Declassified UFO / UAP Document
Informal Memorandum: Flying Saucers
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AI-Generated Summary
An August 1952 CIA memorandum evaluates 'Flying Saucer' reports, noting that most are explainable while recommending continued surveillance of the small percentage of unexplained cases.
This informal memorandum, dated 1 August 1952, provides an evaluation of 'Flying Saucer' reports for the Deputy Assistant Director/SI. The author, Edward Tauss, notes that the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) has received between 1,000 and 2,000 reports. The majority of these are dismissed as 'phoney' or attributable to known U.S. equipment, such as aircraft or weather balloons, or natural phenomena like meteorites and thermal inversions. Fewer than 100 reports are classified as 'unexplainable' at the time of writing. The author suggests that if complete information were available, these remaining cases would likely fall into the same categories as the explained reports. Despite this, the memorandum recommends that the CIA continue surveillance of the subject, as the possibility of alien origin has not been entirely excluded. The author strongly advises against allowing CIA interest to reach the public or press, fearing that such disclosure would be interpreted as confirmation of 'unpublished facts' and could lead to alarmist reactions. Finally, the author notes that a comprehensive briefing has been arranged with the Commanding Officer of the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to be held on 8 August 1952, after which a more detailed analysis will be prepared.
Notwithstanding the foregoing tentative facts, so long as a series of reports remains 'unexplainable' (interplanetary aspects and alien origin not being thoroughly excluded from consideration) caution requires that intelligence continue coverage of the subject.
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Official Assessment
A large percentage of reports are 'phoney' or explained as known U.S. equipment or natural phenomena; less than 100 remain 'unexplainable'.
The author notes that while most reports are identifiable as conventional aircraft, weather balloons, or natural phenomena, a small subset remains unexplained. The author advises continued intelligence surveillance of the subject while cautioning against publicizing CIA interest to avoid fueling alarmist tendencies.