CIA Memorandum on Flying Saucers (26 March 1956)
This CIA memorandum, dated 26 March 1956, was authored by Robert Amory, Jr., Deputy Director/Intelligence, and addressed to the Assistant Director/Scientific Intelligence under the subject 'Flying Saucers.' Amory recounts that at Arden House his attention was drawn to the 17 March 1956 issue of the French popular magazine MATCH, which carried an article on a challenging 'sighting' of a 'mysterieux objet celestiel' — described as a radar photograph confirmed by a visual sighting by the pilot of a scheduled airline. He asks whether the agency is keeping in touch with the Air Force center on such matters and whether it concerns itself with foreign sightings. Amory also notes he had been informed that in the coming year Mars would reach its closest point to Earth in a long period, and argues that the CIA's Office of Scientific Intelligence (CSI) has a responsibility to monitor the general subject, if only to equip the front office to refute the more spectacular published reports. The document was released via the CIA's online reading room.
Description
A two-page CIA internal memorandum dated 26 March 1956 from Deputy Director/Intelligence Robert Amory, Jr. to the Assistant Director/Scientific Intelligence concerning 'Flying Saucers,' prompted by a UFO article in the French magazine MATCH and questions about Air Force coordination on foreign sightings.
Claims
The CIA's CSI has a responsibility to monitor the subject of flying saucers, at least to enable refutation of spectacular published reports.
85%A French magazine (MATCH), 17 March 1956 issue, reported a UFO sighting consisting of a radar photograph confirmed by a visual sighting by a scheduled airline pilot.
75%The CIA's Office of Scientific Intelligence had a responsibility to monitor UFO reports, in part to refute spectacular published accounts.
70%The 17 March 1956 issue of MATCH reported a UFO sighting consisting of a radar photograph confirmed by a visual sighting by the pilot of a scheduled airline.
70%Mars would reach its closest point to Earth in a long period during the coming year.
60%Mars was expected to reach its closest point to Earth in a long period in the coming year.
60%
Events
Mar 25, 1956
CIA memorandum on Flying Saucers issued
Robert Amory, Jr. writes to the Assistant Director/Scientific Intelligence about UFO sightings and monitoring responsibilities.
Mar 16, 1956
MATCH magazine UFO article
French magazine MATCH publishes an article on a radar-and-visual sighting of a mysterious celestial object confirmed by an airline pilot.
Mar 25, 1956
Authoring of CIA 'Flying Saucers' memorandum
Robert Amory, Jr. writes to the Assistant Director/Scientific Intelligence about UFO sightings and Air Force coordination.
Mar 16, 1956
Publication of MATCH magazine UFO article
The 17 March 1956 issue of the French magazine MATCH carried an article on a UFO sighting involving a radar photograph confirmed by an airline pilot's visual sighting.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Extracted text (OCR)
ER 8-0735 * 26 March 19967 LELDRANDUM FOR? “Assistant Director/Scientific Intelligence .. ~ SUBJECT : Flying Saucers eo ___ 1, At Arden-House-my-attention was called to the 17 March 1956 © Se ad - issue of the-French popular macacine,—MATCH, which had an article - on a particularly chal Jenging "si gntine"” of a INC (mysterieux objet a celestiel) in the fora of. “a redar_paotograch confirmed by a visual. signting by the pilot of a scheduled airline. ~ 2. Are we keeping in touch with the Air Force center on-these——----~ —- things? Does it concern itself with-foreign -"siehtings"™ such as the 99 0595 above? ; ; 3. Iam also inforzed.that-in- the coming-year lars will reach. its closest point to the Farth in along period. Outlandish as it may — seen, I co feel-that CSI has the- responsibility. to keep its finger. on. this general .subject_ii for no other purpose than to arm the front office with the refutation of the more spectacular published reports, Of hr ; (G4 ALORY, JR. Deputy Director/Intelli-ence oe * 26 March 1956 MELDRANDUM FOR: Assistant Director/Scientific Intelligence SUBJECT : Flying Saucers . 1. At Arden-House my attention was called to the 17 March 1956 issue of the French popular magazine, MATCH, which had an article on a particularly challenging "sightings" of a iC (mysterieux objet celestiel) in the form of a radar photograph confirmed by a visual = ot sighting by the pilot- of a-scheduled airline. : 2. Are we keeping-in touch withthe Air Force center on these ——-—--.--. things? Does it concern itself with foreign "sightings" such as-the— .--.. above? ; 3. I am also inforzed_that-in-the.coming-year Hars will reach its closest point to the Earth in a long period.— Outlandish as it may seen, I do feel that CSI has_the responsibility to keep its finger on —- this general subject iz for no other purpose than to arm the front. > office with the refutation of the more spectacular published reports, . 9 ~ -ROBERT ALORY, JR.) _ Depttty Director/Intellifence | _ 39740
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