GAO ENTRANCE CONFERENCE FOR ASSIGNMENT CODE 701034
ISSUE:
Has the Government met its responsibility in the handling, retention, and subsequent disposition of official records concerning the investigation and reporting of air vehicle and other crash incidents similar to the reported crash of a weather balloon near Roswell, New Mexico in July 1947.
SCOPE:
Initial work will be performed at the Department of Defense, the Services, specialized defense agencies, and other executive branch agencies as required.
APPROACH:
(1) Interview responsible officials and review pertinent directives and regulations to determine the executive branch policies and procedures governing the reporting of air vehicle and similar crash incidents.
(2) Select a sample of crash incidents covering different time periods (1947 to present) to determine whether proper procedures were followed.
(3) For the incidents selected, determine whether proper records management procedures were followed in the retention and subsequent disposition of those records.
(4) Determine the "OFFICIAL" explanation of what has become known as the "Roswell Incident".