Unidentified Flying Objects

This memorandum, authored by H. Marshall Chadwell, the Assistant Director of Scientific Intelligence, and addressed to the Director of Central Intelligence, provides a summary of the current situation regarding the investigation of Unidentified Flying Objects as of December 1952. The document highlights four specific categories of recent incidents: the sighting of ten unidentified flying objects near Tremonton, Utah, on July 2, 1952; a brilliant unidentified light observed off the coast of Maine for approximately four hours on the night of October 10-11, 1952; an alleged contact with a device on the ground in Florida that resulted in unexplained after-effects; and numerous other sightings of lights or objects that did not resemble known aerial vehicles or natural phenomena. In response to these events and in accordance with Intelligence Committee action taken on December 4, the Office of Scientific Intelligence (O/EI) initiated collaboration with Dr. H. P. Robertson, a consultant and former Director of Research at WDB. The objective was to establish a panel of scientists and engineers specializing in fields such as astrophysics, nuclear energy, and electronics to conduct a formal review of the subject. The document notes that cooperation had been secured from the Directorate of Intelligence, United States Air Force (DF/USAF) and the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC). A visit to ATIC by AD/SI, Dr. Robertson, and Mr. Durant of the SI staff was planned for the following Friday, with the goal of commencing an objective scientific review within the subsequent two to three weeks.