DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
(C) NSA Linguist Performs Quality Control on a Transcript... From
1958!
FROM: John Riehl
SIGDEV of Russian, Special Language Support (S2H1)
Run Date: 12/13/2006
(C) As part of a response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the Office of Policy & Records
Staff recently received unusual linguistic support from
a member of the Special
Language Support branch in the Office of Russia. In 1958, a USAF C-130A reconnaissance
aircraft went astray and was tragically shot down over Armenia while performing a COMINT
mission. At that time, tapes and transcripts were made of Soviet fighter air-to-ground
communications reflecting the shoot-down. The shoot-down, which resulted in the death of all on
board, precipitated an international incident. After the Soviets repeatedly denied shooting down
the C-130, the US gave copies of the shoot-down transcripts to UN ambassadors, including the
Soviet ambassador.*
C-130 aircraft
(C) More than ten years ago, while doing research for his book, " Price of Vigilance ," which
describes the circumstances of the shoot-down, Larry Tart, who had flown with
in the same
USAF unit which had lost the C-130, attempted to obtain a copy of the tape and transcripts from
NSA. At that time, the Office of Policy & Records asked
to make copies of the old
transcripts, but subsequently denied Mr. Tart's request for release of the material.
(C) During a recent, casual conversation, Larry happened to mention to
that he had gotten
a call from someone in the Office of Policy & Records who said he was re-reviewing Larry's FOIA
request, but was not sure he could locate the tapes and transcripts. Luckily,
had kept
copies of the tapes and transcripts in his desk and he contacted the reviewer at the Office of
Policy & Records, who then requested that he verify the accuracy of the tapes and transcripts.
(C) After checking the audio intercept and the transcript,
passed his findings to the Office
of Policy & Records for use in its FOIA review. He probably now holds the record for term QC
(quality control) -- reviewing intercept almost 50 years old!
(U//FOUO) There is one more twist to the story. While researching his book, Larry worked with
NSA Director General Kenneth Minihan to arrange for the acquisition of the C-130A that is now
in National Vigilance Park, refurbished to look exactly like the aircraft which was shot down over
Armenia in 1958.
*(U//FOUO) Note: More details on the shoot-down incident can be found on Intelink at the
Intellipedia article Flight 60528 .
(U) Readers: Do you have any comments on the shoot-down incident? If so, please post them on
the SID today blog .
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108