65 HS1-834228961 62-HQ-83894 Section 005

STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO : The Director FROM : D. M. Ladd SUBJECT: FLYING SAUCERS DATE: March 28, 1950 Reference is made to your inquiry on the attached routing slip: > "Just what are the facts re 'flying saucers'? A short memo as to whether it is true or just what Air Force etc. think of them." In response to your inquiry, Special Agent S. W. Reynolds obtained the following information today (3/28/50) from Major Boggs and Lieutenant Colonel J. V. Hearn of Air Force Intelligence. The Air Force discontinued their intelligence project to determine what flying saucers are the latter part of last year. They publicly announced to the press in December, 1949, that the project had been discontinued. They advised that the press release had been concurred in by the Army and Navy. The reason for the discontinuance, according to Major Boggs and Lieutenant Colonel Hearn, was that after two years of investigation over three-fourths of the incidents regarding flying saucers proved to be misidentifications of a wide variety of conventional items such as lighted weather balloons and other air-borne objects. Colonel Hearn pointed out that the Commanders of the various areas are charged with the security of those areas. Reports concerning flying saucers received at this time will be investigated by the Area Commander and his report submitted to the Air Force Intelligence Division as an intelligence item. Major Boggs and Lieutenant Colonel Hearn made the observation that many of the reported sightings of flying saucers at this time appear to be an outgrowth of recent magazine articles. They reiterated that the Air Force is conducting no active investigation to determine whether flying saucers exist or what they might happen to be. You will recall that the investigation of flying saucers was discontinued by the Bureau in October, 1947, in order that the Air Force could take over such investigations. (62-83894-141-160) Attachment EHM: jam, sd --- Mr. Tolson Mr. Clegg Mr. Glavin Mr. Ladd Mr. Nichols Mr. Rosen Mr. Tracy Mr. Egan Mr. Gurnee Mr. Harbo Mr. Mohr Mr. Pennington Mr. Quinn Tamm Tele. Room Mr. Nease Miss Holmes Miss Gandy --- RECORDED - 61 62-83894-212 MAR 30 1950 3 57 APR 5 1950 COPIES DESTROYED 270 NOV 18 1964