FURTHER REVIEW AND TIGHTENING UP OF CAT COVER SITUATION AS REGARDS CAT PILOTS IN INDO-CHINA

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05261004
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2022
• Case Number: F-2022-01173
• Publication Date: March 17, 1954

pproved for Release: 2022/08/05 C05261004
0.!
Chief, Far nst
Doolo Odzint.621
17 March I95h
Further z%,viow and tightenior up of .L:.T
cover situation as regards CAT pilots in
1. For the 'Vimd time withio the pot ten days, the Director
raised a. series of searching questions concerning our over-all
position and preparedness to cope uith the posible eventuality of
the loss, froTft enemy action, of one or more of the oki' air-crews
now operating in Indo-Ceina.
2. The Director was given a certain anoint of roosurance
concoroing the contractual arrongeoents tetween i . as such, and
the pilots, ioclodint previsions for insurance. However,
the Diroctorts questions yore much broader than this and what he
Ireally vented vas for us to take every step we can possibly think
of to ready ourselves for what might happen in the wake of the
loss of rirf" pilots or crow monhrs who are 1J. citioons in Indo-
na. 4e pointed out that there would prartly be considortfrile
bue and cry in the press and possibly demands for congressional
oinvestioationof..the circumstances involved. in .the death of
citigons in this "foreign war,"
3. lAlve so ( yoo, to be tiohtened up and posr,bly
acoo ney anolcs to heoored on, end in any case this should
receive your priority attootion and consideration and any construct-
ive thouohts which you nay develop shoold be coordinated, as appro-
priate, with the Ot7 orlicials, the !*tato Department and perhaps
the iepartment of heCene. Those are the molt likely original
targeto for questioning and criticism, and we should be sure that
there is a well understood party lino.
b. The director was reminded that as far as tote and
e-ense as re-corned theyopecificall: s2looved of the proposed
contract between CY' and the -ronch authorities for theeopler,rounit
of "1- crews (Aocrican). 6% is my recollection that the NC and/or
the Xr worn s'olo oot on not4co of this proposed contract, hut this
point should he checked eosin in cer records:7
-
Approved for Release: 2022/08/05 C05261004
pproved for Release: 2022/08/05 C05261004
�
5. There van a dir)clissi 0:: or the analouy between th1 presc;nt
situation and the old -- aro-1 entry into Vend Var II Amsd ck
of the plying Ti.ero. The oct-up was somewbat di iTerent in that
the Chinese 'iationalist Goverment var the cut-out -- operator -�
but the fact wrs there nonetheless that the funds were orovidtA by
the Ur 0overnent to the Cbinats, thrt 13 citizens were involved
in a "forcirn ',,yr", and that the Covrnmerrt winked at certain laws
ich were en the statute books at the tire and le. ch by their
terms were re7:tr'etive or .7frol, ibitive of asch actiens. It would
be useful to have Uncral Counsol'n Office chuck the lawn of the
1940-hl period with today's laws appl cal'le to thin subject . It
is my i-pross' ol that the old ''eutrality Act had real teeth in it,
hut thst thls law vas sul stact 'ally r,,uealed or wended in connec-
tion with Lcad*L,:sse.
Deputy Dime (Plans)
ce DCI via -:;DCT
Approved for Release: 2022/08/05 C05261004
r.pe,
pproved for Release: 2022/08/05 C05261004
�
7 2- '1"
-
c'UDJECT
pfl
18 March 1954
) . Chief, Far East Division
CAO/DD/P - Attention: TIT.. Doole/
: Reference memorandum
Hemoramtam for C/FE and Mr. Doole from DD/P
dated 17 March 1954; subject: Further review
and tightening un of CAT cover situation as
regards CAT pilots in Indochina.
1. After General Gabefl had read his copy of the reference
memorandue, he was apprised that FE was Undertaking to formulate
a cover story or have State formulate a cover story which could
be used in the event that Jne of the CAT pilots were loot in
FIC. He stated that in addition to this he felt that What the
Director had in mind IVIB to provide a cover story for others Who
might be concerned in that eventuality including (a) each pilot
in the event he is captured and (b) the other pilots working in
the area, AMbasse;dor Heath, CAT itself, General Navarre, the
Defense Department and CIA, and in the last instance, the cover
story nay well be completely negative. In foreulating any_cover
story -- and it is recognized 'Chet it will be based largely on the
truth -- consideration should be given to various subsidiary
eventualities such as the death within Coeteunist territory, death
within friendly territory or capture by the Comeunists.
2. Will you please undertake to advise and assist in the
formulation of these cover stories to be comeunicated to those
concerned and checked out with thell as to whether they are
acceptable.
RTMUR L. JAC05,7
Special Assistant to D:1/P
Approved for Release: 2022/08/05 C05261004
pproved for Release: 2022/08/05 C05261004
.010
�
BEST
COPY
VAILABLE
1
- � ct: tz:
1-
rc
c r
;�:
'L� ,�11ci
-
r t
1.:
77.
r
'
C-7
Li
;,33.reJ,r�:t
�
C-t
n �
�
cwn 1. 7 1
rch Lc rtct
tT-
17;C:;'
rcy
c,
-1vjcirt
1_1'1
t ,
�
:�:%3
Approved for Release: 2022/08/05 C05261004
pproved for Release: 2022/08/05 C05261004
BEST
COPY
VAILABLE
�
� 1
Approved for Release: 2022/08/05 C05261004
pproved for Release: 2022/08/05 C05261004
BEST
COPY
VALABLE
i7 APR 0,+
CLASSIFIE
`,-,ECRE
AESSAGE
1
' DIRECTOR
ACIIIDN: FE 6
INFO : COP, PD P-ADMIN 2, Fl, FI/OPS, PP 2, PA 5,
FOLLOING
16 APRIL:
";14C
403-
(W(1)
W(3)
)J Abi3e0)
I,/RI
2,
(SUSPENSE DWI)
USAIRA TAIPEI MESSAGE TO DEPTAF INFO CINCPAC OF
� --"'--
"NO FORN. FOLLOWING INFO RECEIVED FROM ROBERT ROUSPELOT
DIRECTOR OPERATIONS CIVIL idR TRANSPORT: CREWS REPORT 'N3UFFICIENT
AND INEFFECTIVE AIR COVER M AIR-MOP AND NTALV MWSION, CREWS
STATE viET M I NH ANTI,',IFCR:",FT CONSISTS 31X 37N e:-;qJNJ, POCSIEIE FEW
AS FOUR, GUMS MOVED NIGHTLY. CAT PER13N.EL STi,TE SUFFICIENT
AIRCRAFT AND GREV:3 TO DEAL 'ATH ANTIAlaCRAFT WEAPONS BUT TACTICS
OF FRENCH AIR FORCE RESEMBLE WORLD OR ONE TACTICS. DROPS WiDE
BY FRENCH AIR FORCE FROM 047 AIRCRAFT r7ROM HfGH ALTITUDES WITH
RESULT APPROXIV2.7ELY PERCENT FALL I NG HANDS VIFT Ml NH HIGH
DROPS BY FRENCH MR FORCE II.ADE SIMULTe,NEOUS WITH LOT MPS WT,F
CAT :';U:YED :ir;rzal MTH RESULT ETREAVAPT6 7-7IV�2�4:10-64G CAT MANNED
C11918 NUSSELOY REPORTS EXCELLENT PUSS BilL Ti ES COLLECTION
AIR INTELLIGENCE IN AREA. RECOMMENDS THIS PURPOSE AIR FORCE OFFICER
BE ASSIGNED EITHER AS MEMBER CAT CREW OR OPERATIONS DUTY WI [H AT C'
SECRET
..som.a.mgmeet,:fuRtsiPlbl
IT IS FORBIDDEN TO MAKE A COPY OF "MS MESSAGE COPY N.
Approved for Release: 2022/08/05 C05261004
pproved for Release: 2022/08/05 C05261004
SECRET
17 APR 54
PAGE -2-
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
HIS COMPANY (CAT) WYLL COOPERATE IN ANYWAY REQUESTED BY AIR
FORCE, W!THM THEM LIMITED CAPABILITIES CAT WILL CONTMUE
FURNfSH THIS OFF10E SUCH INFO THEY OBTAIN,,"
END OF MESSAGE
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2022/08/05 005261004