Origins and Context
In November 1954, the CIA initiated Project Aquatone to develop a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft capable of overflying the Soviet Union without detection.1 The program emerged from growing concerns about Soviet military capabilities and the inability to gather reliable intelligence through existing methods.2
Program Structure
Lockheed's Skunk Works, led by Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, developed the U-2 aircraft under extreme secrecy at Area 51 in Nevada.3 The CIA managed operations while the Air Force provided pilot training and mission planning support.4
Operational History
The first U-2 flight occurred on August 1, 1955, at Groom Lake.5 Operational missions began in 1956, with flights over the Soviet Union providing critical intelligence that helped resolve the "bomber gap" controversy.6 The program suffered a major setback when Francis Gary Powers was shot down over the USSR on May 1, 1960.7
Legacy
Project Aquatone revolutionized aerial reconnaissance and established Area 51 as a key testing site for classified aircraft.8 The program's success led to continued U-2 operations under various code names and agencies through the present day.9
References
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CIA Historical Review Program, "The CIA and the U-2 Program, 1954-1974," p.12 ↩
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Pocock, Chris, "50 Years of the U-2," p.24 ↩
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Pedlow and Welzenbach, "The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance," p.74 ↩
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Lockheed Martin, "The U-2 Dragon Lady," Historical Archives ↩
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Pocock, Chris, "The U-2 Spyplane: Toward the Unknown," p.38 ↩
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CIA Historical Review Program, "The CIA and the U-2 Program, 1954-1974," p.87 ↩
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Pedlow and Welzenbach, "The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance," p.176 ↩
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Pocock, Chris, "50 Years of the U-2," p.156 ↩
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Lockheed Martin, "The U-2 Dragon Lady: A Living Legend," Corporate Archives ↩