CIA-UAP-D021

Analysis of Unconventional Aircraft Sightings, 1955

A summary of the Central Intelligence Agency's assessment of a 1955 incident involving "unconventional aircraft."

Official description

Sections 1 and 2 of this memorandum document a 1955 analysis of reports of “flying saucers” or “unconventional aircraft,” referencing the incident described in observer debriefings contained within CIA-UAP-D020. The memo summarizes the incident as consisting of two lights rising vertically, then passing above the observers. The memo contains caveating language that suggests the author concluded that the reports, as described, did not indicate the presence of an “unconventional aircraft.” Section 3 cites a previous finding by Dr. [Howard] Robertson (of the 1953 Robertson Panel) that “almost all the sightings […] represented no threat to the U.S.” Section 4 discusses the state of then-current research into “saucer-like aircraft” under Project “Y,” a contemporary joint U.S.-Canadian aerospace development program.

Reproduced verbatim from the releasing agency.

AI summary

This CIA memorandum from 1955 analyzes reports of unconventional aircraft sightings, specifically describing an incident involving two lights observed rising vertically. The author concludes that these reports do not suggest the presence of an actual unconventional aircraft and cites previous findings indicating that most sightings posed no threat to the U.S. The document also touches on ongoing research into saucer-like aircraft at the time.