CIA UFO Documents

Summary

This document, dated March 27, 1959, is an official response from the CIA to Major Donald Kaye, who had written to request information about UFO sightings. The letter, authored by J. S. Barr, states that the CIA does not provide information on such matters outside official channels. Furthermore, the sender is asked to explain why the information is needed, so that an appropriate response can be considered. The tone is formal and reflects the institutional caution of not disclosing sensitive data without a clear justification.

The response illustrates the CIA's policy during the 1950s, a time when UFO sightings generated both public interest and governmental concern. The letter does not deny the existence of information but establishes a strict protocol for accessing it. This suggests that while the CIA was not inclined to share details with an ordinary citizen, it did not rule out the possibility of sharing information if a well-founded request was made.