However, the Israelis needed photographic intelligence about the layout of the plant.
Unit personnel were trained to provide photographic intelligence for air and ground forces.
The Pentagon must improve the way it delivers to battlefield commanders the sophisticated photographic intelligence now available from satellites and reconnaissance aircraft.
Although satellites are now used to gather large amounts of photographic intelligence, the officials said some things could not be done by unmanned spacecraft.
With the advent of war, Ignatieff joined the Royal Artillery, where he worked in photographic intelligence.
The aircraft were tasked with flying deep level reconnaissance missions over the Soviet Union to gather electronic and photographic intelligence.
After retirement, he has been active in encouraging the use of declassified photographic intelligence for historical research.
The Pentagon has no photographic intelligence to confirm the results of these airdrops.
The initial focus will be guided by photographic intelligence and interviews with refugees, officials said.
Mr. Pike said they were important because they "identified how one would do photographic intelligence from space."