Approved for Release: 2013/06/25
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Secret NOFORN
Chapter 2
77
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[figure]
A-2 camera being installed
in U-2
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have CIA act as executive agent for this transaction, which the Air
Force called Project DRAGON LADY. To maintain secrecy, the Air
Force transferred funds to the CIA, which then placed an order with
Lockheed for 29 U-2s in configurations to be determined by the Air
Force. The Air Force later bought two more U-2s, for a total of 31.
The aircraft purchased for the Air Force were known as the
Follow-On Group, which was soon shortened to FOG.⁵⁶
Once enough pilots had been trained, Project AQUATONE man-
agers concentrated on checking out the complete U-2 system: planes,
pilots, navigation systems, life-support systems, and cameras. From
10 through 14 April 1956, U-2s equipped with A-2 cameras took off
from Area 51 and made eight overflights of the United States in order
to test the various flight and camera systems as part of the standard
Air Force Operational Readiness Inspection. Colonel Yancey and his
detachment served as observers during this weeklong exercise.
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⁵⁶ *OSA History*, chap. 5, pp. 25-26 (TS Codeword).
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Secret
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Approved for Release: 2013/06/25