DISCLOSURE / FILE
A November 1948 USAF Directorate of Intelligence top secret packet circulating extracts from teletype TT #1524, including a Holland jet sighting, a USAFE flying-saucer assessment that cites Swedish technical experts and a reported crash into a lake, and Soviet radar/aircraft intelligence.
341_110448_Records_Relating_to_the_Collection_and_Dissemination_of_Intelligence_1948-1955-TS_CONT_No.2_2-5300-2-5399
A November 1948 USAF Directorate of Intelligence top secret packet circulating extracts from teletype TT #1524, including a Holland jet sighting, a USAFE flying-saucer assessment that cites Swedish technical experts and a reported crash into a lake, and Soviet radar/aircraft intelligence.
The packet is a 7-page Top Secret cover sheet and extracts (TS Cont. No. 2-5317) dated 8 November 1948, routed within the Directorate of Intelligence, Headquarters U.S. Air Force at 4B-954 Pentagon, and distributed to AFOAI branches, CIA, AMC, and the Armament Intelligence Branch. USAFE Item 10 records three crews of the 307th Bomb Group sighting an unidentified jet-propelled aircraft at 30,000 feet off the west coast of Holland (5155N/0355E) at 1402Z on 5 September 1948 during Operation Daggar, evaluated B-2. USAFE Item 14 reports a flying saucer hovering over Neubiberg Air Base for about thirty minutes and conveys Swedish Air Intelligence Service assessments that the phenomena reflect "high technical skill which cannot be credited to any presently known culture on earth," including a Swedish naval salvage operation diving on a previously uncharted lake crater attributed to a flying saucer. The remaining extracts cover a Soviet "Redut" radar set near Kholomia Airfield and a CIC report that Russian CSR Missions were ordered to purchase radar tubes and a complete radar set abroad.
Unidentified aircraft was sighted by three crews of the group at 1402Z 5 Sep 48 off west coast of Holland, 5155N/0355E. Altitude of all aircraft was 30,000 feet.p.4
For some time we have been concerned by the recurring reports on flying saucers. They periodically continue to cop up; during the last week, one was observed hovering over Neubiberg Air Base for about thirty minutes.p.5
"these phenomena are obviously the result of a high technical skill which cannot be credited to any presently known culture on earth."p.5
They are therefore assuming that these objects originate from some previously unknown or unidentified technology, possibly outside the earth.p.5
Divers had discovered a previously uncharted crater on the floor of the lake.p.5
Although accepting this theory of the origin of these objects poses a whole new group of questions and puts much of our thinking in a changed light, we are inclined not to discredit entirely this somewhat spectacular theory, meantime keeping an open mind on the subject.p.5
CIC source reports that the Russians have ordered CSR Missions in foreign countries to purchase radar tubes in large quantities regardless of costs.p.7
Extracted text · Page 1
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TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION DECLASSIFIED Authority: NND 843014 Directorate of Intelligence Headquarters, U. S. Air Force 4B-954 Pentagon Washington 25, D. C. All documents filed in numerical sequence according to Top Secret Control Number. TS CONT. NO. 2-5300 - 2-5399 Nov 48 TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION NW 90307 DocId:34714985 Page 1
Page 2 · vision OCR
AFOIN-4 (Rev 5 Dec 47) COVER SHEET
* *
2-5317
T.S. Cont. #
DI.--Hq. USAF
a. RECORD OF BASIC CORRESPONDENCE OR REQUEST b. CLASSIFICATION:
FROM: DATE: 8 Nov 48
AFOIR-CO TYPE:
* TOP SECRET
SUMMARY:
Extracts from TT #1524,
D/I, HQ. USAF vs A-2, USAFE
SUSPENSE
DATE
ASGD BY
DATE RECEIVED DIR/INT NO.
c. TO: AFOIR SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS - REMARKS
1. Submitted for information. DATE 8 Nov 48
2. All items have been distributed
to AFOAI branches. NO. 1
3. Item USAFE 14 has been distributed to CIA, AMC,+
armament Intelligence Branch, DCS/M.
4. Item USAFE 16 has been distributed to OIR-SR.
USE OTHER SIDE THIS SHEET FOR ADDITIONAL REMARKS CO-12
d. TO BR. TO TO DIV. TO TO DIR/INT TO
DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN UP
OIP-PP
OIP-FL
ADMIN
OIR-CO [initialed] AFOIP ASST EXEC
OIR-DD
OIR-AA AFOIR [initialed] ASST EXEC [initialed]
OIR-CM 10 Nov
OIR-RC [initialed]
8 NOV
OAI-OA EXECUTIVE [initialed]
OAI-DA [initialed]
OAI-AE AFOAI DIR/INT [initialed]
OAI-AF 1100 - 12 Nov
OAI-SV
OCI-IS
OCI-RR AFOCI
OCI-CI
......
...... X Action
......
...... ✓ Coordination [initialed] 376
e. DATE REC'D BR f. DISPATCH FILE
ACTION ASGD TO DATE DISPATCHED BY TO
SIGNED [initialed] DATE DATE DISPATCHED
8-3477, AF
NW 90307
DocId:34714985 Page 2Page 7 · vision OCR
SECRET USAFE 16 TT 1524 SECRET 4 Nov 48 CIC source reports that the Russians have ordered CSR Missions in foreign countries to purchase radar tubes in large quantities regardless of costs. Mission also instructed to purchase a complete radar set. (Eval C-3) (END OF ITEM) SECRET NW 90307 DocId:34714985 Page 7
Concatenated page-by-page transcript. Born-digital pages came through pdf.js; scanned pages were transcribed by Claude vision OCR. Pages marked unreadable failed multiple OCR retries (heavy redaction, microfilm artifacts, or blank separators) and are kept in place for audit.
TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION DECLASSIFIED Authority: NND 843014 Directorate of Intelligence Headquarters, U. S. Air Force 4B-954 Pentagon Washington 25, D. C. All documents filed in numerical sequence according to Top Secret Control Number. TS CONT. NO. 2-5300 - 2-5399 Nov 48 TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION NW 90307 DocId:34714985 Page 1
AFOIN-4 (Rev 5 Dec 47) COVER SHEET
* *
2-5317
T.S. Cont. #
DI.--Hq. USAF
a. RECORD OF BASIC CORRESPONDENCE OR REQUEST b. CLASSIFICATION:
FROM: DATE: 8 Nov 48
AFOIR-CO TYPE:
* TOP SECRET
SUMMARY:
Extracts from TT #1524,
D/I, HQ. USAF vs A-2, USAFE
SUSPENSE
DATE
ASGD BY
DATE RECEIVED DIR/INT NO.
c. TO: AFOIR SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS - REMARKS
1. Submitted for information. DATE 8 Nov 48
2. All items have been distributed
to AFOAI branches. NO. 1
3. Item USAFE 14 has been distributed to CIA, AMC,+
armament Intelligence Branch, DCS/M.
4. Item USAFE 16 has been distributed to OIR-SR.
USE OTHER SIDE THIS SHEET FOR ADDITIONAL REMARKS CO-12
d. TO BR. TO TO DIV. TO TO DIR/INT TO
DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN UP
OIP-PP
OIP-FL
ADMIN
OIR-CO [initialed] AFOIP ASST EXEC
OIR-DD
OIR-AA AFOIR [initialed] ASST EXEC [initialed]
OIR-CM 10 Nov
OIR-RC [initialed]
8 NOV
OAI-OA EXECUTIVE [initialed]
OAI-DA [initialed]
OAI-AE AFOAI DIR/INT [initialed]
OAI-AF 1100 - 12 Nov
OAI-SV
OCI-IS
OCI-RR AFOCI
OCI-CI
......
...... X Action
......
...... ✓ Coordination [initialed] 376
e. DATE REC'D BR f. DISPATCH FILE
ACTION ASGD TO DATE DISPATCHED BY TO
SIGNED [initialed] DATE DATE DISPATCHED
8-3477, AF
NW 90307
DocId:34714985 Page 2SECRET
T.S. Cont. #
DI--Hq. USAF
USAFE 2 TT 1524 SECRET 4 Nov 48
To Gen Cabell
We now have one complete set of all reports prepared by special
intelligence organization of the European Command from its conception to
present date. We are forwarding these reports for your inspection and
final disposition. We are of the opinion that inspection of these reports
will lend weight to arguments for allocating Air Force funds to this
organization. Advise caution in utilizing these reports as most of them
were forwarded as received.
(END OF ITEM)
SECRET
NW 90307
DocId:34714985 Page 3CONFIDENTIAL
USAFE 10 TT 1524 CONFIDENTIAL 4 Nov 1948
From OI OB
Following report on unidentified aircraft sighting comes from 307th Bomb
Group which participated in operation daggar. Unidentified aircraft was
sighted by three crews of the group at 1402Z 5 Sep 48 off west coast of Holland,
5155N/0355E. Altitude of all aircraft was 30,000 feet. When first sighted
the unidentified A/C was cruising at a normal jet speed, heading 120 degrees.
Soon after first seen, A/C began leaving smoke trails and condensation trails
accompanied by sudden acceleration and then climb. Generall agreed by
observers that it was a single jet propelled A/C employing probably rocket
assists with tremendous reserve power, more than normal curising speed for
jets of the 1947 variety. Never within identification range; its course
did not indicate its purpose.
Our evaluation of the above: B-2.
(END OF ITEM)
CONFIDENTIAL
NW 90307
DocId:34714985 Page 4TOP SECRET
2-5317
T.S. Cont. # ?
DI--Hq. USAF
USAFE 14 TT 1524 TOP SECRET 4 Nov 1948
From OI OB
For some time we have been concerned by the recurring reports on flying
saucers. They periodically continue to cop up; during the last week, one was
observed hovering over Neubiberg Air Base for about thirty minutes. They
have been reported by so many sources and from such a variety of places that
we are convinced that they cannot be disregarded and must be explained on some
basis which is perhaps slightly beyond the scope of our present intelligence
thinking.
When officers of this Directorate recently visited the Swedish Air
Intelligence Service. This question was put to the Swedes. Their answer
was that some reliable and fully technically qualified people have reached
the conclusion that "these phenomena are obviously the result of a high
technical skill which cannot be credited to any presently known culture on
earth." They are therefore assuming that these objects originate from some
previously unknown or unidentified technology, possibly outside the earth.
One of these objects was observed by a Swedish technical expert near
his home on the edge of a lake. The object crashed or landed in the lake
and he carefully noted its azimuth from his point of observation. Swedish
intelligence was sufficiently confident in his observation that a naval
salvage team was sent to the lake. Operations were underway during the
visit of USAFE officers. Divers had discovered a previously uncharted
crater on the floor of the lake. No further information is available, but
we have been promised knowledge of the results. In their opinion, the
observation was reliable, and they believe that the depression on the floor
of the lake, which did not appear on current hydrographic charts, was in
fact caused by a flying saucer.
Although accepting this theory of the origin of these objects poses a
whole new group of questions and puts much of our thinking in a changed
light, we are inclined not to discredit entirely this somewhat spectacular
theory, meantime keeping an open mind on the subject. What are your
reactions?
TOP SECRET
(END OF USAFE ITEM 14)
TOP SECRET
NW 90307
DocId:34714985 Page 5TOP SECRET
He also knows of a Soviet-built radar set located near Kholomia Airfield
(5 KM W of Airfield, near the town of Kholomia). This type set is
called "Redut". He believes personnel of this set to be army, assigned
to PVO, but is not certain. His regiment conducted flying cooperation
exercises with the set, presumably to train the set operators, since
the set was first located at Kholomia in Spring 1947. His aircraft, in
October 1948, lost the set on such an exercise at a distance of 150 kilometers
and altitude of 1200 meters. Following instructions, he then climbed to
3000 meters, when the set again picked him up. he states he believes this
type set is standard throughout the PVO, and that he believes its maximum
range to be 150 kilometers, because no training flights of greater distances
were ever undertaken. Further details will be sought.
All TU-2 of 63 Regt are fitted with IFF type S. CH. (C-4), located
in the tail of the aircraft and operated by a switch in the radio operator's
compartment. Further, experiments with airborne radar (A tail warning
device) werecarried out in 1947 and TU-2 of his regiment. This equipment
involved the installation of a small external array. Sets were removed after
a few days of testing, but results were understood to have been satisfactory.
On the subject of Kholomia Airfield, this field is currently apparently
simply a level pasture, 600 meters N/S by 1400 meters E/W, but a paved runway
is being constructed outside the north boundary of the airfield. No details
are known to subject, as work has just commenced. The airfield currently has
no installations; aircraft are parked in the open, and fuel is brought
directly to the aircraft from the town of Kholomia (7 kilometers to the W) by
tank trucks.
Another interesting fact is the arrival of the TU-2 with only a crew
of three, and without the dorsal turret machine gun in place (nor anyplace
on the aircraft). Subject states that the air gunner sergeants who should
occupy this fourth position are on duty with the regiment, but are engaged
in fatigue details, and XXXX rarely carried on training flights.
Subject believes the TU-2 to be manufactured in a factory in Moscow,
and it is noted that a plaque in the aircraft stated that it had been produced
in Factory No. 19.
A fuller report will shortly be underway, based on interrogation
conducted so far, and many more details are expected to be obtained in the
next week or two, with both pilot and navigator being interrogated.
(END USFA-1)
TOP SECRET
NW 90307
DocId:34714985 Page 6SECRET USAFE 16 TT 1524 SECRET 4 Nov 48 CIC source reports that the Russians have ordered CSR Missions in foreign countries to purchase radar tubes in large quantities regardless of costs. Mission also instructed to purchase a complete radar set. (Eval C-3) (END OF ITEM) SECRET NW 90307 DocId:34714985 Page 7