BOARD OF INQUIRY - FRANCIS GARY POWERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R002200070001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 1, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 22, 1962
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 2003/08/18 :CIA-RDP80B01676R002200070001-2
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SUBJECT: Board of Inquiry -Francis Gary Powers
1. On 7 March Dr. Louis W. Tordella, Deputy Director,
National Security Agency, informed me that he wished to make a
written record in connection with certain points in the transcript
of the meeting between the Director of Central Intelligence and the
Board of Inquiry in the Francis Gary Powers case on 1 March 1962.
2. Dr. Tordella said that contrary to the statement of
Mr. Bross recorded in the transcript it did not take "questioning
and cross-examination" to bring out evidence to "contradict or
invalidate this story. " Dr. Tordella stated that he personally
ointed out that the account bein resented b NSA.was the
He finds it di icu t to accept r. rose
characterization of the NSA briefing as being presented "very
vehemently and very positively. " He requested that the implica-
tion of lack of objectivity and lack of deliberatel phrased
techni 11 a ura e s un e d
~~
stated that the lack of any other adequate technical explanation
for the data at hand inevitably leads to a statement of the nature
made by NSA for which NSA finds no technically acceptable
alternative. I said I would be glad to record his viawa with the
transcript of the testimony involved, which in any case would
not be disseminated but would be kept in three copies undea
control of my office.
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3. Dr. Tordella then said there were several errors of
fact, one of which was serious, which should. be corrected for the
record:
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OGC Has Reviewec,~pproved For Release 2003/08/18 :CIA-RDP80B01676R002200070001-2
 Approved For Release 2003/08/18 :CIA-RDP80B01676R002200070001-2
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b. On page 35, Mr. Bross who had been talking abort
the NSA evidence states that "the Agency" arrived at the
theory of a flameout and shoot down at lower altitude.
I agreed with Dr. Tordella that the Agency involved here
was obviously CIA and not NSA.
c. On page 27, stated, '". and
we know now that the Russians knew that plane was coming
in before it ever crossed the border--they were on it all
the way. " If taken out of context this co~~ld be interpreted
to mean that the Russians had advance knowledge of the
flight. thus indicating some sort of a penetration of the
project. However, it is clear that the Judge was referring
to the fact that the Russian early-warning radars reported
the U-2 before it crossed the Russian border. It should
not, therefore, be interpreted as a compromise or as
implying that the information was obtained from espionage.
I told Dr. Tordella that the record on these three points would be
filed with the transcript involved so that it wauld be necessary to
read these points in any review of the transcript.
OGC:LRH:jeb
Distribution
Copy 1 filed w/Copy 3 of
Copy 2 filed w/Copy 4 of
Copy 3 filed w/Copy 5 of
LAWRENCE R. HOUSTON
General Counsel
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Approved For Release 2003/08/18 :CIA-RDP80B01676R002200070001-2
 25X1 gpproved For Release 2003/08/18 :CIA-RDP80B01676R002200070001-2
Approved For Release 2003/08/18 :CIA-RDP80B01676R002200070001-2