Aircraft / Air Force History - The Black Vault

HAVE CARGO Captive Flight Tests, Phase III, Volume IV – August 1974

John Greenewald — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:29:00 +0000

The document titled HAVE CARGO Captive Flight Tests, Phase III, Volume IV is a formerly classified report produced by the U.S. Air Force’s Foreign Technology Division in August 1974. It details a series of tests conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of infrared countermeasures and missile guidance systems against Soviet ATOLL (AA-2) and U.S. Sidewinder (AIM-9B) missiles.

The report is divided into four parts:

ALA-17 Flare Tests: Examines the effectiveness of deploying one to three flares as decoys. The tests demonstrated successful missile decoying under most conditions, with a few exceptions.
C-130 Susceptibility: Analyzes the vulnerability of C-130 aircraft to ground-launched infrared-guided missiles during low-level flight. It was feasible to achieve missile lock-on at low offsets from the launch site, though larger offsets posed challenges.
QRC-399 Countermeasures: Evaluates the QRC-399 equipment’s ability to disrupt missile guidance systems. A high jamming-to-signal ratio was critical for success, particularly against the more agile ATOLL missile.
Infrared Radiometry: Assesses the effectiveness of airborne countermeasures and measures infrared emissions from target aircraft, providing insights into decoy probabilities and radiant intensities.

The findings contribute to understanding infrared countermeasure technologies and air-to-air and ground-to-air missile vulnerabilities.

Document Archive

HAVE CARGO Captive Flight Tests, Phase III, Volume IV [154 Pages, 53MB]

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Boeing X-20 “Dyna-Soar”

John Greenewald — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 04:00:52 +0000

The Dyna-Soar, or “Dynamic Soarer,” officially known as the X-20 Dyna-Soar, was an ambitious spaceplane project developed by the United States Air Force during the 1950s and 1960s. Conceived during the early days of the space race, the Dyna-Soar was designed to perform various missions, including reconnaissance, satellite maintenance, and even bombing. The project aimed to create a reusable spacecraft capable of gliding back to Earth like an airplane, which was revolutionary at the time.

The Dyna-Soar was developed by Boeing and resembled a small, winged aircraft with heat-resistant materials to withstand the intense heat of re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. It was designed to be launched atop a powerful booster rocket, like the Titan III, and then maneuver in space before returning to Earth. Unlike traditional capsules of the time, the Dyna-Soar’s design allowed it to land on a runway, giving it unique versatility.

Despite its innovative design, the Dyna-Soar faced numerous challenges, including technical difficulties, high costs, and a lack of a clear mission as NASA’s focus shifted towards manned lunar exploration. In 1963, after spending over $660 million on the project, the U.S. government canceled the Dyna-Soar, favoring other space endeavors such as the Gemini program.

Though it never flew, the Dyna-Soar was an important step in aerospace development. Its concept influenced later spaceplane designs, including the Space Shuttle, highlighting the early vision of reusable spacecraft that would come to shape the future of human spaceflight.

Document Archive

Strangled Infant: The Boeing X-20A Dyna-Soar by Clarence Geiger, Date Unknown [214 Pages, 4MB]

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Parasite Aircraft

John Greenewald — Fri, 17 May 2024 08:50:52 +0000

A parasite aircraft is a smaller, secondary aircraft that is designed to be carried and launched by a larger host aircraft, known as the mothership. This concept has been explored and utilized in various military and experimental aviation projects. The main purpose of a parasite aircraft is to extend the operational range, capabilities, and versatility of the host aircraft.

Below, you will find related documents and programs.

B-36 Peacemaker Parasite Aircraft System

The B-36 Parasite Aircraft System was an innovative military aviation project developed during the Cold War era, involving the integration of smaller, secondary aircraft (parasites) with a larger host aircraft (the B-36 Peacemaker bomber). The primary purpose of this system was to enhance the operational range and capabilities of the host aircraft by utilizing parasite fighters for various missions, including reconnaissance, interception, and escort.

Capabilities of B-36 Parasite Systems, May 1953 [64 Pages, 1.71MB]

Operational Suitability Test of the RB-36/F-84 Parasite Aircraft System (Phase I), April 1953 [102 Pages, 21.9MB]

Project FICON

Project FICON (Fighter Conveyor), developed by the United States Air Force during the early 1950s, was an experimental initiative aimed at integrating a fighter aircraft with a strategic bomber to enhance its defensive and reconnaissance capabilities. The project primarily involved the B-36 Peacemaker bomber carrying and deploying an RF-84K Thunderflash, a reconnaissance variant of the F-84 Thunderjet. Utilizing a specially designed trapeze mechanism, the RF-84K could be launched and retrieved mid-air, allowing the B-36 to conduct long-range missions while the parasite fighter provided additional protection and conducted reconnaissance operations. Although the project demonstrated some operational potential, technical challenges and the advent of more advanced air refueling techniques eventually led to its discontinuation.

FICON Progress Report, 15 February 1954 [30 Pages, 3.72mb]

Description of Parasite System Utilizing Convair B-36 Carrier [88 Pages, 15.5mb]

Project TOM-TOM

Project TOM-TOM was an experimental program undertaken by the United States Air Force in the early 1950s to explore the feasibility of using wingtip coupling between aircraft. The project aimed to connect two F-84 Thunderjet fighters to the wingtips of a B-29 Superfortress bomber, effectively creating a composite aircraft system. This configuration was intended to extend the range of the fighter aircraft by allowing them to ride along with the bomber until needed for combat or reconnaissance missions. The coupling mechanism allowed for the transfer of fuel and navigation data, enhancing the operational capabilities of the fighters. However, Project TOM-TOM faced significant technical difficulties, including aerodynamic instability and the complexity of in-flight coupling and decoupling, ultimately leading to the project’s abandonment in favor of more practical air refueling techniques.

Project TOM-TOM Summary Report, 30 December 1957 [169 Pages, 15.79mb]

Micro-Fighter/Airborne Aircraft Carrier Concept

The Micro-Fighter/Airborne Aircraft Carrier concept is a visionary military aviation strategy that envisions a large aircraft, such as a bomber or transport plane, serving as a flying aircraft carrier for smaller, agile micro-fighters. These micro-fighters would be housed within the larger aircraft and deployed mid-air to conduct various missions, including air superiority, reconnaissance, and ground attack. This concept aims to enhance the strategic flexibility and reach of military operations by allowing rapid deployment and recovery of fighters in combat zones, far from traditional airbases. The airborne aircraft carrier could provide fuel, maintenance, and logistical support to the micro-fighters, significantly extending their operational range and effectiveness. Despite the innovative potential, the concept faces substantial technical and logistical challenges, such as the development of reliable launch and recovery systems and ensuring the structural integrity and safety of the host aircraft during operations.

Investigation of a Micro-Fighter/Airborne Aircraft Carrier Concept. Volume 1 [78 Pages, 10.2MB]

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Bell X-5

John Greenewald — Sun, 05 May 2024 07:30:29 +0000

The Bell X-5 was the first aircraft capable of changing the sweep of its wings in flight, a pioneering technology that significantly influenced the design and functionality of future combat and commercial aircraft. Developed by Bell Aircraft Corporation, the X-5 was directly inspired by the untested, World War II German prototype, the Messerschmitt P.1101. Unlike the P.1101, whose wing sweep could only be altered on the ground, the X-5’s wings could be adjusted in flight, allowing for optimal aerodynamic efficiency across multiple flight regimes.

Introduced in the early 1950s, the Bell X-5 was instrumental in exploring the aerodynamic implications of variable-sweep wing designs. The primary aim was to assess how different wing configurations affected performance during various phases of flight, such as takeoff, cruise, and landing. The X-5 had a range of sweep from 20 degrees to 60 degrees. This adjustability showcased a significant advancement in aviation technology, suggesting that aircraft could be designed to perform optimally at both high speeds and slow speeds without compromising on stability or control.

The X-5 was powered by an Allison J35 turbojet engine, which provided the necessary thrust to explore high-speed performance. Measuring just over 33 feet in length and with a wingspan that varied depending on the sweep of its wings, the X-5 was relatively compact. Its design included a traditional tailplane and a bubble canopy that offered pilots excellent visibility.

During its operational lifetime, the Bell X-5 provided invaluable data that informed the development of several later aircraft with variable geometry wings, most notably the General Dynamics F-111 and the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. Both of these aircraft utilized technology that had been directly evolved from the experiments conducted with the X-5. The ability to alter wing sweep in flight allowed these aircraft to excel at high-speed intercepts and provide considerable fuel efficiency during longer, slower missions.

However, the X-5 was not without challenges. It demonstrated the complexity and potential dangers of variable-sweep wing technology. On several occasions, issues with the wing sweep mechanism led to accidents, including one fatal crash. These incidents underscored the importance of rigorous testing and refinement of the technology.

Despite these challenges, the Bell X-5 marks a significant chapter in aviation history. It was a critical step forward in the exploration of wing geometries and their effects on aircraft performance. The lessons learned from the X-5’s testing phase have echoed throughout aircraft design principles for decades, proving that its contributions to aerospace engineering and technology were both profound and enduring. The Bell X-5 not only tested the boundaries of aviation technology but also set the stage for future innovations that continue to influence the aerospace industry today.

Document Archive

The Bell X-5 Research Plane, Date Unknown [65 Pages, 23MB] – My father, John Greenewald, Sr., got these documents from Edwards AFB. My grandfather, R.E. Greenewald, worked on the Bell X-5. Also included in this PDF is an article entitled “Swing Wing, The Bell X-5” from 1993.

Flight Test, Research Airplane, Rocket Propelled, High Speed – Report No. 58-947-010 [67 Pages, 23MB] – My father, John Greenewald, Sr., got these documents (also included is a document on the Bell X-1) from Edwards AFB. My grandfather, R.E. Greenewald, worked on both aircraft.

The Bell X-5 Research Aircraft, 27 July 1989 [67 Pages, 42MB]

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DARPA Selects Aurora Flight Sciences for Phase 2 of Active Flow Control X-Plane

John Greenewald — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 22:51:20 +0000

Goal is to develop and fly a demonstrator aircraft without using external mechanical flight controls

Note: The following is a press release sent out by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on January 17, 2023, and is archived here for reference purposes.

DARPA CRANE X-Plane configuration in development for flight testing Active Flow Control (AFC) technologies

DARPA has selected Aurora Flight Sciences to move into the detailed design phase of the Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program. This follows successful completion of the project’s Phase 1 preliminary design, which resulted in an innovative testbed aircraft that used active flow control (AFC) to generate control forces in a wind tunnel test. Phase 2 will focus on detailed design and development of flight software and controls, culminating in a critical design review of an X-plane demonstrator that can fly without traditional moving flight controls on the exterior of the wings and tail.

The contract includes a Phase 3 option in which DARPA intends to fly a 7,000-pound X-plane that addresses the two primary technical hurdles of incorporation of AFC into a full-scale aircraft and reliance on it for controlled flight. Unique features of the demonstrator aircraft will include modular wing configurations that enable future integration of advanced technologies for flight testing either by DARPA or potential transition partners.

“Over the past several decades, the active flow control community has made significant advancements that enable the integration of active flow control technologies into advanced aircraft. We are confident about completing the design and flight test of a demonstration aircraft with AFC as the primary design consideration,” said the CRANE Program Manager Richard Wlezien. “With a modular wing section and modular AFC effectors, the CRANE X-plane has the potential to live on as a national test asset long after the CRANE program has concluded.”

The AFC suite of technologies enables multiple opportunities for aircraft performance improvements, such as elimination of moving control surfaces, drag reduction and high angle of attack flight, thicker wings for structural efficiency and increased fuel capacity, and simplified high-lift systems.

“Thanks to a variety of innovative participants, the CRANE program has significantly advanced the state of the art of multiple active flow control technologies,” said Wlezien. “We are uniquely positioned to build on those achievements by evaluating a wide range of relevant technologies during our planned X-plane flight tests.”

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Foreign Technology and Analysis Reports on Parachutes and Aerodynamic Decelerators, NASIC

John Greenewald — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 13:32:08 +0000

The following is a list of documents requested and received after a FOIA appeal.

Document Archive

Foreign Technology and Analysis Reports on Parachutes and Aerodynamic Decelerators, NASIC [28 Pages, 11MB]

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The AFHRA Collection: A 468,170 Page Air Force History Archive

John Greenewald — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 21:03:55 +0000

The following is a collection archived here at The Black Vault, in collaboration with another researcher who for now, will remain anonymous.

The Black Vault has digitally preserved online his MANY years worth of work collecting this historical collection. It is now available in its entirety below.

Here is a breakdown of what you will find in this collection, as written by the researcher:

1) My AFHRA microfilm roll collection.

Please note some of my files are broken up into several “parts”. This because I received a paper copy and scanned it, but my scanner only can scan a limited number of pages as a PDF such as 50 or 150 pages of a 500+ page document.

2) My ADC Historical Studies collection

3) My RAND Studies collection (much downloaded from the RAND website before they took them down).

4) My information on the May 22, 1958 Nike site NY-53 missile explosion that killed 10 people.

5) My NORAD historical summaries FOIA releases

6) My NARA RG 342 AFHRA microfilm roll collection references. Many are not listed on the Air Force History Index website.

The information that is archived here totals 468,170 pages, and stretches more than 100GB in size.

Each folder below will open in a new window, and allow for file browsing. In the future, there will be a larger effort to categorize and index this collection. Please, CONTACT ME, if you’d like to take part in that effort.

But until then, the collection is below.

Document Archive

The begin exploring the collection, the links below are the “top level” domains. Once you click on them, a new window will open with the contents of that particular directory. To return here, simply close that window.

The post The AFHRA Collection: A 468,170 Page Air Force History Archive first appeared on The Black Vault.

Air Force History Collection

John Greenewald — Mon, 10 May 2021 06:50:33 +0000

This section deals with reports and records pertaining to Air Force History. The time periods of the documents range from the creation of the US5AF in 1947, to date.

Air Force Histories

Continental Air Command Histories

NORAD / CORAD Histories

1940s

Class Rosters of Various Air Force Schools – Including Roswell Field, 1942 – 1945 [1,617 Pages, 473MB]

United States Strategic Air Forces In Europe History, Chapter 2, Jan 1942 through January 1945 [95 Pages, 13.9MB]

History of the 22nd Bombardment Group – May 1944 [68 Pages, 24.7MB]

History of the 25th Bombardment Group Aug Sep 1944 [80 Pages, 34MB]

History of the 5th Air Disarmament Group (Provisional) 1944 [96 Pages, 15MB]

History of the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 29 August 1944 – April 1945 [93 Pages, 32MB]

The Inception, Organization and Functions of Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe, 28 May 1945 [111 Pages, 14.10MB]

1950s

History of the Air Flight Service Center, March Air Force Base, 1 April 1952 – 30 June 1952 [15 Pages, 3MB]

History of the Directorate of Intelligence June 1 – December 31 1952 [13 Pages, 3MB]

History of the 20th Air Division (Defense), 1 July 1957 – 31 December 1957 [96 Pages, 49MB]

History of the 34th Air Division, 1 July – 31 December 1952, & – 30 January 1953 [254 Pages, 60MB]

History of the 34th Air Division, 31 December – 30 June 1953 [187 Pages, 44.1MB]

History of the 36th Air Base Group, 1 March to 30 April 1951 [102 Pages, 18.58MB]

History of the 36th Air Base Group, 1 May to 30 June 1951 [102 Pages, 16.1MB]

History of the 57th Fighter Interceptor Wing, Elmendorf Air Force Base, May – June 1950 [107 Pages, 30MB]

History of the 456th Troop Carrier Wing, Operations Summary and Analysis, 1954-1956 [326 Pages, 75.8MB]

History of the 1909th Airways and Air Communications Squadron, 1 July 1952 – 30 November 1952 [43 Pages, 13MB]

History of the 2143rd Air Weather Wing, 1 July – 31 December 1952 [144 Pages, 32MB]

History of the 4602nd Air Intelligence Service Squadron, 1 Jan to 30 June 1955 [74 Pages, 3.76MB]

History of the 4602nd Air Intelligence Service Squadron, 1 July to 31 December 1955 [387 Pages, 103MB]

History of the 4602nd Air Intelligence Service Squadron, 1 January 1956 – 30 June 1956 [29 Pages, 10MB]

History of the 5001st Composite Wing, Ladd Air Force Base, Alaska – 1 January 1957 – 7 April 1957 [409 Pages, 103MB]

1960s

History of the Directorate of Administrative Services, 1 July 1960 – 31 December 1960 [905 Pages, 163MB]

History of the Air Force Flight Test Center, 1 January – 30 June 1961 [170 Pages, 16.84MB] – Only the first 167 pages of this document were obtained. The rest is available for purchase, but I was unable to afford the complete document.

History of the 31st Air Division (ADC) April 1 – June 30, 1967 [21 Pages, 3MB]

History of the 62nd Military Airlift Wing July 1 – December 31, 1969 [224 Pages, 50.8MB]

History of the 78th Fighter Wing (ADC), 1 October 1964 – 31 December 1964 [322 Pages, 101MB]

History of the 4245th Strategic Wing, 1-31 March 1962 [202 Pages, 34.19MB]

History of the 313th Air Division, July-December 1962 [501 Pages, 61.5MB] – These documents detail the Okinawa Incident, October 28, 1962.

History of the 304th Air Rescue Squadron, 1 January – 30 June 1963 [1,984 Pages, 497MB] – UPON ACTIVATION 68/01/26, BECAME AN ACTIVE OPERATING UNIT IN LIEU OF A RESERVE TRAINING SQUADRON. THE CALL TO ACTIVE DUTY WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE SEIZURE OF THE NAVY INTELLIGENCE SHIP PUEBLO BY NORTH KOREA. PUEBLO CRISIS, RESERVE CALL-UP.

History of the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, for the period ending 31 March 1967 [19 Pages, 6MB]

History of the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, for the period ending June 1967 [22 Pages, 6MB]

History of the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, for the period ending 1966 [106 Pages, 31MB]

History of the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, for the period ending 31 December 1965 [115 Pages, 30MB]

History of the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, for the period ending 30 June 1961 [23 Pages, 6MB]

Lessons Learned, Headquarters, 52d Combat Aviation Battalion, 22 September 1969 [54 Pages, 3MB]

1970s

Air Force Museum Semi-Annual History, 1 January 1970 – 30 June 1970 [31 Pages, 12.76mb]

History of the 92nd Bombardment Wing and 92nd Combat Support Group, September 1976 [62 Pages, 12.98mb]

1980s

History of the 320th Bombardment Wing, October – December 198f1 [266 Pages, 46.82mb]

Oral History Interviews

Oral History Interview with Lt. Col. William Miller [72 Pages, 6.99mb]

Oral History Interview with Maj. Gen. William C. Garland [112 Pages, 15.28mb]

Video Archive

The post Air Force History Collection first appeared on The Black Vault.

Operation Pinball/the USAAF’s Secret Aerial Gunnery Program of WWII

John Greenewald — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 11:31:49 +0000

Background

The following book is found within the Air Force Historical Research Agency’s holdings. The company that bought out the original publishing company was contacted by The Black Vault. They currently do not sell the book, nor did they express any disagreement if this historical record was posted. The author also does not seem to have any website for contact, or social media presence. Since this was obtained via FOIA, it was decided to fair use the publication of it. Should anyone have an issue, please CONTACT The Black Vault for removal.

Document Archive

Operation Pinball/the USAAF’s Secret Aerial Gunnery Program of WWII [55 Pages, 34MB]

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Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) Document Collection

John Greenewald — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 16:15:53 +0000

Background

The Air Force Historical Research Agency is the repository for Air Force historical documents. The Agency’s collection, begun in Washington, DC, during World War II, moved in 1949 to Maxwell Air Force Base, the site of Air University, to provide research facilities for professional military education students, the faculty, visiting scholars, and the general public. It consists today of over 70,000,000 pages devoted to the history of the service, and represents the world’s largest and most valuable organized collection of documents on US military aviation.

Within their archive, they have preserved an unknown number of records onto Microfilm, then converted those to .PDF digitized collections. This page, is an archive of ONLY SOME of these digitized microfilm reels that have been collected by or donated to The Black Vault

** Special thanks to FOIA researcher Cory Newman, who has contributed much of his own collection, that is encompassed into the below list. With his help, and the help of others who have donated their private collections; an archive like this would not be possible in its current form. CONTACT The Black Vault if you have other full reels you’d like to donate to the below.

Document Archive

Below, you will find a full index of records by microfilm reel number. Film reels can consist of THOUSANDS of pages, and contain various topics and documents, sometimes, unrelated to each other. Although this seems like a somewhat rough method of archiving, the below records can be cross-referenced with “AirForceHistoryIndex.org“, a website which has painstakingly taken a database (as of 2001) of AFHRA records, and made a searchable index. This resource is not affiliated with The Black Vault, but links are integrated below to get a quick index to what is on the film reel archived here.

Note: Some reels are marked “partial” as only a partial number of pages from the reel has been released. Since automatic page numbering machines are often inaccurate, it is likely that not all partial reels are labeled as such. If you feel you found a partial reel that is not complete, feel free to contact The Black Vault. Keep in mind, the total number of pages numbered, due to page numbers being skipped, may not reflect the ACTUAL number of pages on any given reel.

Digitized Microfilm Reels by Number

47214 (partial reel) (Download Reel [309 Pages, 65MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

49775 (Download Reel [1,572 Pages, 421MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

49776 (Download Reel [1,860 Pages, 589MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4012 (Download Reel [1,610 Pages, 343MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4013 (Download Reel [2,185 Pages, 505MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4014 (Download Reel [2,386 Pages, 436MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4015 (Download Reel [1,519 Pages, 284MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4016 (Download Reel [1,981 Pages, 370MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4017 (Download Reel [2,010 Pages, 531MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4018 (Download Reel [1,881 Pages, 402MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4019 (Download Reel [1,455 Pages, 315MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4020 (Download Reel [1,831 Pages, 436MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4021 (Download Reel [1,575 Pages, 371MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4028 (Download Reel [1,641 Pages, 490MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4029 (Download Reel [1,346 Pages, 358MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4030 (Download Reel [1,599 Pages, 500MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4031 (Download Reel [1,448 Pages, 364MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4032 (Download Reel [2,049 Pages, 640MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4033 (Download Reel [2,297 Pages, 769MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4034 (Download Reel [1,909 Pages, 564MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4035 (Download Reel [1,117 Pages, 367MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4036 (Download Reel [1,818 Pages, 675MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A4037 (Download Reel [1,639 Pages, 460MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A5830 (Download Reel [2,019 Pages, 440MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A5831 (Download Reel [2,344 Pages, 818MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A5832 (Download Reel [1,922 Pages, 478MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A5836 (Download Reel [1,764 Pages, 464MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A5850 (Download Reel [1,928 Pages, 565MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A5851 (Download Reel [1,732 Pages, 545MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

A5852 (Download Reel [2,026 Pages, 507MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

B0605 (Download Reel [2,215 Pages, 522MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

B2415 (Download Reel [1,569 Pages, 401MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K0611 (Download Reel [1,652 Pages, 343MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K1054 (Download Reel [1,492 Pages, 452MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K1141 (Download Reel [1,492 Pages, 452MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K1262 (Download Reel [1,306 Pages, 223MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K1264 (partial reel) (Download Reel [52 Pages, 9.9MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K3623 (Download Reel [1,121 Pages, 230MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4002 (Download Reel [1,542 Pages, 470MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4003 (Download Reel [1,400 Pages, 370MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4004 (Download Reel [1,728 Pages, 370MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4006 (Download Reel [1,451 Pages, 358MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4007 (Download Reel [876 Pages, 277MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4008 (Download Reel [1,835 Pages, 752MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4009 (Download Reel [856 Pages, 178MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4010 (Download Reel [762 Pages, 187MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4011 (Download Reel [907 Pages, 200MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

K4012 (Download Reel [1,568 Pages, 383MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0190 (Download Reel [2,233 Pages, 535MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0196 (Download Reel [1,726 Pages, 396MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0245 (partial reel) (Download Reel [519 Pages, 98.7MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0325 (Download Reel [963 Pages, 238MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0326 (Download Reel [1,780 Pages, 354MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0463 (partial reel) (Download Reel [209 Pages, 61.5MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0538 (Download Reel [2,539 Pages, 664MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0539 (Download Reel [1,871 Pages, 513MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0558 (Download Reel [1,854 Pages, 387MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0559 (Download Reel [2,327 Pages, 572MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0576 (Download Reel [2,493 Pages, 579MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0577 (Download Reel [2,422 Pages, 622MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0598 (Download Reel [2,162 Pages, 387MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0644 (Download Reel [1,642 Pages, 327MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0645 (partial reel) (Download Reel [905 Pages, 185MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0657 (Download Reel [2,452 Pages, 457MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0659 (Download Reel [1,743 Pages, 383MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0660 (Download Reel [1,573 Pages, 413MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0682 (Download Reel [1,929 Pages, 388MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0710 (Download Reel [2,205 Pages, 490MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0723 (partial reel) (Download Reel [918 Pages, 188MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0833 (Download Reel [1,594 Pages, 336MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0834 (Download Reel [1,688 Pages, 392MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0836 (partial reel) (Download Reel [1,371 Pages, 319MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0865 (partial reel) (Download Reel [232 Pages, 68.9MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0929 (Download Reel [1,511 Pages, 313MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0932 (Download Reel [1,774 Pages, 368MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0933 (Download Reel [1,704 Pages, 315MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0984 (Download Reel [2,032 Pages, 438MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

M0986 (Download Reel [1,827 Pages, 360MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0179 (partial reel) (Download Reel [825 Pages, 173MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0180 (partial reel) (Download Reel [433 Pages, 180MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0197 (Download Reel [1,647 Pages, 343MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0198 (partial reel) (Download Reel [691 Pages, 131MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0216 (partial reel) (Download Reel [1,159 Pages, 261MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0238 (partial reel) (Download Reel [1,050 Pages, 234MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0267 (Download Reel [1,602 Pages, 330MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0268 (partial reel) (Download Reel [750 Pages, 163MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0269 (partial reel) (Download Reel [1,145 Pages, 252MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0285 (Download Reel [1,629 Pages, 318MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0288 (Download Reel [1,520 Pages, 303MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0305 (Download Reel [1,786 Pages, 361MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0306 (Download Reel [1,731 Pages, 349MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0307 (partial reel) (Download Reel [802 Pages, 185MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0366 (Download Reel [1,731 Pages, 363MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0424 (Download Reel [1,948 Pages, 461MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0503 (Download Reel [1,695 Pages, 313MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0504 (partial reel) (Download Reel [754 Pages, 154MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

N0622 (Download Reel [1,980 Pages, 497MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0163 (Download Reel [1,727 Pages, 361MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0379 (Download Reel [1,409 Pages, 311MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0408 (Download Reel [2,152 Pages, 413MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0409 (partial reel) (Download Reel [436 Pages, 92.7MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0410 (Download Reel [1,714 Pages, 338MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0438 (Download Reel [1,674 Pages, 406MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0461 (Download Reel [1,453 Pages, 291MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0462 (Download Reel [1,849 Pages, 379MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0536 (Download Reel [593 Pages, 142MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0537 (Download Reel [2,184 Pages, 464MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0538 (Download Reel [2,107 Pages, 427MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0563 (Download Reel [1,482 Pages, 282MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0577 (Download Reel [1,743 Pages, 451MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0602 (Download Reel [1,436 Pages, 276MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

P0733 (Download Reel [1,513 Pages, 331MB] | Index of Microfilm Reel [external link])

The post Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) Document Collection first appeared on The Black Vault.

Aircraft in Air Defense, 1946-1960 by Richard McMullen (ADC Historical Study No. 12)

John Greenewald — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 11:54:24 +0000

Background

Here are the notes, as listed on the microfilm for this record, as written by the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA):

“Recognized requirement for night fighter aircraft prior to attack on Pearl Harbor HI. Northrop P-61 Black Widow made first flight on 26 May 1942. F-82 aircraft offered temporary solution after World War II. Northrop created F-89 in 1947; production halted on F-87. Problems with F-89 prompted transfer of F-94B aircraft from Air Training Command (ATC) to Air Defense Command (ADC). Decision to use Falcon (GAR-1) air to air missile on interceptor required modifying aircraft. F-86 aircraft converted to interceptor role. 1954 interceptor later designated F-102 aircraft. Valley committee recommended north American receive contract to manufacture F-102 accessories. Saville board declared Hughes aircraft winner of competition. Convair declared winner of airframe competition. Debated advantages of delta wing for high-speed aircraft. F-103 aircraft product of same design competition that produced F-102. Lockheed developed F-104 aircraft. F-101B resulted from design competition held immediately after World War II. ADC received first F-106A aircraft in 1959. Plans for third generation jet interceptor included long range interceptor (lrix/F-108). Medium range interceptor (MRIX) first known as F-102B and later F-106. F-103 aircraft considered research vehicle.”

The following document was donated to The Black Vault by FOIA researcher Cory Newman. He spent YEARS collecting and researching these, and has allowed The Black Vault to archive parts of his collection. The records have been converted (to the best of a computer’s ability as the records are older and in parts harder to read) to a searchable format within the PDF, and uploaded below.

Document Archive

Aircraft in Air Defense, 1946-1960 by Richard McMullen (ADC Historical Study No. 12) [145 Pages, 39.7MB]

The post Aircraft in Air Defense, 1946-1960 by Richard McMullen (ADC Historical Study No. 12) first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Strategic Air Command (SAC) Histories

John Greenewald — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 11:58:07 +0000

Background

The Strategic Air Command (SAC) was both a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and a “specified command” of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America’s land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) strategic nuclear arsenal from 1946 to 1992. SAC also controlled the infrastructure necessary to support the strategic bomber and ICBM operations, such as aerial refueling tanker aircraft to refuel the bombers in flight, strategic reconnaissance aircraft, command post aircraft, and, until 1957, fighter escorts.

Document Archive

Strategic Air Command (SAC) Histories

These histories are organized by entire microfilm reels, and in addition to the histories, there are many other SAC related records. Following each entry, is a brief breakdown of what’s inside the PDFs.

Strategic Air Command – 1946 [1,609 Pages, 343MB]

Reel Notes:

Includes biographical sketch of Maj. Gen Clements McMullen, staff memoranda, correspondence, general orders, station organizational plans, comments and recommendations on Hobson plan, information on reduced manning level and minutes of commanders’ meeting in Washington DC 20 Mar 47.

Strategic air command (SAC) headquarters reorganized; SAC organizational thinking reshaped; and subcommands, stations, and units reorganized. Hobson plan instituted retraining wing as designation of unit occupying station with wing headquarters highest echelon on station. Efforts made to overcome personnel problems and manning shortages. Cross training program instituted for SAC personnel. Arctic and polar operations begun in projects Eardrum and Snowman; Polaris considered feasibility of regularly scheduled air transport command flights between Iceland and Greenland; goodwill flights made to Europe; operation parkway (later sunfast) planned to provide very heavy bomber group for Europe; groundwork laid for rotation of very heavy bomber squadron to japan; and Barken project to test bombs against concrete facilities started. Other operations included combine, test of navy against bombers; sea search and antisubmarine; maximum effort missions; Wendover maneuvers; south American and Caribbean; and operational readiness tests.

Contains statistical summaries and charts.

Includes information on atomic bombing with b-29 aircraft and operation crossroads and research and development of atomic weapons.

Includes correspondence pertaining to reorganization of continental air forces and creation of strategic air command (sac) as well as general organization of air force; activations, inactivations, redesignations, and transfers of various units; organization charts; future plans for army air forces; personnel and training.

Recounts development of strategic air command (SAC) beginning with redesignation of Continental Air Forces to SAC. States organization and mission of sac giving background information on concept of strategic operations in World War II. Details planning for Air Force and SAC. 2 Air Force reassigned from Continental Air Forces (CAF) to SAC then inactivated 21 Mar 46 and assigned to defense command in inactive status. 15th Air Force (AF) activated at Colorado springs, CO under command of Brig Gen Charles born. 8th bomber command assigned to 15 AF. Includes information on 8th AF, 58th Bombardment Wing (BW), 311 Reconnaissance Wing (RW), and bases under SAC jurisdiction. Gives appraisal of training activities in sac as well as personnel problems and shortages.

Strategic Air Command – 1947 [2,184 Pages, 505MB]

Reel Notes:

Contains data on the Strategic Air Command (SAC) increased bombing strength with the introduction of b-50 aircraft and b-36 aircraft, program to provide air to air refueling of bomber aircraft in calendar year 1948, changes in wing/base plan of organization, succession of Generals Curtis E. Lemay and Thomas S. Power to command and deputy command positions, personnel problems, increases in operational flying training, priority system of aircraft maintenance/supply support, priority 1a as well as other units assigned unique missions, overseas duty of airmen, mission in the atomic energy program, elimination of undesirable or substandard personnel, uses of Women in the Air Force (WAF), association with aviation cadet program, use of black personnel, safety programs, around the world flights, alert of Jun 48, rotational policies for personnel, Operation Sandstone, Caribbean area operations, reconnaissance operations, operational readiness tests, ground and airborne strategic training programs, aircraft maintenance, inspections, procedures for critical engine repair, supply actions to validate B-36 aircraft/B-50 aircraft parts requirements, food service, clothing required for special strategic missions, base construction, housing, movement of SAC headquarters to Offutt Air Force Base NE, and a listing of supporting documents by volume and title.

Contains additional data on Strategic Air Command statistical summaries pertaining to organization, personnel, aircraft maintenance, supply, air base functions, training, and operations.

Contains data on Strategic Air Command statistical summaries pertaining to organization, personnel, aircraft maintenance, supply, air base functions, training, and operations.

Contains Strategic Air Command data on key personnel, and organization. Mentions Generals Curtis E. Lemay, George C. Kenney, Thomas S. Power, August W. Kissner, David W. Hutchison, John B. Montgomery, and Walter c. Sweeney, jr.

Contains data on Strategic Air Command operations. Includes trip reports, mission summaries, reconnaissance reports, and other aviation centered data.

Contains data on Strategic Air Command training.

Contains data on Strategic Air Command supply, maintenance, and facilities.

Strategic Air Command – 1947-1950 (Various Records) [1,830 Pages, 436MB]

Reel Notes:

Supplements were prepared monthly for purpose of presenting newly compiled data augmenting and/or changing that information contained in basic report.

This document is intelligence summary based upon analysis and evaluation of monitored transmissions from strategic air command point to point and air/ground radio circuits.

Contains summaries of miscellaneous research studies.

Intelligence brief: Soviet long/range guided missile

Discusses air bases in Greenland, Iceland, and Canada.

Contains listing and description of airfields.

Intelligence brief: soviet B-29 aircraft airfields

Discusses Soviet imports from United States and American imports from Soviet Union.

Discusses Eastleigh Airdrome in Nairobi, Kenya.

Includes historical and current information concerning Anglo/Egyptian Sudan as well as description of airfield facilities.

Provides historical and current information about Ceylon as well as description of Negombo airfield, Ceylon.

Intelligence brief: soviet petroleum situation.

Intelligence brief: weather of northern hemisphere.

Contains description of Moscow, capital of Soviet Union.

Discusses soviet aggression in eastern Europe.

Intelligence brief: capabilities of soviet antiaircraft for defense against very heavy bombardment operations.

Intelligence brief: capabilities of soviet air force to defend western Russia against air bombardment.

Intelligence brief: significance of Spitzbergen (Svalbard) as strategic air base.

Intelligence brief: significance of Iceland as strategic air base.

Intelligence brief: implications of Arab/Jewish conflict in Palestine.

Discusses history and current status of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia as well as airfield facilities at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

Discusses possible soviet attempts to obtain economic foothold in western Europe before marshal plan would have time to become effective.

Intelligence brief: indications of atomic energy facilities in union of soviet socialist republics.

Intelligence brief: American foreign policy.

Intelligence brief: Russia, colossus of Eurasia.

Target folder: bombing competition.

Medical history of continental air forces and strategic air command.

Regulation concerns Strategic Air Command and Continental Air Command fighter bomber interception program.

Topics include crew syllabus, aircraft commander syllabus, radar operator syllabus, navigator syllabus, bombardier syllabus, flight engineer syllabus, radio operator syllabus, gunner syllabus, briefing and critique procedures, grading and evaluation, mission requirements and routes, and lesson plans.

Supplement number five to intelligence summary from communications of strategic air command.

Strategic Air Command – 1948 [2,385 Pages, 437MB]

Reel Notes:

Contains Strategic Air Command statistical summaries.

Contains Strategic Air Command general orders 1 through 90.

Contains supporting documents, exhibit 1 through 70 of chapter iv , exhibit 1 through 6 of chapter v, and exhibit 1 through 7 of chapter vi.

Contains data on Strategic Air Command operations and training.

Contains data on Strategic Air Command personnel administration.

Strategic Air Command – 1949 [1,518 Pages, 284MB]

Reel Notes:

Contains information pertaining to operational readiness tests, aircrew training, proposals for long range missions, and other operational items.

Goal of three Air Forces as subcommands realized when 311th Air Division redesignated 2^nd Air Force, giving Strategic Air Command (SAC) 2nd, 8th and 15th Air Forces. Major personnel problem was that of manning units with personnel possessing required skills; SAC development program began end of 1948. Reserve officers on flying status converted to regular component or separated during year. United states Air Force (USAF) undertook development of career program for airmen in Apr 48 involving reclassification and reassignment of airmen during 1949. Women in the Air Force (WAF) personnel restricted to three subcommand headquarters in SAC. SAC involved in transition from B-29 aircraft to B-36 and B-50 bomber aircraft. Lucky lady II, B-50 aircraft, circled globe nonstop using inflight refuelings. Flight tests on B-36 aircraft continued as controversy raged in Washington DC. Continued arctic operations, participated in continental maneuvers and operational readiness tests. Contains biographical sketches on Generals Curtis e. Lemay and Walter Sweeney.

Contains supporting documents pertaining to maintenance. Includes report on conference on B-36 aircraft.

Contains correspondence and other papers pertaining to operational readiness test.

Contains information on operations and training.

Includes Strategic Air Command (SAC) regulations and correspondence pertaining to organization of subordinate units and staff officers and personnel.

Strategic Air Command – 1949 [1,980 Pages, 370MB]

Reel Notes:

Contains Strategic Air Command data on bombing effectiveness and combat crew training.

Has data on Strategic Air Command reorganization, comptroller, reconnaissance, and air to air refueling.

Contains data on reorganization of the Strategic Air Command (SAC), controller activities, reconnaissance actions, refueling sorties, bombing effectiveness, lead and combat crew training, key personnel, and photographs.

Contains Strategic Air Command statistical summaries.

Contains general orders 1 through 78.

Supporting documents, exhibits 194 through 212 (supply), exhibits 213 through 218 (facilities). Includes the Strategic Air Command mobility and supply plan.

Strategic Air Command – 1950 [2,009 Pages, 531MB]

Reel Notes:

Data on reassignment of units and attachment of units.

General orders no. 13 through 47

Preparation of histories, Strategic Air Command manual 200-20-1

Study describes the details surrounding the 26 Jan 49 call to the president from Nebraska’s governor to assist in humanitarian rescue and support of snowbound citizens of the western states of Wyoming, the Dakotas, and Nebraska. Includes photographs and statistics.

Contains organization and functions list of the strategic air command.

Contains Strategic Air Command general orders 1 through 38, station/unit listing, and photographic supplement.

Contains roster of Strategic Air Command officers.

Contains data on Strategic Air Command operations.

Summary of Strategic Air Command operational data

Data on assignment of aviation squadrons.

Data on staff assignments, inactivation of reserve corollary units, and assignment of aviation squadrons.

Data on reorganization of the 509th aviation squadron, bombardment, medium.

Data on reorganization, reassignment, redesignation of regular air force units, and redesignation of reserve units of Strategic Air Command units.

Data on reorganization of Strategic Air Command units.

Data on reorganization and inactivation of Strategic Air Command units.

Data on reorganization of Strategic Air Command units.

Data on redesignation of 27th fighter wing and reorganization of 306 bombardment group, medium.

Data on assignment of the 509th aviation squadron, bombardment, medium.

Data on reorganization of 924th engineer aviation group and assignment of United States Air Force Reserve Corollary units.

General order 76.

Strategic Air Command – 1950 [1,880 Pages, 402MB]

Reel Notes:

Summary of Strategic Air Command operational data

Strategic Air Command – 1950 [1,454 Pages, 315MB]

Reel Notes:

Organization and functions.

Describes Astrocator compass, designed as means of simplifying polar navigation.

Strategic Air Command bombing competition.

Contains information on procedures for determining recurring radar difficulties, summary of radar performance/46 reconnaissance squadron, difficulties in b-29 aircraft operations due to weather, and standard operating procedures for b-29 aircraft with Curtiss electric props and fuel injection engines in extremely cold weather.

Contains report covering experience of 46 reconnaissance squadron, Fairbanks AK, in field of radar operations and maintenance; material extracted from mission reports submitted to strategic air command.

Presents some details and suggestions not considered in standard operating procedure pertaining to polar operations, survival and rescue. Discusses emergency procedures for crash landing and bailout over polar region and living in arctic area.

States purpose of radar bomb scoring detachment assigned to operation crossroads, details equipment used, discusses personnel and operations, and makes recommendations.

Contains report on polar navigation explaining methods in use and attendant problems.

Title supplied; cover shows 21 Nov 49.

Station and unit listing.

Roster of officers

SAC (Srategic Air Command) supply plan

B-36 (aircraft) radio operators s.o.p. (standard operating procedure)

B-36 (aircraft) pilots s.o.p. (standard operating procedure)

Chart showing stations and units of strategic air command.

Organization chart, statistical control office

Contains information pertaining to use of booklet, basic radio propagation predictions, wd technical bulletin 11-499; advantages and limitations of using projections in bulletin for arctic and polar regions.

Strategic Air Command – 1950 [1,575 Pages, 371MB]

Reel Notes:

Contains supporting documents to section two: personnel; chapter i, personnel in formative period; chapter ii, supply of personnel.

Includes adjutant general letter establishing air defense, strategic air and tactical air commands and redesignation of continental air forces and certain other army air forces units as well as activation, inactivation and assignment of certain army air forces units; organization plan of tactical air command (tac); status of tac units; report of board appointed to study unit personnel sections of bases and organizations within tac; proposed plan for 3 air force; contemplated move to Langley field VA; assignment of stations; disposal of surplus property and transfer of jurisdiction of certain fields; tac staff conference notes; and future operational plans of army air forces to include information on weapon systems.

Includes information on aircraft maintenance, maintenance organization, training, flying safety, and biographical sketches on Maj Gen Elwood R. (Pete) Quesada, Brig Gen Robert M. Lee, Brig Gen Glenn O. Barcus, and Brig Gen Warren R. Carter.

Activated Mar 46. Composed of 3rd, 9th and 12th Air Forces. 9th and 3^rd Air Forces merged 1 Nov 46 with designation of 9^th Air Force with headquarters at Greenville SC. Considers amount of control to be given to numbered air forces. Tactical air command (TAC) headquarters moved to Langley field VA from Tampa FL during May 46. Deals with acquisition, loss, utilization, and disposal of inactive and surplus bases. Contains information on organization of command and key personnel. Maj Gen Elwood R. Quesada assumed command of TAC 26 Mar 46. Includes section on acquisition, losses and sources of officer, airmen and civilian personnel.

Presents brief comprehensive picture of ground-controlled approach (GCA) operations, with primary emphasis on duties of operating team.

Radar operator’s report, strategic air command form number 66-20

Radar maintenance log, strategic air command form number 66-19

Contains operating instructions for radio and other types of communications within strategic air command.

Contains information based on flight test by 8^th air force operational engineering section to determine changes in performance characteristics caused by change in configuration of aircraft.

Includes tactical air command aircraft accident prevention data bulletins, prepared by flying safety section and information on base commanders conference held at headquarters, tactical air command, Langley field VA, 11 Jul 46.

Contains report of major aircraft accident involving b-36b aircraft number 44- 92079. Aircraft crashed on takeoff at Carswell Air Force Base TX 15 Sep 49.

The post The Strategic Air Command (SAC) Histories first appeared on The Black Vault.

Continental Air Command (ConAC) Histories

John Greenewald — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 21:40:03 +0000

Background

Continental Air Command (ConAC) (1948–1968) was a Major Command of the United States Air Force (USAF) responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. During the Korean War, ConAC provided the necessary augmentation to the regular Air Force while it rebuilt itself under wartime conditions. Later, during the 1950s, it was a training force for reservists with no prior military service. ConAC provided peacetime airlift missions for the Air Force. It was mobilized twice in 1961 and 1962 by president Kennedy for the Berlin and Cuban Missile Crisis. Lastly, it was used by president Lyndon B. Johnson for airlift operations into the Dominican Republic and South Vietnam. It was inactivated in 1968 and replaced by Headquarters, Air Force Reserve (AFRES).

Below, you will find numerous histories pertaining to ConAC.

The Black Vault wishes to thank Cory Newman, a FOIA researcher, investigator, and collector of these records. He has graciously donated them to The Black Vault for preservation and online distribution.

Document Archive

The Continental Air Command and the Korean War, June to December 1950 [147 Pages, 37.1MB] –

REEL A4028 [1,640 Pages, 490MB] – Continental Air Command History, December 1948 – December 1949 (Vol. 1 – Page 594) | Continental Air Command History, December 1948 – December 1949
REEL A4037 [1,638 Pages, 460MB] – Continental Air Command, August 1949 – October 1949
REEL A4029 [1,346 Pages, 358MB] – Continental Air Command History, December 1948 – December 1949, (Volumes 2-5)
REEL A4030 [1,599 Pages, 500MB] – Continental Air Command History, December 1948 – December 1949 (Page 3, Volumes 5-7) | Continental Air Command History, January 1950 – June 1950 (Volume 1, Page 1,270)
REEL A4031 [1,448 Pages, 364MB] – Continental Air Command History, January 1950 – June 1950 (Volumes 2-5)
REEL A4032 [2,048 Pages, 640MB] – Continental Air Command History, January 1950 – June 1950 (Volumes 6-7)
REEL A4033 [2,297 Pages, 769MB] – Continental Air Command History, June 1949
| Continental Air Command History, March 1950
REEL A4034 [1,909 Pages, 564MB] – Various CONAC Training Histories, Circa 1949-1950
REEL A4035 [1,117 Pages, 367MB] – Sweet Briar, 1950
REEL A4036 [1,818 Pages, 675MB] – Exercise Swarmer History, March 1950 | ORT Conference, April 1950 | Air Reserve Officers, March 1949 – February 1950 | Air Force ROTC, 1948-1949 | Air Science 2, April 1949 | Air Armament, May 1949 – June 1949 | AF Communications, April 1949 | Radiological Defense Course, September 1949 | Criminal Investigation, April 1949

The post Continental Air Command (ConAC) Histories first appeared on The Black Vault.

AI Copilot: Air Force Achieves First Military Flight with Artificial Intelligence

John Greenewald — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 16:42:46 +0000

The following was a press release by the U.S. Air Force on December 16, 2020.

Maj. “Vudu”, a U-2 Dragon Lady pilot assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, prepares to taxi after returning from a training sortie at Beale Air Force, Calif., Dec. 15, 2020. This flight marks a major leap forward for national defense as artificial intelligence took flight aboard a military aircraft for the first time in the history of the Department of Defense. The AI algorithm, developed by Air Combat Command’s U-2 Federal Laboratory, trained the AI to execute specific in-flight tasks that would otherwise be done by the pilot. The flight was part of a specifically constructed scenario pitting the AI against another dynamic computer algorithm in order to prove both the new technology capability, and its ability to work in coordination with a human. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis A. Ruiz-Vazquez)

Signaling a major leap forward for national defense in the digital age, the Air Force flew with artificial intelligence as a working aircrew member onboard a military aircraft for the first time Dec. 15.

The AI algorithm, known as ARTUµ, flew with the pilot, U.S. Air Force Maj. “Vudu”, on a U-2 Dragon Lady assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base. Air Combat Command’s U-2 Federal Laboratory researchers developed ARTUµ and trained it to execute specific in-flight tasks that otherwise would be done by the pilot.

The test flight was the result of years of concerted effort within the Air Force to apply cutting-edge technology to military operations as it competes with other world powers in the digital age.

“ARTUµ’s groundbreaking flight culminates our three-year journey to becoming a digital force,” said Dr. William Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics. “Putting AI safely in command of a U.S. military system for the first time ushers in a new age of human-machine teaming and algorithmic competition. Failing to realize AI’s full potential will mean ceding decision advantage to our adversaries.”

During this flight, ARTUµ was responsible for sensor employment and tactical navigation, while the pilot flew the aircraft and coordinated with the AI on sensor operation. Together, they flew a reconnaissance mission during a simulated missile strike. ARTUµ’s primary responsibility was finding enemy launchers while the pilot was on the lookout for threatening aircraft, both sharing the U-2’s radar.

A U-2 Dragon Lady assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing prepares to land at Beale Air Force, Calif., Dec. 15, 2020. This flight marks a major leap forward for national defense as artificial intelligence took flight aboard a military aircraft for the first time in the history of the Department of Defense. The AI algorithm, developed by Air Combat Command’s U-2 Federal Laboratory, trained the AI to execute specific in-flight tasks that would otherwise be done by the pilot. The flight was part of a specifically constructed scenario pitting the AI against another dynamic computer algorithm in order to prove both the new technology capability, and its ability to work in coordination with a human. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis A. Ruiz-Vazquez)

The flight was part of a precisely constructed scenario which pitted the AI against another dynamic computer algorithm in order to prove the new technology.

“We know that in order to fight and win in a future conflict with a peer adversary, we must have a decisive digital advantage,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. “AI will play a critical role in achieving that edge, so I’m incredibly proud of what the team accomplished. We must accelerate change and that only happens when our Airmen push the limits of what we thought was possible.”

After takeoff, the sensor control was positively handed-off to ARTUµ who then manipulated the sensor, based on insight previously learned from over a half-million computer simulated training iterations. The pilot and AI successfully teamed to share the sensor and achieve the mission objectives.

The U-2 Federal Laboratory designed this AI technology to be easily transferable to other systems and plan to further refine the technology. Today’s flight provided invaluable data for not only the team to learn from, but also ARTUµ.

“Blending expertise of a pilot with capabilities of machine learning, this historic flight directly answers the National Defense Strategy’s call to invest in autonomous systems,” said Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett. “Innovations in artificial intelligence will transform both the air and space domains.”

Maj. “Vudu”, a U-2 Dragon Lady pilot assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, enters the cockpit while a 9th Physiological Support Airman assists him at Beale Air Force, Calif., Dec. 15, 2020. This flight marks a major leap forward for national defense as artificial intelligence took flight aboard a military aircraft for the first time in the history of the Department of Defense. The AI algorithm, developed by Air Combat Command’s U-2 Federal Laboratory, trained the AI to execute specific in-flight tasks that would otherwise be done by the pilot. The flight was part of a specifically constructed scenario pitting the AI against another dynamic computer algorithm in order to prove both the new technology capability, and its ability to work in coordination with a human. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis A. Ruiz-Vazquez)

The U-2 Federal Laboratory is a 15 U.S.C. compliant organization established to bring together a “confluence of warfighter, developer, and acquirer” vertically-integrated under the same operational roof. The lab has developed and been approved by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish the 20th Laboratory Accreditation Program in the federal government. It promotes “edge development” – a concept to develop new software integration on operational systems in a bounded, safe environment.

The historic flight with AI comes just two months after the U-2 Federal Laboratory team updated inflight software for the first time during a U-2 training mission. The team leveraged the open-source container-orchestration software Kubernetes, another military first.

The post AI Copilot: Air Force Achieves First Military Flight with Artificial Intelligence first appeared on The Black Vault.

Hypersonic Technology for Military Application, July 1998

John Greenewald — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 12:49:19 +0000

Background

From the report’s abstract:

“With the current interest in and potential for hypersonic flight, there is a need to determine the Air Force and for the nation the RD approaches required to realize the opportunities offered by flight in this regime. The committee 1 determined possible military uses of hypersonic flight, 2 drew on the developing hypersonic technology base, including the evolving results of NASP Phase II, to assess the technical feasibility of meeting the potential applications, 3 identified the technological needs for hypersonic flight, 4 assessed the RD support requirements including availability of expertise, data bases, and test facilities, 5 provided technical advice to the command level on the RD strategy of the NASP. Hypersonic aircraft, National aerospace plane.”

Document Archive

Hypersonic Technology for Military Application, July 1998 [113 Pages, 7.44MB]

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The post Hypersonic Technology for Military Application, July 1998 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Senior Citizen Program – “The Aurora”

John Greenewald — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 06:00:04 +0000

Background

Artist’s rendering of the Aurora aka Senior Citizen.

According to Wikipedia:

Aurora was a rumored mid-1980s American reconnaissance aircraft. There is no substantial evidence that it was ever built or flown and it has been termed a myth.

The U.S. government has consistently denied such an aircraft was ever built. Aviation and space reference site Aerospaceweb.org concluded, “The evidence supporting the Aurora is circumstantial or pure conjecture, there is little reason to contradict the government’s position.”

Others come to different conclusions.

In 2006, veteran black project watcher and aviation writer Bill Sweetman said, “Does Aurora exist? Years of pursuit have led me to believe that, yes, Aurora is most likely in active development, spurred on by recent advances that have allowed technology to catch up with the ambition that launched the program a generation ago.”

Throughout my years running The Black Vault, I have seen and heard about the connection between the program name SENIOR CITIZEN, and it’s association with the rumored Aurora Program. However, it has been a struggle getting information about this.

Below are documents related to the Aurora, as released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Document Archive

Department of Defense

Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) Structure – Codes and Definitions for All DOD Components, April 2004 [2,160 Pages, 4.6MB] – This document shows the “Senior Citizen” designation and program element number. In addition, it lists the Aurora, with the program element 0101119F.

United States Air Force

Based on the above program element numbers, I filed FOIA requests for information relating to it. I filed to the Air Force, and the OSD/JS in hopes someone may shed light on what the program element was.

OSD/JS just forwarded my request to the Air Force, and the Air Force denied having any records on it. It doesn’t make sense, so I appealed based on the document above, listing specifically the SENIOR CITIZEN Program Element (PE) number.

My appeal was denied as well.

Senior Citizen Program Element Request

ALL FOIA Case Processing Notes, Letters, Memos etc. as released 23 April 2018 [58 Pages, 4.9MB]

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Aurora Program Element Request

Like the Senior Citizen program element above, this also received a “no records” response. What happened to ANY information regarding these program elements?

FOIA Response Dated February 7, 2020 [4 Pages, 1MB]

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Aurora – The Senior Citizen Program – The program was given the “GLOMAR RESPONSE” by the USAF in 1997. The letter is below:

The post The Senior Citizen Program – “The Aurora” first appeared on The Black Vault.

Project Oxcart – The Lockheed A-12 Reconnaissance Aircraft

John Greenewald — Wed, 06 May 2020 08:00:04 +0000

A-12 Sketches – Source: CIA

Background

In 1959 the CIA selected Lockheed’s A-12 over a Convair proposal called KINGFISH. On 26 January 1960, the CIA ordered 12 A-12 aircraft. After selection by the CIA, further design and production of the A-12 took place under the code-name OXCART.

Document Archive

Black Shield Mission BX 6847, 26 January 1968 [132 Pages, 4.2MB]

The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance: The U-2 and Oxcart Programs

2017 Release The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance: The U-2 and Oxcart Programs [286 Pages, 39MB]

Archived 2013 Release The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance: The U-2 and Oxcart Programs [407 Pages, 64.9MB] (Source: The National Security Archive) – This document was re-reviewed and re-released. Both versions are archived here for reference. This document also took fame as the most detailed account of Area 51 yet published by the U.S. Government.

Archived Unknown Date Release The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance – The U-2 and OXCART Programs 1954-1974 [390 Pages]

History of the Oxcart Program, 1 July 1968 [25 Pages]

Oxcart Facts [12 Pages]

Hiding OXCART in Plain Sight
(CIA Document Explaining Oxcart)

A-12

While the A-12 was being tested and refined, US officials mulled over two major issues concerning it. The first was whether to publicly disclose the OXCART program. The Department of Defense had grown concerned that it could not overtly explain all the money the Air Force was spending on its versions of the A-12. At the same time, some CIA and Pentagon officials recognized that crashes or sightings of test flights could compromise the project. With a turning radius of no less than 86 miles at full speed, the A-12 overflew a vast expanse of unrestricted territory. Soon after the first flights in April 1962, CIA and the Air Force changed the program’s cover story from involving an interceptor aircraft to a multipurpose satellite launch system.^[1]

In late 1962 and early 1963 the Department of Defense considered surfacing the YF-12A to provide a cover, reasoning that divulging the existence of a purely tactical aircraft would not reveal any clandestine collection capabilities. Voiced principally by CIA officials and James Killian and Edwin Land of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (PFIAB), the contrary argument—disclosing any version of the A-12 would compromise its design innovations, enable the Soviets to develop countermeasures, and destroy its value for reconnaissance—prevailed for the time being. The surfacing issue lingered, however, because OXCART technology would be useful for the Air Force’s supersonic B-70 bomber then under development, and for the proposed commercial supersonic transport that Congress was thinking about subsidizing. President Kennedy told CIA and the Pentagon to develop a plan for surfacing the OXCART program but to wait further instructions before proceeding.

By early 1964 the argument for disclosure had become persuasive. More A-12s were arriving at the test site and making more flights. The aircraft’s existence probably would be revealed eventually under circumstances the US government could not control, such as a training accident or equipment malfunction, or through a news leak. Commercial airline crews had sighted the A-12 in flight, and the editor of Aviation Week indicated that he knew about highly secret activities at the Skunk Works and would not let another publication scoop him. A key factor was that the Soviets’ TALL KING radar would be able to identify and track the A-12 despite its small, nonpersistent radar return. Finally, the White House’s reluctance to resume flights over Soviet territory would soon force a change in the A-12’s mission. Instead of flying over denied areas to collect strategic intelligence, it would most likely be used as a quick-reaction surveillance platform in fast-moving conflicts—a tactical function the Air Force should carry out, not CIA.^[2]

On 29 February 1964, the National Security Council decided to surface OXCART. Later that day, the White House announced the successful development of an advanced experimental aircraft, the A‑11, which has been tested in sustained flight at more than 2,000 miles per hour and at altitudes in excess of 70,000 feet. The performance of the A-11 far exceeds that of any other aircraft in the world today. The development of this aircraft has been made possible by major advances in aircraft technology of great significance for both military and commercial applications. The A‑11 aircraft now at Edwards Air Force Base are undergoing extensive tests to determine their capabilities as long-range interceptors.^[3]

For security reasons, the Air Force’s YF-12A interceptor was surfaced, not the A-12, and it was referred to as the A-11, at Kelly Johnson’s suggestion. None of the aircraft were already at Edwards, so two had to be rushed from the test site to support the cover story. Johnson recalled that “the aircraft were so hot that when they were moved into the new hanger the fire extinguishing nozzles came on and gave us a free wash job.”^[4] Testing of the A-12s continued at the secret facility; CIA’s involvement in the project remained classified, although it was widely assumed.

Surfacing the “A-11” unexpectedly embroiled program managers and technicians in a debate over using an OXCART aircraft to publicly set a world speed record. The presidential announcement stated that “[t]he world record for aircraft speed, currently held by the Soviets [1,665 mph], has been repeatedly broken in secrecy by the…A-11. The President has instructed the Department of Defense to demonstrate this capability with the procedure which, according to international rules, will permit the result of the test to be entered as a new world record.” CIA leaders strongly opposed using any of the A-12s to attempt this aeronautical feat. Of the four aircraft used in test flights, only Article 121 had reached the cited speed. Using it in the record trials would set back the testing schedule, jeopardize the aircraft, and undermine the security of the program because the differences between the CIA and Air Force versions would be noticed, and the record would have to be set under the auspices of an uncleared international aviation organization.^[5]

Consequently, the A-12 was kept out of the competition. No YF-12As were put forward right away because managers of that program were concentrating on armaments rather than speed. At the time, the interceptor had not flown above Mach 2.6. A plane was not ready for the speed trial for over a year. Then on 1 May 1965, a YF-12A set speed and altitude records of 2,070.1 mph and 80,257.65 feet—the first of many for OXCART aircraft.

Footnotes

1. Scoville to Joseph Charyk (Undersecretary of the Air Force), “Interdepartmental Cover Support for Project OXCART,” 29 May 1962.

2. McCone untitled memorandum to DDCI Marshall Carter, 10 February 1964; “Briefing Note for the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence…Factors Influencing Decision to Surface the A-11,” 10 March 1964.

3. Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1963-64, 1:322-23.

4. Johnson, “History of the OXCART Program,” 15-16.

5. Jack C. Ledford (Director, OSA) memorandum to Wheelon, “Effect on OXCART Program if Aircraft S/N 121 is Used for Speed Record Attempt,” 19 August 1964; Ledford memorandum to McCone, “Effect of Using OXCART 121 for Speed Record Attempt,” 20 August 1964; Carter letter to Deputy Secretary of Defense Cyrus R. Vance, 24 August 1964; Cunningham memorandum to McCone, “Establishment of World Record of Aircraft Speed by the A-11,” 28 April 1964.

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Report of the Naval Research Advisory Committee Panel on Laser Eye Protection, April 1988

John Greenewald — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 15:06:20 +0000

Background

The Naval Research Advisory Committee (NRAC) Panel was requested to undertake a rapid review of the laser threat to Navy and Marine Corps aviation to reassess the threat, the adequacy of Operational Requirements (OR) to develop means to protect against it, to review present Navy protection programs
and the Research and Development (R&D) organization, and to make recommendations for broader R&D leading to the development of protection against the emerging frequency agile threat.

There are a variety of friendly and hostile lasers currently developed by military forces in the form of laser range finders and designators. Some of the Soviet lasers may have power levels unwarranted by range finder or designator applications, but it is not known whether these are intended as anti-personnel weapons. Laser radiation has been experienced by u.s. flight crews flying reconnaissance missions. While there are several different damage mechanisms (discussed in this report), present lasers can cause eye damage at ranges up to a few miles. However, they can cause a •dazzle• effect at greater ranges (particularly at night) when illumination of a cockpit and the scattering of light results in the inability of the crew to perform its mission and can result in the loss of the aircraft. The panel concluded that the laser threat is growing and whether intentionally used as anti-personnel weapons or causing damage only accidentally, lasers must be considered a growing anti-personnel threat against which protection should be provided. The naval aviators most exposed to this threat are the air-to-surface attack aircraft and the Marine aircraft and helicopter crews supporting ground combat.

The document below was listed as classified on the Navy’s website, so in July of 2017, I filed a Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) request to get it declassified, and in September of 2017, the record was released.

Document Archive

Report of the Naval Research Advisory Committee Panel on Laser Eye Protection, April 1988 [84 Pages, 12.4MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/navy/LaserEyeProtection-April1988.pdf

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Air to Air Supersonic Pilotless Aircraft, Army Air Forces Project MX-800, Progress Report No. 4, March 13, 1947

John Greenewald — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 17:29:08 +0000

Background

Project MX-800 is a nine month study and research program calling for “investigations in connection with the development of a supersonic air-to-air pilotless aircraft for use as a guided missile for the destruction of high performance hostile aircraft.” The study and research are to provide recommendations for the continued development work required for the completion of suitable designs for all necessary components, and will include proposals for the additional engineering studies, development tests, and construction necessary for complete development of this pilot-less aircraft.

The missile is to have a tactical range of 6000 yards, a speed of the order of 1500 miles per hour, and is to be used against 750-miles per hour aircraft.

Document Archive

Air to Air Supersonic Pilotless Aircraft Army Air Forces Project MX-800 Progress Report No. 4, March 13, 1947 [104 Pages, 4.8MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/aviation/ADC800676.pdf

The post Air to Air Supersonic Pilotless Aircraft, Army Air Forces Project MX-800, Progress Report No. 4, March 13, 1947 first appeared on The Black Vault.

CONTINUOUSLY CIRCULATING FISSIOCHEMICAL PROCESS DEVELOPMENT APPLICABLE TO HYDRAZINE SYNTHESIS. VOLUME 1: PROGRAM SURVEY, PROCESSING, AND MATERIALS

John Greenewald — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 15:58:02 +0000

Background

The primary goal of this program was to design, develop, construct and operate a continuous in-reactor hydrazine production loop using the fissiochemical process. Direct support for the development of the loop and its components included studies in decontamination, purification, fuel cycle, materials, chemical and energy deposition analysis, and reactor physics. Basic radiation and chemistry studies were undertaken to further elucidate reaction mechanisms and to extend the application of this process.

This final report fully describes the Hydrazine Process Development Program including the developmental phase from contract inception (April 1961) through the installation of the completely assembled experimental equipment into the reactor facility (November 1963), the operational phase (through April 1964), and the post-operational inspection and data reduction phase.

Section l of the report summarizes all program activities, results, and conclusions; Sections 2 through 8 discuss development~! details in depth, including the design, construct~on and initial testing of all experimental equipment; Section 9 presents loop operation experimental data, product processing experience, and post-operational equipment inspection observations. All Hydrazine Process Development Program efforts through January 1964, were funded by the U. s. Air Force under Contract AF 33(600)-42996, ASD Project 7-840a. At that time, on the basis of an agreement between the Air Force and the United States Atomic Energy Commission, the latter agency assumed cognizance and funding responsibility for the remainder of the program.

Declassified Documents

CONTINUOUSLY CIRCULATING FISSIOCHEMICAL PROCESS DEVELOPMENT APPLICABLE TO HYDRAZINE SYNTHESIS. VOLUME 1: PROGRAM SURVEY, PROCESSING, AND MATERIALS [244 Pages, 11.8MB]

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The U-2 Program

John Greenewald — Tue, 09 May 2017 10:20:20 +0000

Background

The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed “Dragon Lady”, is a single-engine, high-altitude aircraft flown by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency. It provides day and night, high-altitude (70,000 feet/21,000 metres), all-weather surveillance. The aircraft is also used for electronic sensor research and development, satellite calibration, and satellite data validation.

The U-2 Flight Manual

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

U-2 Utility Flight Handbook, March 1, 1959 [259 Pages, 15.1MB]

United States Air Force (USAF)

In October of 2016, I filed a FOIA Request to the United States Air Force (USAF) for a copy of the most current U-2 Flight Manual. During the course of the request, I was asked if I would like “clearly releasable” portions of the document, or if I wanted to document reviewed in-depth. I respectfully declined, and I asked for all information (releasable) to be released, with redactions (the blacked-out parts) properly cited with FOIA Exemptions. Although I agree often to such requests to save a bit of time for the agency, and the FOIA process, I did not in this case.

I was denied access to the document in full. Based on the release by the CIA of a similar document from the past (see above), I appealed. This, too, was denied. They claim not a single portion of the record can be released.

Appeal Denial for U-2 Manual, May 9, 2017 [2 Pages, 0.6MB]

Document Archive

The CIA and the U-2 Program, 1954-1974 [269 Pages, 12.4MB]

Remembering CIA’s Heroes: Agency Pilots in the U-2 Program

This article is part of our series about the CIA employees who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Here we will look at the lives of the men and women who have died while serving their country.

Currently, there are 87 stars carved into the marble of the CIA Memorial Wall. The wall stands as a silent, simple memorial to those employees “who gave their lives in the service of their country.” The CIA has released the names of 54 employees; the names of the remaining 33 officers must remain secret, even in death.

The U-2 was one of the CIA’s greatest intelligence achievements. Its deployment in 1956 signaled the Central Intelligence Agency’s entry into the world of overhead reconnaissance.

In response to the Soviet Union’s growing military strength and the perceived danger of the Soviet Union attacking the continental United States, President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorized the construction of a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. The aircraft would be designed specifically to fly over the Soviet Union and collect strategic intelligence. To reduce the danger of conflict, the president entrusted this mission not to the armed forces but to a civilian agency – the CIA. From 1954-1974, overhead reconnaissance was one of CIA’s most important missions.

Kelly Johnson at Lockheed’s “Skunkworks” designed the U-2 to be flown by a single pilot, at altitudes of 65,000 to 70,000 feet at subsonic speed. To reach the altitude, the aircraft was stripped down to ensure a lighter weight. The aircraft had an extraordinary gliding ability and could stay aloft for more than eight hours.

Several dangers faced the U-2’s pilots. Because of the high speed and altitude, pilots had to keep the aircraft at a slightly nose-up position. A slight drop in the nose position (even as slight as a degree) could cause the plane to gain speed dramatically, which could ultimately lead to the aircraft breaking apart.

The plane’s challenging flight characteristics and fragility resulted in the deaths of four Agency pilots. Here we look at the lives of these pilots: Wilburn S. Rose, Frank G. Grace, Howard Carey, and Eugene “Buster” Edens.

Wilburn S. Rose

The first of four fatal U-2 crashes occurred on May 15, 1956, when pilot Wilburn S. Rose had trouble dropping the aircraft’s “pogos,” the outrigger wheels that kept the wings parallel to the ground during takeoff. The crash occurred during a training flight.

Once airborne, Rose made a low-level pass over the airstrip and succeeded in shaking loose the left-hand pogo. When he tried another maneuver to shake loose the remaining pogo, the U-2 stalled and plunged to earth. The aircraft disintegrated over a wide area, killing Rose instantly.

Frank G. Grace

Approximately three months later, a second crash occurred during a night-time training exercise. On Aug. 31, 1956, during a nighttime training flight, Frank G. Grace stalled his U-2 at an altitude of 50 feet when he tried to climb too steeply during take off.

The aircraft fell to earth, cartwheeled on its left wing, and struck a power pole near the runway. Grace died in the crash. He was 30 years old, married, and the father of four children.

Howard Carey

Before 1956 came to a close, two more U-2s piloted by Agency test pilots on contract crashed during test flights. One of these crashes was fatal.

On Sept. 17, 1956, pilot Howard Carey took off from Lindsey Air Force Base in Wiesbaden, Germany. His U-2 mysteriously disintegrated in mid-air, perhaps caused by the jet wash from four fighter aircraft nearby. Carey was less than three weeks shy of his 34th birthday when he died.

Eugene “Buster” Edens

Nearly a decade later, Eugene “Buster” Edens one of the original U-2 pilots, was killed when his U-2 spiraled to the ground near Edwards Air Force Base in California. Edens had dodged death in an earlier incident when he crash-landed a U-2 at Edwards in 1961. In this first incident, the plane – while on final approach – stalled 50 feet short of the runway and slammed into the ground. The plane caught fire. Another pilot – who happened to be nearby – pulled the semiconscious Edens out of the aircraft moments before it exploded.

In April 1965, however, Edens did not have the same fortune. As he made his approach to the runway, he had a problem with a wing. He applied power and climbed. The aircraft began a spiraling descent at 3,000 feet from which it could not recover. Edens ejected at 400 feet, not high enough to permit his chute to fully deploy, and was killed when he hit the ground.

Remembering the Men

The CIA honored Rose, Grace, Carey, and Edens with stars on the CIA Memorial Wall in 1974. All four men served in the CIA’s Directorate of Plans*. They are remembered for their bravery and dedication. Their names are included in the CIA Book of Honor.

*The Directorate of Plans (DDP) was established in August 1952, when the Office of Special Operations and the Office of Policy Coordination were merged. The DDP became the Directorate of Operations (DO) on March 1, 1973. In October 2005, the DO was renamed the National Clandestine Service (NCS).

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B-47B/F-86L Aircraft Mishap Report, 5 February 1958

John Greenewald — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 16:00:40 +0000

Background

The Tybee Island B-47 crash was an incident on February 5, 1958, in which the United States Air Force lost a 7,600-pound (3,400 kg) Mark 15 nuclear bomb in the waters off Tybee Island near Savannah, Georgia, United States.

During a practice exercise, an F-86 fighter plane collided with the B-47 bomber carrying the bomb. To protect the aircrew from a possible detonation in the event of a crash, the bomb was jettisoned. Following several unsuccessful searches, the bomb was presumed lost somewhere in Wassaw Sound off the shores of Tybee Island.

The B-47 bomber was on a simulated combat mission from Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. It was carrying a single 7,600-pound (3,400 kg) bomb. At about 2:00 AM, an F-86 fighter collided with the B-47. The F-86 crashed, after the pilot ejected from the plane. The damaged B-47 remained airborne, plummeting 18,000 feet (5,500 m) from flight level 380 (38,000 feet (12,000 m)) when Major Richardson regained flight control.

The crew requested permission to jettison the bomb, in order to reduce weight and prevent the bomb from exploding during an emergency landing. Permission was granted, and the bomb was jettisoned at 7,200 feet (2,200 m) while the bomber was traveling at about 200 knots (370 km/h). The crew did not see an explosion when the bomb struck the sea. They managed to land the B-47 safely at the nearest base, Hunter Air Force Base. The pilot, Colonel Howard Richardson, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after this incident.

Declassified Documents

B-47B/F-86L Aircraft Mishap Report, 5 February 1958 2000 Release [154 Pages, 64.7MB]

B-47B/F-86L Aircraft Mishap Report, 5 February 1958 2017 Release [142 Pages, 65.3MB] – Originally I requested a Mandatory Declassified Review (MDR) on this document, and they asked if I would submit a FOIA instead. I agreed, with the stipulation the record would be reviewed in its entirety for release. In February of 2017, I received the documents with the exemptions properly cited this time, however, I received a document MORE redacted than originally released in 2000!

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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

John Greenewald — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 20:00:03 +0000

An MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle flies a combat mission over southern Afghanistan.

Background

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is an unpiloted aircraft. UAVs come in two varieties: some are controlled from a remote location, and others fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans using more complex dynamic automation systems.

Currently, UAVs perform reconnaissance as well as attack missions. They are also used in a small but growing number of civil applications, such as firefighting. UAVs are often preferred for missions that are too “dull, dirty, or dangerous” for manned aircraft.

Declassified Documents

Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office (DARO) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), April 1994[170 Pages, 19.2MB]

Counter UAV Optical Detection, Location, and Negation Feasibility Study, 24 March 2004 [63 Pages, 7.5MB] – The BAE Systems approach identifies the key DARPA hard technology development required in order to realize the Counter UA V mission vision. This Concept Development study developed several CONOPS and engagement scenarios that serve to define the preliminary systems requirements analysis. From this analysis, we developed several simulations to help analyze system concept approaches and performance issues. We then performed technology trades to determine the applicability and maturity of current sensor technologies to the problem. A field test was performed where actual data was collected and analyzed. Finally, directed energy countermeasures were investigated as a means to defeat these threats at standoff ranges.

The Development of a Hands-On Unmanned Aerial Vehicle/Remotely Piloted Vehicle Flight Test and Evaluation, November 2004 [9 Pages, 0.8 MB] – The United States Air Force (USAF) Test Pilot School, the Engineering Directorate, and the 452nd Flight Test Squadron all within the 412th Test Wing of the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, have teamed together to develop an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight test training course. This paper briefly describes the development of the course and presents the major elements of the course.

Global Hawk Accident Report, 1999 [510 Pages, 17MB]

Iraqi L-29 UAV Conversion, 23 January 2001 [82 Pages, 1.52MB]

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle End-to-End Support Considerations, 2005 [141 Pages, 1.01 MB] – Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been used in combat operations since the mid-1900s (Office of the Secretary of Defense, 2002). More recently, both Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom have employed UAVs for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as time-critical targeting. These successes have confirmed the military utility of UAVs and portend that a greater number of such vehicles may become part of the DoD’s future force posture. However, because of the acquisition strategy employed to field UAVs as quickly as possible, the implications for their long-term support needs are unclear.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flight Test Approval Process and Its Implications: A Methodological Approach to Capture and Evaluate Hidden Costs and Value in the Overall Process, 22 Mar 2012 [115 Pages, 3.67 MB] – The advancement in small unmanned aerial vehicle (SUAV) technology has brought a new revolution in the military domain. Their uses have become more synonymous with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. Concerns over their flight test safety and accountability have been addressed in multiple policies to mitigate mishaps and increase proper accountability. However, current DoD and FAA mandated regulations and policies concerning UAV flight tests are sometimes considered slow and time-consuming, which may lead to delays in UAV research and development. This study explores the quantitative and qualitative measure of benefits associated with an abbreviated flight test process for SUAVs. Specifically, it examines the current agreement between two major USAF research centers regarding the SUAV flight test approval process. This research utilized high-level multidisciplinary approaches and techniques including qualitative costbenefit analysis, interviews, value stream mapping (VSM) analysis, and heuristic risk analysis to evaluate the current-state process. The findings conclude that there is a slight economic cost and schedule savings in an abbreviated process. Additionally, this research finds no correlation between SUAV flight mishaps and system maturity. This research proposes using a streamlined process for additional safety reviews to eliminate non-value added process steps considered unnecessary due to the nature of the SUAV complexity. Furthermore, this study recommends using a decision rule matrix based on the total cost of the SUAV and its weight and energy at impact for choosing an abbreviated flight test safety review process.

U.S. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Combat, 1991-2003, 09 Jun 2003 [19 Pages, 150 kb] – Between 1991 and 2003, the United States used a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in combat operations. These included the Pioneer, the Pointer, the Hunter, the Predator, the Global Hawk, the Dragon Eye, the Desert Hawk, and the Shadow. During those 13 years the role of UAVs expanded from mere reconnaissance to target designation and attack. Advantages of UAVs over manned aircraft systems include eliminating pilot risk, saving money, providing long-term real-time video reconnaissance, and reducing the time between target identification and destruction. UAVs are especially useful for extremely long reconnaissance missions and for missions in areas of extreme danger. The percentage of unmanned aircraft sorties should continue to grow as UAV capabilities increase. This paper elaborates on the lessons the military has learned about UAVs over the last 13 years, the advantages of UAVs, and their vulnerabilities. The lessons learned are as follows: (1) UAV flights should be carefully synchronized with each other and with the flights of other systems; (2) UAVs should be improved to reduce their vulnerability to weather, enemy air defenses, and mechanical and communication failures; (3) UAVs should be specialized and used for a greater variety of missions; and (4) the Air Force should develop countermeasures to enemy UAVs.

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The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider

John Greenewald — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 19:54:10 +0000

Background

According to Wikipedia:

The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is a heavy bomber aircraft under development by Northrop Grumman. As part of the Long Range Strike Bomber program (LRS-B), it is to be a long-range, stealth strategic bomber for the United States Air Force capable of delivering thermonuclear weapons. A request for proposal to develop the aircraft was issued in July 2014.

The Air Force plans to purchase 80–100 LRS-B aircraft at a cost of $550 million each (2010 dollars). A development contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman in October 2015. A media report states that the bomber could also be used as an intelligence gatherer, battle manager, and interceptor aircraft.

In May of 2016, the Air Force concluded a submission contest to name the newly developed B-21 bomber. So, in September 10, 2016, I filed an FOIA request for a list/compilation of all the names submitted to the B-21. Although I wasn’t the first to request the names, the Air Force originally denied access to the list. An appeal was filed (and later was accepted) for the list’s release, and as a result, the Air Force released the list to me as well.

Below, you will find the names submitted. Some of them – will make you laugh out loud!

Declassified Documents

Declassified List of B-21 Name Submissions by the Public [64 Pages, 0.9MB] – There were 4,600 entries submitted in response to the B-21 Name Contest announced by Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James during the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium in February 2016. The contest was open to Active, Guard, Reserve and civilian Airmen, along with their dependents. There were 2,120 unique names, many names had multiple entries is attached.

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NACA Conference on Turbojet Engines for Supersonic Propulsion, October 8-9, 1953

John Greenewald — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 17:55:06 +0000

Introduction

Excerpt from the document:

This document contains papers related to the NACA Conference on “The Turbojet Engine for Supersonic Propulsion” held at the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory October 8 and 9, 1953.

Much of the material presented here was presented in the panel-type discussions of the conference. In some cases, in order to supplement those discussions, material not previously presented is included.

A list of the conferees is included.

On a side note, I found this document in a hunt to find references to my Grandfather, R.E. Greenewald, who worked on many classified government programs in relation to missile technology and weapons systems. I discovered he was an attendee to this conference.

Check out page 10 for a little reference to Greenewald family history

Document the Document

NACA Conference on Turbojet Engines for Supersonic Propulsion, October 8-9, 1953 [602 Pages, 70.1MB]

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Aircraft / Air Force History - The Black Vault

HAVE CARGO Captive Flight Tests, Phase III, Volume IV – August 1974

Document Archive

HAVE CARGO Captive Flight Tests, Phase III, Volume IV [154 Pages, 53MB]

Boeing X-20 “Dyna-Soar”

Document Archive

Parasite Aircraft

B-36 Peacemaker Parasite Aircraft System

Project FICON

Project TOM-TOM

Micro-Fighter/Airborne Aircraft Carrier Concept

Bell X-5

Document Archive

The Bell X-5 Research Plane, Date Unknown [65 Pages, 23MB] – My father, John Greenewald, Sr., got these documents from Edwards AFB. My grandfather, R.E. Greenewald, worked on the Bell X-5. Also included in this PDF is an article entitled “Swing Wing, The Bell X-5” from 1993.

Flight Test, Research Airplane, Rocket Propelled, High Speed – Report No. 58-947-010 [67 Pages, 23MB] – My father, John Greenewald, Sr., got these documents (also included is a document on the Bell X-1) from Edwards AFB. My grandfather, R.E. Greenewald, worked on both aircraft.

The Bell X-5 Research Aircraft, 27 July 1989 [67 Pages, 42MB]

DARPA Selects Aurora Flight Sciences for Phase 2 of Active Flow Control X-Plane

Goal is to develop and fly a demonstrator aircraft without using external mechanical flight controls

Foreign Technology and Analysis Reports on Parachutes and Aerodynamic Decelerators, NASIC

Document Archive

The AFHRA Collection: A 468,170 Page Air Force History Archive

Document Archive

ADC Command Historical Studies (Select 1-40)/

AFHRA Microfilm Roll Research Collection/

NORAD FOIA releases/

Nike Site NY-53 Middletown NJ May 22 1958 explosion/

RAND studies/

RG 342 NARA FOIA Releases (AFHRA Microfilm Roll References)/

Air Force History Collection

Air Force Histories

Oral History Interviews

Other Related Documents

Video Archive

Operation Pinball/the USAAF’s Secret Aerial Gunnery Program of WWII

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Document Archive

Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) Document Collection

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Document Archive

Digitized Microfilm Reels by Number

Aircraft in Air Defense, 1946-1960 by Richard McMullen (ADC Historical Study No. 12)

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Document Archive

Aircraft in Air Defense, 1946-1960 by Richard McMullen (ADC Historical Study No. 12) [145 Pages, 39.7MB]

The Strategic Air Command (SAC) Histories

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Document Archive

Strategic Air Command (SAC) Histories

Strategic Air Command – 1946 [1,609 Pages, 343MB]

Strategic Air Command – 1947 [2,184 Pages, 505MB]

Strategic Air Command – 1947-1950 (Various Records) [1,830 Pages, 436MB]

Strategic Air Command – 1948 [2,385 Pages, 437MB]

Strategic Air Command – 1949 [1,518 Pages, 284MB]

Strategic Air Command – 1949 [1,980 Pages, 370MB]

Strategic Air Command – 1950 [2,009 Pages, 531MB]

Strategic Air Command – 1950 [1,880 Pages, 402MB]

Strategic Air Command – 1950 [1,454 Pages, 315MB]

Strategic Air Command – 1950 [1,575 Pages, 371MB]

Continental Air Command (ConAC) Histories

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Document Archive

AI Copilot: Air Force Achieves First Military Flight with Artificial Intelligence

Hypersonic Technology for Military Application, July 1998

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Document Archive

The Senior Citizen Program – “The Aurora”

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Document Archive

Department of Defense

United States Air Force

Senior Citizen Program Element Request

Aurora Program Element Request

Archived

Project Oxcart – The Lockheed A-12 Reconnaissance Aircraft

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Document Archive

Hiding OXCART in Plain Sight(CIA Document Explaining Oxcart)

Report of the Naval Research Advisory Committee Panel on Laser Eye Protection, April 1988

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Document Archive

Hiding OXCART in Plain Sight
(CIA Document Explaining Oxcart)