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'-.' that there was a considerable need to obtain adequate topographic information. Merchant went on even further, however, and noted: "that it will. always be easy to find some reason not to run such a mission, e.g., if, it is not the election [upc9ming us Presidential elec- tion of November 1960], it might be the General Assembly or something else." Undaunted, Mr. Gray said that any subsequent U-2 operations would also be subject to prior discussion with the Special Group before being flown.* 981 As the reader can well imagine, there was a growing need for overhead reconnaissance of Cuba as Project JMATE progressed. Req~irements concerned not only potential air targets, but potential troop landing. sites, landing strips for light aircraft for black operations (including seaplane landings), and possible areas for the Brigade landing or deception activit~es to divide Castro's forces. With the approach of D-Qay in early April of 1961, Col. Gaines was meeting with representatives of the Special Projects Branch of DPD * The Special Group also was to be advised of any planned overflights of Cuba -- reconnaissance, supply, or other -- but notification of any but U-2 flights might specifically be waived by the DCI. 98al - 79 -