Documents / Memo

FLYING SAUCERS memo

CIA Reading Room · 36 pages · text by OCR

This CIA file, released in 2001, gathers 1952 memoranda from H. Marshall Chadwell, Assistant Director of the Office of Scientific Intelligence, to the Director of Central Intelligence, along with draft letters to the Secretary of Defense and the NSC and a briefing on the Air Force position. It concludes that flying saucers carry national security implications, namely mass panic and air defense vulnerability. It recommends expanded scientific research, a public information policy and study of Soviet interest, noting that about 20 percent of roughly 1500 Air Force reports remained unexplained.

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  • p. 2 …Approved For Release 2001/04/02 CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7
  • p. 3 …for signature as TAB C. (c) That CIA, with the cooperation of PSB and other interested…
  • p. 6 …In its inquiry into this problem, a team from CIA's Office of Scientific Intelligence consulted…
  • p. 7 …The CIA consultants stated that these solutions would probably be found on the margins or just…
  • p. 8 # SECRET # Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00760R000100020012-7 The public concern with the phenomena…
  • p. 9 # Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R0060R000100020012-7 c. The reasons for silence in the…
  • p. 10 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R0560R000100020012-7
  • p. 11 …Approved For Release 2001/04/02 CIA RDP81R00560R000100020012-7
  • p. 12 # Approved For Release 2001/04/02 CIA RDP81R00560R000100020012-7 SECRET Security Information (6) Since 1947, ATIC…
  • p. 13 # Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7 SECRET Security Information h. CONCLUSIONS a. The…
  • p. 14 # Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7 Security Information (2) A study should be…
  • p. 15 …On the basis of these programs of research, CIA develop and recommend for adoption by the…
  • p. 16 …25X1A 7312 Approved For Release 20010402:CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7 Assistant Director for Operations
  • p. 17 …Stand on "Flying Saucers" -- as stated by CIA, in a briefing on 22 August 1952 I…
  • p. 20 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7 the phenomena and in December 1949 released…
  • p. 21 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7 In summarizing this discussion, I would restate…
  • p. 22 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7 civilian groups that have sprung up to…
  • p. 23 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7 Security Information knowledge is achieved of the…
  • p. 24 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7 In the next few minutes, I intend…
  • p. 25 …been: free baleons, aircraft, astronomical bodies, atmospheric Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7
  • p. 26 …since his plane carried no oxygen equipment. Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7
  • p. 27 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R0060R000100020012-7 A case under known conditions occurred some…
  • p. 28 …few weeks ago in Washington a man Approved For Release 2001/04/02: CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7
  • p. 30 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7 of a ground radar sighting in Maryland…
  • p. 32 # Approved For Release 2001/04/02 CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7 Security information reported to be traveling at…
  • p. 36 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7 the vicinity of sightings. Sightings of UFO…
# Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R0060R000100020012-7 Security Information DRAFT LETTER

MEMORANDUM FOR: Secretary of Defense [alternatively: The NSC] SUBJECT: Unidentified Flying Objects (Flying Saucers)

1. The IAC has reviewed the current situation concerning unidentified flying objects which have caused extensive speculation in the press and have been the subject of concern to Government organizations. The Air Force, within the limitations of manpower which could be devoted to the subject, has thus far carried the full responsibility for investigating and analyzing individual reports of sightings. Since 1947, approximately 1500 official reports of sightings have been received and, of these, about 20% are as yet unexplained.

2. It is my view and that of the IAC that this situation has possible implications for our national security with respect to the vulnerability of the U.S. to air attack. Intelligence, however, cannot discharge its responsibilities with regard to estimating the capabilities of an enemy to create and use such phenomena against the U.S. unless we first determine through scientific research whether or not such phenomena can in fact be generated and controlled by humans.

3. It is therefore recommended, that the Department of Defense [be directed to] undertake an expanded scientific research program to reveal the nature of the various phenomena which are causing these sightings and means by which these phenomena may be identified immediately. It is also recommended that in such a project there be close cooperation between those conducting the research and scientific and technical intelligence research. The IAC agencies are prepared to do their part in such a project.

Approved For Release 2001/04/02 CIA-RDP81R00560R000100020012-7

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Memo, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. The text was read from the page images by an OCR model; expect the odd misread word. 36 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.