CIA-UAP-D020: Memorandum on Unconventional Aircraft Sightings, 1955

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Approved for Release 2026

SIGNATURE RECORD AND COVER SHEET

[handwritten: FILE UP]

[handwritten: 1A]

1 NOV 1955

ASD [handwritten: 178]

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DOC. NO.

DOC. DATE

COPY NO. [handwritten: 6 of 10]

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CIA CONTROL NO.
[handwritten: 115485]  [handwritten: A A-4 AA]

DATE DOCUMENT RECEIVED
[handwritten: 1 NOV 1955]

LOGGED BY

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| | | | | | [handwritten: illegible] ASD | [handwritten: 30 OCT 1961]
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FORM NO. 26 USE PREVIOUS EDITIONS.
1 APR 55         TOP SECRET         (40)

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[handwritten: 178  X x A-4  A 9]

MEMORANDUM FOR:  Director of Central Intelligence

SUBJECT        :  Sightings of Flying Saucers or Unconventional Aircraft


     1.  All four participants in the observation of the flying saucers
or unconventional aircraft have now been debriefed and the following
is a summary of their observations.

     2.  The party was travelling by train from Baku to Tiflis at
the specific request of Senator Russell who tried to use rail
transportation whenever it was at all feasible.  The sightings were
noted about ten minutes beyond Alyaty at 1910 hours when it was
already dark.  Senator Russell was resting alone in his compartment
with the lights out when he noted a small greenish-yellow glowing
ball rising quite rapidly.  He informed the other members of the
party who were occupying the other compartment and a few minutes
later they too observed another object.

     3.  Senator Russell never saw the form of the object only the
luminescent ball.  Mr. Efron saw only two lights resembling eyes.
Colonel Hathaway saw a shadowy object with a single light in the
middle at the top and a rotating light or lights similar to exhausts
at the base.  Senator Russell had the impression that the object
could have been as small as a rocket although there were no objects
available to produce a satisfactory scale and no trail was left by
the rising ball.  Mr. Gros and Colonel Hathaway considered the size
of the object to be comparable to that of a U. S. jet fighter.
However, Colonel Hathaway believes that the object did not resemble
any aircraft, rocket or missile that he had ever seen.  All observers
agree on the impression that the object was rotating or whirling
during its rise along its initial steep trajectory.  Neither Senator
Russell nor Mr. Gros noted any change in this trajectory, but
Colonel Hathaway and Mr. Efron stated that the object altered
its pattern to horizontal flight quite sharply.  Neither Senator
Russell, Colonel Hathaway nor Mr. Efron saw any objects on the
ground with the exception of the search light, but Mr. Gros
reported the presence of a triangular object with three lights
which appeared to be ejected from a launching site.

     4.  Based on the interviews so far, the only testimony which
would support the existence of flying saucers or radically
unconventional aircraft is that of Colonel Hathaway.  All other

                                        T. S. 115485
                                        Copy 6 of 10

TOP SECRET

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SUBJECT:  Sightings of Flying Saucers or Unconventional Aircraft


observations can probably be explained as steep climbing aircraft
or missiles.  Further discussions will probably be required before
the matter can be completely resolved.  In the meantime, however,
the evidence does not appear sufficiently firm to warrant the
conclusion that the Soviets have developed and have in operation
a radically new type of aircraft.



                                        HERBERT SCOVILLE, JR.
                                        Assistant Director
                                        Scientific Intelligence



OSI:HScoville:gs (31 October 1955)

Distribution
    Orig & 1 - fwd
          1 - DD/I
          1 - OCI
          1 - ASD/SI
          1 - GM/SI
          2 - AD/SI



                                        T.S. 115485
                                        Copy 6 of 10

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