CIA Memorandum on National Security Implications of Unidentified Flying Objects (Flying Saucers)
This CIA document, released through the agency's electronic reading room, is an early-1950s internal memorandum examining the national security dimensions of unidentified flying objects. Written to the Director of Central Intelligence (apparently by the Deputy/Assistant Director for Intelligence, Scientific Intelligence), it poses three questions: whether flying saucers have national security implications, whether adequate study is currently directed at the problem, and what further investigation should be instituted. The memo reports that the Directorate of Intelligence found the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) to be the only U.S. government unit then studying the problem, staffed by a small group of a reserve captain, two lieutenants, and two secretaries. ATIC had established a worldwide reporting system, ordered Air Force interceptions of unidentified objects, and concluded an arrangement with the Battelle Memorial Institute to build a machine-indexing system for sighting reports. It notes ATIC received roughly 1,500 official reports, with a large volume during the July 1952 wave. The document raises concerns that Soviet actors might exploit the phenomenon for psychological warfare, that the volume of reports could mask real attacks and overload the air-warning system, and that a policy on public disclosure is needed to minimize panic. It references consulting three scientific consultants and MIT figure Julius A. Stratton, and recommends the matter be brought to the National Security Council. The text is significantly garbled by optical character recognition. This memo is closely associated with the CIA's Office of Scientific Intelligence review of UFOs that led to the January 1953 Robertson Panel.
Description
A heavily OCR-degraded CIA internal memorandum, addressed to the Director of Central Intelligence, assessing whether unidentified flying objects ('flying saucers') carry national security implications. It reviews Air Force investigative efforts, the role of the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) and Battelle Memorial Institute, the July 1952 sighting wave, and recommends further research and possible National Security Council involvement.
Claims
ATIC concluded an arrangement with Battelle Memorial Institute to establish a machine-indexing system for official sighting reports.
80%The flying saucer situation carries national security implications, including potential Soviet psychological-warfare exploitation and risk of overloading the air-warning system with false reports.
80%ATIC was the only U.S. government unit then studying the flying saucer problem, staffed by a small group of a reserve captain, two lieutenants, and two secretaries.
75%Major Air Force bases were ordered to make interceptions of unidentified flying objects.
75%The memo recommends the problem be elevated to the National Security Council as transcending individual departmental responsibility.
75%The Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) was the only unit of government studying the flying saucer problem.
70%A worldwide reporting system was instituted and major air bases were ordered to make interceptions of unidentified flying objects.
70%The problem transcends individual departmental responsibility and merits National Security Council attention.
70%ATIC had received approximately 1,500 official sighting reports.
70%ATIC received approximately 1,500 official UFO reports, with a large volume during summer 1952.
65%Unidentified sightings could overload and degrade the U.S. air-warning system, creating risk of false alerts exploitable by an enemy.
65%Flying saucer sightings could be exploited for psychological warfare purposes, offensively or defensively.
60%
Events
Dec 31, 1951
Surge in UFO reports during summer 1952
ATIC received an enormous volume of letters and reports during the summer of 1952, with approximately 1,500 official reports received.
ATIC-Battelle indexing arrangement
ATIC concluded an arrangement with Battelle Memorial Institute to establish a machine indexing system for official reports of sightings.
Jun 30, 1952
July 1952 UFO sighting wave
An enormous volume of sighting reports, letters, and press coverage during the July 1952 period referenced in the memo.
Dec 31, 1951
CIA review of the flying saucer problem
The Directorate/Office of Scientific Intelligence's investigation into ATIC's work and the national security implications of UFOs.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
Places
Extracted text (OCR)
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{1) ho only unit of -overment currently stetying the protlea .
de tha Tisustorste of Intellicomes, Uy unicg bes charred the Abe To
Feranical Intellicensa Center (ATL) wilh respessitiilty for ine :
Vestiscting tho reports of sigatingse——--— a
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ports or sivatinys tircush officiel enone an ax Kbita comustg Hose
fevagticetion of the reverts obiber Liccif or threush concultetion
With cluer Air rerce officers or vita civiticn tecanicel consultants.
(3) A vowlderite reorting syste hea beon institated arg
mafor }ir ioresrases knve teen orcered-to moka interceptioss of -- -
willentified flying ovjectse--—---
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or officiel resoris of sizntings
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ports or siuatines throuch offleiel exannsis,. mi vbieca cordustg OT te
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with otuer Air Ferces officers or wit: ciedtian te tecaonical coaguliantse --
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pafor Lir iorea Tases hrnva teen: ‘ordered 10 xox im interceotioans of.
wildestified f1yiA7 OF jectee ee
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ond ‘ariened cololy to atterpt & catinfacvory, exe oe
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in ebich thers cre pressures 20T extrovarant erplenctians és Kell cg:
for orersimpbificstions ihe & 2k sean consulted vith a resresentative
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faze ‘ores Ppojeet- atcricnt fields revieved 4 cone os
of intellissacs reports; ciecksa tho Fovlot press and
. an 3 conferred vita threo UtL coasaltents, ell 3 Lezdere _
esoatific fields, a0 wer “enose n a beceaae. ef thei trond |
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2d 49 a coseelyetcse” ewelenstions Eqaver, tho study rakes DO”
to selva tne nore finitacatal 2: eneet of tho prodlen poica is
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these virntines, or to discover reans Uy ehich. theo ceuses :
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(2) Peteraine tha fleles of Purdkccental gotesse wich rust
bo ans get sid in urder bo resch an untorgtecding of tho puoe
nonem fae oused3 ant -
(3) rake recacenietions for tha anltdation af eppraprlata
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of technghe yy B25 nidseled to wT tat sana a coo “ea abi to cone
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giv doles project af Hy, co could ts csarcod ults Cisse ress: ugibilitiess
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be told the suillic re; geaiir hE Who pluonsnandy “in order to nininizo
risi of ponies >
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paocasnen.
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these pusiccaas to tas dalrlnant of Us” ecurlty. datorestae
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