U.S. Air Force Flying Discs File, 1952

This 1952 file of U.S. Air Force intelligence correspondence on flying objects comes from the Directorate of Intelligence at Headquarters USAF. It records the return to the Coast Guard of a negative of objects photographed at Salem Air Station on 16 July 1952, and requests to Naval Intelligence to analyze the Tremonton film by Delbert Newhouse and the Great Falls film by Nicholas Mariana. It also holds Strategic Air Command report transmittals, letters from members of the public, and an Okinawa object said to have fallen into the sea.

From the source:Release of 2026-09-18 Incident: September - December 1952, Various. This file is an archival collection of U.S. Air Force Director of Intelligence records relating to reported “flying disc” incidents during the period from September through December 1952. Drawn from multiple governmental and non-governmental sources, it compiles a wide range of material associated with reported sightings and official handling of those observations, rather than presenting a single analytical conclusion on the nature or origin of “flying discs.” The contents include correspondence, memoranda, reporting forms, case summaries, distribution and routing material, and other administrative or intelligence-related documentation tied to flying-disc reporting and review during that period. Pages 26-36 of the file refer to an incident reported near Tremonton, Utah, in July 1952, in which a U.S. Navy Warrant Officer recorded film of unidentified objects that the Air Force later assessed were likely seabirds. Overall, the file is a broad documentary collection reflecting how such reports were recorded, circulated, and evaluated in late 1952.

AFOIN- 2A2
Maj Fournet/dbv/71016
15 September 1952
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
PROBLEM :
1. To prepare non- military letter to Mrs. Nellie T. Dull of Staunton,
Virginia.
FACTS AND DISCUSSION :
2. On 1 Aug 52 Mr.s. Dull wrote in a letter to USAF Intelligence in
which she theorized, in a completely amateurish manner, that electro
magnetism could account for 11flying saucers' . The re was absolutely no
technical foundation to her ideas, and, actually, she presented the entire
• ' thing in the form of a question, viz. "please let me know if this is the
answer."
3. A routine reply, thanking her for the suggestion, was dispatched
by this office 20 August 1952.
4. In a second letter dated 12 Aug 52, Mrs. Dull expresses concern
that her ideas were "stolen" by Mr. Noel Scott of the Engineer Research
and Development Lab since the latter announced his ionization theory
shortly after Mrs. Dull wrote her first letter.
5. Copies of both letters from Mrs. Dull and our reply are
attached.
6. A reply has been prepared, the contents of which should alleviate
Mrs. Dull's concern.
7. Subject matter is not considered suitable for inclusion in the
Daily Staff Digest.
ACTION RECOMMENDED:
8. Approval, signature and dispatch of attached letter.
COORDINATION:
afoin- 2A2, Col Wolfe, Ext. 75990CJiA/~/.
AFOIN- 2A, Col Adams, Ext. 74072~~
AFOIN- 2, Col Morrow, Ext. 71110