picture 171083

The original J-57-powered U-2As operated by the CIA went into action in 1956 painted in highly-polished clear lacquer only, and wearing not even the typical stencilling related to their ejection seats. The only other colours applied included a small anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit and the dielectric antenna on either side of the nose, both in black. The sun shade was always applied in white colour, on the inside of the cockpit. In an attempt to make them less conspicuous, in 1958 the CIA began testing various camouflage colours, including at least one reportedly decreasing the radar echo of the jet. Compared to later variants, the U-2As wore relatively few antennae and other gear: their primary mission-equipment consisted of either Type A or Type B camera set installed in the Q-bay, directly behind the cockpit. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)