Prelude to Project TACKLE (III)

Following the approval for the proposal for joint US-ROC U-2 operations, the project got into full swing, as can be seen in the above schedule dated October 3, 1960. Here “B” refers to Detachment B in Turkey. Noteworthy are the plan for the aircraft and pilot to be in place on November 15 and the goal to become operational ready on December 1.

The plan calls for assignment of two U-2 to the new detachment. The same document shows that one of the assigned is Article #351:

Oops! The declassification reviewer forgot to black out the word “Taiwan”.

On October 24, the joint project finally got its name, TACKLE:

President Eisenhower gave his final approval on November 8. The project is a GO!

Bissell described how he obtained President’s permission in the following memorandum. In the last paragraph, he carefully pointed out that the permission did not imply a green light to carry out overflight missions. As we shall see, the red light would last much longer than expected before turning green.