Documents / Official release

U.S. Air Force Flying Discs File, 1952

U.S. Department of War · 1952 · 253 pages · text from the file's own layer

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.

Open the PDF at page 86 Original source ↗
DOW-UAP-PR159 · video · 1952-07-02 Historical Film of Reported UFOs, Utah, 1952 This archival footage is a digitization of a 16mm print of Kodachrome color motion-picture film shot on a handheld Bell & Howell Auto Master camera near Tremonton, Utah, on July 2, 1952. U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer Delbert C. Newhouse reported observing and filming a group of bright airborne objects and shortly thereafter submitted the footage to the U.S. Air Force. The film later became one of the visual cases reviewed by Project Blue Book, the 1952–1969 U.S. Air Force program that investigated the nature and origin of unidentified flying objects (UFOs). The film’s limited detail and lack of fixed reference points prevented a conclusive resolution. From the 55-second mark onward, the film transitions to unrelated footage appearing to show a demonstration of sewing equipment. The presence of unrelated sewing-equipment footage suggests that the surviving footage may be a composite or reused print, though the available record does not establish how or when the materials came to be combined. As documented in records submitted with the film, contained in this collection under the title DOW-UAP-D102, the footage originally was paired with mountain scenery from Idaho, which is not preserved in this digitization. Download (76.1 MB)

“Adams”57 pages

  • p. 4 …1" ....~11@00@) 0 ~ C"lWILLIAM A. ADAMS Colonel, US.\F' 0 ~ Chiet, Topical Division Deputy…
  • p. 5 …AFOIN-2A2, Col. W. H. Smith, Ext. 71016 AFOIN-2A, Col. W. A. Adams, Ext. 74072
  • p. 9 …lf}✓-l41AU. :,~ t? l~ 1 WILLIAM A. ADAMS , Colonel, USAF Chief, Topical Division ---._c..__"_irectorat• of…
  • p. 10 …71016 Jtt//~ AFOIN-2A, Col Adams, Ext. 74072 ~
  • p. 13 …71016tf4A1/,# AFOIN-2A, Col Adams, Ext. 71564 4,t AFOIN-2, Col Morrow, Ext. 7lllO AFOIN…
  • p. 18 …reaul.ts . 2 Incle t/ILLIAM A. ADAMS l . 16 DD Kodachrome movie film ~ Col onel…
  • p. 38 …Lt.r t:r Oliver Aml.1e to Colonel, USAl" Col Adams dtd Chief, Topical. Divim…
  • p. 39 …observations. (w/orig only) WILLI.AK A. ADAMS 1. Ltr fr 78th Air Base Sqdn Col…
  • p. 40 …1st ADAMS l Dl 1 1o , F r tor r E ima.t s I lUgcnco…
  • p. 41 …6 Incls (v/orig oalT) WILLIAM A.. ADAMS l . Ltr tr Mn. Grace Scott, Colonel• USA…
  • p. 42 …2 Inels . (W/Orig. Only) \fILLUM A. ADAMS l. l ·hotograph Colonel, USAJ' 2. Negative Ohief…
  • p. 45 …cs 0 cs 0 WILLUN :A. .ADAMS 0 ~Colonel, USAJ' Clhie!, fop1oal n1rt,1on I>eput7…
  • p. 46 …Sincerely, /2~ 095--- .,<6--d' It.LUM A.. :ADAMS Colonel, OSAI Chief, Topical ~iTision Deputy Director…
  • p. 51 …a ( w/ ori,:. on.lT) UILLUM A. ADAMS 1 . 8 Jun 52, ...w: Lir. ~ex Colonel…
  • p. 52 …c r ly, W!LLL~M Pi ADAMS Co on , USliF Chief, T pical Divl ion…
  • p. 53 …J.952 • .-<"~!ilil?, ~ - --¼~ ~ ..,.._ • y WILLIAM A. ADAMS lO8 Incl.a. (w/or1ginal only) Colonel, USAF…
  • p. 55 …S111oerel7 • )( tJ 46' d% ~ /'--nv,' WILLIAM .A. ADAMS Col onel , USA1 Chief, Topical Divition Deputy Director…
  • p. 62 …FY; j .., 'l 1( WII,LU? A. ADAMS Itpt tr 081 Colonel• mw? dtd 6 Oct…
  • p. 63 …rl. Incl: . ) w/orig. only \."ILLIAM A. ADAMS Photo c7 Spot Intel l'Jt Colonel, USAF…
  • p. 65 AFOIN-2A/ Col Adams/ fh/74072 wrtn 23 Oct 52 .. Mr . Leon l'!avidaon 8~ South…
  • p. 77 …consideration. Sincerel7, ~n®oorn,oo WILLUM A. ADAMS Colonel, USU Chief', Topical D1v1don Deput7 Director for…
  • p. 82 …NO M/R AFOIN-2A2 ~"ILLUH A. ADAMS Colonel. USAF Chief. Topicnl Division »eJ;Ut7 Director…
  • p. 83 …4. i C, f,l ~~ ~ LLUM A. ADAMS Colonel. USA.Jl' Chi et. ~op1co.l D1Tie1on…
  • p. 84 …ori g. on:iy) WILLI.Al' A. ADAMS 1 . Ltr fr i.r . !).L. Pef'lne…
  • p. 86 …We vill then return them ADAMS as soon as possible tliereatter. Your cooperation and consi deration…
  • p. 87 …2A1;.. 6 l,nc.ls WILLIAM A. ADAMS 1. G«ieral, G F Colonel, USAF 2…
  • p. 90 …s: (W/orig. onl y ) 7ILLIAU A. ADAMS l . Lt r fr llr. Varela dtd 28…
  • p. 96 …Incle (w/orig only) WILLI.AM A. ADAMS l. Pkg ot 3 photoa Col.onel, tJSAJ…
  • p. 99 …s Incl (w/orig only) WILLIAM A. ADAMS Photostat ey ot ltr to DI Colonel, usa…
  • p. 105 …careful consideraUon. us. Sincerely. V WILLIAM A. ADAMS Colonel, USAF Chief, Topical Division Daputy Director for…
  • p. 109 …to assist us. Sincerely, j\WILLIAM A. ADAMS Colonel, USAF Chief, Topical Division Deputy Director for…
  • p. 111 …U~ ..., " ....... , \l,"!l,IJ,,,I,;::~ ._f) ...LLIAM .: . ADAMS Colo el: US F Chief, To 1 Dlvl…
  • p. 125 …cgtst us are appreciated. Sincerely, ~LLIAM A. ADAMS Colonel, USAF Chief, Topical Division Deputy Director f…
  • p. 126 …w/orig only) l{li..LIAM A. ADAMS Colonel • USA? \ l . Map 3727-1 Sl1. 1…
  • p. 127 …J'eia of subject eamplea. WILLIAM .l.. ADAMS Colonel, USU Chief. ~opical D1•1eion ,. Deput7 Director…
  • p. 129 …Carr✓ ><3d ~ , 7 R-T113 4 lnela (w/orig only) YILLWf A. .ADAMS l. cc of…
  • p. 135 …ts to asslSl us. Sincerely, WILLIAM A. ADAM Colonel, USAF Chief, Topical Division Deputy Director for…
  • p. 138 …o a ssist us. Sincerely., ~WILLIAJ.r \ . ADAMS Colonel, US\F Chier, Topical Division Deputy Director…
  • p. 148 …to assist. COORDINATION: WILL'f.AM A. ADAMS Colonel, L"S.AF Chief, Topical Division Deputy…
  • p. 156 …75990~~ AFOIN-2A, Col Adams, Ext. 74072NV~ I',./, AFOIB- 2, Col Morrov, Ext. 7lllO ~ AFOIN, Maj…
  • p. 170 …4 Incle ( v/orig only) WILL~ A. ADAMS 1 . lat Ind tr OCSigO dtd Oolonel• USAJ…
  • p. 172 …facte to our attention. Sincerely, WILLIAM A. ADAMS Colonel, USA.I' Chief,.:RPjefH. DivieionCOORDINATION: AFOI.N…
  • p. 173 …your efforts on our behalf. WILLIAM A. ADAMS Colonel . USAJ' Oh1ef. Topical Divieion Deputy Director for…
  • p. 174 …our careful eonaidera- tion. Sinoerel7, WILLUM A . ADAMS Oolonel• USAJ' Oh1et. Topical D1Tieion Deput7 Director tor…
  • p. 178 …HILL.IAM .A. .ADAMS L Ltr fr Mr. G. Francis Co1oncl., USAF NaUhe1mer dtd 29 Jul…
  • p. 187 …is therefore not mandatory. L3llILLIA!I A. ADAMS 3 . Incle Colonel, USAJ' l. Ltr fr Mr…
  • p. 188 …a~owlodging receipt . ~{' 2 Incls. WILLIAM A. ADAMS 1. Ltr h Pinecastle .J!'l3 Colonel., USAF…
  • p. 191 …Incl WILLI.AN A. .ADAMS Rpt o~ U/I :tlyobs, Colonel., USAF v/ 2 Incls - &to…
  • p. 192 …1~~ dU~ T, -s·n:LLIAM A. ADAMS Colonel, U3AF Chiet, Topical Division De~uty Director…
  • p. 193 …AFOIN- 2A, Col Adams, Ext. 74072~~ AFOIN- 2, Col Morrow, Ext. 71110
  • p. 202 …75990/'/W~ AFOIN - 2A, Col Adams, Ext. 74072 AFOIN- 2, Col Morrow, Ext. 71110~ ~ SEC:.JRITY…
  • p. 209 …1. ~ I ~ ~ J ---J ~ t;WILLIAM A. ADAMS Colonel., USAJ' Chid'., Topica1 D1T1sion Deput.y- Director…
  • p. 213 …1 Incl (W/Orig only) WILLIAM A. ADAMS Ltr dtd 2 Aug 52 Colonel, USAJ' (Anonymoua…
  • p. 224 …1/J~ "· ~ COU l'N WILLIAM A. ADAMS Colollel, USA!' Cbier, Topical Diviaio• Deputy Director for…
  • p. 227 …Ext 75990 1/,,J Col W. A. Adams, AF0ll- 2A, Ext 71564 ~ ,!!QJ.. J J.. Morr01et…
  • p. 230 …ma:tc.r1ala. S Incl.• WILLIAM A. ADAMS l. SUmmary or ci.rcumstecea Colonel., lJSAJ' 2…
  • p. 248 …2A2, Ext. 75990 -'(p Col W. A. Adams, AFOIN-2A, Ex:t. 71564 Col J. J…
AFOIN-2A2
Maj Fournet/cmb/?1379
wrtn 15 oct 52
VIA AIR MAIL
Mr. Nichol as )(arian.a
3235 fifth Avenue South
Great l'alls, Montana
Dear Mr. J,lariana:
You are probably awa:-e of the tact that the Air force
1s at111 continuing the investigation and anal7sia of "flying
sauceran. We are presentl7 attempti ns to make a comparative
analyala of recent sightings ap1ne\ i hose made in previous
years. In this oonneotion, \he report of a sighti ng made by
7ou on 15 August 1950 has aroused our interest. Un:fortunatel7,
however, our duplicate copy of the movie• which you took of
these objects has been inadvertentl y miaplaced.
~heretore, we would be moat grateful it 7ou would a
permit us to borrow 70U1" original movies tor atud.7 and <li.P 0
lication. In so doing you would be rendering ua a great ~
service. H
~1-3
We will have an officer from Great Yalle Air force H
ij:Base contact 7ou about 2Z October and. ahould 7ou consi der
our request favorably. he will obtain the movie• and give
7ou a receip' tor them. We vill then return them
ADAMS
as soon
as possible tliereatter.
Your cooperation and consi deration in thia
earnestly aol1oitedl
CC: ATIC
Sincerel7,.
9l/dJiia.¼(;-41/4e (rA~lr/
,, ~ll@!J!Jm@
WILLI.A?' A.
Colonel . t1SA1'
Chief. Topical Division
Deputy Director for Estimates
Directorate of Intelligence. DCS/ 0
AFOIN-2ACOORDINATION: AFOIN-2A2

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Official release, from the pursue collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 253 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.