CIA starts UFO project in 1952

Summary

In August 1952, the CIA officially launched a project within its Processing and Evaluation (P&E) division focused on "flying saucers." The main goal of this project was to maintain a record of all reports, testimonies, and contacts related to UFO sightings. The meeting, led by Mr. Sullivan, included several key experts and officials who discussed how to organize the project, assign responsibilities, and coordinate with other agencies such as ATIC and the Air Force. The importance of maintaining a detailed historical record and continuously updating information to be able to issue official opinions if needed was emphasized.

A project officer was designated to investigate who was leading the initiative in other departments and to gather historical data on meteorology, radar, and other sciences. It was also mentioned that ATIC already had a global record on the subject. The meeting concluded without focusing on a specific problem, but with the clear intention of structuring a solid information system on UFOs. This document reveals how the CIA took an organized stance on UFO reports from a very early stage, aiming to control the information and prepare for possible external inquiries.