CIA/AIR FORCE MEETING, 18 MAY 1959

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP33-02415A000500390059-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 30, 2000
• Sequence Number: 59
• Publication Date: May 19, 1959
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 2001/03/01 : CIA-RDP33-02415A000500390059-9
GUS-0264
Copy f of 5.
19 May 19 59
SUBJECT : CIA/Air Force Meeting, 18 May 1959
1. General White, General Smart, and Colonel Geary,
(Headquarters, USAF), and Mr. Dulles, General Cabell,
Mr. Bissell, and Col. Burke,(CIA), met on 18 May 1959 to dis-
cuss the statue and future planning with regard to the GUSTO
program.
2. Mr. Bissell briefed those present on the extensive
radar reflectivity testing being accomplished on the Convair
Proposed airframe. He stated that present progress indicates
that great improvement can be expected with regard to reducing
the number of times during one flight when an aircraft is painted
on a typical radar set. Although invisibility to radar may not be
achieved, large steps can be made in that direction with small
modifications to the Convair proposal.
3. Mr. Bissell then reviewed the current status of the
Convair proposals and the Lockheed proposals, pointing out the
various advantages and disadvantages of each. He reviewed the
composition of the panel which will meet in early June to make
recommendations regarding the proper course to take. He also
covered source and availability of funds which might-be used to
defray some major costs should a go-ahead decision be given by
the President.
4. The panel recommendations would be reviewed by
the Department of Defense and, hopefully, the agreed proposal
would be presented to the President approximately 15 June, so
that monies available could be obligated if approval is given.
5. General White stated he felt it would be unwise to
make a decision without having a senior officer with operational
experience review the two proposed systems. He felt this
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experience should be put into the considerations of the panel
at the earliest possible time. Mr. Dulles, General Cabell, and
Mr. Bissell concurred and advised that anyone selected by ",! R
General White would be acceptable and would be most useful in A
arriving at a panel recommendation. General Smart was asked
by General White to advise the Agency as to the identity of the
officer selected. General White stated that it should be made
very clear to the President that there is a critical and urgent
need for the information this system could furnish and that in
seeking any possible approval to construct the vehicle the
President should be urged to permit use of the vehicle to gather
this invaluable information. This was agreed and Mr. Dulles
stated that he hoped to return to the President with a request for
reapproval of certain missions. General White stated that the
Joint Chiefs of Staff had fully supported the previous request
and at every opportunity he urged approval. Further, he under-
stood that Mr. Herter was most sympathetic to the program.
Mr. Dulles advised that he planned to contact Mr. Herter prior
to going to the President.
6. General White was then briefed on the status of the
J-75 engine tests and advised that initial tests appeared to be
quite hopeful with regard to increased altitude performance.
The present schedule was to have these engines in a detachment
by 1 August 1959. General White stressed the need for engine
reliability prior to operational commitment. He said he hoped
this would not cause a delay in any approvals for overflights.
He was assured by Mr. Bissell that in previous approaches
to the President this matter had been discussed but that he did
not believe approvals would be delayed until the engine is in
the units.
25X1A
WILLIAM BURKE
Colonel, USAF
Acting Chief, DPD-DD/P
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