Memorandum for the Director of Central Intelligence: Flying Saucers

This memorandum, dated October 2, 1952, from the Assistant Director of the Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI) to the Director of Central Intelligence, addresses the national security implications of 'flying saucers.' The document reports that the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) of the USAF is the only unit currently studying the phenomenon, but argues that their case-by-case approach is inadequate for resolving the situation on an overall basis. The OSI conducted an inquiry, consulting with the Air Force Special Studies Group and various consultants, and concluded that the phenomenon presents two distinct dangers: the potential for mass psychological panic and the risk to the United States' air defense system. Regarding the latter, the document notes that the U.S. Air Warning System relies on radar and visual observation, and the presence of unidentified objects could lead to false alerts or the failure to distinguish real threats from phantom ones. The author recommends that the Director of Central Intelligence advise the National Security Council to initiate a broader, coordinated research effort. This effort would include analyzing the fundamental factors of the phenomena, determining necessary scientific investigations, and establishing a national policy to manage public information to prevent panic. The document also highlights the need to investigate Soviet knowledge and potential exploitation of these phenomena for psychological warfare. The memorandum includes three tabs: a detailed discussion of the problem, a draft letter to the National Security Council, and a memo to the Psychological Strategy Board.