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required; and the Admiral also advised both the com- manding officer of the Opalocka Station and the Admiral in charge of the Charleston District of the decision to support CIA's use of the Opalocka facility. 75/ It is possible that the quick footwork on the part of the Agency1s representatives in acquiring rights to the Opalocka facility antagonized some people in OSO/DOD with whom the Agency had been negotiating for the acquisition of an airstrip for a period of several weeks -- but with negative results. Some evidence of satisfaction is apparent in the memorandum of WH/4 1s weekly meeting with the OSO representatives· on 15 September 1960 which stated in part: The use of Opalocka Marine Air Base was discussed and the OSO representatives were told this use for "black" flights had been cleared by Navy through Admiral Rankin [sic]. GSA approval had been previously obtained; however, DOD interest was, still indicated since· the field was guarded by US Navy enlisted personnel and Naval Air Reserve occasionally uses the field. (Col. ~routy was called at 1730 this date and informed that the field would be used 16 September. He agreed with this.) A paper on the use of Opa1ocka will be forwarded to OSo. 76/* * Emphasis by author. - 62 -