Memorandum from Rear Admiral R. H. Hillenkoetter to President Harry S. Truman

CIA 22794 TOP SECRET NLT/PSF. Intell ) 22 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WASHINGTON 25, D.C. WAI 5 August 1948 air MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT The following information is a supplement to the Central Intelligence Agency report of 27 July 1948 on Clandestine Air Transport Operations in Europe. The scope of clandestine air operations to Palestine appears to be still increasing. Furthermore, the involve- ment of certain United States airline operators with foreign Communist organs in these activities has now been positively confirmed. Czechoslovakia has become the principal source of supply and the main operational base for the extensive underground organization engaged in the clandestine air transport of war materiel to Palestine. The extent of the Czechoslovak Government's participation in these operations is indicated by the following facts: 1. The Czechoslovak Government has made available airfield facilities at Zatec (a military installation) and Brno, at which SERVICE AIRWAYS, its Panamanian subsidiary LAPSA, and other United States air carriers have established operational bases. 2. The evidence indicates that arms, ammunition and bombs have been provided by Czechoslovakia for transport to Palestine, presum- ably from the Skoda munitions works at Pilsen (about seventy kilometers from Zatec) and the Zbrojovka armement works at Brno. 3. ME-109 fighter aircraft have been flown by Czechoslovak pilots to Zatec, where they have been disassembled and loaded for trans- port in United States-owned aircraft. 4. The Communist-dominated Czechoslovak Security Police have protected all United States aircraft from observation by means of constant heavy guards when not in flight and have supervised the loading of aircraft by Czechoslovak laborers. 5. United States maintenance and flight personnel engaged in these operations are permitted to enter the country without visas when traveling on aircraft of LAPSA or Czechoslovak Airlines. In some cases, "visitor's permits" are issued by Czechoslovak authorities; in others, personnel are said to be directed to Communist Party headquarters for permission to remain in the country. In all instances, it appears that DECLASSIFIED C.I.A. LTR. 5-12-98 Authority NLT- 77-79 AND By HC NLT Date 8.31.79 TOP SECRET