COLONEL EDWARDS AND MR. (Sanitized) WERE SWORN ASWITNESSES BY JUDGE PRETTYMAN

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CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1
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RIPPUB
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T
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51
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December 15, 2016
Document Release Date: 
September 15, 2003
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1
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Publication Date: 
February 20, 1962
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COURTFILE
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Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R0022O0080001-1 TOP SECRET MR. HOUSTON: Colonel Edwards and ire the witnesses by Judge Prettyman , , , COL. EDWARDS: Sheffield Edwards, Office of Security, CIA. COL, EDWARDS: Would you ask the Board's permission to go off r 3 the record, and I think that the secretary ought to leave. I have tobring in some points on the private life of Powers and his family that the Board I think should ake uprtheir minds whether it is pe rtinent to their investigationE I would like at p, z I f irst to brief the Board on this off the record. I will ask Ithen to brief the board on his clearance, his investigation, and other investigations that m y office has done after his capture, but I thirk in all equity to Mr., Powers I should brief the Board off the record on certain sensitive points that effect him personally Colonel Edwards, had full responsibility for the security investigation. TOP SECRET 1 :1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R00220 25X1 P 25X1 E 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R0022 TOP SECRET 2/20/62/L_____Jkh/2 COL. EDWARDS: Our office and the Air Force. je Was i ivesti gated by the OSI of the Air Force. The investigation was brought u to date -- n ational agency checks -- by CIA. MR. HOUSTON: You had full access to the results of"the Air Force COL. EDWARDS: He was cleared on the basis of n 4ppraisal of the OSI, on the polygraph, on up to date national agency checks on himself and his . . . . The room was cleared and the meeting went off the record at 1025 hours. At 1105 hours the meeting went back on the record MR. HOUSTON: Colonel Edwards, could you and give the Board the description of the security investigation and the results of it? I am the custodian of the Security? File of Francis i Gary Powers, having been permanently charged to me since 21May 1960. The first security action appearing in his file is a certification of a TOP SECRET clearance from the Air Force to CIA for purposes of contact 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 1! 1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET 2/20/62/3 for recruitment, and this was in March of 1956. The second security action appearing in Mr. Power's Security File is a polygraph taken on li April 1156 I! ~ which polygraph was judged to be with favorable results. The next security action is in July 1956 in which his Air Force investigation was brought up to date by national agency checks. National Agency checks being conducted at the Army, the Navy, btate Department, Civil Jervlce Commission, mouse Gommlttee on un-American Activities, and the Investigative and Fingerprint File- of the Federal Bureau of I Investigation. The Air Force investigation was conducted by the Xir'Forc,e, 081 in 1953. This investigation verified the birth, education, employme t, and loyalty of Mr. Powers and no derogatory irformation was developed. ' A review of this investigation and the polygraph examination and the completer favorable national agency checks, it was determined on 19 July 1956 that Mr. Powers met the qualifications for affiliation with the CIA and the basis of the judgment was under the terms of the Executive Order 10450 which are the secu4 ty requirements for Government employment in sensitive positions. The investigation developed that subjoct was born as .? listed on his personal history statement, 1~ August 1929 in Jenkins, harlan County Kentucky, the son of Oliver Winfield - JUDG^ PRE PYDAiT: What does that have to do with Bourd.in? Is that the same thing? 0 'Prey are all small communities. It is a mining area TOP SECRET 2'5X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 TOP SECRET 5X1 2/20/62"kh/4 5X1 JUDGE PRETTYMAN: Yes. I suppose it's just another name for a wide COL. EDWARDS: It is a little town. 5X1 I the investigation, had been a coal miner and served in the Army ontwo different 5X1 25X1 I 1 11 occasions and that his mother was a housewife and had more than avgrape interest in religion. She is quite religious. She is in the Protestant faith and -- JUDGE PRETIYMAN: Does the record show what range of the Protestant Methodist. We normally do not delve into the man's JUDGE PRETTYMAN: It was interesting to me due to the territory. 25X1 His education at Harmon, Virginia was verified; his education at Grundy highschool in Grundy, Virginia; his education at Milligan 25X1 TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 Subject's father, it developed during the course of His father had served in the Army on two different 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 D TOP SECRET 25X1 2/20/62[777Jkh/5 College, Tennessee where he majored in biology and received his B.A. Degree in June 1950 with the scholastic standing of high average. He participated in sports to the extent of football in highschool and track in college. We verified subject's summer employment while attending college. In the summer months of 147 and 1948 he was employed as a laborer and welder's helper in the Fairmont Machine Company, Fairmont West Virginia. His employment was satisfactory. His employment as life guard for the Kiwanis Club in Jenkins, Kentucky until he joined the Air Force in 1950 was verified as satisfactory. We verified subject's military'sevvice as an enlisted man from October 1950 until November 1951 when he was discharged as a CoppDUel. On the following day he was an Aviation Cadet, graduating from the Air Force Basic Flying School, Greenville, Mississippi. Upon completion of this training in September 1952 he was awarded pilots wings and commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Air Force Reserve. Subject's first duty assignment was F-84 Thunderjet pilot, 468th Strategic Fighter Squadron, Turner AltrForce Base, Georgia. Subject resigned I his Air Force Reserve commission under honorable conditions on 13 May 1956. Subject's Air Force record reflects that he had one TDY trip to Japan from February to May 1954. H s performance reports were reviewed for his tour with the Air Force and they were found to be uniformly good. He was variously' described as an officer of good appearance and military bearing. He appears to exercise initiative to display intelligence sufficient to identify him as a satisfactory pilot and officer. This was his rating of August 1953? He appears to exercise good judgment in the economical manage- 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET 2/20/624Fth/6 ment of resources under his supervision commensurate with his responsibilities. He is a typical young officer, somewhat reticent and retiring in personality and though not assertive nor perhaps as aggressive as an officer Lhould be, he is nonetheless receptive toward instructions and most cooperative in undertaking the tasks assigned to him. He tends to draw within himself as a matter of habit and yet when the occasion demands he can be as congenial and as much a member of the organization as the next man. In all his dutis and tasks given him solar, he had done a very satisfactory job -- rating March 1954. A neat, mature, young officer who is rather quiet in his ways. He t TOP SECRET is well disciplined, courteous, and conducts himself in a gentlemanly manner. He acts quickly, accomplishes his duties and performs his work in a thorough manner. He is a likeable person who makes friends easily. He is a very capa`ble'pilot and can be rated slightly-above other pilots of a similar experience level. His unassumed mariner of conduct and his high moral standards reflect favorably upon the Air Force. This was his rating in June 1954. An efficient young officer whose quiet personality tends to hide his true qualities. He is above average in professional ability but is reluctant to take full advantage of his knowledge because of his timid nature.: He prefers to be led. He is very cooperative and always volunteers his time for squadron details. 1 He is well liked by the squadron personnel. His calm professional manner in handling a recent inflight emergency is typical of his daily performance of duty. His value to the Air Force is constantly increasing -- May 1955? GENERAL BULL: What was the inflight emergency? 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET P5X1 P5X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 2/2o/6241kh/7 0 COL. GEARY: I think in this particular case itwaip a lost engine 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Which has all the landing characteristics of a rock. A neat well mannered young officer. lie has an Air 25X1 Force career utmost in his mind and as a consequence is always striving to broaden his prospective in all phases of Air Force life. A dependable and typically effective officer -- January 1956. There are no other efficiency reports that weFa fevieied because of his transfer to the CIA. Subject was married in April 1955- GENERAL BULL: He was married a year before he came, into the job. How long was he at Robbins Air ForcerBaee? STATOTHR COL. GEARY: I think he had probably been there a co?ple of years. 25X1 25X1 his personal history statement was dated 9 April 1956. From June 1953 to the present, which at that time 1 -1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 STATOTHR Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 TOP SECRET 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 2/20/624 I Bore/kh/9 Ithink it will come in as part of the report 0 was then sworn as a vitae as by Judge MR. HOUSTON: Will you identify yourself? 25X1 25X1 25X1 a Security Officer who works for Colonel Edwards in the Central Intelligence Agency. MR. HOUSTON: What has been your relation to the U-2 Project, specifically in connection with Mr. Powers? II On December 1955 I was assigned by my office to this project and then in April of 1956 I went to with the various detatchments for training and it was on May 1958 I met Mr. Powers when he reported for training In August 1956 we deployed to Turkey and I was with him to February 1957 when I left, but returned to Turkey in the same your, 1957, and remained there until December 1958, so I knew Mr. Powers between the months of May and August at of 1956 and then until February 157 in Turkey and then from November 1957 to December 1958 when I was relieved by II During my first period of association I was Deputy Security Officer for the Detatchment. When I came back then in late 1957 and 1958 I was Security Officer for the Detatchment. MR. HOUSTON: Was it a part of your duties to be famili$r with the 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002260080001-1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 1 5X1 2/20/624 Th/10 security aspect of the personnel at the Detachment? II ~priifessional Security Officers assigned by the Agency to each detachment, and this group of people performed all the physical security functions associated with the activities, personnel, administration and operational security functions.that were our responsibility. May I add, we were also responsible for personnel cover for all members of the Detachment. 1AR. HOUSTON; Will you describe the actions you took, or information you developed in connection with 4r. Powers from the security viewpoint during the whole period you knewh_im either at Watertown or during the deployment overseas? then with his wife when she joined us in January 1958. There were his initial participated in. It was at this time he was explained the functions under the rather unique security restrictions imposed on the people participating in the activity and as each move occurred -- before we deployed to Turkey -- there were briefings about how one should handle himself and local conditions having; an effect on the security of the detachment, and before we would stage, as for instance in the fall of 1958 when we went to participated. On each of these occasions there were briefings cone -- specific instructions liven about how to explain one's absence to his friend::, family and the people working in the surrounding vicinity and this sort of thine. 25X1 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 I OP T SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 TOP SECRET 2/20/62/I kh/11 JUDGE PRETTYMAN: Give me one fact that I can key this in. This Iperation -- 5X1 I 5X1 5X1 5X1 our official pilots directly from Adana tol As a matter of fact, no operational missions were performed on that There was JUDGE PRETTYMAN: Powers participated in that operation? 5X1 He was one of four pilots who accompaniedus on that JUDGE PRETTYMA1: And he was fully briefed on that occasion? ;, a 5X1 25X1 I MR. HOUSTON: Did he fly the U-2 there, or was he taken up? 25X1 i(( gg i A I don't recall. Some were stand-by-4nd transported 25X1 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R00229,00180001-1 The fall of 1958- -- an actual mission. As though he were called upon to perform Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 TOP SECRET 5X1 2/20/62"h/12 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 0 0 Could you tell,, what some of the In the situation both at [:::::~id when he immediately familiarized with the local conditions. For instance we had Ec etimes four or five different categories of people. The training operation was going on at that time. Not all knew what the mission: of this organization was to be sowe would sit the individual down who was coming in and explain to him Just what each of these groups knew in terms of his knowledge of the operation. This was discuss personal conduct expected from the people participating in this operation, the fact that probably the key to the entire operation was the assumption of individual responsibilities to see that the mission is performed securely, recognizing that if in one single instance a person fails to assume this responsibility the operation could be compromised and our capabilities sacrificed. We explained the "need to knows' principal -- you don't have to tellipeople more than they have to know to do this job. The people that worked with Mr. Powers realized that he was to be exposed to a situation where he might fall into enewy, x hands. He ;!as not given information he did not need. Mr. Fowers was cautioned 25X1 25X1 25X1 125X1 TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 I 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 5X1 e5X1 e5X1 e5X1 2/2O/62 ;-i j l against seeking out this information. Within the organization and within the Detachment itself we compartmented. For instance people in the Security E'ection did not have to know the specifics of the operational activity as to just how a given mission was to be accomplished and did not have to know the route. JUDGE PRETTYI,MI: Let me see how emphatic youlneed to be about this "need to know" principal. Is that basic and universal without exception in dealing with this U-2 venture? That was our endeavor, yes, sir. II these people in our initial briefinr?s and the following. JUDGE PRETTYIAII: That was understood by all. Powers and all the personnel understood the policy which was that he was to IL-iow what he had to ,now and no more. II E.R. BROSS: Did Powers :.ave access to the production of his overflig'its? Did he see the photoExaphy of operational flig'hto he had taken? Doyou know? 0 take from the primary missions. I believe he saw some take from missions flown to the i;iddle East which was not classified.-- film pictures. Ile saw nothing from the pictures taken of the denied territory in the usual sense of the word. 25X1 TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET 5X1 25X1 P5X1 e5X1 2/20/62/F--~h/14 0 0 e5X1 e5X1 e5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 0 0 he had to identify himself. I.M. HOUSTON: Do you have any personal knowledge as to whether he used that name in connection with t"'le medical interview? II MR. '.OUSTON: Going back to the time you deployed to Adana, did you brief him on the cover story for Adana and his obligations in connection with any activities outside of Adana? II TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 2/20/662"kil/l6 TOP SECRET 5X1 5X1 5X1 0 reminded of their responsibilities in terms of avoiding the occasions where they might find themselves in embarrassing situations, and the standard of personal conduct that they were constantly being reminded of. GENERAL BULL: What freedom did they have on RcR? Were they free to come and go from the area? II 5X1 0 looked at the individual's passport to see where he had been when he returned. In order to travel as a DAC civilian in Lvrope you had to have written travel orders to countries which you intended to visit so there were c:iecks we could make. 5X1 5X1 5X1 II D 25X1 MR. HOUSTON: Were there any particular instances that were of security interest in connection with Powers at Adana -- that is, that you have personal knowledge of? II I know of only one incident in which he was involved, or which I was called upon to give specific advice or support and that concerned a meeting that he and his wife -- Frank and Barbara -- and one of our co.;manication,s in Adana. It turned out that 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07: CIA-RDP80BO1676R0022000$0001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 TOP SECRET e5X1 e5X1 e5X1 e5X1 Q5X1 e5X1 e5X1 2/20/62) I1 h/18 0 evening and at this point they were living in Adana. We were living on the base which was about 16 miles away. 11R. BROSS: He should have reported it but he had not yet had tine to do so. 0 25X1 25X1 5X1 the only deans of egress was via a they were pretty much on their own. They told t where they were going so we could get in touch with them if necessary. The sane was generally true in Adana but with somewhat tighter controls. If the man was Going to Wiesbaden he gave us an itinerary for the ten-day period during which he might travel to France or gland or Spain. Any travel in the other direction, down through the Iiddle 2ast, was controlled in a much more substantial fashion. Generally this was via Project controlled aircraft. It would have been for a shorter period of time, probably two or three days or 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET 5X1 5X1 2/20/02L-11:h/19 over a wee':end and du_xinG r,:y tenure at ! dana the flights were li..ited to Beirut, Lebanon. GENEPJtL BULL: On arrival in Beirut he was on his own. 5X1 0 0 5X1 5X1 W 0 or two llvntin- trips that :ie vent on with his fellow pilo'cs -- hunting and fishing trips in an area to an area about one hundred. miles or so East of us inlthhe mountains. I don't recall any trip that he rude with his wife as such. There was a beach area about fifty .wiles from our location on the I."editerranean called "Castle by the Sea" ;;as visited frequently by him and his wifee. :Ie incidentally did a fair a..ount of skin diving down there in this area durin:f the period. I was there. GEI RAL BULL: In trevelinC around in other areas would he be covered by your Detachment, or when he leaves the base is he free? II established boundaries and li::itations. He knew for instance he could not travel to Soria C Turin; certain periods of tirie and there was never any indication of a departure from the instructions he received. JUDGE PIIT3V'Y1i 1i: This incident that you related involvin,; the II TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 ~! B Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET 25X1 25X1 STATOTHR 25X1 STATOTH 2/20/62/1h/21 n would have an interest more tan the average person. JUDGE It is U he fact of the r.:atter that the .ovicts and everybody else had a - e_ieral i0ea of what this outfit .ia? 0oi- c o-m there. COL. G:AiiY: The 'Soviets had a very specific idea. GPIiAL BULL: ou coverer. Powers pretty well. Can you Give us the 0 which would be the normal routine. When he got up at two it would 'naturally Mean that he was -oinr on a fli,"it that day. We thought they would be close enough to the activity that we had to tell then sooAethinE which would cause 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 5X1 TOP SECRET 2/20/62, h/22 them to forii an identify to it and a sense of support for the security of it, so with that thought in mind we briefed each of the wives that carte on the scene along the following lines: that in fact the unit was there under the joint sponsorship of the Air Force and Central Intelligence Agency and that the U-2 was being used to conduct electronic intelligence gathering missions in the periphery of the Soviet Union. We said nothing about photography; we said nothing about penetration flights. This, of course, was what Mrs. Powers was told along with other wives. This seemed to work very satisfactorily. There seemed to be developed an esprit de corps among the people on location. It was a very closely knit group of people. They tended to not associate with the other U.S. Air Forcepeople on the base and stayed pretty much to themselves, which is what we tried to encourage for obvious reasons. Does that answer your question, sir? 25X1 STATOTHR 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 STATOTHR 25X1 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 TOP SECRET 5X1 2/20/624rkh/23 returned a few weeks later. The Commanding Officer, [phonetic at the time undertook to investigate the situation and was satisfiej that the situation had been settled or handled properly by the people who re:;iained behind. JUDGE PRETTYMAN: That incident occurred at Adana? 5X1 II 25X1 JUDGE PRETTYNAN: While you and Powers were on the-ssio,i': 25X1 5X1 II MR. HOUSTON: I think probably Mr. Bross will have to leave and 5X1 shall we break up now. I think there are still more questions you would like II . . . . The meeting then adjourned at 31:55 . . . . 25X1 TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 TOP SECRET 5X1 2/20/624:::jli/24 AFTERNOON SESSION . . . . The meeting started at 11+1+0 hours . . . . 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 II 0 0 Only from the standpoint of his responsibilities mission itself. MR. HOUSTON: Do you:mean between Adana and 0 0 0 5X1 Yes, sir. It was my feeling that he was responsive to the conditioning that we attempted; that he was in fact quite security conscious. He was certainly very cooperative in all of the dealings that I 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002220080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET 5X1 5X1 2/2O/62,jkh/25 had with him and other people in my section. YR. HOUSTON: You think he had a pretty good gasp of what information there was a need to protect as opposed to what was not so ir.:mportant? 0 5X1 0 5X1 earlier by the General -- were we aware of any attempts to subvert personnel or dependents? To our knowledge there was none. As a matter of fpct we ;mad frequent liaison with local Americans and through cut out mechanism we worked A with the Turkish Secret Service and there was nothing along these lines at all. MR. HOUSTON: Did Powers himself have much contact wi h Turkish or 5X1 II I would say not. Certainly not a Great deal. He 1, had some in that he was living on the economy in Adana. They had a maid and a cook as I recal) and there were Turkish workmen who maintained t~e Dome and the did have Turkish neighbors but as I recall in the case of the Powers' they were not particularly friendly with any of the local Turkish peo~l GENERAL BULL: Were those contacts checked out as an utcmatic checkout by you people? TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200 80001-1 25X1 STATOTHR 25X1 i 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 2/20/62/"h/26 0 TOP SECRET II 0 Prettyman . . . . December of 1958 to December of 1960. TOP SECRET 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET 5X1 5X1 2/2Q/ 52/[:::Jsh/27 and the security of personnel in the Detachment? 0 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 0 described. you have additional briefings with Mr. Powers on security matters? II We, at the direction of the Commander, had periodic rebriefings. That is, we would every sixty days have a rebriefing or General security, cover, any particular problems that the individual might have, security violations and pointing out the necessity for safeguarding information. TFIDGE..B T IAN: This included security briefing during flights or missions and so on? II Prior to a staging we would brief all individuals who 9*1 5X1 II II TOP SECRET 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Next 1 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 TOP SECRET 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 2/2o/62j kh/3o 12. HOUSTON: Are there any question in this area prior to going on to a slir}Ztly different one? JUDGE PRETTdIAN: I was curious about this. According to Powers' testiiaony that I was reading he went from Adana over to ~nd then he went through the large part of a fortnight and they called it off and sent the plane back to Adana and brought it back again the next night and he did that three or four times. JUDGE PRETTYA:ATT: I suppose one preliminary briefing for him before that first preparation, so far as intelligence is concerned, would cover the matter. You wouldn't have to rebrief him every time he suited up and so forth. time slips - they have a certain amount of time to get him off and if the time slips this would change the route, but this would be more of a navigation briefing more than anything else. I have a copy of the briefing which we would give to all members of the Detachment. This is signed by Air. Powers prior to his departure from Adana on 26 April. IIR. HOUSTON: Would you like to put that in there? II . . . . Document entitled "Security Instructions" was marked 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 TOP SECRET 2/20/62ch/31 Int. HOUSTON: I would like to ask a question of a slightly different area. Can you give us a description of the precautions taken at Adana and at the pre-strike locations or in the staging areas for the protection of aircraft and the fuel -- the physical security -- to make sure that nothing can be tampered with. The drum of fuel which is in 55-gallon drums are inspected prior to being loaded aboard the escort aircraft. There are random samples taken for testing. From that point on it is under guard from the time until it is put into the aircraft. MR. HOUSTON: As I understand you inspect to see that all of them are sealed and you open certain ones to take -- MR. HOUSTON: This is all special fuel made for the U-2. Was there a security control on it right along from the point of manufacture? I cannot say from the point of manufacture, but from the point of arrival at our base it was under security guard. COLONEL GEARY: When the stuff was manufactures it ~ias tested before it was put in the drums and sealed there. N.R. HOUSTON: How was it picked up from the manufacturer? COLONEL GEARY: This varied. We had two different places where it was procured. It would go into one specific tank car and go to the East or the West Coast then it was put into drums that we had bought previously. MR. HOUSTON: At a military installation? COLONEL GEARY: It was put into drums and put aboard a ship and 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 25X1 TOP SECRET 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 25X1 25X1 2/20/624 h/32 and unloaded in Turkey and brought to the base, but as far as somebody having any stringent control securitywise over the fuel this wasn't done because it was something to test and periodically we took samples and ran them through a lab test because it was a new fuel and we didn't know how soon it would break down and start to contaminate. II If a seal popped off we would discard that drum and not issue it. We would use that drum for a training flight or something like that. Our fuel dump was located as close as we could have it in accordance with Air Force regulations because of explosion or fire. It was under security guard at all times on the base and enroute it was under escort of armed courier from the point where it was picked up until it went into the aircraft. It was under constant Guard. L21. T OUSTOI1: :'ow about the plane and photo equipment? 0 While in the hanger there was a Guard in the hanger. If the aircraft went out on the flight line to fly a local training flight or any time it left there there was not less than one armed security guard with it at all times from the point of takeoff to the point of touchdown regardless of whether it was a mission or a i;raiiiiiig flight. TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 2/20/62/Ihh/33 0 They were under my supervision and they all have a full background investigation. I,R. HOUSTON: Who had access to the plane? The maintenance people; the people who cleaned the area. II personnel and no one had access to the aircraft except the contract personnel -- the Lockheed people who were the :maintenance people. Anyone in the Detachment had access to the hanger but we had a compartmentation system whereby no one could approach the aircraft unless they had specific reason to do so. LR. HOUSTON: These people had clearances? II E.R. HOUSTON: How about access to equipment. 5X1 5X1 5X1 II access to it other than Detachment personnel -- that is, assigned to Detachment The camera equipment as I understand it from moving pictures is packed in a case or something and locked on the bottom of the ship. a full clearance. JUDGE PRETT'LMAT: I'd like you to describe that in full detail. II JUDGE PRLTTYIIAN: Where is the camera equipment kept? 5X1 II That would be located in an adjoining building approximately twenty feet from the hanger, seventy-five feet from the aircraft - TOP SECRET 25X1 25X1 I 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/1 /07 : CIA-R P80B01676R002200080001-1 25X1 TOP SECRET 5X1 2/20/62"kh/34 5X1 5X1 0 0 5X1 5X1 0 There could be a variation in this. The support aircraft which would carry the staging personnel might carry a spare camera. JUDGE PRETTYMAN: No, but the ship that is going to make the 5X1 5X1 JUDGE PRETTdiAN: Then it is flown over to ith that on it. 0 5X1 II The ship is loaded before it goes as a general rule. 0 5X1 0 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 25X1 TOP SECRET 5X1 5X1 2/20/624 kh/35 0 5X1 to 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 15X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 0 0 0 0 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 5X1 5X1 Approved For Release 2003/ 0/07 : CIA-R P80BO1676ROO2200080001-1 TOP SECRET 2/2o/62A kh/36 5X1 5X1 5X1 MR. HOUSTON: I think1was not there at will have testimony by the people who briefed him. In your opinion it would be difficult, if not impossible, for any unfriendly person to have access to the plane or its equipment. I think it would be extremely unlikely, sir. JUDGE PRETIY?.1AN: Let me ask this question before I forget it. Was this plane marked? 5X1 0 5X1 the entire thing. We have lists of people who were on the mission, we looked at it from all angles and it is summarized in the Commander's report and other than that we can come up with nothing, sir. R. HOUSTON: Is it correct to state from the point of view of the Security Officer, represented by you, there is nothing to indicate failure of the mission involving any security aspect? 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 Approved For Release 2003/ 0/07 : CIA-R P80BO1676ROO2200080001-1 TOP SECRET 2/20/621 1kh/37 0 MR. HOUSTON: To go back to your trip with Mr. Powers, is there anything that comes to mind at all that to your mind was a security incident in connection with Mr. Powers? II his group in a security sense. He followed directions, he took security advice in the spirit it was offered and I can think of no incident that would point to that. MR. HOUSTON: I have no further questions. JUDGE PREPTYIdAN: You spoke a moment ago referring to the Commander's report. Is that Colonel Shelton? Colonel Shelton was an extremely able and competent officer I was proud to have servei under him. MR. HOUSTON: Is that all for 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET 5X1 5X1 2/20/62/[kh/38 5X1 5X1 0 commander of the detachment which ultimately initially went to Adana. It is unsigned, however, but it is a registered comument. It is part of a total dispatch received from the field in which is a statement titled "Evaluation 6 July 1956 and a part of it is a 'breakdown as to flying 5X1 5X1 5X1 H5X1 0 and applied himself to an extensive degree; it is belioved by the training personnel that his knowledge of the basic problem should provide a high degree of reliability in accomplishing his assigned mission." It further says, "At the time of this report = has completed 14 of the i' rcuired missions." It describes his performance of missions and sums ..t up bf saying, "It is the consensus of the operations Staff that = is an excellent pilot and will prove entirely reliable in completing the mission assigned. 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07: CIA-R P80BO1676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET 2/20/62/F-----Jh/39 JUDGE PRETTYPSAN: Does that show the nature of the training or would you know the nature of the training that he received -- those training aissions and what not. JUDGE PRETTThAN: _:e said in his debriefing we are reading now that he never - I believe his expression was that he had never been in a parachute before. JUDGE PRETTYlAN: I would just like to find out whether part of his training was -- COL017EL GEAR-: As part of his training there was no parachute jumping involved in any of his training because in order to do this you would lose an airplane. JUDGE PR-PTY!?;AN: If you used one of those planes it is true but what I want to make sure is you get down to the time where he got out of .-is testimony was that that was the first time he had ever had the plane. -T on a parachute. COLONEL GEARY: No he didn't mean that. He mcant that it was the first time he had to resort to using a parachute. JUDGE P&TfiIYEAN: His training had not included jump training? 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 25X1 TOP SECRET 5X1 2/20/62,11 kh/lEO COLONEL GEARY: No, he hadn't any jump training. This is 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 something you do right the first time or it doesn't make any difference. GENERAL BULL: And he didn't have to jump in connection with that infliCht emergency? COLONEL GEARY: Apparently not. JUDGE PRETTYhAN: I am inclined to think, when we get down to it, when he started getting out of his plane and what he did under the emergency which he found himself faced with, it's a question of how much training he had in that sort of circumstances. COLONEL GEARY: That is difficult to say. He would have been unable to use any training he may have had because he was upside down on his back at 70,000 feet. JUDGE PRETi iAl: It struck me that statement that he oeid. it was the first time he had ever been in a chute. I want to make sure that in his training how to get out of a plane with a chute was not part of his To the best of my knowledge it is true and this report does not reflect it. This breaks down flying time by type of aircraft, number of landings, 1.-r+rument time, celestial navigation flights, photo flights; large scc_c ann tri-met and route photo training. These are something used to gra_c their performance. I have copbs of this. AB. HOUSTON: Would you like to have that put in this? JUDGE PRETT)TAN: I suppose we might as well. Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10107 - QIA-R 80B01676R002200080001-1 1 7 TOP SECRET 5X1 5X1 5X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 2/20/62/1kh/41 NR. HOUSTON; Let's mark that Exhibit 12. . . . . Document entitled "Evaluation of 1 -1 July 1956" was marked as Exhibit 12 and made a part of this record . . . . did Powers have in this country? what other training of any nature I the Agency training site in evasion, escape and survival. I have here a curriculum of the courses he received, or the instructions he received. This is undated and unsigned. I found it in a file which I went through. I think probably this was dug out at somebody's request after the May 1st incident. I have a memorandum for the record which I had written indicating he in fact did go down to the training site, although I didn't accoqpany him. happened to go with him and three other drivers, I believe, and acted as case officer and consequently there was not the usual memorandum for the record written covering the training. Also for the record I could say that what purports to be a curriculum he received down there is similar to, if not -:a--tly the same as that received by previous pilots who had gone down for tlic purpose, so I have no reason to think this is not correct. MR. HOUSTON; There is a curricular established for thip particular 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 training course at Approved For Release 2003/1 /07 : CIA-R P80B01676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET X1 5X1 5X1 2/20/621 and three other of the pilots, all of whom subsequently came into the program, one of whom is still in the program. P;R. HOUSTON: What was the curriculum? Well, sketchily here, six hours of survival training. This was to be done with other pilots. This is how to exist off 25X1 25X1 of discussion; question and answer period. I think in addition $,o that there were various films shown. They may be included in this nine hou~,s cif area s briefing. Also at the time the individuals were at the training site they were shown what their survival kit would consist of -- certain b1piq items 25X1 25X1 which is generally expepted to be a part of the survival kit and they were asked for any special preferences they had as to type of weapon o apy peculiarity they wanted in there -- additional fishing line, two compasses instead of one, so that was also a part of it. JUDGE PFMTMIAN: What about the poison needle. Is hat part of standardeguipment? It was never displayed to them in my presence. TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 ch/T+2 R. HOUSTOPT: Did he go down with others? Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200680001-1 TOP SECRET 5X1 5X1 2/20/62/L____Ilth/43 I have never seen it. When you say, Was it part of the standard equip~.ient?" -- JUDGE PRETT d AN: The phrase was used "Standard Survival Equipment." That is all the moving picture said. I wondered what that standard eusvival equipment was. As I an personally familiar ;-rith it the survival equipment did not include the needle. As I said i't included such things as a small collapsable shovel, a hatchet, a hunting knifo, fishing line, hooks, sewing ki t. JUDGE PRETT diA : I Guess no part of that training program :Mould 25X1 involve instructions as to what he is supposed to do if he is captured and stance to interrogation at all. I feel quite sure his particular training was the same type of training offered other people. It didn't vary very much from I M. HOUSTON: We can, if the Board desires, get one training 25X1 officer who can testify as to exactly what was given. I might say here for the record he subsegu-jltly had some survival training in Turkey. This can be documented by other r that is also available. Fie is here in headquarters -- the man who w?pt to Turkey. I have copies of this if you would like. JUDGE PRE]I MAN: I thinly you might as well put it in the record. T II 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R0022O000001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET 25X1 2/20/624Fhh/44 . . . . Document entitled "Agency ME Training for .r. Francis G. Powers" was marked. L,hibit 13 and made a part of this record . . . . 25X1 5X1 11 to 15 June 1956. I think this ca::c durinE IIe really didn't get out of the service until mid-Tiny. It was probably interrupted after the ;round phase before flying. We wore having difficulty 3ottin- a detachment of pilots at a certain time. T. 3. TIOUSTON: When did he actually move: to Turkey? D 25X1 25X1 X125X1 lwhen he first came into the 25X1 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 had been there three or four weeks but there was no other training that I am aware of along this line before he left. Nov if I could take the liberty - Mike indicated some of these documents which had been entered in the record showed the signature of Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 2/20/'624 kh/)l5 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 25X1 pen and ink signature Francis G. Powers, signature twice. It is a statement solicited from and furnished by his initial flight surgeon at Adana. I don't know whether you want to enter this or not. This again was subsequent to May. MR. HOUSTON: what is the nature of it? 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 TOP SECRET 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 5X1 2/20/62C::::jkh/h6 as flight surgeon of Francis G. Powers during the period July 1956 until January 1959. It is a personal opinion of Mr. Powers from a medical.. I think, and psychological point of view. It points out the fact that from time to time 0 25 May 196x. It is untitled, dated 20 May 1960. "I hereby certify that I was employed as a flight surgeon of Francis G. Powers during the period from July 1956 until January 1959. During this period of time I not infrequently shared a room with Mr. Powers and participated in social flying and mission duties with him. In my opinion Mr. Powers was an outstanding pilot for his calmness under pressure, his precision and his methodical approach to problems. I have flown considerably in jets with Mr. Powers. I would consider him temperate, devoted, perhaps more than usually patriotic, and a man given to thinking before speaking or acting. During the first part of 25X1 STATOTHR 25X1 TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/1&07 : - P80B01676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET X1 2/20/62L----Ykh/47 persisted throughout our entire association. In my opinion Mr. Powers would be extremely unlikely to defect or panic under any but the most Somebody has inked out "under any but the most extreme Incidentally this was forwarded to the Director of Central Intelligence in a memorandum from Mr. James A. Cunningham on 26 May 1960. MR. HOUSTON: Are there any further questions? MR. i-IOUSTON: Would you identify yourself for the record? COL. SHELTON: Colonel William M. Shelton, Colonel, USAr, 7303A. MR. HOUSTON: I think it would be helpful if you would give us a little of your own background in the service and flight experience and command experience. COL. S'}T'LTON: Well I have been primarily a fighter pilot. That is my induction into tho service. MR. nOUSTON: When was that, sir? COL. SHELTON: In 1941. I flew fighters in World War II. The highest rank I received was Major and I was Squadron Commander of a fighter unit. 25X1 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/1 /07 : CIA-RD 80B01676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET 2/20/62/Mtei't'='/kh/i 8 During the Korean War I flew jets there in 1951 with a fighter group and commanded the group prior to coming home in 1951. I have been in staff positions as operations and training and Air Defense Division under the manual system for approximately three and a half years. I had approximately two years of intelligence training and staff work at SAC Headquarters primarily i?R. HOUSTON: At the time you came had considerable experience. COL. SHELTON: Yes, sir. MR. HOUSTON: When did you take over as Detachment Commander? COL. SHELTON: August lst, 1959. I.4R. HOUSTON: This is Commander of Detachment 10-10 at Adana. COL. SH ELTON; Yes, sir. 12. HOUSTON: Air. Powers was then with the Detachment. COL. SHELTON: That is correct. I.M. HOUSTON: So he was directly under your command at that time. COL. SHELTON; Yes. DHi. HOUSTON: Did you personally look into his professional efficiency STATOTHR STATOTHR engaged in? 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 25X1 TOP SECRET 2/20/62/Shelton/Ith/49 COL. SHELTON: Yes. I had a personal policy that I made it a point to fly with all of my pilots and especially the U-2 pilots. had two T-33's -- jet trainer planes -- which is a two seat trainer. These U-2 pilots I flew with regularly. I would alternate with them in the front seat at one time and with them in the rear seat at another time for the simple reason, as you stated, to see what their proficiency was, in order for me to increase their training or decrease their training or leave it on the standard that we had at that particular time. MR. HOUSTON: Did you form an opinion of Mr. Powers' proficiency? COL. SHELTON: Yes I did. 10. HOUSTON: Could you tell the Board2 COL. SHELTON: I felt that Mr. Powers was above average in instrument flying; that his flying judgment was above average also; that under unique circumstances I felt that he was unusually cool. As an example, on one particular day we were up and flying instruments and this was under actual weather conditions. We ran into a thunderstorm. These thunderstorms have updrafts and downdrafts and are very rough. This one particular one contained hail and you could see it coming down on the windshield. There was no evidence of panic or anything of that sort at all with Powers. He took the normal procedure that had been taught him and through his best judgment he piloted the aircraft into a safer position in order to try to get out of the hail storm. 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 2/20/62/Shelton/kh/50 Approved For Release 2003/1 /07 : CIA- P80B01676R002200080001-1 TOP SECRET MR. HOUSTON: Was it necessary for him to have any additional training under your command? COL. SHELTON: No, I felt the training that he was obtaining was MR. HOUSTON: Flight training in the T-33's and the U-2? COL. SHELTON: Yes. The U-2 pilots flew more than non-U-2 pilots. I saw to that because by flying the U-2 and the T-33 of course they would fly more. MR. HOUSTON: Do you have any personal knowledge of his training or retraining in cockpit procedures in connection with an emergency which might involve the use of parachute? COL. SHELTON: With the use of a parachute in case of emergency? Well, we had periodic meetings where questions were discussed and specific procedures were discussed. This was with all pilots except as we finished the T-33 portion of the meeting the U-2 pilots then remained and we went through the U-2 portion of this. This was a minimum of once a week. You could call it sort of a flying safety meeting -- something of that type. MR. HOUSTON: aom these sessions you would be satisfied that Mr. Powers knew the procedure for using the ejector? COL. SHELTON: Absolutely. There is no question in my. mind that every pilot that was flying either the T-33 or the U-2 was more than adequately briefed and was more than adequately well aware of the correct emergency procedures in bailing out or the use of the parachute in these aircraft. 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2T0P7 StRtI 676R002200080001-1 THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CODE WORD MATERIAL Approved For Release 2T00P7 ,g,` f~1- EB1676R002200080001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1 Approved For Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002200080001-1