59_64634_711.5612[7-2852

. .. A.F. July 28, 1952 MElmRANDUU \ To: Jir. A~rong Paul Nitze asked me what the Air Force thought about tLe flying saucers, and I susooct that the others would be interested. I recommend, therefore, vhat you pass on the gist of the attached at the ~orning meeting tonorrow. Samford gave it to me at the IAC. r.a .. Att. DECLASSIFIED NND 852931 .. . ... July 28, 1952 UE~.IORANDU?.'! Subject: Flying Saucers General Samford, 1- 2, in response to my inquiry, said that there is very little that can be said to clarify the flying saucer business : It is still a complete enigma. He did, hOivever, point out that phenomena falling ?athin the general description of flyin~ saucers have actually been known to exist and have been reported one way or another for over 100 years. The increase in observation and in reporting and publicity on the su~ject is probably attributable in the main to vastly inproved r.iethods of observation and reportin~, including not only radar but the reporting systems used bv civilian and military pilots . It is also attributable in some measure to the publicity which is given it, which takes on certain elements of a II fad. 11 There is no question, according to Samford, that "credible observers are reporting the incredible. 11 The radar observation may have elements of "electronic fluke, 11 but is sufficiently tied in with pilot observation so that it cannot be attributed entirely to this . The Air Force views the flying saucers as a threat only because they are not understood and ~ they are sufficientl; .:r.rtJquentas a phenomena to mean that they will give great attention to them until they understand them. General Samford did not say anything about the possibility that they were man- made or controlled, friend or foe, but the whole implication of his remarks 1"1"as that this possibility was ~ emote~ not te be se?iotmfy considered. tfM\. ,t F.H. DECLASSIFIED NND 852931