005653421 UNCLASSIFIED
Sec NOFORN
Chap
257
lead to the overseas deployment of Detachment G U-2s in 1974, when
the CIA was tasked to monitor the Israeli-Egyptian and later the
Israeli-Syrian disengagement areas. On 21 April 1974 a Detachment
G U-2 with appropriatr support elements arrived at
'to conduct Operation! Between1ay an
July, the detachment conducted six overflights of the disengagement
areas. During these missions the electronic warning systems of the
U-2 registered numerous radar lockons, but no surface-to-air missiles
were fired. On 1 August 1974, responsibility for the
missions as well as the aircraft itself came into the an
or me orce as part of the transfer of the entire Agency U-2 pro-
gram at that time.'"
The Phaseout of the Office of Special Activities
The Agency's U-2 program had been under review since the autumn
of 1969 to determine if it should be continued along with the larger
Air Force U-2 program. In December 1969, President Nixon decided
to keep the Agency's program in existence through 1971 and asked
for a formal review by the 40 Committee (the new name for the 303
Ccrmmittee/Special Group). In August 1970, the committee recom-
mended continuing the program through fiscal year 1972. On 12
August 1972, the 40 Committee again favored continuation of the
CIA U-2 program. This recommendation was motivated primarily by
a desire'
In June 1913, however, DC1 James K.
Schlesinger informed the 40 Committee that thisproject could be ter-
minated without causing major difficulties1
n 30 August 1973, the 40 Committee approved the CIA's
plans to terminate the U-2 program effective 1 August 1974. The Air
Force would assume funding responsibility for the four U-2R aircraft
assigned to the Agency and would take physical possession of them
then or shortly thereafter. On 1 April 1974, Ambassador'
'of the
US intention to end the U-2 project, and the two countries then
worked out a schedule for phasing out
EO 12958 1.61(0111>1010101010<25Yrs
Detachments !Their parent organization, the Office of IS1
Special Activities, began its phaseout immediately thereafter. The
20-year career of the U-2 with the CIA had come to an end.
" Ibid., pp. 31-34 (TS Codeword).
Ibid.. chap. 10, pp. 1-4 (TS Codeword).
Sec
UNCLASSIFIED