DOW-UAP-D095, Joint U.S.-Canadian Aviation Projects and UFO Sighting Reports, 1954-1955
This declassified file, released by the U.S. Department of War in its fourth UAP records batch, gathers reports, memoranda, and correspondence on then-developmental vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. According to the releasing agency's page context, it includes assessments of the experimental potential of the near-circular Avro Project Y-2, a joint U.S.-Canadian VTOL aircraft resembling contemporary popular descriptions of UFOs. A 1954 memorandum opines that circular-planform VTOL aircraft may be mistaken for UFOs and recommends re-examining UFO reports near Soviet military operations for possible attribution to advanced foreign VTOL designs. The file also documents a July 1955 UFO incident involving a USAF KC-97 near Newfoundland, Canada, for which a USAF committee found the reported characteristics inconsistent with known Soviet, American, or Canadian systems and was 'unable to explain the simultaneous ground radar returns and aircrew visual sightings.' Additional correspondence covers radar collection of meteor data to improve the AN/FPS-17 radar and support for the joint U.S.-Canadian CIRVIS reporting program. The imaged page is a Secret letter of 17 January 1955 from the Air Technical Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, to Major General John A. Samford, describing a one-year study contract dated 29 December 1954 issued to A. V. Roe (Canada) and a joint WADC/ATIC technical report due 15 February 1955.
Description
A U.S. Department of War (UAP release, batch 4) file compiling reports, memoranda, and correspondence on developmental VTOL aircraft — notably the near-circular Avro Project Y-2 — and on 1950s UFO sighting reports. The imaged page is a Secret letter dated 17 January 1955 from the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson AFB to Major General John A. Samford, USAF Director of Intelligence, describing a joint WADC/ATIC technical study of the A. V. Roe (Canada) Project Y-2.
Claims
The Avro Project Y-2 was a joint U.S.-Canadian near-circular VTOL aircraft similar in appearance to contemporary popular descriptions of UFOs.
90%A 1954 memorandum opined that circular-planform VTOL aircraft may be mistaken for UFOs by observers unfamiliar with such technologies.
85%A one-year study contract on Project Y-2 was issued to A. V. Roe (Canada) on 29 December 1954.
90%A one-year study contract dated 29 December 1954 was issued to A. V. Roe (Canada) for Project Y-2.
90%A USAF committee was unable to explain simultaneous ground radar returns and aircrew visual sightings in the July 1955 KC-97 incident near Newfoundland.
70%USAF Air Research and Development Command recommended using radar-collected meteor data to improve AN/FPS-17 radar performance.
70%A USAF committee was unable to explain the simultaneous ground radar returns and aircrew visual sightings in the July 1955 Newfoundland KC-97 incident.
60%USAF Air Research and Development Command recommended using incidental radar collection of meteor data to improve the AN/FPS-17 radar system.
60%The memorandum recommended re-examining UFO reports near Soviet military operations to assess whether they may be attributable to unknown advanced foreign VTOL aircraft.
55%
Events
Feb 14, 1955
Planned WADC/ATIC Technical Report
Joint technical report intended to assemble all available information on Project Y-2 and present drawable conclusions.
Jun 30, 1955
KC-97 UFO incident near Newfoundland
USAF KC-97 encountered a UFO near Newfoundland, Canada; a committee found characteristics inconsistent with known systems and could not explain simultaneous radar returns and visual sightings.
Jan 16, 1955
ATIC letter to General Samford on Project Y-2
Secret letter from ATIC Commander describing joint WADC/ATIC study of A. V. Roe (Canada) Project Y-2.
Dec 28, 1954
Study contract issued to A. V. Roe (Canada)
One-year study contract on Project Y-2 issued by WADC's Bombardment Aircraft Division.
Dec 28, 1954
A. V. Roe (Canada) Project Y-2 study contract issued
WADC Bombardment Aircraft Division issued a one-year study contract to A. V. Roe (Canada) to determine the practicability of the proposed VTOL vehicle.
Jan 16, 1955
ATIC letter to Major General Samford
Secret letter from the ATIC Commander at Wright-Patterson AFB reporting on Project Y-2 and a joint WADC/ATIC technical report effort.
Dates mentioned
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Craft
Extracted text (OCR)
re § AIR TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER RS % WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE a J a ead N17 January1955 Major General John A. Samford Director of Intelligence Headquarters, USAF Washington 25, D. G. Dear General Samford: ® I thought you might be interested in what is being done in the mat- ter of the A. V. Roe (Canada) Project ¥-2 (Secret) which we dis- cussed recently and the subject of which was recently given "pop- ular" treatment in the AID. ‘We have been thoroughly briefed by the Bombardment Aircraft Divi- sion, Director of Weapons Systems Operations, WADG, on their present knowledge, This Division of WADC has issued a one-year study contract, dated 29 December 1954, to A. V. Roe, Ganada, on subject project. This study will attempt to develop sufficient ana- lytical, design and test data to determine the practicability of utiliz- ing the well known design principles which are employed, in the pro- posed vehicle. @ ‘As you know, we feel very strongly that some truly factual data must be obtained to correct (or substantiate) the picture so far pre~ sented on this device by the Press and by the Air Intelligence Di- gest, a picture which doubtless provides comfort and support to popular writers on the subject. Accordingly, we have initiated a joint WADC/ATIC project which will result in a Technical Report to be ready 15 February 1955. This report will assemble all available information on the subject and will present such conclusions as can safely be drawn, this far ahead of the A. Y. Roe study. It will be forwarded to you, without delay, upon completion. hacllale. Brigadier General, USAF Commander Sincerely,
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