PROJECT 1947

UFO DOCUMENTS - 1947

SECRET

HEADQUARTERS
AIR MATERIAL COMMAND

IN REPLY ADDRESS BOTH
COMMUNICATION AND EN-
VELOPE TO COMMANDING
GENERAL, AIR MATERIAL
COMMAND, A T T E N T I O N
FOLLOWING OFFICE SYMBOL:

	TSDIN			TSDIN/HMM/ig/6-4100
			WRIGHT FIELD, DAYTON, OHIO

23 September 1947

	SUBJECT:		AMC Opinion Concerning "Flying Discs"


	TO:		Commanding General
			Army Air Force
			Washington 25, D.C.
			ATTENTION: Brig. General George Schulgen
			AC/AS-2

1. As requested by AC/AS-2 there is presented below the considered
opinion of this command concerning the so-called "Flying Discs." This
opinion is based on interrogation report data furnished by AC/AS-2 and
preliminary studies by personnel of T-2 and Aircraft Laboratory, Engineer-
ing Division T-3. This opinion was arrived at in a conference between
personnel from the Air Institute of Technology, Intelligence T-2, Office,
Chief of Engineering Division, and the Aircraft, Power Plant and Propeller
Laboratories of Engineering Division T-3.

2. It is the opinion that:

a. The phenomenon is something real and not visionary
or fictitious.

b. There are objects probably approximating the shape of a
disc, of such appreciable size as to appear to be as large as man-made
aircraft.

c. There is a possibility that some of the incidents may be
caused by natural phenomena, such as meteors.

d. The reported operating characteristics such as extreme
rates of climb, maneuverability (particularly in roll), and motion which
must be considered evasive when sighted or contacted by friendly air-
craft and radar, lend belief to the possibility that some of the objects
are controlled either manually, automatically or remotely.

e. The apparent common description is as follows:-

(1) Metallic or light reflecting surface.

U-39552

SECRET

Basic Ltr fr CG, AMC, WF to CG, AAF, Wash. D.C. subj "AMC Opinion Con-
cerning "Flying Discs"

(2) Absence of trail, except in a few instances where the
object apparently was operating under high perfor-
mance conditions.

(3) Circular or elliptical in shape, flat on bottom and
domed on top.

(4) Several reports of well kept formation flights varying
from three to nine objects.

(5) Normally no associated sound, except in three instances
a substantial rumbling roar was noted.

(6) Level flight speeds normally above 300 knots are esti-
mated.

f. It is possible within the present U.S. knowledge -- pro-

vided extensive detailed development is inderstaken -- to construct a
piloted aircraft which has the general description of the object in sub-
paragraph (e) above which would be capable of an approximate range of
7000 miles at subsonic speeds.

g. Any development in this country along the lines indicated

would be extremely expensive, time consuming and at the considerable ex-
pense of current projects and therefore, if directed, should be set up in-
dependently of existing projects.

h. Due consideration must be given the following:-

(1) The possibillity that these objects are of domestic
origin - the product of some high security project
not known to AC/AS-2 or this Command.

(2) The lack of physical evidence in the shape of crash
recovered exhibits which would undeniably prove the
existence of these subjects.

(3) The possibility that some foreign nation has a form
of propulsion possibly nuclear, which is outside of
our domestic knowledge.

3. It is recommended that:-

a. Headquarters, Army Air Forces issue a directive assigning

a priority, security classification and Code name for a detailed study of
this matter to include the preparation of complete sets of all available
and pertinent data which will then be made available to the Army, Navy,
Atomic Energy Commission, JRDB, the Air Force Scientific Advisory Group,
NACA, and the RAND and NEPA projects for comments and recommendations,
with a preliminary report to be forwarded within 15 days of receipt of
the data and a detailed report thereafter every 30 days as the investi-

SECRET

-2-

U-39552

Basic Ltr fr CG, AMC, WF to CG, AAF, Wash. D.C. subj "AMC Opinion Con-
cerning "Flying Discs"

gation develops. A complete interchange of data should be affected.

4. Awaiting a specific directive AMC will continue the investi-
gation within its current resoources in order to more closely define the
nature of the phenomenon. Detailed Essential Elements of Information
will be formulated immediately for transmittal thru channels.

N.F. TWINING
Lieutenant General, U.S.A.
Commanding

SECRET -3-

U-39552

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