FBI Correspondence Regarding Flying Saucers and UFO Inquiries (1954-1966)

This document collection consists of a series of FBI memoranda and correspondence spanning from 1954 to 1966, primarily concerning public inquiries about Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and the Bureau's official stance on the subject. The documents consistently demonstrate that the FBI's policy was to avoid investigating UFO sightings, as these matters were deemed outside its investigative jurisdiction. Instead, the Bureau routinely referred such inquiries to the Department of the Air Force, specifically citing Project Blue Book and the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) as the appropriate authorities. The correspondence includes exchanges with various individuals, including Leonard H. Stringfield, who was active in UFO research and the 'Civilian Research, Interplanetary Flying Objects' organization. The files detail the Bureau's internal discussions regarding whether to monitor these groups, with the consensus being that the FBI should not conduct investigations unless there was evidence of subversive activity or a violation of federal law. The documents also contain internal FBI communications regarding the handling of specific reports, such as the 1964 Socorro, New Mexico sighting, where the Bureau maintained liaison with the Air Force but did not conduct its own investigation. Throughout the collection, the FBI emphasizes its role as a fact-finding agency that does not make evaluations of individuals or organizations unless they are relevant to national security or criminal investigations. The collection serves as a record of the Bureau's administrative process for managing public interest in UFOs during the mid-20th century, highlighting a clear effort to distance the agency from the subject while maintaining liaison with military intelligence.