Documents / FOIA release
This CIA release, approved in 2001, gathers Air Force and Research and Development Board correspondence from late 1952 about how flying saucer reports affect air defense. In it, Air Defense Command says many fast radar tracks came from mutual interference between radar sets. It warns that unexplained tracks could waste guided missiles and interceptors, so their causes must be found. Also included are a CIA memo planning a research program and an RDB memo on radar phantoms.
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# RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD WASHINGTON 25, D. C. 4 November 1952 MEMORANDUM FOR CHAIRMAN, RDB SUBJECT: Radar Phantoms STATINTL 1. At our conference here the other day with Mr. Becker, and General Samford, it was agreed that we would evaluate the radar phantoms from the viewpoint of the seriousness of the problem to the Air Defense Command. 2. Inquiries made to the appropriate sections of the Air Staff did not disclose any undue concern over the phantoms. I believe that this is because in war and in peace the problem of identifying the vast number of aircraft tracks seen by the Air Defense radars is a confusing factor of much greater magnitude. However, to make sure that we are not overlooking any important considerations, the Air Force has asked the Air Defense Command to study this problem and make recommendations. 3. This, then, is an interim report to you, because it may be several weeks before the answer arrives from the Air Defense Command. 4. Naturally there is general concern about the radar phantoms and the larger problem of the flying saucers because we are unable to explain a sizeable percentage of the reports. However, the concensus seems to be that a great deal of activity and study is going on in this field which will do much to clarify the situation. The subject of anomalous radar propagation has been under study for some time and will continue with appropriate emphasis. The Air Technical Intelligence Center, which analyzes "saucer" reports, will emphasize the radar confusion aspect. It is also my feeling that, whereas formerly this was a subject which scientific men did not wish to become involved in, it is now becoming "respectable" to study the subject and to discuss it publicly. If this trend continues and our astronomers and other scientists do turn their talents to the problem, I am sure that the answers will be expedited. ALFRED R. MAXWELL Brig. General, USAF Air Force Secretary
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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. 11 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.