CIA Letters on Unidentified Flying Objects

Summary

In January 1959, Major Ronald E. Kayhoe, a former Marine and director of NICAF, wrote to the CIA requesting information on unidentified flying objects. The official response, signed by J. S. Eamon, indicated that the agency typically does not provide affirmative or negative information outside official channels. The letter asked Kayhoe to justify his request so an appropriate reply could be made. This exchange reflects institutional caution regarding sensitive topics like UFOs.

The document, classified and later declassified, shows how authorities handled requests related to unexplained aerial phenomena. NICAF, an organization dedicated to investigating UFOs, sought government data, but the CIA was reluctant to share without a clear official purpose. This type of official communication helps understand the historical context of distrust and information control during the Cold War era.