◆ SpookStack

in the Special Group meeting of 20 October 1960, Gray insisted that the pilot be carefully selected and that he be thoroughly briefed by a "CIA official, senior enough, to have your [Allen Dulles's] full confidence." He said'that he thought it particularly im- portant to direct the pilot not to land on Cuban soil under any circumstances, and also that the pilot be well indoctrinated in the cover story.* 96/ When the Special Group met on 27 October 1960, General Cabell told the group that the U-2 flight was then in progress, and this led to the expression of some controversial opinions between Assistant Secre- tary for Defense Douglas, and other members of the Special Group. Douglas said that he saw little necessity for running the risk inherent in the U-2 flight, suggesting that the. only purpose of the flight was to get photographic verification of the existence of Bloc military equipment in Cuba; but other members of the group disagreed with Douglas's view. Mr. Merchant of State pointed out that there was a minimal risk of serious mishap, and emphasized * The Powers' shoot-down also appeared to be an issue when the use of the U-2 had been discussed a,few weeks earlier during a White House meeting which DDP and WH/4 representatives had with Col. John Eisenhower. 97/ - 78 -