>>1691737 (Previous)
Good find, Anon. NOTABLE.
From Article:
"Intelligence officers believe that Hughes was either captured by Soviet agents or voluntarily defected to the Soviet Union. At the time of his disappearance, the Air Force said that he had no classified materials with him. But these intelligence officers point out that Hughes' knowledge of all the top-secret rocket launch procedures was invaluable to the Soviets, perhaps more so than the secrets delivered by recently captured spies. "He is worth his weight in gold to the Russians in terms of future 'Star Wars,' if we have them," one said. They see a clear link between Hughes and possible sabotage of the American and French launches."
Intelligence officers believe that Hughes was either captured by Soviet agents or voluntarily defected to the Soviet Union. At the time of his disappearance, the Air Force said that he had no classified materials with him. But these intelligence officers point out that Hughes' knowledge of all the top-secret rocket launch procedures was invaluable to the Soviets, perhaps more so than the secrets delivered by recently captured spies. "He is worth his weight in gold to the Russians in terms of future 'Star Wars,' if we have them," one said. They see a clear link between Hughes and possible sabotage of the American and French launches."
http://articles.latimes.com/1986-07-06/opinion/op-23298_1_u-s-air-force