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

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lead to the overseas deployment of Detachment G U-2s in 1974, when
the CIA was tasked to monitor the Israeli-Egyptian and lateir the
Israeli-Syrian disengagement areas. On 21 April l 974, a Detachment
G U-2 with appropriate support elements arrived at Akrotiri, Cyprus,
to conduct Operation OLIVE HARVEST. Between l2 May and 28
July, the detachment conducted six overfli ghts of the disengagement
areas. During these missions the electronic warning systems of the
U-2 registered numerous radar lockons, but no surface-to-air mis:siles
were fired. On l August 1974, responsibility for the OUYE
HARVEST missions as well as the aircraft itself came into the hands
of the Air Force as part of the transfer of the entire Agency U-2 pro­
gram at that time.
77
The Phaseout of the Office of Special Activities
The Agency's U-2 program had been under review since the autumn
of l 969 to detennine if it should be continued along with the larger
Air Force U-2 program. In December 1969, President Nixon decided
to keep the Agency's program in existence through l 971 and asked
for a formal review by the 40 Committee (the new name for the 303
·Committee/Special Group). ln August 1970, the committee recom­
mended continuing the program through fiscal year 1972. On 12
August 1972, the 40 Committee again favored continuation of the
CIA U-2 program. This recommendation was motivated primarily by
a desire not to alienate the Nationalist Chinese Government by el.imi­
nating Project TACKLE. In June 1973, however, DCI Jame:s R.
Schlesinger informed the 40 Committee that this project could be ter­
minated without causing major difficulties with the Nationalist
Chinese. On 30 August 1973, the 40 Committee approved the C:IA's
plans to tenninate the U-2 program effective I August 1974. The: Air
Force would assume funding responsibility for the four U-2R airicraft
assigned to the Agency and would take physical possession of them
then or shortly thereafter. On l April l 974, Ambassador Walter P.
McConaughy informed the Nationalist Chinese Government of the
US intention to end the U-2 project, and the two countries then
worked out a schedule for phasing out Project TACKLE.
73
The transfer of all Agency U-2s to the Air Force eliminated
Detachments G and H. Their parent organization, the Office of
Special Activities, began its phaseout immediately thereafter. The
20-year career of the U-2 with the CIA had come to an end.
,., Ibid.. pp. 31-H (TS Codeword).
,. Ibid.. chap. 10, pp. 1-4 (TS Codeword).
Secret NOfOftN
Chapter 5