AQUATONE/OILSTONE PROJECT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP33-02415A000100070024-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 13, 2001
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: May 3, 1957
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Releaswo,2001 24154000100070024-6
3 May 1957
AQUATONE/OILSTONE PROJECT
1. Status:
a. Weather conditions are generally favorable for aerial
25X6 reconnaissance nd most of Siberia from April through October
25X1X4 and in the Far Past Ware moderately good in summer and at their best during
the autumn.
25X1X7
d. A similar military capability is currently being developed by
the Air Force which is equipping a SAC squadron with Air Force procured U-2
aircraft. This unit will be operationally ready and available for deployment
by 1 August 1957.
e. It now appears that the U-2 will be relatively safe from inter-
ception at least through the present reconnaissance season and possibly, under
certain circumstances, considerably longer. Nevertheless, both its margin
of advantage and the security surrounding this operation are subject to continue.
ous erosion so the AQUATONE capability must be regarded as a wasting asset.
2. Plans for the Current Season: Additional hard intelligence obtain-
able only through aerial reconnaissance is urgently required, especially on
developments and installations having to do with Soviet guided missiles, nuclear
weapons, and intercontinental bombers. To cover thirty-five such targets
which have been selected by the Intelligence Community as having the highest
priority should require some twelve to fifteen successful missions, taking
account of normal weather patterns. If permission is granted to conduct these
overflights it is proposed that they be undertaken only as highly favorable
weather materializes so as to obtain maximum coverage with a minimum
number of sorties. This would imply a rate of operation of only one to three
missions per week.
Approved For Release 2001 /03/3pfljltlt =-02415A00010 11/A
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