Current Status of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) Project

This memorandum, dated 17 December 1953, was prepared by the Chief of the Physics and Electronics Division, SI, for the Assistant Director of Scientific Intelligence. It provides a status update on the Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) project following a request from Mr. Erent. The document outlines that the Physics and Electronics Division maintains awareness of other agencies' activities, specifically the USAF. The Air Force's interest in UFOs is described as having 'apparently decreasing emphasis.' The project, known as Project Bluebook (No. 10073), is currently managed by one officer, Capt. Charles A. Hardin, and one airman, A/1C Max G. Futch, within the Aerial Phenomena Section of the Electronics Branch at ATIC. The document notes that ATIC is in the process of transferring Project Bluebook to the Air Defense Command (ADC). Lt. Col. Harry Johnston, Chief of the Electronics Branch, indicated that the transfer was due to the ADC performing most of the investigative work and being the command responsible for action if UFOs were identified as hostile. The memorandum also details a past effort to distribute 74 cameras with gratings to ADC radar sites to photograph UFOs, noting that 90 percent of the gratings were defective and required replacement. Additionally, it mentions that Project STORK is preparing a comprehensive statistical report on UFO sightings from 1947 through 1952, expected by 15 December 1953. The Navy is reported to have only one analyst assigned to the subject, and the Army is described as having little interest beyond cooperating with the Air Force. Finally, the document references recommendations from an OSI panel, which suggested stripping UFOs of their 'special status and aura of mystery' and noted that recent books by Keyhoe, Leslie, and Adamski were exploiting the subject, with the latter described as 'nonsensical and obviously fraudulent.'