Corona Star Catchers: The Air Force Aerial Recovery Aircrews of the 6593d Test Squadron (Special), 1958-1972.

摘要

The Discoverer/Corona reconnaissance satellite was a revolutionary breakthrough in intelligence gathering and altered the course of the Cold War. From 1960-1972, the film from these satellites provided vital military intelligence to the United States about the closed interiors of the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, China, Vietnam, and others. The United States used space reconnaissance to finally determine the truth of the Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile threat, among many other discoveries. With all the information gained from Corona, the United States developed military strategies and national policies to contain the communist threat. The recovery of the Corona space capsules was among the highest priorities of the U.S. Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. The 6593d Test Squadron (Special) conducted one of the most important Air Force missions of the Cold War. The aerial recovery of Corona space capsules and various other recovery projects is not widely known. The 6593d was one of the first Air Force organizations to combine air and space as integral parts of its mission. The classified status of the Corona program did not permit the details of Corona or its aerial recovery to be published until the declassification of Corona in 1995. The objective of this book is to present first-hand accounts of 6593d Test Squadron (Special) aircrew veterans who flew modified C-119J and JC-130 cargo aircraft out of Hawaii when they recovered Corona space capsules and other payloads during the Cold War. The chapters include the perspectives of 6593d officers who piloted or navigated the aerial recovery flights, and enlisted loadmasters who operated the aircraft recovery equipment to snag the parachutes and space capsules and recover them. There are other publications about the Corona program, but this may be the only one that specifically focuses on the recovery aircrews of the 6593d as they tell their story.