U-2 PHOTOGRAPHIC RECONNAISSANCE OF THE PARACEL ISLANDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00285R000200050005-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 29, 2004
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: April 26, 1974
• Content Type: MF

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(S) NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE
WASHINGTON, D.C.
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26 April 1974
MEMORANDUM FOR: Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Under Secretary of State for
Political Affairs
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: U-2 Photographic Reconnaissance of the
Paracel Islands
Island group.
L
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1. The attached document is a. proposal for a U-2 photo-
graphic mission to obtain peripheral coverage of the Paracel
2. In the past, missions in this area have been flown
under the TACKLE mission approvals. However, the last TACKLE
mission flown in the Paracels was in May 1973. Since that time
the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) has significantly increased
the force level on the islands and has expanded its radar track-
ing capability. While this action has not increased the
vulnerability of a U-2 operating in this area, the plane will
certainly be identified and tracked while flying this mission.
3. Because of the political sensitivity of the Paracel
Islands it is
felt that your approval should be obtained prior o ying an
operational mission.
NRO review(s) completed.
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4. It is recommended that you approve this U-2 operational
mission to obtain oblique photography of the Paracel Islands.
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Attachment -
Proposal Book
APPROVAL
40 Committee Principal
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Distribution:
1 - Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
2 - Deputy Secretary of Defense
3 - Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
4 - Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
5 - Director of Central Intelligence (via
6 - Executive Secretary, 40 Committee
7 - Director, National Reconnaissance Office
8 - Joint Reconnaissance Center
9 - Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (via
10 - Director, CIA Reconnaissance Programs
11 - Deputy Director for Intelligence
12 - Deputy Director for O erations
13 - Asst. to DDCI
14 - OPS/INT/CC
15 - Director of Special Activities
16 - DD/OPR
17 - Chairman, COMIREX
.18 - EA/China / Ops / DDO
19 - D/O/OSA
20 - SAS/O/OSA
21 - INTEL/OSA
22 - IDEA/O/OSA
23 - D/ M/ OSA
24 - RB / OSA
25 - SAFSS
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U-2 PHOTOGRAPHIC
RECONNAISSANCE OF
THE PARACEL ISLANDS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.
II. OPERATIONAL CONCEPT
III. COVER
IV.
V. CLIMATOLOGY
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VI.
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II. OPERATIONAL CONCEPT
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An IDEALIST U-2R will fly a round-robin mission
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to obtain coverage of the Paracel Island
Photographic flight lines will be planned to obtain "H" camera
photography of these islands without overflying any of the land mass.
This should provide good quality imagery of all military and
construction activity taking place.
Normal TACKLE operational procedures will be used
Maps of this mission are contained in Section VI.
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III. COVER
The Cover Plan will be in accordance with normal TACKLE
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operations.
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V. CLIMATOLOGY
April - May - June
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A. GENERAL:
During April the easterly monsoon is still the dominant factor
in the climate of the Paracels. This usually means a long over water
trajectory of moisture laden air which readily produces low level
cloud cover. In late April the spring transition to the southwest
monsoon begins and the climate changes to the southwest monsoon
type by the end of May. This change of climate increases the amount
of high and middle level clouds resulting in a slight increase in mean
cloudiness. Occasional anticyclonic curvature imposed on the easterly
flow pattern results in subsiding air which decreases the cloud cover
for short periods.
B. CLOUDINESS:
Mean cloudiness for daylight hours in the Paracels varies from
50 percent in April to 70 percent in June. Normally, 5 to 7 days of
favorable weather conditions (2/8 or less cloud cover) are expected in
April decreasing to 1 to 2 days in June.
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