Mitchel Field: Col. Smith Memo on USAF-FBI UFO Cooperation
On September 3, 1947, Col. R. H. Smith from Air Defense Command at Mitchel Field outlined USAF's cooperation with the FBI to investigate flying disc reports, aiming to offload routine checks of mundane objects from Air Forces.
Background
Background
A memo of September 3, 1947 came from Col. R. H. Smith at Air Defense Command, Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York. It describes the purpose of cooperation between the US Air Force and the FBI in handling "flying disc" claims.
Content of the Memo
The document explains that the USAF wished to relieve the numbered air forces of the task of chasing numerous cases that turned out to be harmless objects such as dustbin lids, toilet seats, and the like. The cooperation was intended to make investigations more efficient and free resources for genuine threats.
Witnesses and Evidence
R. H. Smith, as author of the memo, is the primary actor. The original document is archived in the FBI UFO files (page 21) and is cited in works such as Clear Intent (page 156) and Beyond Roswell by Michael Hesemann and Philip Mantle (1997, page 66). It represents official military correspondence.
Significance
This memo illustrates the administrative burden created by the 1947 UFO wave and shows early attempts by the US armed forces to delegate investigations. It marks a shift toward inter-agency cooperation in the middle of the "flying disc" excitement, without confirming any specific UAP encounter.