OXCART INFORMATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP71B00529R000200010053-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 5, 2002
• Sequence Number: 53
• Publication Date: March 8, 1968
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2002/06/14: CIA-RDP71 B00529R000200010053-4
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$864_68
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Comptroller, DD/S&T
SUBJECT: OXCART Information
REFERENCE: Memorandum for Comptroller/DDS&T from
Comptroller/OS dated 7 March 1968,
Same Subject -8826-68)
Attached hereto is correction of information attached
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?omp ro e
office of Special Activities
to the referent memorandum. It is requested that all
copies of
[8826-68 be returned to the Comptroller's
Office, Office of Special Activities.
Attachment
DfJ/S&T
RISE COPY
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OXCART
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'IY).I ) S I,; C, It I,,?1.'
A'1"1.'ACIIMI N'I" '1'C):
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1. Brief History
A. Program Go-Ahead
1. Design and Model - 29 August 1959
2. Fabrication - 8 February 1960
B. First Flight - 26 April 1962
C. First Mach 3.2 Flight - 27 November 1963
D. Operational Date, Mach 2.8 - 5 November 1964
E. Operational Date, Mach 3.2 - 1 December 1965
F. Number of Flights as of 29 February 1968 -
2731
G. Number of Aircraft as of 29 February 1968
1. Operationally Ready -
5
2. Test Aircraft -
1
3. Trainer Aircraft -
1
4. Aircraft in Storage -
2
II. Phase-out History
A. During 1966 a BOB/DOD/CIA. study of OXCART A.-12/USA.F SR-71
aircraft programs was accomplished. In December 1966
after consideration of several alternatives and the
combined aircraft fleet size, a Presidential decision
31 December 1967 with the SAC SR-71 program assuming
TOP SECRET HANDLE VIA.
OXCART CONTROL SY
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responsibility for maintaining reconnaissance
capability in Southeast Asia.
B. In May 1967 a Presidential decision was made to
deploy the A-12 to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, for
primary purpose of overflight of North Vietnam.
C. Since that time the decision to'terminate the OXCART
program has been extended twice at the recommendation
of the EXCOM of the NRP to allow for further refine-
ment of the SR-71 operational readiness posture.
Each extension was for a three-month period. The
first was announced on 23 October 1967 and the
second on 29 December 1967.
D. The SR-71 is scheduled to deploy to Kadena and to be
ready to assume primary responsibility for
North Vietnam missions by about 15 March 1968. The
OXCART A-12 aircraft will remain at Kadena until 30
days after the SR-71 assumes responsibility, after
which it will be redeployed to the United States.
E. The OXCART program is now scheduled to maintain an
operational readiness through 30 June 1968, after
which the aircraft will be stored and the program
terminated.
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D
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III. Deployment Status
A. Date OXCART directed to deploy to Kadena - 16 May 1967
B. Date deployment completed - 26 May 1967
C. Operationally-ready date after deployment - 28 May 1967
D. First operational mission - 31 May 1967
E. Planned redeployment date - 15 April 1968
F. Operational mission summary as of 8 March 1968
1. 28 missions flown of which -
24 North Vietnam (47 photo flight lines)
2 Cambodia (4 photo flight lines)
2 North Korea (5 photo flight lines)
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OXCART CONTROL SY
Approved For Release 2002/06/14: CIA-RDP71 B00529R000200010053-4