Pentagon: Gen. Anderson rejects UFO fighter alert proposal
On March 3, 1948, USAF Maj. Gen. Samuel E. Anderson rejected a plan by Col. Howard M. McCoy and Brig. Gen. Charles P. Cabell to keep fighters on constant UFO alert at all bases due to high costs and low interception chances. He directed all bases to forward UFO reports to Wright-Patterson AFB.
Background
Decision Against UFO Alarm
On March 3, 1948, Maj. Gen. Samuel E. Anderson, USAF Director of Plans and Operations at the Pentagon, rejected a proposal. It had come from Col. Howard M. McCoy and Brig. Gen. Charles P. Cabell, who wanted fighters held ready for UFOs around the clock at every base.
Reasoning and Instruction
Anderson cited the high cost and the low prospect of successful interception. Instead he directed that all bases pass UFO information to Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio. This centralised the reporting.
Significance
The rejection reflects early scepticism within the US Air Force. It gave priority to cost and efficiency over an aggressive response to UFO sightings. Routing reports to Wright-Patterson strengthened its role in UFO investigation, as later with Project Sign.