Memorandum for Acting Director, Central Intelligence: Unidentified Flying Object Reported on 20 September 1957

This memorandum, dated 21 September 1957, addresses a report of an unidentified flying object (UFO) tracked by US Air Defense Command radars on 20 September 1957. The object was observed moving westward from the eastern tip of Long Island toward Buffalo at an altitude of 50,000 feet and a speed of 2,000 knots. The report notes that jamming was observed in the vicinity of the track and as far west as Chicago. However, a subsequent briefing indicated that there was an 11-minute break in the radar track and that weather conditions in the area were of a type known to produce false radar pips and electronic interference. The document further notes that B-47 aircraft from the Strategic Air Command (SAC) were in the area near Chicago on an electronic countermeasures (ECM) training flight. The Central Intelligence Agency assessed the possibility of Soviet involvement, specifically regarding long-range air, submarine, or merchant shipping operations. The agency concluded that it was highly unlikely that a Soviet aircraft could conduct a mission at the reported speed and altitude, and that there was no evidence of a Soviet submarine-launched cruise missile with such capabilities. Furthermore, the CIA dismissed the possibility of a one-way reconnaissance mission, citing the lack of strategic value and the high risk of compromise. Ultimately, the memorandum concludes that it is highly improbable that a Soviet operation was responsible for the incident and suggests that weather phenomena are the most likely explanation. The author, Herbert Scoville, Jr., recommended that no Intelligence Advisory Committee (IAC) meeting be convened regarding this matter.