SUBJECT: FOIA FILE: UFO465 PART - 1 Document #: 1 From: UFO INFO SERVICE Date Sent: 06-09-1986 Subject: 1947 J. EDGAR HOOVER FBI FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT DOCUMENT FILES -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 case the Army grabbed it and would not let us have it for cursory examination. Document #: 2 From: UFO INFO SERVICE Date Sent: 06-09-1986 Subject: 1947 AAF W/FBI UFO INVES. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT DOCUMENT FILES -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ============================================================================= ********************************************** * THE U.F.O. BBS - http://www.ufobbs.com/ufo * **********************************************