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45. Memorandum, “U-2 Overflights of Cuba, 29 August through 14 October 1962," 27 February 1963 27 February 1963 MEMORANDUM | SUBJECT: U-2 Overflights of Cuba, 29 August through 14 October 1962 The August 29th flight flew over most of the island and photo- graphed much of it, The photography revealed that eight SAM sites were under construction in the western half of the island. The flight also discovered an installation at Banes in the eastern end of the island that was not familiar to the photo interpreters. Subsequent research by the interpreters, comparing the August 29th photography with that of two similar installations recently noted elsewhere, had by September 14th enabled them to identify the installation as a cruise missile site. The finding of SA-2's in Cuba on the August 29th flight presented us with a new problem in planning U-2 flights over Cuba. Today, there is general acceptance of the fact that we are carrying out overhead reconnaissance of Cuba and that we will continue to do so as long as our national security requires it. This almost universal approval of U-2 flights over Cuba is an attitude that has existed only since the middle of last October. Prvor to the finding of offensive ballistic missiles in Cuba, quite a different public attitude existed.