Flying Disc Reports and Project SIGN Correspondence
According to the U.S. Department of War release, this file contains memorandums, correspondence, and forms related to the reporting of information on flying discs and investigations into sightings. The document set comprises internal Air Force routing and record sheets, disposition forms, and correspondence reference forms from early 1948 tied to Project SIGN, the Air Materiel Command program at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base charged with collecting, collating, evaluating, and distributing information on unexplained aerial sightings. It reproduces USAF policy (per AMC Letter 45-5, 25 March 1948, and the 6 February 1948 reporting letter) instructing all installations to report sightings directly to AMC, and includes debate over Air Materiel Command's proposal to keep fighter aircraft on continuous alert to intercept discs — rejected by the Director of Plans and Operations as infeasible. Specific field reports are included: a 5–8 March 1948 observation of objects falling near Bakersfield, California (reported via Fourth Air Force, Hamilton Field); an 8 May 1948 nighttime sighting of a round phosphorescent object near Hobson, Ohio, forwarded from the FBI Cleveland office through Eleventh Air Force at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and references to interrogation of the Horten brothers regarding German 'flying wing' aircraft designs. Named officers include Lt. Col. Garrett, Maj. Gen. C.P. Cabell, Maj. Gen. S.E. Anderson, Maj. Gen. George C. McDonald, and Col. Robert Taylor 3rd.
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Description
A declassified U.S. Air Force compilation of 1948 memorandums, correspondence, disposition forms, and correspondence reference forms concerning the reporting and investigation of "flying discs," including field sighting reports and internal policy on collecting atmospheric-phenomena intelligence under Project SIGN.
Claims
It is Air Force policy not to ignore reports of sightings and phenomena in the atmosphere, but to collect, collate, evaluate, and act on such information as part of its mission.
100%Air Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson AFB was designated the Air Force agency to collect and distribute flying disc information of concern to national security.
100%Two objects resembling falling aircraft with smoke and debris were observed near Bakersfield, California on 5 and 8 March 1948; search parties failed to locate them.
80%A proposal to maintain fighter aircraft on continuous alert with gun cameras to intercept and photograph flying discs was considered infeasible due to cost and lack of radar coverage.
85%Contact was made with the Horten brothers and European Command was advised to use Collection Memorandum No. 7 as the basis for interrogation regarding German flying wing designs.
72%USAF intelligence pursued interrogation of the German Horten brothers regarding flying wing aircraft designs.
70%A round phosphorescent object leaving a phosphorescent trail was sighted near Hobson, Ohio on the night of 8 May 1948 at an estimated altitude of 6 to 8 miles.
70%A round, phosphorescent object was sighted at night over Hobson, Ohio on 8 May 1948, estimated at 6–8 miles altitude with a phosphorescent trail.
60%
Events
Feb 26, 1948
USAF flying disc reporting policy issued
Disposition Form establishing Air Materiel Command as collection agency and instructing all installations to report sightings.
Mar 4, 1948
Bakersfield, California falling-object observations
Mr. Les Buchner observed two objects falling toward Buena Vista Lake between 1610 and 1655 hours; a second observation near Bakersfield occurred 8 March 1948.
May 7, 1948
Hobson, Ohio sighting
Night sighting of a round, phosphorescent object at roughly 6–8 miles altitude, reported via FBI Special Agent D. K. Brown, Cleveland.
Mar 2, 1948
Fighter-alert interception proposal rejected
Directorate of Plans and Operations deemed continuous fighter-alert interception of phenomena infeasible.
Mar 4, 1948
Bakersfield falling-objects observations
Mr. Les Buchner observed two objects falling to earth southwest toward Buena Vista Lake, Bakersfield, California, 5 March 1948; a further observation north of Bakersfield on 8 March 1948.
May 7, 1948
Hobson, Ohio disc sighting
Night of 8 May 1948, witnesses reported a round phosphorescent object about nine inches apparent diameter, heading 90°, at 6–8 miles altitude, near Hobson, Ohio.
Mar 2, 1948
Rejection of continuous fighter-alert proposal
Director of Plans & Operations deemed Air Materiel Command's proposal to keep fighters on continuous alert to intercept discs infeasible.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Programs
Organizations
People
Topics
Extracted text (OCR)
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Authority:
NND 760191
Basic l.tr ta liq. Lleven.tb Air Force, rlnrrisb1.irg,
aubj:
j)OI t l)f 11 Fly-..'"lg Discs•
Dept. . of the rdr F !"ce, Hq. U F,
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BQ.UBAF
5 JU. I 194!l
1 ·ti i-MAIL DRANOB.
OP'FICE SYMBOL
GRADE AND
SURNAME OF
COOROINATJNO
OFFICERS
1612 South Cameron Street
Harr::.sburb, Pe nns~ lvania
WD
...,~l:.F, JT :
Hef.>ol't of J1Flying Jiscs 11
TG:
Chief of ~taff
United States Air Force
1vashington 25, 0 . C.
.
R.':rft~ : Director of Intelligence,
rtequiraments Division
1. In canpliance with paragrc;.ph l a , ,.DC Letter 45- 5, 25 i...arch
1948, the' following information relative to II Flying uiscs" is hereby
subllitted. -The attached report was r e ceived this Headquarters Z1 klay
1948, £rem ;;,pecial ttgent, D. K. b~own, Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Cleve l and, ei-i.io. 'I'his Headquarters has no further information and is
not initiating any investigation in accor dance wit h par agraph 2, AUC
Ltr , 45-5 , .t1.n y additional information received by this headquarters
will be :immediately forHarded to your Headquart ers . Copies of report
hav.e been forwarded to t!q . n ir .... at eriel Corun.and and hq . n.ir Def~nse
Command as directed in above mentioned directive .
a.
Location and t:iine of s i ghting - Hobson , ~hio; night of
8 Lay 48 .
b.
11eath er .at the time - unknown by this Hq .
c.
l~ames , occupations , and addresses of v,itnesses - ilddresses
oen uu;)e, New :lork ventral "yste1.. Ca r l.nspector
unknown.
~arl rt.oush
u
u
II
n
"
oob .,hite , Yard Clerk, u . Y. 1;.
C • .tC Hite, 1,..atrolman, r•. ~ . <., .
1:.
'
d.
t-'hotogra.iJhS of objects , if available - unJmo.-n t bis Hq ,
e.
&ketches of obj ia cts configuration - unfcnown this hq , ~
f.
0bjects sighted :
(1) Number - not known tbis l•eadquarters
(i) ~hape - round
(3) ...ize - appeared t o be nine inches in d:iarneter from
ground level.
r
.
LAFiJ
~ubj : Heport of "Flying Discs"
(4) Col or - phosphorescent
(5)
~peed & Great amount of speed
(6)
heading - 90°
(7) Lanueverability - not knovm
(8) iltitude - 6 to 8 miles
(9J
•
....ound - unknown to this liq .
(10) J.!,)(}1aust trail or not - rhosphorescent tTail in the sh-y
FOJ Th..,, Cu..,_,rn~1)1N(r G...11.,.t.rthl. :
'
/s/ h . .u. ...ve
Lt Col., U~
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4 Incls .
Fd itr ., Cleveland, lhio, 25 ~ 48
.~ .Y. Central .:,'ystem l.tr. , Colunbus, t..,hio
15 Lay 48
3 . 1. Y. Central t,ystem Lt,r ., Hobson, Chio
4 , i.~ .Y. Central ~ystE:I~ Ltr ., 21 J..,ay 48
File 22 . 00
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Lt Col Earle/mcb/6548"-\
/t/ 4 June 48
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AFOIR
Dopt. of tho Air Force, Hq. USAF, Waoh1niton 2ij, D. C.
,.,---. .. JlJN
Cc:rmna.11<ilnt:; General, Air l!ateriel Command, ..rlght
Forco Baso , Dayton, Ohio
T-i Report ~German Flyiue ing• Designed by Horten Drother1" has
been retained by this offioe.
BY C<llaWfD OF THE CHI~ OF STAFF:
OF FICE SYMBOL
I.
2.
3.
J
AIR MATERIEL C0...1.AJW
lAll,,;2"8
co~.::1nW.nc Oonortl
~ Mr Forcoo
w~-.ton ~, D. C,.
a.rel
l. I n ~ With
tlon, tb10 to, to Colonol H.
boZ'C'l11th 1 n cop:, ot dr
douf.Oloiod LM. Bee
or p
tcd t t
rocord
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wt.tncotJ1n3
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7
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bi
i'b1o dr&'fr1ns 10ul.d bo
tmncd to th!.a o!l.'i~ wti= it
purpoc uo \hat it con be t ~ over to th P
t
otfico Rq.
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2.
tnrV< d 1
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thorn ,,
by uour- offico
rotnln
AFCLt-G~/Lt <,;ol Carrett/lvrJ/6282
12 .i..a;; 48
AF HQ• H
a O..c 1047
AFOIH- C...-5
3 N.AY194
SUBJ.8C'l:
C<J1DmencUng Generit • .Air Uatoriel Com;::and, ,r1{!ht
~6tterDon Air Force, Dayton, Chi o
'l'TU: l!C:C
Forr.arded tor your intomz-tion.
~
Ot-ORGF D. GARRETT,' JR.
•
- i , • Colonel\ usAt
L~ ut
• t O 1 1ectlon Branc'l\
Actirt' \.. Jt '
~enients Divisi~ll
Ail· 11 ◄ b.Ll u ,cl,!
Direc .-,rate ~ f 11•"'- -- c.>..,.. ce
-
ID ! 10. ,.,;6932
(4 copies)
-U8AP
cJCt2_J. 3MAY.1948
OAG-MAIL BRA~CS
P101459
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-- - - - ~ - ~-,------:-=---~ ==-.-.--- - --.-;----=---~--;:-------,
2.
3.
4.
s.
F I CE SYMBOL
GRADE AND
SURNAME OF
COORD INATI NG
OF FICERS
Lcl Ta
l&--20~
0, • • IOVIRNMiHT PRINl lllQ omc,
r
AFC AO- 10
(l~e.• , 13 0 Ct 47)
DATE:
INDEX: 000 .75 Clippings
TO:
FROM:
SUMMARY=
28 Apr /4}3
CG, Air I!iateriel Command, Wright- Patterson AFB , Dayton, Ohio
Air Intelligence Requirements Division; Directorate of Intelligence
Clippings Service for Project 11SIGN11
ltr
FILED= 380 Project
INDEXER= c
REMARKS:
HEADQUARTERS
UNITED
STATES
AIR
FORCE
CORRESPONDENCE REFERENCE FORM
8-3867, AF
,.,. '
~.
&FHQ•'1.4
. .
J
'
.\FOIR- CO/Lt . Col . Garrett/jh/4544
8 ~eC,\?'~
26 Apr 48
Easic ltr, subj :
Peoort of Information on 11 Flying Disc" dated 12 Apr 48
1st Ind
HF.M)0lJAR~S, T!!~ !-.IR Ul'HVF.RSITY , lfax•iell Air Force Base, Alabama
TO:
Chief ofStaff, USAF, Washington 25, D. C., Attn:
Dir of Intelligence l-4 Ap
Forv1ar ded in accordance with par agr aph 4 of letter cited in basic
communication .
•
/s/ F. :C . LANKSTON
1 Incl:
n/c (1 cy w/d)
AFOIR-C0-5
H4JOR, AGD
ASS 1 T. ADJ . GEN.
2nd Ind.
Department or tho Air Force., Hq. USJ\F, a~initon 25, D. C.
TO: Co.m.anding Genoral, ili l!ateriel Corn..ar.d, ,right-P4tteraon Air Force
Base, Da;,,ton, Chio
/
ATTH:
l!CI
l Incl
n/c
Reference:
Ltr frm Hq Tyndall AFB, dated 12 Apr 48, subject as above.
1st Ind frm Hq Uaxwell Air FB, to C/S, USAF, dated 14 Apr 48.
P10093 8
3.
OFFICE SYMBOL
GRADE AND
SURNAME OF
COORDINATING
OFFICERS
Lt. Col.
4.
5.
COPY
h
HEAD"UAPTERS
500th AIR uNIVERSm 1'JING
TYIIDILL AIR fQ'PCE BASE
PANfJ'11. CITY, FLORIDA
(H- 4) ~J/al/R
12 April 1948
•
SUBJECT :
Report of Information on "Flying Disc"
THRU
Commanding Ger.eral
Air University
~•ell Air Force Base
Montgomer y , Alabama
ATTN: AC of S, A- 2
TO
Coavnanding General
United States Air Force
'Vashington 25, D. C.
ATTN: Director of i ntelligence
subj:
The attached information is fon,arded in compli,mce with USAF Letter,
"Reporting of Information on "flying Discs ", dtd 6 February 1948.
FOP THE CO!iltA!-'DI NG GENERAL :
1 Incl MOlC and Exhibit I. (in dup)
Distribution:
1 cy ea:
c/s USAF
/S/ J . B. PRICE
Major, USAF
Adjutant
CG, AMC
CG, AU
CONFIDENTIAL
AFOIR-00/Lt . Col. Garrett/jh/4544
2 Apr 48
\
AFOIR-00-5
DUBJECT:
TO
:
Flying Dines
Com.T.andin! Goneral
Air liateriel Command
r.rigbt-Patterson Air Force Baao
Dayton, Ohio
ATTN:
l!CI
Forwarded for your information.
7 :t!O OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF•
l Incl
Ltr frm CSOID, 25 Var
(dup)
ROBERT TAYLOR 3rd
Colonel, U.9AF
Chief, Collection Branch
Air Intelligence ~e,1uir~.ent:> Divieion
Directorate or Intelligenco
l)x;
If
Reference: DF frm Hq USAF, Comment No. 1 to CSGIO dtd 27 Feb 48.
DF frm CSGID, Co11DD.e nt No. 2, to Hq USAF, dtd 25 Mar 48.
OFFICE SYMBOL
GRADE ANO
SURNAME OF
COORDINATING
OFFICERS
..
1.
AF0IR-C0
2.
3.
s.
4.
Col. Tay
Lt. Col.
~
u. 1. GOVtlNMUIT "'•Tue._. r,,ce:
Dept. of the Ai ~ ·Force
&Booll!>1F.lm«
J
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION ( l f onv)
DISPOSITION FORM
SUBJECT
FILE No.
Reporting of Inf'onnation on "Fl ying Discs. 11
FROM
- AFOIR
DATE
2 7 FEB 194A COMMENT No. 1
Plans & Collection
Lt .Col. Garre~/dk/4544
Branch
Lt.Col• .Smith
AFOIR-C0-5
TO
1. It is Air Force policy not to ignore reports of s ightings and phenomena in
the atmosphere, but to r ecognize t hat part of its mission is to collect, collate,
evaluate, and act on information of- this nature~
2. In Implementing this policy the Air Materiel Comnand has been designated
A the Air Force agency to collect, collate, evaluate and distribute to interested
1"vernment agencies and contractors all information concerning sightings and phenomena in the atmosphere vhich can be construed to be of concern to the national security
3. All Air Force installations within anc_l outs~d7 Zone of Interior and Alaska
have been instructed to report all s ightings, or information concerning sightings
which comes to their attention, direct t o the Conmandirig Genercµ, Air Materiel Command, ~right-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, Attn: l,'l;I .
4. Air Materiel Conmand has been authorized direct contact with all Air Force
installations whenever required to develop ·additional information on the flying discs.
5. It is requested that all Department of the Army installations also be instructed to report such occurrences directly to Air Materiel Comnand and that they be informed that Air Y.ateriel Conmand is authorized to contact them direct when necessary
in connection with such occm:-rences.
6. If possible, reports to Air Materiel C01T11na.'1d should inclnde the following
information:
a . Location arrl time of sighting
b.
c.
d.
e.
g.
~leather at the time
Names, occupations, and addresses of witnesses
Photographs of objects, if available
Object sighted:
(1) Numbe r
(4) Color
(7) :Maneuverability (10) Exhaust trail
or not
(2) Shape
(5) Speed
(8) Altitude
(3) Size
( 6) Heading (9) Sound
General remarl<E
FOR Tifr: CHIBF OF STAFF:
C. P. CAB( / .l ? < - 1 ~,c.c..~<:..,.,~-
Major General, U.S.A.F.
Chief, Air Intel. Req. Div.
Directorate of Intelligence
rBISDI
000 . 0
l
/
&"rSflUom!l 4
AF0lli~0-5
Lt.Col. Garrett/dk/4544
25 Feb 48
~
wo:n-eo-s
portine ot Info~tion on " 1 l y i n ~
Cvtll.J
2
• U~ - AFOIR
Attn: t>larus & Collcctim
fEB l ~
Lt .
Branch
Lt. Col. !"lith
• ":i '!Jf,t/dk/45U,
l . It io Air Force policy not to ignore report.a of sic;htinga and h•ncmenn in
thtl tmo::s;,h'Jrc, but to recognize thnt pb.rt of itc .Dlission ic to coll.,~ t, collo.to,
evnl.U'.lte, tnd act on in.t'oimo.tion of thi::. naturo.
2 . In lcpl ntin.3 this policy tho Mr toricl C ~ hao bson doolurotcd
,a tho iir Forco or:cncy to collect., coll.ate, ovnl.u:i.to, and dlotributo to intcrcotcd
~..rrunent. ~cncioo and cont.roctors a.11 lntonnaticn conocrninz oi3htiI1,3c c.nd pllonoi:.~ in tho nt.rw:sphcro raich can bo ccnotruod to be of concern to tho Mtionnl occurity.
'
) . /ill Air Forco .tnntall.ntion:; ul.thi.n and outcido Zone of Interior c.nd Alaokn
11:lvo boon 1~tructc4 to raport all oigbt~a., or ini'ol"If;.tion ccncvmi.ri~ ~i•ttincs
which comes to thoir attention, direct to the Co..unndinJ Ocnor::U., 1r U&.t riol Co:;:C!llld, ,ri~t- Pottori;on Air Forco Baoo, Do.yton, Chlo, Attn: tel.
ir toriol J~nri h o been authoru:o:1 direct cont11ct itl, oJ.l ~r Force
4.
1.mtc.l.latior..3 ,hQnovor required to dovelop o.dditicna.l 1.nl'oroat.ion on tho tlyin~ dioco.
It 18 rvquootcJ thnt ell :J...part!:1. . nt at th fil'rJ.f inatal.la.tic.rw nloo be 1notruct toriol Cou:::uU1d anJ. tMt thoy bo infcmd that l ~ t riol C Wl4 io authcrlzc:1 to ccntnct th
d1r ct 1cn nocoo01'.lr7
1n comcction with auch occurroncco .
5.
ad to report B~h ocaurroncon directly to Air
-
6 . If poociblc, reports to lur
onnntic.n:
a.
t riol Ccc:an:1 ohcul.d lrielu:1 tho foll.end.CJ&
HQ.USAF
~~~8
:aRANOB
Location nrd ticJ
ct c$.g'.htina
,CAthvr a.t the ti.rao
b.
;~a, occu tlcm,, ma &ll:1.ro&ooo ot witn<>:sses
0AGd. fhoto rnphs or obj eta, 1t av il.oble
• Obioct o1ghtod,
{l
u:z:he,r. ( 4) Color (7) c..r. UV\otrabllity {10) G.xlmU t
c.
(2 ..ihnpo
(3) ~lz
( ') /.ltit\d
(6) U a.:11n,J (9) ~cun.1
n rol rcmarb
r.'.'41.
er not
(5) ..,po
~:~~::1:LL
/ ~ _General, u.s.A.F•
. ~.ief . Air In.. l
; ._•~· Div.
D~reotorato or lntoll180UQ~
OFFICE SYMBOL
GRADE AND
SURNAME OF
COORDINATING
OFFICERS
i..wa:rn-ca
Col
.Tp.~t1or H I 2.
4.
Po.nnra
·~
~- _======1=====
:
s.
l== == = =I
------1
'ut .Col Garrcf
..--- - - - ~ - - - -r----- -
StT.BJECT:
COOil) 350. 05
TO:
HQ, USAF, AFOm
FRCM :
D/I , GSUSA
Re:porting of In:f'orma.tion on
''Flying Discs"
DATE :
25 Mar 4-RA ~ <M'1EN'I' NO. 2
Lt . Col. ~th/2931/ jes
l . Action on Comment No. 1 has been complet ed by request f'or inf'orma.tion
at Inclosure l. •
2. I t 1s requested that Air Materiel Command be directed to transmit to
the Director of Intelligence, GSUSA, an infol'Illation co:py of each cannmmi ~at ion
r eceived from or sent t o commands subordinat e to the Department of the Army in
connection wit h s o-cal.l ed 11flying disc" r e:ports .
FOR THE DIRECTOR OF DT.ELLIGENCE :
·-
/
2 Incle :
1. Req for Info (10 c opies )
2 . ICM 7 (2 copies )
- ~•,N
Colonel, GSC Colml, GSC
Chief, Intel ~euce l&.tteu11 lrou~. IO
?
✓
SECRE. '7 f ~ Cfb Cf? 7
AFOIR-CO/Lt. Col. Garrett/jh/4544
~o
l
I
rw
uu.
2 Apr 48
{
dated 11 J[o.r ,.a, subject:
~ ti.
V ;J ~ !- ,J {Ill
I
!.nveotigat®
11
t Flyine ~sc"
~)
Force, Hq. USAF,
est1in:tton 25, D. c.~
Co::J:taodln& General, Air·l!ateriel Cou:mand, lrigbt-Pattorton Air Force '
Baae, OaytO!;, Ohio
...-.
-~
1•APR.-
-- - Jltc,a ~,Cfi
OFFICE SYMBOL
3.
4.
5.
GRADE AND
SURNAME OF
COORDINATlNG
OFFICERS
L8--20~
u. S, COY£1UUltlfT PAINTING OFFICE
COPY
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE
Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2
Intelligence
Hamilton Field, California
4AFDA-3/1208-I
Mar 11, 1948
SUBJECT:
Investigation of Flying Disc.
TO:
Chief of Staff
United States Air Forces
Washing§on, D. c.
ATTN: Directorate of Intelligence
Air Intelligence Requirements Division
1. Incident reported on 9 March 1948, this headquarters, per
telephone call from S[t. A. M. Larsen, Sheriff's office, Bakersfield,
California.
a. Observation by Mr. Les Buchner, Bakersfield, California,
of t~o objects falling to earth from unknown source on 5 March 1948
between 1610 and 1655 hours. Description of objects simihr to falling
aircraft with smoke and debris trailing. Observation made at Bakersfield
with objects sighted southwest toward Buena Vista Lake, California.
.'
b. Observation by Mr. Denio, employee of the Pacific General
Electric Company, Bakersfield, California, of two objects which fell to
earth from unknown source north of Bakersfield, California, 8 March 1948.
One object seemed to be on fire with red and black smoke trailing behind.
2. Informant Larsen stated that searching parties, aircraft and
rescue units have made numerous attempts to locate these reported objects
without success.
3. Investigation of incident has been initiated by this headquarters.
Report will follow.
.,
.•.
/s/ DONALD L. SPRINGER
Information to:
ADC, Mitchel Fld, N.Y.
FBI, San Francisco
G-2, Sixth Army
DIO, San Francisco (12th Nav. Dist)
Lt. Colonel, USAF
AC of S, A-2
....... .• . ..
~
AF0IR~0-5/Lt.Col.GaITett/d.k/
4544
9 J.~ar ch 48
1 7 M/1.R 19·J8
AFOm-00-5
dUBJix:T:
F ~ D1Dc•
,oa
Ooox:mnding Ocnc.rnl
Air 1.!atocl.'11 OCICW.Ul.1
,ri[;ht-Pntteroon Air fOl"CO naBe
.D.'lytaia Oh1o
A?IW;
rel
1. flof'cronco lo mode to Colonel l!cCoy•a WOflilal propooul
that cortnin fight.or circrntt be minta.ino4 en c continuouo olort
otcitWl, nithin the Zono of tho utox-lor., to aid in gnthoring in
fo~tion on Fl,yir>e Diacn .
2.
Thio propceol io C011QidONd untoru:,iblo ror the follcruing
~oocono:
~. ,ho autlDy of ircra:tt oru1 port::annel llO'.u..d. bo too
groat in rolntion to the roz,ulto obtc.inod.
b . Proper intcrcopticn io not pocoiblo 1 ox.capt by nccid.cnt , 'Uithout. coi::ipl.cto rodnr eovorr.no . The Air Pere ic inc pnblo
of providiru ouch covor~o.
c . It to doubtful if f l!;btor ail"Crntt would oo abl.o to
f ollcm up rcporto cmn:.tine, for tho nost port, tro::i civilian oourcoo .
BY CO'.,:jfilJO OF TH • CHIEF OF STAFF c
GEORGE C. McDONALD
Major General, us~F
Directo~ of I ntelligence , Office ot
of s tar ~·. Operations
DepUt Y C"''et
u..
l
'p 99846
s.
4.
OFFICE SYMBOL
GRADE ANO
SURNAME OF
COOROJ NATINO
OFFICERS
l&-202-42-2
u.•. GO'ICINMI NT PIINTIMO o,r1c1
HEADQUARTERS ARMY AIR FORCES
ROUTING
SUBJECT :
AND
TALLY
NO.
RECORD SHEET
FILE
NO.
Flying Discs
Director of Plans and Operations
FROM :
CJ (1 Q
Director of Intelligence
DATE
12 FEB 1948
COMMENT ..No . 1
Lt. Col Garrett1/l.,\ii/-+4,..,5..,.44-.--
1. By letter fran this Headquarters, dated 30 December 1947 \dth subject
as above, the Canmanding General, Air liateriel Command is instructed to 11 set up
a project whose purpose is to collect, collate, evaluate and distribute to
interested government agencies and contractors all information concerning s i ghtings and phenanena in the atmosphere which can be construed to be of concern to
the national security".
2. The Commanding General, hir Materiel Command feels that the responsibility
assigned to him for collecting and developing i nformation and intelligence on the
11 flying dis cs II should be complemented by a ·requirement that all Air Force installations in the United states and Alaska prov i de a minimum of one each f i ghter or
night interceptor type aircraft, with necessary crews, on a continuous alert basis,
These aircraft should be equipped with gun camera, and such annament as deemed
advi .sable, in order to secure photographs necessary to the obtairment of all
possible data on arry reported and sighted unusual phenanena, of the "flying disc"
type, i n the atmosphere.
3. It is envi saged that each Ai r For ce installati on maintaining aircraft on
an al ert basis for this purpose would i nvestigate all unusual fzy i ng objecte
reported fran any source in any area over which it has cognizance. Such a program
would obviously require a detailed Standar d Operating Procedure, in the preparation
of which Air Materiel COOlllla.nd should cooperate.
4.
Your comments and/or concurrence are r~quested.
C. P. CABELL
Brigadie~ General, U. S.A .F.
Chief , Air Int el. Req. Div .
D1reotorat e of Int el ligenao
. ' ...
Ill"'"
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE & C T
-.
TALLY
NO.
ROUTING
AND
RECORD
SHEET
.......
"-
~
FILE
NO.
SUBJECT :
FROM:
Director of Intelligence
DATE
Director of Plans and Operations
Major Cook:csk 7223;
3 MAR 1948
COMMENT No. ~2----..,.,~
1. The proposal of Air !fateriel Command for stationing fighter aircraft at all
bases on a continuous alert status is not considered feasible for the followiQ5 reasons:
a . The outlay of aircraft and personnel would be too great consistent m.th
the results to be obtained.
A
b. Proper interception is not possible, except by acci dent, without complete
. _dar coverage which the Air Force is not capable of providirg.
c. It is doubtful if fighter aircraft would be able to follow up reports
emanatir:g, for the most part, from civilian sources.
2. It is recommended that Air Materiel Command's responsibility for 11 collectirg"
information on unusual phenomena in the at~osphere be confined to the establishment of
direct channels for the receipt of such information.
J. It is f1.irther recommended that in lieu of the proposal of Air Materiel Command,
all other maj or commands be directed to cooperate with Air Materiel Command and t o che.nn 1
information directly to that command .
S • E. ANDERSON
Major General, U. S. A.F.
Director of Plans &m Operations .
PAGE _ _
.tt.FOL~-1.,u/ ,1, . vol Garrett/lwd/1+544
...::..;...:,.:..;:.~-=--:..;.;......:;._.-:--
4 ..... ·en h8
D/L ~ Hq. 'l'onth bir llol'Ci:li Brookn nd., uan· .Antonio. !oxaa,. dtd
7 Jan 48., subj: "F'l.yins Uioka''
lat Ind.
Dept . of the Air Forco., Hq. U!JJJ, \..J.abington 25, , .
•
6 MAR 1948
~cndina Gonera.l, /t.lr &toriol Ca=zund, J1'1o}tt...Po.t.taroon J~ir
'lCJz
Force .Enso, J¥cn., chio
A~h
T..,Dltl
llon.ardod ns u cattor pol"taining t,o your Cattmml«l.
a cct:
-
viLicl.
n/c
0 uv 'Illb a1lcl OF ,..'t.Ai'F:
1
muGLASS ~. EYSEMAI "-It\. Cc>lonel~ u.s.t .F.
&wc~t 1: ;Jp A\t> Intellineuco R e q ~
~ o r a t e '6 lntclllscmo•
IIYt
P 99606
Ilef: B/L frn 10t h 1,.r) dtd 7 Jan 48 , subj : os above
r
l -OFNCESYMB
I
s.
4.
- - - - -- -
--··--
-
.
IIEAD"UA1\T.c,.iS
TENTH :.Ill F(m.Cu
RflCOKS FLLD, .:,, r M1TCJ!iIU, T"~S
D 333 , 5
7 January 1948
SU'BJBCT:
11
Flying visks 11
Chief of Staff
United States Air Force
Tv:
Washington 25, D. C.
A"TN :
Director of ~ntelligence
Ccmnading General
Air Jefense Command
Mitchel Field, Mew York
hTTN: .t\SSt Chief of Staff, A- 2
Ccmrnanding General
r'ourth ,.nny
'Ft . ~am Houston, Texas
ATTN:
Asst Chief of Staff, G-2
Inclosed is &um.mary of lnfonnation prepared by the Tenth hir Force
hesictent ,\gent at houston, Texas covering a report of ".!"lying Disks 11
received by the Fol Office at Houston, TeXas.
Fort 'i'iil Cuk.JJ!DING c.,~..NEi.,~:
..
/s/ ,.AYl..vtrn D. vT.C:PH.,1W
1 Incl
Sum.r.;ery of Inform,
haj or, USAf'
Actg Asst ~'hief of vtatt, ~-2
subj: "Flying Disk"
175th aF~l:J, hllingt'on Fld,
dtd 19 Dec 47
C
0 •
r
y
/
hi•Ul.K-i.iv/Gol Garrett/.Lwd/1+544
2 ?.. ar~h 48
'i'v:
:C
onding Goneml, Air ll.nteriol C ~ . , ,,ri.£ht- Pattcl'" on
1r t?orco &cc, D:iyton, <.hio
NlrO:
T!:i!>lll
Attachod report .fran 1:llit ey Air • •
incidont TCportcxi by' Johru;on ond &1·,rir.. 1.
BY C u~tJD OF TlL:.:. CH.uJP u': ;;;,T
he., Cnunda, clo:1eo tho
1' :
'- ..cl.
ill.A Conado pt, .
dt.d 2 Fob 48
"
P 99514
J
OFFICE SYMBOL
GRADE AND
SURNAME OF
COORDINATING
OFFICERS
....
.......
~
3.
4.
s.
(
AFOIR-CO/Lt . Col . Garrett/Jh/4~44
16 Feb /~8
AFOIP.-C0-5
2 4 FEB 1~48
SUBJECT:
Fly1ng Disco
ro
Co:r.mandi~ Gcmoral
:
Air llator1ol c ~
1right-Patt.erson Air Forco Daco
Dayton, Ohio
Affll:
TSDID
l, Attachod, £or your intor,mtion, ia cow of Colleution Caooranaum
fium_ber 7, which was rornaroed to field coUcotion ngonciet'I r or action on
cbon '-Ubjtict.
2.
'lbia Dirocto1·atc hRo been .idviaod that cont ct hno boon lll.'lde with
tho Horton Brothoro, ond the Assiot.ant Oh.ief or Statf, (.-2, of Europ,nn
Corx;and hao occord1n3lf beon ndviaod by Telocon to uao thio 'ooorandum
o tho ooai for intcrro~t1on.
~.
lllo roaulto of thio intcrrofl{ltion .ill bo rornnrdoa to your
ltoa.dquortor:s nn soon ao rccoived.
\)
BY CO~ED ()? 'MR CHIEF OF STAFF:
•
l Col
Incllle:o 07
~
" ·
dtd 21 Jan 48
p 99241
~
£
OFFICE SYMBOL
GRADE AND
SURNAME OF
COORDINATING
OFFICERS
jur Ooncral. u.a .•. F.
Cbiot. Air Intol. oq. Div.
DlreotorAt~ or Intcllige~ao
--·
.,,,...
__,.,........
1
•
C.P.. CA.Dr.LL
J
t1FOIR-CO
Col. Taylor
~=
G,.~. • ---
1'
Lt. Col. ';ar
~-~
~ L.___ _ _ _ _.!!,_=...::,.:....,::~.;._.::.:;;..:..::.:,:_.:..;:__ _~_
4.
s.
- - - -I - - --
-
_.!.,_ _ _ _ _ _,!___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _..!._,- ,-,,.-,..-.,-.,-,,.-,_,-,
.,- .n-,
.,-,.-1
AFCA0-10 ( Re T 1 3 o c t
4 7)
DAT E:
INOE X:___o:..:o:..:o~...:..9---=P:...;h..;.;;e;.;;.;n;.;.o;;;;.
me;;.;n.;;.;:a,;,...__ _ _ _ __
to:
FROM:
SUMMARY:
13 Februa?"J 1948
Commandi ng -General , Air Materiel Command, Wright- Patterson Air
Force Base , Dayton, Ohio.
)
Executive, Air Intelligence Requirements Div., Direc tora te of
In telligence.
"Project SIGN"
"Flying Discs"
1st I nd
FILED:
380 .Pr oject
INDEXER=
rg
REMARKS:
HEADQUARTERS
UNITED
STATES
AIR
FORCE
CORRESPONDENCE REFERENCE FORM
AFG MR - 60
{ REV. OCT . 1947)
000.9
TO:
FROM:
SUMMARY~
Flying Discs
DATE: 12 February 1948
CommP nding General , Air Materiel Command, Wri ght-Patterson Air Force,
Base, Dayton, Ohio.
Sxecut i ve, Air Intelligence Requir ements Div. Directorate of
• I nt elligence.
Project 11 SIGN11 •
1 st I nd
FILED:
380 Project
INDEXER=
rg
REMARKS:
HEADQUARTERS
UNITED STATES
AIR
FORCE
CORRESPONDENCE REFERENCE FORM
AFOIR- CO/Col. Ga.rl'ett/jh/4541+
4 'Feb 48
UIJI I
Ul.-1
f FQIR...e!r.5
I 1nL.
""
lot Incl•
r
Oopt. of tho hir Force, nq. U~AF, aoh~ton 25, D. o. ~
TO:
Co :.!mdinc Gcuorul_, Air
taee., Dcyton, Chio
J.1'Tfl;
6
- _FEB
t. r1.ol Co.:::.:.oru.1, ,ri{:ht- Fottor o:n Ail· Force
TEDlll
Fcrm:i.rdod as a iatter pcrto.1n1n[t to your- Co:rmuid.
fJY:
co·
t:O OF Ti¾
o. lEF OF 6TdfFi
DOUGLASS W. IISEIWI
Lt. Colonel, u.s.A.IP.
Executive, Air Intelligence Requiracientg l)t9•
Directorate of Iutelligeooe
OFFICE SYMBOL
GRADE AND
SURNAMR OF
COORDINATING
ICERS
BEADQU.n.TEns FOURTH Am ronct
O£fice of '.,he Assist,mt Chi cf of Steff, A-2
IntelU. ( tEmce
Hamilton Field, California
JAN 1 5 1948
Qlde1: of S tef
Um.tad. Statoa
Uasningi;on, D.
'
Atteched report ~or your information.
l Incls
Rp~ of F ~ Diec .
/SJ Donald L. Springer
DONALD L. SF'RDIGER
Lt. Colonel, US.AP
AC of S, A- 2
' .
,..,
I
I
.
AFCA0-10
(Re•
1 3 Oct 47)
INDEX = 000. 9 Phenomena
DATE:
6 February 1948
TO: Cor.una nding Gener al , Air Materiel Command , Wri ght- Patter son Air Force Ba se,
Dayton, Ohio.
FROM: Execu t ive , Ai r I nt elligence Requir ement s Div., Direc t or a te of I ntel ligence .
'
SUMMARY: Fl y i ng Di s cs.
Ltr
FILED: 312. 3
Channels
,
INDEXER= r g
REMARKS:
HEADQUARTERS
UNITED
STATES
AIR
FORCE
CORRESPONDENCE REFERENCE FORM
8-S867,&F
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