent with the speed of construction and the security required,
come under the control of Secretary WWilson. Mr. Gardner emphasized
the need for a completed study on facilities required at Adana.
d. All participants were in agreement that the procurement
of for the operational phase of AQUATONE is an absolute
necessity. Mr. Gardner was concerned over the slowness of this
procurement program and requested that we make a major effort to obtain
a limited number of I las soon as possible.
e. With regard tol , both General Twining and
Mr. Quarles confirmed the fact that this project is now under deploy-
ment for an operational date of 1 December. The Air Force is pursuing
the project as though it will be launched in early December. Final
approval has not yet been obtained.
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f. The RB-57-D program will continue as is. The first
aircraft is scheduled to fly within the next few days and Mr. Quarles
directed that the news release for the first flight be covered
essentially as follows: The B-57-D is an outgrowth of the B-57 program
and is a research vehicle for high altitude tests. It will be released
as a prototype bomber with no reference to its reconnaissance capabilities.
O. "flo RITLAND
Co nel, USAF
OJR/
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