Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO: Mr. A. H. Belmont
FROM: Mr. R. Roach
DATE: September 24, 1957
SUBJECT: UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT REPORTED ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1957; INTELLIGENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE — WATCH COMMITTEE
Reference is made to my memorandum of September 23, 1957, on the captioned matter which reflected an Intelligence Advisory Committee (IAC) evaluation of an Air Defense Command (ADC) report that radar stations at Montauk Point, Long Island, New York, and Benton, Pennsylvania, detected an unidentified object proceeding in a westward direction with an altitude of 50,000 feet and a speed of 2,000 knots (approximately 2,300 miles per hour) on September 20, 1957. The IAC intelligence evaluation of this report reflected that "It is highly improbable that a Soviet operation is responsible for the unidentified flying object reports of September 20, 1957."
Today, at an Executive Session of the IAC, General Willard Lewis, Director, Air Force Intelligence, advised that although the ADC has not completed its investigation of the evidence on this matter, there are continuing indications that the object detected was an atmospheric phenomenon. The radar pickups now reflect speed variations in the object's course, ranging from 1,500 miles per hour to 4,500 miles per hour. This latter speed is improbable according to U. S. scientific theory for any type flying object which this could conceivably be. General Lewis added that the present sun spots are associated with the peculiar radar activity throughout the globe and that this could have some cause for the captioned report.
ACTION:
Liaison will report further information on this matter as quickly as it is developed.
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MWK:bjt (7)
1 - Mr. Belmont
1 - Mr. W.C. Sullivan
1 - Mr. D.E. Moore
1 - Mr. Whitson
1 - Liaison Section
1 - Mr. Kuhrtz
55 SEP 30 1957
RECORDED-38
EX-131
SEP 26 1957
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