Hirsch Spying Report Called ‘Premature’

WASHINGTON —  Pentagon officials backed away Tuesday from earlier assurances that an investigation had implicated Air Force Capt. John Vladimir Hirsch as a spy, describing the allegations as “premature.”

At the same time, Hirsch’s brother and several acquaintances suggested innocent explanations for some of the activities that led to his being suspected.

Reports about Hirsch, 33, who was suspended from sensitive duties in West Berlin and returned to the United States late last month, surfaced Friday in an NBC News account that was quickly confirmed by the Pentagon.

An Air Force spokesman emphasized Tuesday that a “full and thorough investigation” of Hirsch is still under way. But other officials said that what has been discovered so far about Hirsch amounts to “irregularities” that need to be explained but do not add up to an espionage case.

“No one in channels is saying that this guy’s a spy,” cautioned an Air Force official who has been briefed on the investigation.

“This was very premature, this should have never been leaked out,” said another official.

Was Relieved of Duties

Hirsch was relieved of his duties as chief engineer at a listening post at Tempelhof Airport in West Berlin and flown to Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio after a polygraph test indicated possible deception.

Investigators searched Hirsch’s living quarters and found classified documents, uncashed payroll checks and evidence of large bank accounts. They also discovered that Hirsch, who was born in Czechoslovakia, had taken European trips while assigned overseas.

In interviews, however, Hirsch’s family and friends said he was frugal and could have easily saved $120,000--the amount discovered in the bank accounts--during 10 years as an Air Force officer.

Friends said that Hirsch did visit other European countries last summer, but said he did so because his parents lived and traveled in Europe during vacations.