[MRCG] Origins of the RS-6 and subsequent USAF usage

Tim timsamm at gmail.com
Sun Mar 1 12:50:46 EST 2020


Hi guys - I had heard the story that the RS-6 set was originally designed
as an aircrew survival item, but later adopted by the CIA for agent use.
(They certainly were carried in go-bags on some USAF aircraft later on).
Those origins didn't make much sense to me so I researched the CIA Freedom
of Information Act reading room site.
https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/home
(I summarized the findings on my website post regarding the RS-6.)

Interesting stuff had been released on the RS-6.  Notably:
CIA-RDP79-01578A000100110011-6.pdf
<https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP79-01578A000100110011-6.pdf>

It states " [REDACTED] reviewed the history of the RS-6 and the requirement
for which it was designed and procured; circa 1949-1951. The set was
designed as a manual keying, low cost replacement for the WWII SSTR-1.  At
the time Agency plans called for large scale stay behind activities and
strategic reserve/war planning programs...." etc.

When North Korea attacked South Korea on 25 June 1950 the CIA had 1225 RS-6
sets in inventory.  CIA-RDP84-00499R000700140016-8.pdf
<https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP84-00499R000700140016-8.pdf>

As to USAF usage, see:  CIA-RDP78-03424A002400020033-9.pdf
<https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP78-03424A002400020033-9.pdf>

The last page states: "JUNE 1952 - About this time, the Air Force became
interested in the RS-6 and asked the Agency to procure 1500 units for their
use. In order to fulfill this requirement 100 RS-6X's currently in stock
were shipped to the Air Force leaving 1400 units to be supplied from future
production."

So I think the CIA has it the other way around; the set was designed for
the CIA but later adopted by the USAF.  These documents were declassified
and released by the CIA around 2010-2011 and I think they clear up the
question about the origins of the RS-6. (there are a lot of other
interesting documents on the site regarding the RS-6 and the other CIA sets
like the RS-1 etc.)  Interesting reading!  Anyway, FYI.

Tim
N6CC


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