JUSTIFICATION FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC COVERAGE OF TWO HIGHEST PRIORITY TARGETS: SEVEROMORSK AND MOLOTOVSK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61S00750A000500030045-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 24, 2003
• Sequence Number: 45
• Publication Date: October 7, 1957
• Content Type: MF

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Copy o
7 October 1957
MEMORANDUM FORt Project Director
SUBJECT x Justification for Photographic Coverage
of Two Highest Priority Targetst
SEVEROMORSK and MOLOTOVSK
1. In presenting the attached justification for instituting operations
against SEVEROMORSK and MOLOTOVSK, the Ad Hoc Requirements
Committee is aware of the fact that the latest justification presentation
to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and to the President did not include these two
targets. The list submitted at that time (just prior to the operation
against KAPUSTIN YAR) is as followst
KAPUSTIN YAR
NIZHNAYA TURA
VERKH NEIVINSK
KYSHTYM
SARATOV/ENGELS
UKRAINA
CHEPELEVKA
BELAYA TSERKOV
VORONEZH
KUYBYSHEV
KAZAN
2,, It should be explained that the climate in which that justification
was prepared was conditioned by the existence of an AQUATONE capability
for a brief time and that these two current targets were outside
o e range from that staging base. The presentation in that cases therew
fore, in itself was not intended to contain any judgment whatsoever with
regard to the comparative importance of these two targets versus guided
missile targets which were presented.,
3. We believe the two targets in question rank, in importance to
the guided missile argets earlier presented to the
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President. Currently available intelligence bearing upon the capability
of the Russian naval force to deliver a guided missile with an atomic
warhead against the United States is fragmentary and, while giving strong
hints as to probability,, is so inadequate that firm estimates are precluded.
4. Your attention is called to the fact that the Army and the
Air Force cannot confirm but defer to the judgment of the Navy and
PI experts with regard to the judgment stated in the parentheses in
paragraph 2 b of the attached paper on the question of the probability
of being able to determine whether a submarine is configured for guided
missiles from AQUATONE photography.
5, Recommendationt
a, That an AQUATONE mission or missions as required
be carried out to provide photographic coverage of MOLOTOVSK
and SEVEROMORSK,
b, That the attached justification be employed as necessary
to outline to higher authorities the significance and probable
collection consequences of the proposed overflight.
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ES Q1 REBER
Chairman
Ad Hoc Requirements Committee
JQR: cw
14*Project Director w/att cy 1
2.cbrono
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