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

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78
Secret NOfORN
Chapter 2
U-2 detachment in formation
over Nevada
Colonel Yancey's group carefully examined all aspects of the
U-2 unit from flight crews to camera technicians and mission pro­
grammers. When the exercise was over, Yancey reported that the de­
tachment was ready for deployment. He then briefed a high-level
Pentagon panel that included the Secretary of the Air Force and the
Chief of Air Staff. These officials concurred with Yancey's detem1i­
nation that the U-2 was ready for deployment.
57
During these final tests in the spring of 1956, the U-2 once again
demonstrated its unique airworthiiness. On 14 April 1956, James
Cunningham was sitting in his office in Washington when he received
a call from Area 51 informing him that a westward-bound U-2 had
experienced a flameout over the Mississippi River at the western bor­
der of Tennessee. After restarting his engine, the pilot reported a sec­
ond flameout and engine vibrations so violent that he was unable to
get the power plant to start again. Early in the program Bissell and
Ritland had foreseen such an emergency and, with the cooperation of
the Air Force, had arranged for sealled orders to be delivered to every
airbase in the continental United States giving instructions about what
to do if a U-2 needed to make an e:mergency landing.
Cunningham had the project office ask the pilot how far he could
glide so they could determine which SAC base should be alerted. The
pilot, who by this time was over Arkansas. radioed back that, given
the prevailing winds and the U-2·s 21:1 glide ratio, he thought he
could reach Albuquerque. New Mexico. Within minutes Cunningham
was on the phone to Colonel Geary in the Pentagon, who then had the
Air Force's Assistant Director of Operations. Brig. Gen. Ralph E.
" Bbscll imcrvicw (S); OSA flisrory. chap. 11. pp. 15-16 (TS Codeword).
Geeret