UFO Section 1: Investigation of Flying Discs

This document collection comprises a series of FBI field reports, internal memoranda, and teletype communications from July and August 1947 regarding the surge in 'flying disc' sightings across the United States. The reports detail numerous accounts from citizens, pilots, and law enforcement officers who observed unidentified aerial objects. Common descriptions included metallic, disc-shaped objects, sometimes flying in formation, and occasionally emitting a low humming sound. Several reports were investigated by the FBI, often in coordination with Army Air Forces Intelligence. The documents reveal a concerted effort by the FBI to determine if these sightings were of foreign origin, specifically Russian, or if they were the result of mass hysteria or subversive activity. Brigadier General George F. Schulgen of the Army Air Forces Intelligence requested FBI assistance in locating and questioning witnesses to verify the sightings. However, many of the investigated cases were ultimately dismissed as hoaxes, pranks, or misidentifications of natural phenomena. For instance, one 'flying disc' recovered in North Hollywood was determined to be a hoax constructed by high school students. Another case involving metallic fragments found in West Rindge, New Hampshire, was analyzed by M.I.T. scientists, who treated the findings as classified. The FBI Director, John Edgar Hoover, maintained a cautious stance, insisting on full access to any recovered material before committing Bureau resources. The collection highlights the early institutional response to the UAP phenomenon, characterized by inter-agency coordination, skepticism, and a focus on national security implications.