SECRETARY QUARLES BRIEFING (RECONNAISSANCE PROGRAM)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62B00844R000200030009-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 16, 2001
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: October 22, 1955
• Content Type: MFR

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*USAF Declass/Release Instructions On File*
22 October 1955
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT t Secretary Quarles Briefing Reconnaissance Program)
. The following persons attended the briefing:
Mt. Donald A. Quarles, Secretary of the Air Force
Mt. James H. Douglas, Under Secretary of the Air Force
Mt. Lyle S. Garlock, Asst. Secretary of the Air Force
for Financial Management
Mt. Trevor Gardner Asst. Secretary of the Air Forte
for Research and Development
General Nathan F. Twining, Chief of Staff, USAF
Lt. Gen. Donald L. Putt, Deputy Chief of Staff, Development
Maj. Oen. F. A. Bogart, Deputy Comptroller, USAF
Mt. Richard I, Horner, Deputy Asst. Secretary of the Air Force
for Research and Development
25X1A Colonel Alman T. Culbertson, DCS/D
Colonel Russell A Berg, DCS/0
Colonel Gerald F. Keeling, DCS/M
Lt. Col. Joseph J. Pellegrini, ARDC
Messrs. Douglas and Oarlock were not knowledgeable of Project AQUATONE.
Before the meeting Mr. Quarles attempted to telephone Hr. Allen Dulles
and obtain authorisation for theee 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 Mt. 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 =ATONE.
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
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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 trsinine pilots for the operational
phase.
1.1 mr presentation was followed by Colonel Culbertson Who reviewed
the status of the USAF aircraft procurement plan to purchase the Lockheed
25X1A aircraft. His report was essentially the same as described in my memo-
randum for the record of 28 September.
25X1A
25X1A
A major
effort was made by all concerned to justify action now being taken to
cancel the Hell X-16. Mr. Quarles 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 Irak program,
the procurement of facilities at Adana, Turkey, operational pilots,
GRAXHACK? and the RB-574). In summary, the following decisions were
made and approved by all concerned:
a. All concurred in and accepted the Air Force procurement
program for the Lockheed aircraft. They will be financed entirely with
25X1A Air Force funds and arrangements will be made regarding administrative
and legal procedures in the immediate future.
25X1A
b. Mr. Quarles directed that the planned action of cancelling
the 1-16 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. Oarlock
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thatstated the the only hinds that could be used for this project,
consistent with the speed of construction and the security required,
came under the control of Secretary Wilson. Mr. Gardner emphasized
the need for a completed study on facilities required at Adana.
d. All participants were in agreement that the procurement
of U.S. pilots for the operational phase of =ATONE 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 American pilots as soon as possible,
0. With regard to Project GRAYBACK, both General Twining and
les confirmed the fact that this project is now under deploy.
an operational date of 1 December. The Air Force is pursuing
project as though it will be launched in early December. Final
approval has not yet been obtained.
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-fl is an outgrowth of the B-57 program
aaa is a research vehicle for high altitude tests. It will be released
as a prototype bomber with no reference to its reconnaissance capabilities.
25X1A
0,1g/hh
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