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

This monograph, produced by the CIA History Staff in 1992, details the history of the Central Intelligence Agency's manned overhead reconnaissance programs from 1954 to 1974. It covers the development and operation of the U-2 spyplane and the A-12 OXCART aircraft. The document explores the technological, bureaucratic, and political context of these programs, including the intense struggle between the CIA and the US Air Force for control over these assets. It highlights the U-2's role as a critical intelligence source during the Cold War, particularly regarding the Soviet Union, and the subsequent development of the A-12 OXCART as a successor. The monograph also discusses the impact of these programs on the CIA's structure, notably the formation of the Directorate of Science and Technology. It addresses the challenges of high-altitude flight, the development of sophisticated camera systems, and the security measures implemented to protect these covert operations. Furthermore, it touches upon the use of these aircraft in various global crises, including the Suez Crisis, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and operations in Southeast Asia. The document also notes the eventual phaseout of these programs as satellite technology became more prominent and cost-effective.