PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PARAMILITARY STAFF STUDY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03642A001300030009-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 2, 2012
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: February 7, 1957
• Content Type: MISC

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
W TBA111't
zWf
CONFIDENTIAL
P$!OMOLOOIClL AND PMMIL TABY STAFF STUnt
:LfJBMTs The Use of Jilloons in CIA Oparatiaos
t The pa-pom of this study is to do%=-xdm the Bores
a c -tiamsl p oteutial at baltoc op eratisas bC r VD/P sl sots.
Staff reer~erorrou atiaaa will be found in ssotiom If b.
11. JIM& t In the past year cod a half, CIA has d.v lopsd
a very reslistio bellowing potential. The various ba~ systao s
that we proton to be opsrstionalY,y feasible id now available
should be gib dos aaroaictaoratiaa by the Chaodwtias Snnrieaee.
Ouldethoe fraa field experimm to than Technical Sixties. Staff's
resssra and dar~-+~hlaphwnt p ro6rm Ms been innamAbim In I oving
and perfecting now equ i , tactics and teebb s . A easbdsatian
of better equip^aoat and teebmi quos in ecm junaticn with inareaased
aVhftis an proper tsaiMng at staff pszeamat" has eliminated the
sntJoaritj- Of the MR tafntias of 1*Uocn operatiaas. Tec foal
detailss range, payload, cost and sand see ed operational fdfcaeiratiom
are included in Tab A. floowavw, the general alaesiti+estdses of
suiting CIA helicon sepabd lities wee
coo - B Y. ATE f jb BY
NEXT R?9 -0-~ M2'TI $ h~h-
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642A001300030009-5
w
b. Propaganda or cargo balloons - CIA has the capability
of free ballooning a payload of leaflets varying
a. Special mission balloons - Manned or free flight balloons
are applicable to special missions but require varying
degrees of modifications of existing CIA systems.
The experience aocratnulated frone peat operations, research and
d velopo+ect, and the extensive tests related thereto has mntde
available to the ClaadesUne Services a very effective balloon
capability.
BAUD TRilgl~ e s Successful balloon operations,
propagatuda, require trained, experienced personnel 25X1
trained ins
March 1953 -E
n`ebruary 1954 -
June 1955 -
August 1956 -
in planning and execution. There is a dire lack of qualified
balloonists in CIA. To dateF--Istaff empioyees have been 25X1
OM officially asscaeed balloon training in 1955 and at that tine
included the Balloon Operations course in their crrioulus. In
view of the recent developments in equipment and tactics and tech-
niques the majority of the above personnel cannot be considered
L Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642A001300030009-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642A001300030009-5
current and up to date in their training. Iran so, only a very
few of the.. are, currently available for participation in balloon
projects. The Area Divisions are reluctant to release dividuals
for four to five weeks for balloon training, particularly since
balloons ag, as such, cannot be considcs"ed a fuel time assignment
in any division. Scheiduling and selection of students also pre..
sants difficulties as only one course per year has been conducted
since 1953.
An EMMAM or
a. Advantagesi
1. Policy hags in the past, permitted lighter-thsn-air
overflights when heeviar-tbsn-air overflights have been pro.
hibited;
3. Radar detection - Unless the balloons are carrying
metal operational equipwent they are not detectable by radar.
4. Balloons are silent and also difficult to see by
personnel on the ground.
5. Balloons are less hazardous from the standpoint of
lose of personnel and the loss of more expensive equipment
(aircraft) .
M3.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
b. Disadvantages:
1. galloon operations are not conducive to abort range
PI maing and imeple mtatian but require advanced sand detailed
pla ming in both the operational, aspects as veil as logistical
support, This fact should not actually be oonsiderred a dis-
advantage but mnfarttumetely, lack of advanced detailed pl at'g
has oontributed to inefficient balloon operations in the
2. Balloon operations, because of their technical
nature, require fully trained personnel both in planing and
execuEion. A qualified balloonist, staff or indigenous, can
easily train other personnel for the various lawnehi ng duties
and also conduct agent training v&mrsin personnel are to be
infiltrated. It is a aseaWal that trained and danced
staff ps rs *mael, where applicable, be made responsible for
balloon operations.
3. Balloon operations are directly dependent upon
wind velocities and direction, either seasonal or year round.
H weveor, feather studi.ac are e-vailabls through PP/AM to cow r
any proposed launching site and the desired target areas. The
expected *pearoentage of frequencies' as indicated by the
initial weather studies dictates ibethm a balloon project
should even be considered. As a tallow-cap, timely, accurate
weather support is essential during the entire lauaohing seasons.
~? proper operational weather support, through the UW
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
Air Weather -iexe or other
4. Ballooning do" not
can ofdieacses
5. There is no controlled x*Vwd of obserwing the
effect of ppega-nda isitroduaed via bellooaaiang.
6. There is * unprediateae p urr of t+ to of
tentage of
with baling. The per-
recovered due to fal 3ng into
regi,cns, rivers aupd U ms
will vary on each project.
V.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02: CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
 25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
Next 3 Page(s) In Document Denied
Iq
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
 Ank,
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
AU&M ."MAT.M_
Present Q. S. policy, as muwd&W by t1 DiparUmt of
State end .reed to by CIA, places the foUmdng IUL-
taticoa an blloan aptliaos e
1. Leaflst drops f bs11oaaa Into the USS 1 are
fo rbd ddsa.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
 I Ada,
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
w
7. LMXlots iet comfo a to the policy linos prescribed
by the Dot of State amd t'wniahod to CIi. The Agency
is not obligated to let State review the torts of all lsfiots
before the are used, especially those produced abroad, bat
should do so is the interest at horawgy as often as ecaveniant.
ale copies of all leaflets will be foie +dsd to State after
they have be= drapped.
b. A tvrthe review of policy is wed likely in the
new futnn'e in that the International Civil Avaistian
O rganiution ( ICAO) is awed by the Dapartwnt of
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
State to rule that balloon oparatiams are a haaard
to air safertsy and a violation of the air sovarei gnty
of the target countries. A Cla st-i s Saervioes
consideration in this r.speat is the possibility that
CIA might be asked to comm sall halloos operations
in the ZVOPM area as a recut of the anticipated
ICAO rw isag. it is the position of this Staff that Cu
should not accept restrictions an cL~ operations
when such restrictions are posed on natiaesal sovereignty
oamdderattonm shire the reason for herring Clandestine
Services activity is to go aroamd such factors. Rather
the Clandestine Sevices should revise its ballooeoing
operations so as to tesrther inoarpoarate the principle
of plausible denial. The mare serious probIm woti2d
be the effect which ccatinwsd ballocmitg sight have on
am relation with the gavavmnant of a given camtry from
which we would wmt to balloon aftw a negative ICAO
d.aisian have bean resod.
o. CIA s is eaemantly in reoeiipt of a proposed
operational concept for Strategic P Vai'fare
in Borope from the U. S. Suropeeen Cassand. This concept
wigs to CIA the bility for all hot car
balloon lauaaahiaga in the Bm"m area send the respon-
sibility for balloon opsratiems that are designed as part
of the Strategic Psychological Warfare progm in 'Lime.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
w "ROW
IX. A.
] UCI t desires that balloon c atians be aaaatinuad
to the uoxbm or%=t consiataut vdth rues emd
eeoaditicma mcistis d 'iag bositilities. She I1 d this
ocmoept be agreed upon, CIA asst be panepavrsd to aoecpt
the reapceraibill ty with qualified parsaensl and .ves
awe higbly deralapsd befoewn aystens..
Cg:
1. The rmriwdarg offiaees ceded that, subject to
policy and political cmaiwtsrstiode, balloon oparatima have
paraaren t~hrinslrrs as a earttrod of p 'cpsgwmr a distribatioa. The
use of balloons in itrielt bas a so, A hwvlagioal impact upon the
security totes of the tanrgst area v i eh at be aomaldered
as a prodawot of theSs aerations.
2. Salloaedag to date b am been pari+wrily in the welds
of vbite and grey propaganda. CIA baa the teobni.aal oepability
to distribute bia' k pars ' a as won by this sew.
3. The a visibility of using ball owns far the diatribatt on
of propag-da s et be detaat~ein ed in relation to the oqnbdlitt
of ranching the target avdim" by other nears wish as radio,
overflights, vdnddrift, and rocket..
4. It is probable that CIA viii be tweed to discontinue
the mm of balloons far the diet t of vbite sad grey
propaganda in goer. This feat ssou2d not, however, be
atl~orad to affect the potential for using balloons tear blawdc
propagwrada is that area.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
1. It is --mm ed flat the Area Diviai ons and
the CLindatlns Services raisin alert to the (MA balloon
potential svsa though there _I be no eminent c p earwtioas.
2. That each Area Mvi atc (emoept Iii sheds 1 at
least ass head aartaars staff aaaplc ss for the Balloon
01~aa"atiaa~ts cuss (ace schsd lid to begin 11 March 1957).
It is also Mghly desirable that a few perscrosi sobedslad
for the field be gives this training. In respscet to this
training, individas1 will probably nom be utilised on a
full time b sis in oatar-soti oa with b.1cat aperati as either
in nrvrtars or in the fl em The training is asraly to
provide the MYisioms with their am tmadedgaable ImUv3dusls
capable of advising their respsetiw *A eft in the paralininari-
stages.
3. That M, SI, lei m d id 13 Ditrisicos fmW smacre the
possibilities of distiri tits of bla& p cpsgs via balloaeiag.
4. That in az dlseussiaw with the pspsr at of State
oanostning balloon leaflet aparatims, Weak parapegada be
handled as a Separate aattr, campaariasaitsd four opssstioeol
seoa'ity from the principles of Content review ponseatly
extablishsd for u4its and gi propaganda.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642A001300030009-5
uONFIDENTIAL
5. That the Aran Ditiaiaata utilising ballocma
as a maw of propaganda dalivwy maaoaatrata rr mars an
their atforta to waluate these oparatiaaw ao as to Hamra
acaaulataly reflaaat the actual impact of the propagsmda
them .nd to provida ferifiaatiaaas of ballooaa dslivsry.
c,.NTJ\t
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02
: CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300030009-5 I:ENTIAL SECRET
(SENDER WILL
CIRCLE CLASSI'FhATION
TOP AND
BOTTOM)
CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY
OFFICIAL ROUT IN
TO
1
ff~ LS
DATE
I
- -
2
3
i~s K c
v /
4
C v~
S
FROM
INITIALS
DA
1
2
F 3
0 APPROVAL I INFORMATION P- SIGNATURE
0 ACTION DIRECT REPLY l RETURN
COMMENT PREPARATION OF REPLY IJ DISPATCH
I CONCURRENCE 0 RECOMMENDATION FILE
`
L
4
Remarks 11fV
--
5 7,
tr-
~rsNl4~i i_. /
's
CONFIDENTIA UNCLASSIFIED
SECRE
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02
CIA-RDP78-03642A001300030009-5 TINGOFFICE 16-68548-2