CIA transfers UFO responsibility to Air Force

Summary

On April 5, 1961, the CIA responded to a query from researcher Robert J. Palmer at the American Institute regarding documents related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs). In the reply, it was stated that all governmental responsibility for UFOs had been transferred to the Air Force. The CIA expressed regret for being unable to provide more specific assistance in this matter. The document, though brief, reveals that at the time, the management of UFO reports was being centralized under military authority, marking a significant step in the history of official UFO investigations.

This kind of historical correspondence is valuable for understanding how government agencies handled UFO information. Although the CIA could not offer direct help, its official response confirms that it was no longer in charge of such investigations, which is key to contextualizing other declassified documents that followed. This transfer of responsibility also suggests an effort by the government to maintain stricter control over sensitive information, a topic that has sparked debate among researchers and ufologists.