UNCLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE DN Haltbard, With tanhel' tennoe to 7ov letter ot 13th Aa1111t 1952, oa the aab,eot ot "~171118 .. aoera", I baYe made enqa11 into th1a .. tter ana tlnd \bat ., Depenment baa not reoe1Ye4 DT repone or f17taa uuoen 1n Aaata11a whiob N oon14eNd to wanant ta:rther 1nyeatJ.aat1oe. ftect B. llabbai'CJ, Dai~ _. OorHepoa4ent, 16 help at ... t, MIBIAQ, QLD. Yoan a1Merel.7, (P. A. MOBr14e) Wltla hltlae .. teNDOe ,. 70U le'~el' of ll~ Aapa' 19.51, oa tba aab~eot of flTln ... r.-, I DepaJtnt Me ' .... l~ect Npona or ft71q n ln .Ana.lla wlllob " oeu1cleN4 to nnaat tanh 1a.,.atipt1oa. (P. A. JloBI'lcle) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE MINUTE PAPER FLYING SAUCERS" THE MINISTER: Attached is a draft reply toUr. F.B. Hubbard, "Daily News" Correspondent, Grange, Brisbane, concerning his enquiries on the subject of "flying saucers". 2. The question was discussed initially with Professor Martin, Defence Scientific Adviser. IIIIDIIfl!l t.alr1ea the eab~t ot n,taa ....... . 2. !be q--1-- .1H .... laitlelJ.F wltll fttet.a JlaftJa, De, .. lelltlfto AIYU... DliLFI!NCE Dear Jlr. Hubbard, parliament House, CANBERRA. A.C.'.r. 14th August, 19?2. I acknowledge receipt ot your letter ot 13th August, 1952 on the subject ot Flying Saucers. I am giving consideration to the questions you have submitted in this connection, and will communicate with you further as early as possible. Yours sincerelJt ( P. A. JlcBRIDE). Jlr. rred B. Hubbard, "DailY News" Correspondent, 26 Evelyn Street, DRI8BL OLD. RcfeiTed by v :. or , fri.vate SecretarY 1J fif''y-- The Hon. Philip A. McBride Minister tor Defense PSrliament House, Canberra, AC~ ~he Chicago Daily News Foreign Service. which I represent in Australia, is preparing tor 60 u.s. and Canadian daily newspapers what is intended to be the most comprehensive examination yet made ot the "flying saucer" situation. This examination is being prepared on a world- wide basis. and I have been assigned the task ot obtaining all possible information that would shed any light on whether the "saucers" reported in Australia are explainable objects or not. In this connection, I would greatly appreciate knowing it your department--within the limits of security--can furnish me replies to the following questions: 1. Has Australia developed any missiles which provided a basis tor "flying saucer" reports? 2. Is there any evidence in your possession tending to prove or disprove the existence of "saucers" as mysterious aircraft or missiles? 3. Is the Defense Department concerned over the mysterious phenomena Australians have reported seeing in the skies? 4. Is the Department making any investigation into these reports? If so, has the investigation provided any conclusive proof of the existence or non-existence ot "flying 5. Is there any scientific basis for worry over th~se phenomena? should like to make the point here that the Daily News' examination is a completely open-minded one aimed at obtaining all possible evidence. It is not being made on prior assumptions that "saucers" are space ships, hallucin- ations, or what-have-you. hatever assistance you can give, therefore, will be greatly appreciated.