1947 J. EDGAR HOOVER FBI
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT DOCUMENT FILES
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Office Memorandum - United States Government
TO : D. M. Ladd DATE: 7/10/47
FROM : E. G. Fitch
SUBJECT: FLYING DISKS
At request of Brigadier General George F. Schulgen, Chief of the
Requirements Intelligence Branch of Army Air Corps Intelligence,
Special Agent [ ] discussed the above captioned matter with him
on July 9, 1947. General Schulgen indicated to [ ] that the Air
Corps has taken the attitude that every effort must be undertaken
in order to run down and ascertain whether or not he flying disks
are a fact and, if so, to learn all about them. According to
General Schulgen, the Air Corps Intelligence are utilizing all of
their scientists in order to ascertain whether or not such a
phenomenon could in fact occur. He stated that this research is
being conducted with the thought that the flying objects might
be a celestial phenomenon and with the view that they might be a
foreign body mechanically devised and controlled.
General Schulgen also indicated to [ ] that all Air Corps
installations have been alerted to run out each reported sighting
to obtain all possible data to assist in this research project.
In passing, General Schulgen that an Air Corps pilot who believed
that he saw one of these objects was thoroughly interrogated by
General Schulgen and scientists, as well as a psychologist, and
the pilot was adamant in his claim that he saw a flying disk.
General Schulgen advised [ ] that the possibility exists that
the first reported sightings of the so-called flying disks were
fallacious and prompted by individuals seeking personal
publicity, or were reported for political reasons. He stated
that if this was so, subsequent sightings might be the result of
a mass hysteria. He pointed out that the thought exists that
the first reported sightings might have been by individuals of
Communist sympathies with the view to causing hysteria and fear
of a secret Russian weapon.
General Schulgen indicated to [ ] that he is desirous of
having all the angles covered in this matter. He stated that
reports of his scientists and findings of the various Air Corps
installations will be available in his office. He advised that
to complete the picture he desired the assistance of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation in locating and questioning the
individuals who first sighted the so-called flying disks in
order to ascertain whether or not they are sincere in their
statements that they saw these disks, or whether their statements
were prompted by personal desires for publicity or political
reasons. General Schulgen assured [ ] that there are no War
Department or Navy Department research projects presently being
conducted which could in any way be tied up with the flying
disks. General Schulgen indicated to [ ] that if the Bureau
would cooperate with him in this matter, he would offer all the
facilities of his office as to results obtained in the effort to
identify and run down this matter.
[ ] advised General Schulgen that his request would be made
known to the Bureau and an answer made available to him as soon
as possible
[Page 2]
Memorandum for Mr. Ladd
Mr. ________ also discussed this matter with Colonel L. H.
Forney of MID. Colonel Forney indicated that it was his attitude
that inasmuch as it has been established that the flying disks
are not the result of any Army or Navy experiments, the matter
is of interest to the FBI. He stated that he was of the opinion
that the Bureau, if at all possible,should accede to General
Schulgen's request.
SWR:AJB
ADDENDUM
I would recommend that we advise the Army that the Bureau does
not believe it should go into these investigations, it being
noted that a great bulk of those alleged discs reported found
have been pranks. It is not believed that the Bureau would
accomplish anything by going into these investigations.
DML
(Clyde Tolson) - I think we should do this. (Dated 7/15)
(J. Edgar Hoover) - I would do it but before agreeing to it
we must insist upon full access to discs recovered. For
instance in the [Sw or La] case the Army grabbed it and would
not let us have it for cursory examination.
CUFON note: Image of handwritten text containing disputed characters
Document#: 2
From: UFO INFO SERVICE
Date Sent: 06-09-1986
Subject: 1947 AAF W/FBI UFO INVES.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT DOCUMENT FILES
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DATE OF DOCUMENT 7/30/1947
(B) FLYING DISCS -- The Bureau, at the request of the Army Air Force
intelligence, has agreed to cooperate in the investigation of flying
discs. The Air Forces have confidentially advised that it is possible to
release three or more discs in odd numbers, attached together by a wire,
from an airplane in high altitudes and that these discs would obtain
tremendous speed in their descent and would descend to the earth in an
arc. The Army Air Forces Intelligence has also indicated some concern
that the reported sightings might have been made by subversive
individuals for the purpose of creating a mass hysteria.
(AUTHORIZATION TO INVESTIGATE)
7-30-47
BUREAU BULLETIN NO. 42 -2-
Series 1947
You should investigate each instance which is brought to your
attention of a sighting of a flying disc in order to ascertain whether or
not it is a bonifide sighting, an imaginary one or a prank. You should
also bear in mind that individuals might report seeing flying discs for
various reasons. It is conceivable that an individual might be desirous
of seeking personal publicity, causing hysteria, or playing a prank.
The Bureau should be notified immediately by teletype of all reported
sightings and the results of your inquiries. In instances where the
report appears to have merit, the teletype should be followed by a letter
to the Bureau containing in detail the results of your inquiries. The
Army Air Forces have asured the Bureau complete cooperating in these
matters and in any instances where they fail to make information
available to you or make the recovered discs available for your
examination, it should promptly be brought to the attention of the
Bureau.
Any information you develop in connection with these discs should be
promptly brought to the attention of the Army through your usual liason
channels.
Document #: 3
From: UFO INFO SERVICE
Date Sent: 06-09-1986
Subject: 1966 J.E.HOOVER RESPONSE
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT DOCUMENT FILES
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ST-101 July 2l, 1966
___________________
Cleburne, Texas 76031
Dear Mr. ____________
Your letter of July 16th has been received.
For your information, the investigation of Unidentified Flying
Objects is not and never has been a matter that is within the
investigative jurisdiction of the FBI. I can assure you the photograph
you mentioned does not represent employees of this Bureau and the FBI
has never had custody of an occupant from a foreign planet.
Enclosed are some booklets pertaining to our activities which I hope
you will enjoy reading.
Sincerely yours,
John Edgar Hoover
Director
Enclosures (2)
Know your FBI
Story of the FBI
NOTE: Correspondent is not identifiable in Bufiles. The Bureau has had
other inquiries concerning this photograph. The article which appeared
in a recent issue of this magazine purported to be an actual report of
unidentified flying objects and has been brought to the attention of the
Bureau previously. In view of the fictional aspects of the material and
our relations with "Real" magazine no contact was made with the magazine
regarding the representation of FBI Agents.
MAIL ROOM ___ TELETYPE UNIT ___
Document #: 4
From: UFO INFO SERVICE
Date Sent: 06-09-1986
Subject: 1949 FBI MEMO RE: PHOTOS
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT DOCUMENT FILES
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Office Memorandum - UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : DIRECTOR FBI DATE: January 10, 1949
FROM : SAC KNOXVILLE
SUBJECT : "FLYING SAUCERS" OBSERVED OVER
OAK RIDGE AREA
INTERNAL SECURITY - X
There are being submitted herewith two photographs of reputedly
"flying saucers" which were seen at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, sometime during
July of 1947. All of the information contained in this letter was
received from George Rateman, Resident Engineer, Air Material Command,
United States Army, who is the principal army technician at the Nuclear
Energy for the Propulsion of Aircraft Research Center at Oak Ridge,
Tennessee.
Mr. Rateman advised that the attached photographs were taken by ______
in July of 1947. He stated that interview with _______ revealed that he
had been snapping photographs of his family in front of his residence at
218 Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, late in the afternoon, when he
looked into the sky and observed the vapor trail as exhibited by the
photograph numbered "1." __________ stated that he took a snap of this
trail, was winding the film to the next number, when he looked into the
sky and observed the ball of fire as shown in photograph 2. _______ made
these photographs available to reporters of the Knoxville News-Sentinel
and a story concerning them was run in that paper; however, as shown by
the photostatic copy of the newspaper clipping, which is also being
submitted herewith to the Bureau, the print was very indistinct; the news
story did not contain any factual information; and it was regarded
generally by the public at the time as a possible trick.
Later, it was learned by Rateman and _________ that _________ had
made several copies of this photograph and had distributed them among his
aquaintances at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Upon ___________ finding that the
photographs had received some distribution, he requested Rateman as Head
of the Compliance and Investigations Division, to recover as many as
possible of the photographs, advise the persons in whose possession they
were found to say nothing to anyone concerning them, and to return the
said photographs to him for transmission to the United States Air Force
Intelligence Service. Rateman advises that he succeeded in rounding up
twenty four copies of these photographs, and that, according to the
statements of ________, no more copies were made or distributed. Rateman
further stated that _______ had appeared extremely concerned over the
matter and seemed quite emphatic that the matter should be given no more
publicity than was absolutely necessary. Rateman also advised that he
studied the negatives from which the reproductions were made, and they
appeared to be authentic in that trick photography should have been
apparent, but from the ______________ ________________.
Document #: 5
From: UFO INFO SERVICE
Date Sent: 06-09-1986
Subject: 1947 GEN. TWINING LETTER
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT DOCUMENT FILES
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23 September 1947
SUBJECT: AMC Opinion Concerning "Flying Discs"
TO: Commanding General
Army Air Forces
Washington 25, D.C.
ATTENTION: Brig. General George Schulgen
AC/AS-2
1. As requested by AC/AS-2 there is presented below the considered
opinion of this command concerning the so-called "Flying Discs." This
opinion is based on interrogation report data furnished by AC/AS-2 and
preliminary studied by personnel of T-2 and Aircraft Laboratory,
Engineering Division T-3. This opinion was arrived at in a conference
between personnel from the Air Institute of Technology, Intelligence
T-2, Office, Chief of Engineering Division, and the Aircraft, Power
Plant and Propeller Laboratories of Engineering Division T-3.
2. It is the opinion that:
a. The phenomenon reported is something real and not visionary or
fictitious.
b. There are objects probably approximately the shpe of a disc, of
such appreciable size as to appear to be as large as man-made
aircraft.
c. There is the possibility that some of the incidents may be
caused by natural phenomena, such as meteors.
d. The reported operating characteristics such as extreme rates of
climb, maneuverability (particularly in roll), and action which
must be considered evasive when sighted or contacted by friendly
aircraft and radar, lend belief to the possibility that some of
the objects are controlled either manually, automatically or
remotely.
e. The apparent common description of the objects is as follows:
(1) Metallic or light reflecting surface.
(2) Absence of trail, except in a few instances when the object
apparently was operating under high performance conditions.
(3) Circular or elliptical in shape, flat on bottom and domed on
top.
(4) Several reports of well kept formation flights varying from
three to nine objects.
(5) Normally no associated sound, except in three instances a
substantial rumbling roar was noted.
(6) Level flight speeds normally about 300 knots are estimated.
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