INSPECTOR GENERAL
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
400 ARMY NAVY DRIVE
ARLINGTON. VIRGINIA 22202-2884
FEB 23 1994
MEMORANDUM FOR: SEE DISTRIBUTION
SUBJECT: General Accounting Office (GAO) Letter Dated February 9, 1994, "Records Management Procedures Dealing with Weather Balloon, Unknown Aircraft, and Similar Crash Incidents" (GAO Code 701034) NOTIFICATION OF GAO REVIEW
The DoD Directive 7650.2 designates this office as the central DoD liaison for tasking, controlling, and monitoring GAO survey, review, and report activities. The enclosed Information Sheet describes the specific DoD procedures for tasking GAO surveys/reviews and the DoD primary action office (PAO) responsibilities.
On February 15, 1994, we received the enclosed official GAO notification letter on the subject effort. The GAO National Security and International Affairs Division (National Security Analysis) is doing the work. The review is at the request of Representative Steven H. Schiff (R-NM).
Representative Schiff requested the GAO review two issues of concern (1) the DoD records management procedures for crash incidents involving weather balloons and unknown aircraft, such as UFOs and foreign aircraft, and (2) the facts regarding the reported crash of an UFO in 1949 at Roswell, New Mexico. Since the UFO story appeared in an episode of the television program "Unsolved Mysteries," Representative Schiff has received many requests for an investigation into the alleged "DoD cover-up." Apparently, reports on the incident were attributed to a weather balloon crash.
The GAO is anxious to respond to Representative Schiff's request and to dispel any concerns that the DoD is being unresponsive. For that reason, it is important that we identify the correct DoD representatives so that the GAO can begin its work. Since the enclosed GAO notification letter did not mention the Roswell incident or specifically site unknown aircraft as the area of interest, we have been unable to determine the appropriate DoD primary and collateral action offices.