The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance; The U-2 and OXCART Programs, 1954-1974

Text

This text came with the file. It may have mistakes. When the text and the image disagree, the image is right.

106
Sect et NOFOffN
Chapter 3
Dulles that if we obtain any information or warning that any of the
flights has been discovered or tracked, the operation should be sus­
pended." Goodpaster called both Dulles and Bissell and was told that
reports on tracking or attempted interception of the U-2s would not be
available for another 36 hours. Later that day the two CIA officials
met with Goodpaster to ask if flights could continue in the meantime.
Goodpaster replied that his understanding of the President's directive
was that the operation should continue "at the maximum rate until the
first evidence of tracking was received." 1"
Although President Eisenhower had originally spoken of sus­
pending the overflights if they were ''discovered or tracked," his
main concern was to learn if the Soviets could track U-2 missions,
meaning that they could follow the flight on their radar screens for
most or all of the missions and thus have numerous opportunities to
attempt interception. Certainly the President hoped that U-2 flights
could not even be detected, but reports received on the 20 June over­
flight of Eastern Europe had already indicated that this goal was unre­
alistic. The President's emphasis therefore shifted to tracking. If the
Soviets could successfully track U-2 missions. he wanted the over­
flights halted. ! 9 Reports on Soviet radar coverage of the first two
overflights of the Soviet Union became available on 6 July. These re­
ports showed that. although the Soviets did detect the aircraft and
made several very unsuccessful attempts at interception. they could
not track U-2s consistently. Interestingly, the Soviet radar coverage
was weakest around the most important targets, Moscow and
Leningrad, and the Soviets did not realize that U-2s had overflown
these two cities. 30
Detachment A carried out three more overflights of the Soviet
Union during the 10-day period authorized by the President. Two of
the missions (2020 and 2021) took place on a single day, 9 July 1956.
They covered much of Eastern Europe, and the Ukraine and
Belorussia in the Soviet Union. Unfortunately. a broken camera
" Andrew J. Goodpaster. Memorandum for the Record. 5 July 1956. WHOSS. Alpha.
DDEL (TS).
'" Gen. Andrew J. Goodpaster. interview by Donald E. Welzenbach and Gregory W.
Pedlow. Washington. DC. 8 July 1987 (S).
"' Mission fold.:rs 2013 (4 July 1956) and 1014 (5 July 1956). OSA records. job
67-B-328, box 7 (TS Codeword).
~QGFet