MEETING OF 29 MAY ON AQUATONE/OILSTONE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP33-02415A000100070021-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 13, 2001
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: May 29, 1957
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release..2antin3/30 CIA-RDP33-02415400100070021-9
29 May 1957
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Meeting of 29 May on AQUA TONE /OILSTONE
Certain matters concerning the above project were discussed 29 May
by Messrs. Quarles and A.W. Dulles and Generals Twining, Bergquist
and Goodpaster. The more important decisions arrived at were as follows:
1. The SAC U-2 follow-on program will move to Del Rio as planned
but serious consideration will be given to the suggestion that, for the next
several months at least, no missions will be flown at Del Rio carrying
cameras or camera hatches. The purpose of imposing this limitation
would be to avoid the revelation to a large circle of unwitting personnel
that the U-2 is primarily a photo reconnaissance aircraft.
2. The present draft press release on the move to Del Rio will be
shortened and then put in the hands of all interested parties. The time of
its release will be a matter of judgment. The release should be postponed
as long as feasible but not so long as to create any air of mystery surround-
ing the aircraft or its ostensible function in SAC.
3. General policy with respect to the military and non-military use
of the U-2 was stated to be as follows:
(a) So long as the U-2 is used, or there is a good chance that it
will be used, for overflights in peace time, there is a preference that this
mission be performed by a civilian agency using civilian pilots.
(b) When the Russians are believed to achieve an interception
capability so that the above peace time mission of the U-2 is ended, these
aircraft will presumably be turned over to the military services to be
retained as a military capability.
(c) In the meanwhile, every effort will be made to proceed with
the build-up of the SAC U-2 capability subject to not destroying the cover
currently employed by AQUATONE/OILSTONE.
TS-164247
Copy/ of 6
P33
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4. In accord with the above policy, the present project will continue
through the current (1957) reconnaissance season. At a later date the
experience of the season (and presumably intelligence on Russian capabilities)
will be reviewed to decide whether there is sufficient prospect of using the
U-2 for overflight purposes next season to justify the maintenance of the
U-2 capability in a civilian framework as at present.
5. No approach will be made to with respect to a joint 25X1X7
project involving the U-2 at least for the present.
RICHARD M. BISSELL, JR.
Project Director
25X1A9a
TS-164247
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y.., w
CIA (Continued)
TS-158408 Memo for Acting DCI, dtd 25 Sept 56, from Proj Dir --
cy 1 of 4 "Decisions on AQUATONE"
TS-158576 Memo for Acting DCI, dtd 2 Oct 56, from Proj Dir --
cy 1 of 3 "Preparatory Mtg w/Adm Radford and Gen Twining"
TS-158610 Memo for DCI, dtd 15 November 56, from Proj Dir --
Cy 2 of 6 "Briefing Notes on AQUATONE for 15 November"
25X1X7
SAPC-13786 Memo for DCI, DDCI, dtd 2 April 57, from Proj Dir --
Copy 1 of 6 "AQUATONE Plans"
TS-164213 Memo for DCI, DDCI, dtd 19 Apr 57, from Proj. Dir.
Copy 1 of 6 "Continuation of A QTTATONE Beyond 1957"
Agenda for President's Briefing of May 6, 1957
TS-164231A AQUATONE OILSTONE PROJECT, Paper prepared by
Cys 1 & 2 RMBissetl, Jr, for President's Briefing of May 6, 1957
TS-164228A Memo for DCI from RMBissetl, Jr., dated 3 May 1957
Cy 1 Subject: High Level Meeting on Project AQUATONE
TS-164227A Additional Business Concerning Project AQUATONE/OILSTONE
Cy 1 " Paper prepared by: RMBissetl, Jr, dated 3 May 1957
TS-164229 Briefing Notes for DCI, AQUATONE Meeting (w/President)
25X1X7 Cy 1 0930 Monday, 6 May 1957
TS-164247 Memo for Record by RMB re: Meeting of 29 May on AQ/
Cy 1 of 6 OILSTONE
Approved For Release 2001/03/0 -: CIA-RDP33-02415A000100070021-9