SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE CORPS. The Signals Intelligence
Corps was the U.S. Army’s signals intelligence(SIGINT) operation
in the interwar years that assumed the work of the Black Chamber
after its closure in 1929. The corps later worked closely with other el-
ements of the U.S. government to break Japan’s “Purple” code and
listen in on Japanese communications during World War II. After
the war, the Army Security Agency(ASA) assumed the duties of the
Signals Intelligence Corps.SKYHOOK SYSTEM. Skyhook was a navy aerial retrieval system,
perfected in 1958, that employed some of the principles of the All
American system. It featured a harness, for cargo or person, that was
attached to a 500-foot, high-strength, braided nylon line. Aportable
helium bottle inflated a dirigible-shaped balloon, raising the line to
its full height. The pickup aircraft, with two tubular “horns” on its
nose, would fly into the line, snag it, and secure it to the aircraft by
means of an anchor. As the line streamed under the fuselage, the crew
snared it and brought it onboard by using a winch. The Central In-
telligence Agency (CIA), in cooperation with the navy, incorporated
the system into packages dropped from aircraft for agents. See also
TROPIC (OPERATION).SMITH, GENERAL WALTER BEDELL (1895–1961). Fourth di-
rector of central intelligence (DCI) between 7 October 1950 and 9
February 1953, General Smith presided over the growing intelli-
gence community (IC) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
during the Korean War. His appointment in October 1950 marked
the Harry S. Trumanadministration’s acceptance of the CIAas a
permanent feature of the bureaucratic landscape.
General Smith made his reputation during World War IIas Gen-
eral Dwight D. Eisenhower’schief of staff for the European theater.
President Truman sent General Smith, considered an efficient admin-
istrator, to Moscow as his ambassador after the war. The surprise at-
tack on South Korea in June 1950 raised fears of a third world war.
President Truman appointed General Smith to be DCI in order to pre-
vent future surprises and to wage clandestine war on the Soviet
Unionand People’s Republic of China(PRC).
During General Smith’s tenure as DCI, Congress expanded the na-
tional security budget, tripling intelligence spending in the process.184 • SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE CORPS05-398 (2) Dictionary.qxd 10/20/05 10:39 AM Page 184