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AIR FORCE FBI UFO BRIEFING
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NOTE |
In 1952, in the aftermath of the infamous UFO sightings over Washington, D.C., the United States Air Force delivered a briefing to the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the current state of knowledge about flying saucers. The resulting briefing, delivered by Commander Randall Boyd of the Current Intelligence Branch to FBI liaison N. W. Philcox, said that there was no satisfactory conclusion to draw and that space aliens, while unlikely, could not be ruled out. Of special interest is the admission that the Air Force had conducted research into historical UFO sightings and had concluded that they had been seen for many centuries, echoing comments Boyd's superior, Maj. Gen. John A. Samford, the head of Air Force intelligence, made at a July 1952 press conference when he said, "We know that reports of this kind go back to Biblical times."
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Office Memorandum
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UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
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TO: MR. A. H. BELMONT
FROM: F. P. KENT SUBJECT: FLYING SAUCERS |
DATE: July 29, 1952
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PURPOSE:
To advise at the present time the Air Force has failed to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion in its research regarding numerous reports of flying saucers and flying discs sighted throughout the United States.
DETAILS:
Mr. N. W. Philcox, the Bureau’s Air Force Liaison Representative, made arrangements through the office of Major General John A. Sanford, Director of Air Intelligence, U.S. Air Force, to receive a briefing from Commander Randall Boyd of the Current Intelligence Branch, Estimates Division, Air Intelligence, regarding the present status of Air Intelligence research into the numerous reports regarding flying saucers and flying discs.
Commander Boyd advised that Air Intelligence has set up at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, the Air Technical Intelligence Center which has been established for the purpose of coordinating, correlating and making research into all reports regarding flying saucers and flying discs. He advised that Air Force research has indicated that the sightings of flying saucers goes back several centuries and that the number of sightings reported varies with the amount of publicity. He advised that immediately if publicity appears in newspapers, the number of sightings reported increases considerably and that citizens immediately call in reporting sightings which occurred several months previously. Commander Boyd stated that these reported sightings of flying saucers are placed into three classifications by Air Intelligence:
(1) Those sightings which are reported by citizens who claim they have seen flying saucers from the ground. These sightings vary in description, color and speeds. Very little credence is given to these sightings inasmuch as in most instances they are believed to be imaginative or come explainable object which actually crossed through the sky.
(2) Sightings reported by commercial or military pilots. These sightings are considered more credible by the Air Force inasmuch as commercial or military pilots are experienced in the air and are not expected to see objects which are entirely imaginative. In each of these instances, the individual who reports the sighting is thoroughly interviewed by a representative of Air Intelligence so that a complete description of the object sighted can be obtained.
(3) Those sightings which are reported by pilots and for which there fa additional corroboration, such as recording by radar or sighting from the ground. Commander Boyd advised that this latter classification constitutes two or three per cent of the total number of sightings, but that they are the most credible reports received and are difficult to explain. Some of these sightings are originally reported from the ground, then are observed by pilots in the air and then are picked up by radar instruments. Be stated that in these instances there is no doubt that these individuals reporting the sightings actually did see something in the sky. However, he explained that these objects could still be natural phenomena and still could be recorded on radar if there was some electrical disturbance in the sky.
He stated that the flying saucers are most frequently observed in areas where there is heavy air traffic, such as Washington, D.C., and New York City. He advised, however, that some reports are received from other parts of the country, covering the entire United States and that sightings have also recently been reported as far distant as Acapulco, Mexico; Korea and French Morocco. He advised that the sightings reported in the last classification have never been satisfactorily explained He pointed out, however, that it is still possible that these objects may be a natural phenomenon or some type of atmospherical disturbance. He advised that it is not entirely impossible that the objects sighted may possibly be ships from another planet such as Mars. He advised that at the present time there is nothing to substantiate this theory but the possibility is not being overlooked. He stated that Air Intelligence is fairly certain that these objects are not ships or missiles from another nation in this world. Commander Boyd advised that intense research is being carried on presently by Air Intelligence, and at the present time when credible reportings of sightings are received, the Air Force is attempting in each instance to send up jet interceptor planes in order to obtain a better view of these objects. However, recent attempts in this regard have indicated that when the pilot in the jet approaches the object it invariably fades from view.
RECOMMENDATION:
None. The foregoing is for your information.
To advise at the present time the Air Force has failed to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion in its research regarding numerous reports of flying saucers and flying discs sighted throughout the United States.
DETAILS:
Mr. N. W. Philcox, the Bureau’s Air Force Liaison Representative, made arrangements through the office of Major General John A. Sanford, Director of Air Intelligence, U.S. Air Force, to receive a briefing from Commander Randall Boyd of the Current Intelligence Branch, Estimates Division, Air Intelligence, regarding the present status of Air Intelligence research into the numerous reports regarding flying saucers and flying discs.
Commander Boyd advised that Air Intelligence has set up at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, the Air Technical Intelligence Center which has been established for the purpose of coordinating, correlating and making research into all reports regarding flying saucers and flying discs. He advised that Air Force research has indicated that the sightings of flying saucers goes back several centuries and that the number of sightings reported varies with the amount of publicity. He advised that immediately if publicity appears in newspapers, the number of sightings reported increases considerably and that citizens immediately call in reporting sightings which occurred several months previously. Commander Boyd stated that these reported sightings of flying saucers are placed into three classifications by Air Intelligence:
(1) Those sightings which are reported by citizens who claim they have seen flying saucers from the ground. These sightings vary in description, color and speeds. Very little credence is given to these sightings inasmuch as in most instances they are believed to be imaginative or come explainable object which actually crossed through the sky.
(2) Sightings reported by commercial or military pilots. These sightings are considered more credible by the Air Force inasmuch as commercial or military pilots are experienced in the air and are not expected to see objects which are entirely imaginative. In each of these instances, the individual who reports the sighting is thoroughly interviewed by a representative of Air Intelligence so that a complete description of the object sighted can be obtained.
(3) Those sightings which are reported by pilots and for which there fa additional corroboration, such as recording by radar or sighting from the ground. Commander Boyd advised that this latter classification constitutes two or three per cent of the total number of sightings, but that they are the most credible reports received and are difficult to explain. Some of these sightings are originally reported from the ground, then are observed by pilots in the air and then are picked up by radar instruments. Be stated that in these instances there is no doubt that these individuals reporting the sightings actually did see something in the sky. However, he explained that these objects could still be natural phenomena and still could be recorded on radar if there was some electrical disturbance in the sky.
He stated that the flying saucers are most frequently observed in areas where there is heavy air traffic, such as Washington, D.C., and New York City. He advised, however, that some reports are received from other parts of the country, covering the entire United States and that sightings have also recently been reported as far distant as Acapulco, Mexico; Korea and French Morocco. He advised that the sightings reported in the last classification have never been satisfactorily explained He pointed out, however, that it is still possible that these objects may be a natural phenomenon or some type of atmospherical disturbance. He advised that it is not entirely impossible that the objects sighted may possibly be ships from another planet such as Mars. He advised that at the present time there is nothing to substantiate this theory but the possibility is not being overlooked. He stated that Air Intelligence is fairly certain that these objects are not ships or missiles from another nation in this world. Commander Boyd advised that intense research is being carried on presently by Air Intelligence, and at the present time when credible reportings of sightings are received, the Air Force is attempting in each instance to send up jet interceptor planes in order to obtain a better view of these objects. However, recent attempts in this regard have indicated that when the pilot in the jet approaches the object it invariably fades from view.
RECOMMENDATION:
None. The foregoing is for your information.
