CIA Memorandum on Unidentified Flying Objects

Summary

In March 1953, an internal CIA memorandum addressed the issue of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) with an operational focus. It notes that a researcher had stopped following UFO reports, raising the need to reorganize the handling of these cases. Key files were scattered across different divisions, making efficient tracking difficult. A coordinator was proposed to centralize information, with the suggestion that only relevant or unusual documents be preserved, while the rest be destroyed.

The proposed plan aimed to optimize resources and maintain active oversight of UFO reports, especially in anticipation of increased activity during the summer. The coordinator was to provide verbal updates on case status, without the need for formal reports. This approach reflects an effort to manage a topic of interest while avoiding bureaucratic overload, illustrating how the CIA sought to handle a subject that generated curiosity but also some ambiguity.