285. Memorandum From Arthur McCafferty of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)1
SUBJECT
- Planning for evacuation of U.S. personnel from Stanleyville
JCS has requested CINCSTRIKE to prepare to implement either of two plans previously prepared for this evacuation. CINCSTRIKE has replied that neither of the plans was appropriate at present and is forwarding a new plan (USJTF OPLAN 514—Ready Move 3).
The exact details of this plan are not yet available in Washington but from the attached messages the following outline can be seen:
1. Mission is to seize and secure Stanleyville, evacuate non-Congolese, and turn city over to friendly government.
2. Intelligence estimates indicate the enemy situation in Stanleyville represents a greater capability than existed in early September, therefore a larger force is necessary. This would comprise a small air strike force and an airborne battalion for initial assault, with a second airborne battalion ready at a forward staging base to be called forward if required.
[Page 414]3. Two routing plans are presented, with plan I–B being recommended.
I–B calls for staging through Wheelus with a D-day, H-hour, 55 hours and 55 minutes after the execution order.
I–C calls for staging through Liberia and Ascension Island with a D-day, H-hour, 59 hours and 50 minutes after the execution order.
4. The forces currently under Defcon 4 alert for this operation consist of
2 battalions from the 101st Airborne Division
16 F4C (fighter) aircraft
60 C–130 aircraft
20 KC 135 SAC Tanker aircraft.
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Congo, Vol. V, Memos & Miscellaneous, 9/64–10/64. Top Secret.↩