Minutes of Branch Chief's Meeting of 11 August 1952

These minutes document a meeting held on August 11, 1952, in the office of Mr. Steele, concerning the formalization of a project within the P&E Division focused on 'Flying Saucers.' The meeting was chaired by Mr. Sullivan and attended by several representatives, including Mr. Ahern, Mr. Barnard, Mr. Engle, Dr. Fairchild, Dr. Fondiller, Mr. Gordon, Dr. Harkin, and Mr. Rajala. During the session, Dr. Odarenko proposed that the project be established to maintain files and build up current knowledge, enabling the division to formulate informed opinions on the subject. The document clarifies that the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) holds the primary responsibility for investigating flying saucers and maintaining records, while the P&E Division is tasked with contributing to this effort. To facilitate this, the division appointed representatives: Mr. Elby for Physics and Mr. Barnard for Electronics and Communications. Ray Gordon was designated as the Project Officer for the P&E Division, with instructions to identify who is handling the project in the Office of Reports and Estimates (ORE), gather historical data on meteorology and radar, and secure reports from ATIC. The discussion also touched upon the division's role in responding to inquiries, noting that requests should be handled through contact with ATIC, which utilizes a standard form for such purposes. The Air Force was noted to have local agents to investigate questions, and it was believed that ATIC maintains records covering the entire world. The minutes conclude with a mention of Mr. S. Possony, who was identified as a potential special officer.