◆ SpookStack

Air Force bases could be covered for a brief period of time~ but the military was quite firm in urging that there not be undue delay in moving these aircraft off of Air Force bases. In addition, the USAF rejected CIA's request for the use of their personnel as crews on "black-flight" operations in C-54's or C-118's between the continental United States and Central America. 511 The Agency apparently failed to live up to its agreement with the Air Force to move the B-26's from USAF bases~ and on 16 January 1961; ~ memorandum to the DDP from Col. Ler~y F. Prouty (USAF), Office of Special OperAtions/OSD in response to the Agency's req~est for additional B-26's from the USAF noted: In compliance with an earlier request for B-26 aircraft, ten were made available to meet an early deadline. At the time of this request, 19 August 1960, it was stated that these aircraft would be re- moved from the military base to a designa- ted civilian airfield, and then would exit the US. As of this date, six of . , . these a~rcraft have been p~cked up; but four still remain on an Air Force Base in the US. • This situation is cited, because it has a direct bearing on future actions to provide B-26 aircraft for such projects. Within seven or eight weeks, the Air Force will no longer have any remaining B-26 - 41 -