USAF Historical Archives ASI{ASHAF-A) Maxwell AFB, Ala 36112 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY MEMORANDUM FOR DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES SUBJECT: McClellan Subcommittee Statement Conce Handling of UFO Reports 1 . Reference is made to your memorandum of subject as above. 2 . The reason for the delay in my repl y is hat considerable x - ploratory work has been done with the Committee and the staff relati.-,e- ---_ _. to your suggestion. However, the general attitude of the Committee is that while they feel that it is not worthwhile to invest further time and money in this area, plus the fact that the Air Force is conducting its own investigation, t hey will not make a release to this effect at this time. 3. In cases of this type, we have found that Congressional Com- mittees are not prone to commit themselves in the way you suggest . Therefore, while the Committee' s attitude now is t hat they are not go - ing to pursue this matter further, they have indicated that they would not so commit themselves publicly for if the situation should change at later date they would not want to be shackled by a press release in- dicating that they had no further interest in the matter. OE W. KELLY jor General, USAF D rector, Legislative aison SAFIS- 3/Maj Tac el'/jmd/73328/?5 Feb 58 MB.:t<10RANDUN FOR DIRECTOR 01 LEGISLATIVE LIAISOU SUBJECT: Clellan Subcommittee Statement Concerning Air Force rla.ndling of UFO Reports 1 . In\cstigators for the McCl ellan Subcammi ttee (the Senate Commj ttee on Investiga.til'l8 Governmemt Opere. tiona) 1\!cently ~-ld informal. discussions ( 31 Janua~ 195v) 'With us concc..rnine th~ advisability of conduct-ing public hearings on tne Air F..Jl'Ce' c p osition regarding unidentified flJing objects. T.~ t_tinL tbey Wdre con<;crncd with most was the llarge t hat the Air Force vro.s withholding informat ion on this tmbject. I am sur-3 Wt;: c.:>nvinc~d them that this was not tlK case, aa thoy have since indi.:a~d there is no need for hearin&s on this subject. In v i e w or these findings, based upon their prclinjnar~ informal investigation, this office would like to see t he McCl ellan Subcomm:t 'ttee issue a ststeu1~nt certifying that a preliminary investi- gation by the Committee proved t~10.t the Air Force is propcrlJ con- ductinz its investi.3ation Of Uilidcutified flying ot>JCCtS and is not withholding information on thio oubject from the publ ... I f possible, the statement ehould include that the Air Force has a definite public information plan in effect concerning unidentified flyiDB objects. 3. Request SAFLL review 'L1e possibility and/or feasibility of obtaitling such a statement i'ram the McClellan Subcornmi ttce. ARNO LUE.IDWI ,._rur General, USAF rector of Information Ser vi ce s ~OMEBACK-SAFIS-3 READER-SAFI S- 1 STAYBACK-SAFIS-.... ' DUM FOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES, SAFS SUD,JBCT: CoDBrensione.l Public Hearings -unidentifled Fl.Yil1g Objects 1 . t~jor Donald Kcyhoe of the National Invcstir:;at.ion Committee on Aerial Pheno~na has been bad~erin& th~ mernb~rs of tl1~ McClellan Subcow~t~.o, the Senate Committee on InvestigatinG Governncnt Operations, to hold open hearings on the question o f the existence of Hnidenti;..Led flying objects. 2 . In this regard investigators for the aubc-.~nnni ttee contacted SAFLL and a meeting vas held on 31 January 1958 at 1000 hours in Mr. Horne r's office on the Air Fcrcc's position regarding p-:>ssible hearings. ,~rtbers of the comn.i ttec a.tterding this .c~e due w~rc: Mr. William Weitzen, Dtputy for Research & Development Operations Lt. Colone l William R. Kelzo , SAFRD Major J oseph E . Boland, SAFLL Major J~s F . Byrne , AFCII' ~Bjor Lawrence J , Tacker, SAFIS Mr. Donald O'Donnell, FBI ( CJmmittee Investigator) Mr. Jack Healey , FBI ( Committ,.ie Investigator) 3. The commjttee's investi&atvro simply asked 1~ the Air Force desired such hearings. Mr. Weitzcn s tated that be did not see the need f or i t but would cooperate in every way possible if the cornmi ttee tho~t the hearings necessary. Mr . Jack Healey ate. ted they vanted a definite Air Force position. Mr. loleitzen said he would have t o wait until Mr. Uorner returned but thougat Mr. Horner rould acree vi th his statement thnt we '-rould cooperate in every way. The t\10 investit:ators were invited t.:> visit ATI C at Wrig'lt,-Po.tterson Alr Force Base for bnclr.g!'C'Wld ..:.nror.nn t.ion. T''1C ,.aid " c:, \rould do c o 11' hearings dcvelu}?l:d. SAFIS- 3/Maj Tacker/jmd/74966/ 3 Beb 58 4 . Ther e will be e. ll3eting of this group again this ve e k when Mr. Horner returns am gives hin ViC:l-18. 5 . J.fajor Tacker po1n~d out during the d1scusoions that OI S wa.e providing the )JUlJl.ici '-Y a~. the present time on t h i s subject st th~ requeat. )f AFCL~. llu . t.r~ted \It;; v1ould continue to d o &o o.nd wouln c:O:)pel"a.te 1n ~;:very w~ with the otaff Q6encJ.co <.unce:rr~ed .;)r wit h t h.. congressional cOJ.Uui~.-tec if hearings are held. OLEN W. CLARK Colonel, UBAF ~hief, Public Information Division Offi ce of Infcrmation Service s ve6MEBM~AFIS-3 STA SAFIS-