LETTER TO MR. CHAIRMAN (ALLEN W. DULLES) FROM ROSWELL L. GILPATRIC

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000800040056-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 20, 2003
• Sequence Number: 56
• Publication Date: February 8, 1961
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2003/04/24,: CIA-RDP80B01676R000800040056-1
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON
FEB 8 1961
Dear Mr, Chairman :
This is in reply to your letter of 19 January 1961 calling my
attention to certain aspects of the NANCY RAE project.
According to information furnished to my staff by Air Force
Operations personnel, the following factors make it undesirable to
operate NANCY RAE from Shemya:
Crosswinds are of such intensity as to make it
c. The airstrip at 9hernya has deteriorated to the
impossible for a aC-135 to take off safely 20% of the time.
b. The weather generally is bad for aircraft
operations, especially during the summer months.
that sustained operations are infeasible, maximum
4. Support facilities including the rebuilding of
she 250, 000 pounds.
takeoff and landing weights for the surface being 150, 000
pounds while the XC-135 loaded for NANCY RAE operations
sv and construction of a suitable all-weather
r
at of the aircraft, has been made availa a a p
the project originally priced at $6 million. )
Shemya is not included as an active base in Air
hangar and ready room would cost from $8. 5 million to $11. 1
million beyond the amount of $6 million originally estimated
for the project. (To date, $7. 5 million, in addition to the
bl C_ th t tion
o
Force approved war plans, and there are no funds included
in the V Y 1962 Budget for improvements.
With this background, I find myself confronted with several
courses of action, including:
OSD REVIE-V COMPLETED
1. to cancel the project;
Z. to request the Central Intelligence Agency to
provide one-third of the added cost;
00
7-S 1 ~ g 8
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 Approved For Release 2017.04/24 CIARDP80B01676R000800040056-1
. to order the Air Force to defer other projects
aad reprogram funds necessary to rebuild the
Shemya airstrip and construct the necessary
hangar and support facilities;
to operate NANCY RAE from Eielson AFB;
to use the aircraft and its equipment on our
own ranges or against other targets of oppor-
tunity, such as long-range Russian shots in
the Pacific.
The Air Force will continue to operate, maintain, and support
the NANCY RAE project from Eielson AFB and in accordance with
the memorandum of 20 June 1960. If the possibility suggested in the
attachment to your letter does come about or other adverse factors
indicate that successful operations cannot be carried on from
Eielson., further consideration will be given to the most desirable
utilization of this aircraft.
Sincerely yours.
Signed
ROSWELL L. GiLP1JR2G
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Honorable Allen V, Dulles
Chairman, United States
Intelligence Board
Approved For Release 20033(04/241.CIA-RDP80BO1676R000800040056-1
 for necessary
For forwarding to
action. The original of this letter will be shown
to the Director and General Cabell.
FORM N0. Replaces $oem 30-4
ec 237 which maybcused.
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1955 -0-342531
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Approved For Release 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP80BO1676R000800040056-1
Approved For Release 2003/04/24: CIA-RDP80BO1676R000800040056-1