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(S//SI) Letters to the Editor : Long Tradition of Tracking BEARs
FROM: the editor
Unknown
Run Date: 07/19/2006
(S//SI//REL) Here are a couple of comments in response to the article "Flying BEAR Approach
Alaska -- SIGINT Is Watching" :
Comment:
(S//SI) Glad to see HF Manual Morse is still being used to follow Long Range Aviation (LRA)
bomber activity. FYI: The former USAFSS (US Air Force Security Service), HF Site at RAF
Kirknewton, Scotland, 6952nd Radio Squadron Mobile's primary mission was LRA.
(S//SI) We used to track and CRITIC report bomber activity above the 82nd parallel on a regular
basis in the early 1960s from their PVO (Air Defense) traffic. We didn't have the long-range or
over-the-horizon (OTH) radars to track them, so when their radar ceased tracking whilst they
were still heading north, we issued a typewritten CRITIC. Timely reporting without the bells and
whistles...
(S//SI) I would like to add that ye olde antenna farm was the method of collection and we had
great hearability because of the site's location. The CDAA (FLR-9) antenna at RAF Chicksands
was in the testing stage at that time. We tracked the bombers to the Far East via Air-to-Ground
and Air Defense comms all on little old HF morse and radio-printer.
-- Hank Kaczynski
Comment:
(S) (The) article brought back memories of my TDYs to NCR (NSA/CSS Representative) Alaska
during the 1980's. It was the Cold War and the Alaskan Air Command would almost always
engage the BEAR aircraft as they flew along our shores. Our fighters got up close and personal
with them, snapping photos and movies as the Russians gestured to them from their cockpit.
(These) BEAR pilots were probably deeply disappointed that nobody came out to "greet" them.
--
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108