Office Memorandum: Unidentified Flying Objects

This memorandum, dated March 31, 1953, from F. C. Durant to P. G. Strong, outlines a proposed administrative procedure for handling Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) reports within the Office of Scientific Intelligence (O/SI). The document notes that Jack Heckert had informed the author that the Office of Current Intelligence (O/CI) was no longer tracking UFO reports and wished to transfer their files. Durant proposes that O/SI maintain a watch on UFO activity, suggesting that Dave Stevenson of the Applied Science Division be designated as the coordinator for these reports. He further recommends that existing files held by Heckert be transferred to Stevenson, with the exception of key documents, and that the O/CI Screening Panel, specifically mentioning Miss Lowry, be instructed to route all future UFO-related messages to the Applied Science Division for review. Durant argues that this approach would be the most efficient method for O/SI to maintain oversight with minimal time investment, providing a mechanism to monitor for potential 'flaps' or increased activity. The document concludes with an offer to prepare the necessary directive memos if the proposed plan is approved.