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

[Tim]

Hi Mark - Thanks..yep, back in the day we had to rely on stories overheard
at swap-meet tables for our anecdotal history lessons.  Modern search
engines - that can now lead back to authoritative source documents -
certainly help clarify things...

Cheers!  Tim
N6CC

On Sun, Mar 1, 2020 at 11:45 AM Mark M via MRCG <mrcg at mailman.qth.net>
wrote:

> Thanks for doing the research Tim. There is so much incorrect info out
> there about spy radios. Nice to see facts replace rumors and myth.
>
> 73
> Mark
> AF6IM
> www.parachutemobile.com
>
> > On Mar 1, 2020, at 9:51 AM, Tim <timsamm at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > 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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