DOW-UAP-D093, Analysis of Flying Object Incidents in the United States, 1948

Department of War · 12/10/48 · Virginia · Document

DOW-UAP-D093, Analysis of Flying Object Incidents in the United States, 1948 is indexed as a Department of War record with incident date 12/10/48 and location Virginia. This file contains a U.S. Air Force (USAF) Air Intelligence Division study, Analysis of Flying Object Incidents in the United States, Study No. 203, dated 12/10/1948. The analysis includes an assessment of various reported unidentified flying object (UFO) incidents and theories to account for their nature and origin. Overall, the study assesses that it appears that some object has been seen; however, the identification of that object cannot be readily accomplished. The study offers that two reasonable origins might account for the phenomena: technologies of a domestic or foreign origin. It also suggests that, if foreign, it is prudent for the United States to assume that UFO observations are attributable to scientific, military, or intelligence activities of the Soviet Union, and, in that case, to take seriously the threat such objects may pose. The file also contains contemporary UFO reports and examples of experimental flying wing type aircraft planforms that might account for certain commonly reported UFO characteristics. AARO Comment: This file appears to be an earlier draft version of the file contained in DOW-UAP-D094, whose content is substantively similar.

Notable / anomalous element

• The objects observed there had unu ual range and unusual performance oharacteristics. (native PDF text, page 15)
• Assu.idng that the objects might t,ventually be identifiod as forei or foreign-sponsored dev-lces, the possible reason for their u.s. appe,arance over the requires consideration. (native PDF text, page 9)
• It is, therefore, i mpossible to noke any re liable oxplanation for their ar,pearanco over the U S or the tact1cB which they mayemploy 1f the objects oboerved includo any foreign developmente in aeronautical fields. (native PDF text, page 17)
• To formulate tho possible tactic of jects reported ovor the U.S. assumes from the out Get that firm conclu sions have beon reached on both the exiotonce pnd origin of the r oported flying objects. (native PDF text, page 10)

Details

• -e memo routing slip neve, provals, disapprovals, -concurrences, or similar actions 1 name or title initials circulate organization and location date coordination 2 file information 3 necessary action note and return 4 see me signature remarks / 4 6 r f 7 r /. k. _. w,.,;;,. pre,//"'-a. (native PDF text, page 3)
• objoot1, 7 betm do!lorltica 1&111chad dm.cCNI web wetmr ballo a, rook.9t. (native PDF text, page 7)
• The Sovieto posoese l, ' ' " intormtion on a number of Oenian ni,.ng-1iringt1P9 aircraft such aa the G>tha P60A, Junkers EF 1 long-range, high-speed j t bomber and the Horten 229 twin-jet fighter, -whioh p-:irticularly reaablea ooe ot the descr1pt1ona of unidentified flying objects (See Appendix 11011). (native PDF text, page 8)
• As early aa 1924 Tncheran01rt1k7 devoloped a "Parabola" airorart, an all wing de&il Jl, which wno the outcoms of oonm.darabls Soviet experimentation with gliderD or the oame general. form. (native PDF text, page 8)
• SOYiet aircraft baf!led on ouch deaigna m.1.ght bave speeds approaching trnnsonio peeda attributsd to aome flying object or greater overall performance assuming the succ&as.ful developxnent at eome unueual propulaion d ce aaeh aa atomic energy engine. (native PDF text, page 8)
• That tb9 Soviet have a current interest 1n flyinc 'Wing type nr. iroraft 1 auggeated by their utilization of OuS1ther BOolc who, at the end ot world rrar n, 1n charge ot the nyJ.ng-wtng progru in Germany' (see Appendix ttA", graph 3, page 4). (native PDF text, page 8)
• Informati(m of low evaluation baa baon reoeind etatintr t!nt a regl.lns.nt ot jet m.ght.tishtere, Hod l Ilorten XIII, 11 at Kumm:f kha, an air base two miles t1outl'Pfea\ of Iiokutak. (native PDF text, page 8)
• Kurm;ti kha. is identified as one of a number of airfields for the protection ot an atomic energy plant at Irkutsk. (native PDF text, page 9)

Tags: War Department, Virginia, Air Force, Unidentified object, AARO, Aircraft, Soviet Union, USAF