In December 1952, the CIA received a report on British activities investigating unidentified flying objects. The British had established a standing committee about sixteen months earlier to study UFO sightings. The committee concluded that the observations were not enemy aircraft and that none had been over Britain. However, a recent incident in Yorkshire drew public attention when high RAF officials and pilots witnessed what was described as a "perfect flying saucer," leading to newspaper coverage that concerned British officials responsible for managing public opinion.
What was the British committee doing?
The British had created a standing committee on flying saucers approximately sixteen months before this memo was written. The committee was presumably under the direction of R. V. Jones. The RAF were described as "action people" involved in the work. The group's activity had been quiet and normal until about ten to twelve days before the memo, when the Yorkshire incident occurred.
What happened in the Yorkshire incident?
In a field in Yorkshire, there was a demonstration that high RAF officials in London had been invited to attend. During this event, a "perfect flying saucer" was seen by the RAF officials present as well as RAF pilots. Many people witnessed it, and articles about the incident appeared in the public press. This public attention concerned R. V. Jones because he recognized that managing public opinion was part of his responsibilities.
What concerns did U.S. officials raise about UFO sightings?
The memo identified three potential dangers related to UFO sightings. First, difficulty and delay in identifying these objects could weaken the early warning system if hostilities began. Second, mass hysteria could be induced by an enemy spreading false reports at a critical time. Third, emergency communications systems to command headquarters might become overloaded by such reports. The memo stated that problems of communications confusion and mass hysteria should be addressed outside the intelligence community, and it was planned to bring these matters to the attention of the Federal Civil Defense Administration, the Interdepartmental Committee on Internal Security, and the Joint Communications and Electronics Committee.
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Approved fo r Release 2026 Under Section 18 42 o f the Nat ional Defense Aut h ori zat i on Act
fo r Fiscal Year 2 02 4
..
,,
·-seeREr-
security nformatlon
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18 JDecemeer 1952
MEM0RANDtJM FOB RECORD
Sl:'JBJEC'?: British Activity in the field 0f "Unidentified Flying Objects"
I
l. On 15 December, the recem.tly arrived messenger from Britain reported
the following. Re 1aa4 talked with R. V. Jones and ~I---~
2. The British have be.4 a standjng committee created a.bout sixteen
months ago on f'lyillg saucers. . Pre8'1Dlably this is now ud.er Dr. Jeaes through
inheritance. The RAF are aetien peopl.e. The graup bas c~ncludea. that the
observations are not eneiq aircraft and ~ t none have been. over Brita.in.
3. The activity has been quiet and normal up to about tem. to twelve
days ago, at wJaich time the Yorkshire incident took place. In some W' field,
there was same sort of demenstratien to whieb. high official.a of the BAF in
Lendon had been invited. During the show, a "perfect f ~ g saucer 11 -~ •seen
by these officials as well ..as BAF pilots. So.Dlal:lY peaple saw it tbat ~
articles appeared in the pulic presa. Thi~ is disturbing te Jones because
he rea1izes that the ·ereatisn of the e0rrection Qf pablic opinion is a part
of' his responsibilities.
4. Jones reminded us ef the SWedisb. incident (pres'QD18.bly he refers ·:•,
to the 013.e in 1946-)., and reminds us o'f a paper on the origin of' meteari tes -....__ ~: ,
. ~ .:- ~
pu.blisllted ill the French Acu.em;y of' Sciences betlfeen 176o and 1780 by Cb.la.dni.
'
5. The traveler teld Jones of' 0ur interest at this time, mentioned _.
.~·.,....,.,, ,
·,. . •.
the film vhich had been taken by the Naval non-commissioned officer (1'remonton
incident). It is possibl.e that Jones. Will. write asking for a copy of'. the film
or :further on the same subJect . .
~(!_
l H. MABSHALI. ClWJWELL
Assis~t Direc;tor
Distributien: / Scientific Intelligence
Opns/SI - l.
P&E7SI - l.
W&E/SI - 1
AD/SI - 2
/
/SECRET-
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While there is no indication that these objects represent a
direct threat to the national defense, there are certain potential
dangers which are related to these sightings. These are:
1. The difficulty and delay in positive 1dentification
which could weaken the early warning system in alerting defense
in the event of commencement of hostilities.*
2. The possibillty of mass hysteria whieh might be ~
posely induced by an enemy at a critical time by faked reports.
3. The possibillty that the emergency eonmnmications
systems to command headquarters might be seriously overloaded
at a critical time by such reports.
It is believed that the problems of communications confusion and
overload and the serious e:ff'ects of mass hysteria mist be dealt with
outside the intelligence community, and 1t is planned to bring these
matters to the attention of those agencies with whom the prime respon
sibility appears to rest. With respect to ma.ss hysteria, it is believed
this problem would lie with the Federal. Civil Defense .Administration and/
or the Interdepartmental. Cammittee on Internal Security. Accordingly,
it is planned to bring this to the attention of the FCDA and ICIS through
established channels. With respect to emergency eommm:deatiellS overload
ing, it is believed that each of the individual Mil.itary Services should
examine this problem. Accordingly, we intend to introduce the subject
at a meeting of the Joint Communications and Electronics Cammittee.
" " "
-·z #-1:f±t ~ ~ - - ~ - · ~ ; ~ c , View the official fileFrequently Asked Questions
What was the British standing committee on flying saucers?
The British had created a standing committee approximately sixteen months before December 1952 to investigate unidentified flying objects. The committee was presumably under the direction of R. V. Jones, and the RAF were described as "action people" involved in the work.
The British have be.4 a standjng committee created a.bout sixteen months ago on f'lyillg saucers. . Pre8'1Dlably this is now ud.er Dr. Jeaes through inheritance. The RAF are aetien peopl.e.
What did the British committee conclude about UFO observations?
The British committee concluded that the observations they reviewed were not enemy aircraft and that none had been over Britain.
The graup bas c~ncludea. that the observations are not eneiq aircraft and ~ t none have been. over Brita.in.
What was the Yorkshire incident?
In a field in Yorkshire, there was a demonstration to which high RAF officials in London had been invited. During the event, a "perfect flying saucer" was seen by these officials as well as RAF pilots. Many people witnessed it, and articles appeared in the public press, which concerned British officials responsible for managing public opinion.
In some W' field, there was same sort of demenstratien to whieb. high official.a of the BAF in Lendon had been invited. During the show, a "perfect f ~ g saucer 11 -~ •seen by these officials as well ..as BAF pilots. So.Dlal:lY peaple saw it tbat ~ articles appeared in the pulic presa.
What dangers did the CIA identify related to UFO sightings?
The CIA identified three potential dangers. First, difficulty and delay in identifying these objects could weaken the early warning system in the event of hostilities. Second, an enemy could induce mass hysteria by spreading false reports at a critical time. Third, emergency communications systems to command headquarters might become seriously overloaded by such reports.
While there is no indication that these objects represent a direct threat to the national defense, there are certain potential dangers which are related to these sightings. These are: 1. The difficulty and delay in positive 1dentification which could weaken the early warning system in alerting defense in the event of commencement of hostilities.* 2. The possibillty of mass hysteria whieh might be ~ posely induced by an enemy at a critical time by faked reports. 3. The possibillty that the emergency eonmnmications systems to command headquarters might be seriously overloaded at a critical time by such reports.
Congressional Context
Where this record connects to the congressional record and the people in it.
- Referenced in LegislationNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024Connected through Unidentified Flying Object
- Referenced in LegislationNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024Connected through Unidentified Flying Object
- Referenced in LegislationUSA ActConnected through Unidentified Flying Object
- Discussed in HearingUnidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the TruthConnected through Unidentified Flying Object