Summary
This CIA History Staff document traces the full history of the U-2 and OXCART (A-12) high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft programs from 1954 to 1974. It covers their development, worldwide operations including missions over the Soviet Union, the 1960 downing of Francis Gary Powers, subsequent reforms, and the eventual handover of operations to the Air Force.
Detail
Released through the PURSUE declassification, this CIA History Staff PDF chronicles the complete history of the U-2 and OXCART (A-12) high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft programs from 1954 to 1974. It documents the development of these aircraft and their operations over the Soviet Union and other targets around the world.
The account includes the well-known shootdown of pilot Francis Gary Powers in 1960, the organizational reforms that followed that incident, and the eventual transfer of program operations from the CIA to Air Force control. A more heavily redacted version of this document has previously been available on the CIA's public website.
