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

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Seerct NOFORN
Chapter 6
CHOOSING PILOTS FOR OXCART
Just as in the U-2 program, the Air Force provided considerable sup­
port to Project OXCART, including training, fuel storage, and weather
service. One of the most important areas of support was the provision
of pilots; all of the OXCART pilots came from the Air Force.
Prospective pilots had to be qualified in the most advanced fighters
and be emotionally stable and well motivated. In contrast to 1955,
when cover considerations had limited the U-2 pilot selection process
to individuals with reserve commissions, the Air Force was able to
devise personnel and cover procedures that enabled both regular and
reserve officers to volunteer to become OXCART pilots. Because of
the limited size of the A-12 cockpit, they had to be under six feet tall
and weigh less than 175 pounds. Following extensive physical and
psychological screening, 16 potential nominees were selected for in­
tensive security and medical screening by the Agency. By the end of
this screening in November l 961. only five individuals had been ap­
proved and had accepted the Agency's offer of employment on a
highly classified project involving a very advanced aircraft. A second
search and screening raised the number of pilots for the OXCART to
eleven. The thorough screening process produced an elite group of pi­
•tots; all but one of these 11 officers eventually became generals. The
new pilots transferred from military to civilian status and received
compensation and insurance arrangements somewhat better than those
of the U-2 pilots.15
SELECTION OF A TESTING SITE FOR THE OXCART
From the very beginning, it was clear that Lockheed could not test the
OXCART aircraft at its Burbank facility, where the runway was too
short and too exposed to the public. The ideal testing site would be far
removed from metropolitan areas, away from civil and military air­
ways, easily accessible by air, blessed with good weather, capable of
accommodating large numbers of personnel, near an Air Force instal­
lation, and having a runway at least 8,000 feet long. But no such place
was to be found.
After considering 10 Air Force bases programmed for closing,
Richard Bissell decided to upgrade the Area 51 site in Nevada where
the U-2 had been tested. Although its personnel accommodations, fuel
'' Minnich. --OXCART Story."· pp. 6-7 (S); OSA Hiswry. chap. 20. pp. -l8-50 (TS
Codeword); Geary interview with Pedlow (S).
Secaet