CIA Memo on UFO Photographs and Proposed Television Program
This two-page CIA memorandum, apparently dated around 10 December 1951, documents an interview between a CIA officer and an unnamed individual who held photographs of alleged flying saucers ('U.F.O.'s'). The individual asked whether the CIA could submit any evaluations made of the photographs, indicated he was attempting to set up a television show to brief the public and encourage viewers to call him and photograph any objects they saw, and asked whether he could mention on the program that an intelligence organization had viewed the photographs and found them of interest. The officer replied in the negative to publicizing intelligence involvement and declined to advise the individual about writing a letter to the 'Director' seeking an opinion and permission to present the material on TV, stating that as a U.S. citizen he would have to make his own decision. The memo notes it is being forwarded for any interest it may have and to prevent repercussions or 'flaps'. The text is heavily corrupted by OCR errors and names are redacted.
Description
An OCR-degraded CIA internal memorandum recounting an interview with an individual who possessed photographs of purported flying saucers and sought CIA evaluation of them, permission to publicize intelligence interest, and to feature the material on a television program. The memo records the officer's negative replies and forwards the account to headquarters to preempt any repercussions or 'flaps'.
Claims
An individual possessed photographs of flying saucers and sought CIA evaluation of them.
70%The individual intended to set up a television program to brief the public on UFOs and solicit sightings and photographs.
70%The individual asked to publicly state that an intelligence organization had viewed the photographs and found them of interest, which the officer refused.
70%An individual submitted photographs of purported flying saucers to a CIA representative and requested the Agency's evaluation of them.
70%The individual was attempting to set up a television program to brief the public and solicit UFO reports and photographs from viewers.
70%The CIA representative declined to permit the individual to state publicly that an intelligence organization had viewed the photographs and found them of interest.
70%The memo was forwarded to prevent repercussions or 'flaps'.
65%The memo was forwarded partly to prevent any 'repercussions or flaps.'
65%
Events
Dec 9, 1951
Interview regarding flying saucer photographs
A CIA officer interviewed an individual who possessed flying saucer photographs and sought evaluation, publicity, and a TV show tie-in.
Dec 10, 2001
Interview regarding UFO photographs
On 10 December an individual presented photographs of alleged flying saucers and requested Agency evaluation and permission to publicize them on television.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
Extracted text (OCR)
= SF Ee a Sea ep ARLES RE HORNETS IME SY sarod if it would be possible for vs to subs mit to his avy evaluations which night-have been mds on these ne photographs and I roplied that it wna very dountful but trat Lo would pass oa the request to headquarters. : if thet be vasa attcspting to set up & TY show to dD that 4f ona veon they evor see ony U.¥.0,'0,to call hia sod 4f poosibla take a photograph of the object pomtat he vould be able to keep the public abreast of the latest developments. - 3- He then asked o af it would be poagible for hia to pen= —— tion on the progras thet an intelligence orgatization had viewed the piotograpbs and thought they were of interest. Hy. ioocdiate reply vas_in the "negative". This yas accepted greciously by ——-—------ me then poked pe if ba could write @ letier to the _ “Director” askirg his opinion 68 to tha evaluation of the pbotcs end to ask bis parsission to prosent this vaterial on TVs Yt his that KX could rot edvige bis about writing or not writing 8 oe : Letter but that hs as a US Citizen, interested in U.P.0.'8 wuld t—t«w™ OO bave to meke his own decision. With this, the interview vag coe — 5, This weoo is deing forwarded for any iterest 1% may have and to pretent avy repercussions oF flapa. nw 1, On 10 Dec S71 retoureN the toarsdhs saucers vhich yere Cotetacd 7m 5 five pm Sse of flying = ae Jasrod if it wad be possible for us to gUD- mit to him acy craluations which might have been mide on these protographs and I replied that it vsa very 4 wtful bot that T _ * would pe2s on the request to adquarters. explained that be vas attespting to set-up a.TY sbow to brief the yudlic that 4£ end vien they cver 669 any Uc¥,0,'6.to call hia avi if poosibla take a photograph of the object cothat be would be able to kecp the public abreast of the latest developsents. 3. He then asked re Af it would be possible for hia to pen-= tion on the program thet an intellicence organization had viewed the ptotogrephs and thought they vera of -intereat. My isoediate reply waa in the “negative. This wes accepted graciously by h. BS tben ooked pe if ba could write a letter to the *otrector™ naking his opinion 68 to the evaluation of. the pbotos and to asx his parsission to prosent this material on TVs I told his that I could rot advise his about writing or not writing a 0 Letter tut that he as a US citizen, interested in U.F.0,'a vould bays to make his own decision. With this, the jZataxrviev Waa COs pleted. 5. This weno is being forvanied for any itsrest it may have — and to prevent avy reporcussalons oF flaps. a : senesy rea crrcee Ne edi eR eu Cealriy oN DAE 2K OY LE Boe
Related files
Connected through the network
SF-2026-000912