DOW-UAP-D095, Joint U.S.-Canadian Aviation Projects and UFO Sighting Reports, 1954-1955
Department of War · 1955 · Various · Document
DOW-UAP-D095, Joint U.S.-Canadian Aviation Projects and UFO Sighting Reports, 1954-1955 is indexed as a Department of War record with incident date 1955 and location Various. This file contains reports, memoranda, and correspondence concerning various then-developmental vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The file includes assessments of the experimental potential of the Avro Project Y2, a joint U.S.-Canadian near-circular VTOL aircraft that is similar in appearance to contemporary popular descriptions of unidentified flying objects (UFO). A 1954 memorandum opines that VTOL aircraft with a circular planform may be mistaken for UFOs to observers unfamiliar with such technologies. It also recommends that UFO reports in the vicinity of Soviet military operations or assets be re-examined to assess whether they may be attributable to previously unknown advanced VTOL aircraft of foreign design. The file also contains correspondence relating to a UFO incident involving a U.S. Air Force (USAF) KC-97 flying near Newfoundland, Canada in July 1955. A USAF committee found that the characteristics described in the report were inconsistent with those of known Soviet, American, or Canadian military systems. The committee was also unable to explain the simultaneous ground radar returns and aircrew visual sightings. It also contains correspondence relating to the potential value of data from incidental radar collection of meteors entering the atmosphere. USAF Air Research and Development Command recommended using that data to improve the performance of the AN/FPS-17 radar system. Finally, the file contains correspondence indicating support for the Communications Instructions for Reporting Vital Intelligence Sightings (CIRVIS) program, a joint U.S.-Canadian civil-military program to standardize reporting methods for unusual or unidentified airborne and maritime hazards and threats.
Notable / anomalous element
- The committee was unable to explain the simultaneous ground radar returns and aircrew visual sightings, and tentatively accepts the NEAC evaluation attributing the:i.ncident to electrical phenomenon on the one hand and mis interpretation of -the s:i.ghtings by aircrew members on the other. (native PDF text, page 40)
- Dear Don: In response to your request tor BAB commen t,s on the Avco "Saucer'' project, the SAB baa taken the following action: The Aircraft and Propulsion Panels were brieted on September 28 by represente.tivea o t Bq. (native PDF text, page 4)
- t e e ten:tativel.1' attribute4 the sighting to electrical ph-.eacm and visual Jliainte17retaticm by aircrew J1811ltera.. (native PDF text, page 41)
- OIN-2C directed the OIN-2C cotmllJ.ttee 8 July to evaluate the 6 July 011 Kc 97 sightings and GCI radar returns over Newfound.land as summarized and detailed inCAF IN 15592, dtd 6 JuJ.y 55 and CAF IN 90703 dtd 7 July 55. (native PDF text, page 40)
Details
- , f DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE Head.quarters United States Air Force Washington 25 D. (native PDF text, page 3)
- DEPARTMENT OF TBE AIR FORCE, t Head.quarters United States Air Foree Washington 25, D. (native PDF text, page 4)
- Dear Don: In response to your request tor BAB commen t,s on the Avco "Saucer'' project, the SAB baa taken the following action: The Aircraft and Propulsion Panels were brieted on September 28 by represente.tivea o t Bq. (native PDF text, page 4)
- The tentat:ive conclusions o t bo tb panels immediately a t t e r this briefing were to the ettect that th.is pro.Ject warranted no more than limited support. l!oveve:r, to assu1 e thoro\lgb. consideration o t this project, I requested rt:?presentatives of these two panels to supplement. the briefings given 'to -them. (native PDF text, page 4)
- With the advice of Clark Millikan and Dean Soderberg, a select committee,ms choaen to conclude this study. (native PDF text, page 4)
- Donovan, who has been serving both as a member or 'the (native PDF text, page 4)
- Donovan, who has been serving both as a member or 'the Aircraft Panel and as lie..:I.son member with the Propulsi,on Panel. (native PDF text, page 4)
- The attached report ot this,group i s orwarded with my.PPt oval, representing the results o t the SAB's ccapleted study. (native PDF text, page 4)
Tags: War Department, 1955, Various, Air Force, Radar contact, Unidentified object, Avro VTOL, Aircraft, Radar, USAF