Analysis of Flying Object Incidents in the United States, 1949

8. THE ORIGIN of the devices is not ascertainable. There are two reasonable possibllltles:
(1) The objects are domestic devices, and if so, their identification or origin can be established
by a survey of all launchings of airborne objects. Domestic flying wing type aircraft observed
in various aspects of flight might be responsible for some of the reported flying objects, particu
larly those described as disks and rough cigar shapes. (See Appendices "C" and ''D" .) Among
those which have been operational in recent years are the XF5U-1 ("Flying Flap3ack") developed
by Chance-Vaught, the Northrup B-35, and the turbo-jet powered Northrup YB-49. · The present
.existence of any privately developed flying-wing type aircraft has not been determined but one
such aircraft, the Arup tailless monoplane, was operational at South Bend, Indiana, prior to 1935.
(2) Objects are foreign, and l:f so, it would seem most logical to consider that they are from a
Soviet source. The Soviets possess information on a number of German flying-wing type aircraft
such as the Gotha P60A, Junkers EF 130 long-range, high-speed jet bomber and the Horten 229
twin-jet fighter, which particularly resembles some of the description of un1denttfied flying objects
(See Appendix "D"). As early as 1924 Tscheranowsky developed a "Parabola" aircraft, an all
wing •design, which was the outcome of considerable Soviet experimentation with gliders of the
same general form. Soviet aircrait based on such designs might have speeds approaching trans
~;onic speeds attributed to some flying objects or greater over-all performance assuming the
successful development of some unusual propulsion device such as atomic energy engine.
9. THAT THE Soviets have a current interest in flying-wing type aircraft is suggested by their
utilization of Dr. Guenther Bock who, at the end of. World Wa:r IT, was in charge of the flylng
wlng program in Germany (See Appendix ''A", paragraph 3, page 4 ). Achievements satisfactory
to the U.S.S.R. are indirectly indicated by the personal recognition he is reported to be receiving
in the U.S.S.R. Recently 1t has been reported that the U.S.S.R. 1s planning to build a fleet of
1,800 Horten flying-wing aircraft. Information· of low evaluation has been received stating that a
regiment of jet night fighters, Model Horten xm, is at Kuzm1kha, an air base two mE.es south
west of Irkutsk. Kuzmikha is identified as one of a number of airfields for the protection of an
atomic energy plant at Irkutsk. The Horten XIII as developed by Germany was a glider,
10. ASSUMING THAT the objects might eventually be identified as foreign or foreign-sponsored
devices, the possible reason for their appearance over the U.S. requires consideration. Several
possible explanations appear noteworthy, vi.z:
a. To negate U.S. confidence in the atom bomb as the most advanced and decisive weapon
in warfare.
b. To perform photographic reconnaissance missions,
c. To test U. S. air defenses.
d. To conduct familiarization flights over U.S. territory.
CONCLUSIONS
11. SINCE the Air Force is responsible for control of the air in the defense of the U.S., it is
imperative that a.ll other agencies cooperate in confirming or denying the possibility that these
objects have a domestic origin. Otherwise, if it is firmly indicated that there 1s no domestic
explanation, the objects are a threat and warrant more active efforts of 1dent1fication and inter
ception.
12. rr MUST be accepted that some type of flying objects have bean observed, although their
identification and origin are not d1scernable. In the interest of national defense it would be
unwise to overlook the possibility that some of these objects may be of foreign origin.
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