Approved for Release 2026 Under Section 1842 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2024
SUBJECT: British Activity in the field of "Unidentified Flying Objects"
1. Ch 1$ December, the recently arrived messenger from Britain reported 
the following. He had talked with R. V. Jones and
2. The British have had a standing committee created about sixteen 
months ago on flying saucers. Presumably this is now under Dr. Jones through 
inheritance. The RAF are action people. The group has concluded that the 
observations are not enemy aircraft and that none have been over . Britain
3. The activity has been quiet and normal up to about ten to twelve 
days ago, at which time the Yorkshire incident took place. In some RAF field, 
there was some sort of demonstration to which high officials of the RAF in 
London had been invited. During the show, a "perfect flying saucer" was seen v^ - 
by these officials as well.as RAF pilots. So.many people saw it that many 
articles appeared in the public presA. This is disturbing to Jones because ^
he realizes that the creation of the correction of public opinion is a part 
of his responsibilities. . ^
U. Jones reminded us of the Swedish incident (presumably he refers 
to the one in 19^6), and reminds us of a paper on the origin of meteorites ~x '. • 
published in the French Academy of Sciences between 1760 and 1780 by Chladni.
5- The traveler told Jones of our interest at this time, mentioned .<­
the film which had been taken by the Naval non-commissioned officer (Tremonton 
incident). It is possible that Jones will write asking for a copy of the film 
or further on the same subject.
, H. MARSHALL CHAIWELL
/Assistant Director
Scientific Intelligence
Opns/SI - 1
P&E/SI - 1
W&E/SI - 1
AD/SI - 2


^non
While there is no indication that these objects represent a 
direct threat to the national defense, there are certain potential 
dangers which are related to these sightings. These are:
1. The difficulty and delay in positive identification 
which could weaken the early warning system in alerting defense 
in the event of commencement of hostilities.*
2. The possibility of mass hysteria which might be pur­
posely induced by an enemy at a critical time by faked reports.
3. The possibility that the emergency communications 
systems to cammand headquarters might be seriously overloaded 
at a critical time by such reports.
It is believed that the problems of communications confusion and 
overload and the serious effects of mass hysteria must be dealt with 
outside the intelligence community, and it is planned to bring these 
matters to the attention of those agencies with whom the prime respon­
sibility appears to rest. With respect to mass hysteria, it is believed 
this problem would lie with the Federal Civil Defense Administration and/ 
or the Interdepartmental Committee on Internal Security. Accordingly, 
it is planned to bring this to the attention of the FCDA and ICIS through 
established channels. With respect to emergency communications overload­
ing, it is believed that each of the individual Military Services should 
examine this problem. Accordingly, we intend to introduce the subject 
at a meeting of the Joint Communications and Electronics Committee.