'H' CAMERA PHOTOGRAPHY OF NORTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP76B00734R000100280003-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 25, 2004
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: April 13, 1973
• Content Type: MF

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(S) NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE
WASHINGTON, D.C.
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Under Secretary of State for
Political Affairs
MEMORANDUM FOR: Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
SUBJECT:
Chair: ian, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Director of Central Intelligence
"H" Camera Photography of North Vietnam
1. The attached document is a proposal to use an IDEALIST
U-ZR to obtain standoff photography of coastal North Vietnam,
2. Higher authority approved a request of the Washington
Special Action Group, Working Group C, to test the capability of the 25X1
''H" camera to obtain high resolution photography of North Vietnam
Subsequently, this mission was accomplish,-d by a U-2
However, the haze and cloud conditions encountered during this
transitional weather period, combined with some anomalies in the film
processing, produced less than optimum results. The feasibility of
operating was demonstrated as well as the capability
of the "H camera to obtain coverage of significant portions of the
North Vietnamese coastal areas.
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NRO review(s) completed.
Impossible to Determine
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3. It is felt that two additional flights should be flown with
better weather conditions to provide a realistic and valid test of the
capability of the "H" camera to obtain standoff photography t?f North
Vietnam.
4. It is requested that the 40 Committee approve two flights
to verify the capability of the "H" camera for this application.
1; . I r) 11 n I AA c -,,,raa.:
Attachment - 1
Proposal Book
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"H" CAMERA
PHOTOGRAPHY OF
NORTH VIETNAM
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. JUSTIFICATION
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III.
IV. CLIMATOLOGY
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I. JUSTIFICATION
The Wasilington Special Action Group, Working Group C, has
directed the development of photographic requirements for Indochina
subsequent to the cease fire agreement.
Part of this is a priority requirement for high resolution
photography of the North Vietnamese coastal areas. Since overflight
of North Vietnam is prohibited, an IDEALIST U-ZR with the "H" camera
represents a flexible, responsive capability to obtain this coverage.
This mission, to evaluate the capability of the "H" camera
system to obtain this photography, has been req,.xested by the WSAG,
Working Group C.
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IV. CLI2v.' ATOLOGY
Coastal North Vietnam
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A. GENERAL:
The transition period to a southwest monsoon begins in April
and becomes southwest by the end of May. Low level winds in early.
April tend to be unorganized but prevail from the southwest by months
end. A more westerly surfa e trajectory or weakening of the east
wind component tend to decr=ase coastal cloudiness in late March
and April.
B. CLOUDINESS:
Mean cloudiness is near 80 percent in April. As a general
rule, cloudiness is greatest near the coast during this month being
heaviest north of 19? N. Aircraft flying at high altitudes would be
expected to encounter clear to scattered conditions at individual
targets on 2 to 5 days north of 190 N, and on 6 to 10 days south of 190 N.
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