Documents / FOIA release
This Central Intelligence Agency file dated 2 December 1952 holds a memorandum from H. Marshall Chadwell, Assistant Director for Scientific Intelligence, to the Director of Central Intelligence. It says that sightings of unexplained high-speed objects at great altitudes near major U.S. defense installations need immediate attention. Chadwell proposes a consulting group of qualified scientists. The file also holds a draft memorandum to the National Security Council and a draft directive. Together they would have the Director of Central Intelligence run a priority program of intelligence and research to identify unidentified flying objects.
Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.
MEMORIUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence THEJ Deputy Director for Intelligence SUBJECT : Unidentified Flying Objects 1. On 20 August, the DCI, after a briefing by OSI on the above subject, directed the preparation of an KSCID for submission to the Council stating the need for investigation and directing agencies concerned to cooperate in such investigations. 2. In attempting to draft such a directive and the supporting staff studies, it became apparent to DD/I, Acting AD/SI and AD/IC that the problem was largely a research and development problem, and it was decided by DD/I to attempt to initiate action through R&D. A conference was held between DI/USAF, Chairman of R&D, DD/I, Acting AD/SI and AD/IC at which time it was decided that Dr. Whitman, Chairman of R&D, would investigate the possibility of undertaking research and development studies through Air Force agencies. 3. On approximately 6 November, we were advised by Chairman, TABB, that inquiries in the Air Staff did not disclose "undue concern" over this matter, but that it had been referred to the Air Defense Command for consideration. No further word has been received from TABB. 4. Recent reports reaching CIA indicated that further action was desirable and another briefing by the cognizant A-2 and ATIC personnel was held on 25 November. At this time, the reports of incidents convince us that there is something going on that must have immediate attention. The details of some of these incidents have been discussed by AD/SI with BSCI. Sights of unexplained objects at great altitudes and travelling at high speeds in the vicinity of major U.S. defense installations are of such nature that they are not attributable to natural phenomena or known types of aerial vehicles. 5. CSI in proceeding to the establishment of a consulting group of sufficient competence and stature to review this matter and convince the responsible authorities in the community that immediate research and development on this subject must be undertaken. This can be done expeditiously under the acclio of CSIIS.
Not linked to a story yet.
FOIA release, from the cia-readingroom collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. The text was read from the page images by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word. 4 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.