FCC Monitoring and Flying Saucers (CIA Memo, 9 December 1952)
This CIA Reading Room document is a one-page memorandum dated 9 December 1952, authored by W. E. Graham and addressed to DAD/SI, on the subject of 'FCC Monitoring and Flying Saucers.' Graham reports interviewing Mr. Irving Weston of the Federal Communications Commission's Field Engineering and Monitoring Division to establish whether the Commission possessed any knowledge of unexplained radio signals that might be connected with unidentified flying saucers. Weston's answer was no. The memo explains that unless such signals were reasonably persistent or caused interference to established services, they would be unlikely to be intercepted or investigated, since monitoring stations are generally occupied with special assignments. It notes the FCC operated 12 full-time and 6 part-time monitoring stations, including two in Alaska and one in Hawaii, and describes the limitations of monitoring frequencies above 30 mc/s. Graham cites past efforts to identify the 'V' signals in 1935 and to explain the VHF 'bursts,' arguing that any persistent radio signals below 30 mc/s from flying saucers would soon draw considerable interest at the FCC. The memo also references an FCC file in the Briggs Building tabulating reported intercepts by frequency and call letters, extending back three or four years. The discussion was considered Secret.
Description
A 9 December 1952 internal memorandum from W. E. Graham to DAD/SI reporting on an interview with Mr. Irving Weston of the FCC's Field Engineering and Monitoring Division, conducted to determine whether the FCC had any knowledge of unexplained radio signals possibly connected with unidentified flying saucers. The document, released via the CIA's FOIA Reading Room, was classified Secret at the time.
Claims
The FCC operated 12 full-time and 6 part-time monitoring stations, including two in Alaska and one in Hawaii.
95%Any persistent radio signals below 30 mc/s originating from flying saucers would soon become the subject of considerable interest at the FCC and elsewhere.
70%The FCC, as of December 1952, had no knowledge of unexplained radio signals possibly connected with unidentified flying saucers.
85%The FCC maintained a file in the Briggs Building tabulating reported intercepts by frequency and call letters extending back three or four years.
80%The FCC had no knowledge of unexplained radio signals possibly connected with unidentified flying saucers as of December 1952.
75%The FCC maintains a file in the Bricks Building cataloging all reported intercepts by frequency and call letters over three or four years.
65%
Events
Dec 8, 1952
Interview of Irving Weston regarding UFO radio signals
W. E. Graham interviewed FCC official Irving Weston to determine whether the FCC had knowledge of unexplained radio signals connected with flying saucers; the answer was no.
Dec 31, 1934
Efforts to identify 'V' signals
Referenced concerted FCC efforts to identify the 'V' signals as a precedent for how persistent unusual signals draw investigative interest.
Dec 8, 1952
Interview of FCC official on flying saucer radio signals
CIA author interviewed Mr. Irving Weston of the FCC to determine whether the Commission had knowledge of unexplained radio signals connected to unidentified flying saucers; the answer was no.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Extracted text (OCR)
dichasad eat ny sitet shod sath PAU TSG PRAY PT GOTT PPE Dinbb ddan”. Atl Lhe ti vavere Bi Addacnitsbtodac SA, Janz bad os bee ie wey To : DAD/SI . __ DATE; 9 December 1952 - FROM Vat U. Graton tte “ Lez SUBJECT: SCC Monitoring and Flying Saucers. > . i 4 “1. In accordance with- your: ‘request, I intervieved Mr. Irving Weston._... of the Field Sntineerins and Monitoring Division n of the FCC to determine - oe whether the Commission at present has any. ouledse’ of unexplained radio === —====- Silenals whick might possibly-be connected. with, unidentified flying saucers. His answer wes no. 2. Unless such signals _were-reasonably persistant or were Causing inte ‘ference to establish ned_services, it-is. ualixely- that they” would be: intercep pied, or if intercasted, che -svuddect-of- Sraut ry.— this -is- because the’ stations. are, oo in gerereal, invalved- in special assisnmants and: have & ninizrum of tie- for ===! - ecnerel eriisins of. the” SP ectrun. 2 oe a. we nee ng 12 full tire xz oring stations an and The Comission “has- Oreretd fos i one (1) in Favat feta : eles above "30 ne/s., a retty much to trans- ing bitters in sta ations have equipzent 2 eles, in ael Res receiver, dut naice littie use +> 2 Vis rorlis bent by traveling _. -. 0: ins Spectcrs ii toasiile receivers, Ty using the exar Tele ae Of tha Ocneertet effacs to-fientisy tre wy Signals bac: in 1935 and the rire reeaat efforts -nien zree e ation of the VEP "bursts" ; shet any rersistent eccurrences of red Rok a6 ticht come fren flying Sencers, if bslav 3) me/s., Would. soon be tha eb sact of considerable interes at the FOC n¢. slsewhere. 4, The FCC maintains a file in the Brices Building of all - Yevorted inter. cepts cf all its monitoring stations by frequency and oy call letters extenéing - bac’: three er four years. nis file is particularly valuable in the recognition of new sitmais which wey de reported 23 Information tabulated includes frequescy, call letters, tyre of emission, servite, monitoring station re eporting, and an intercent Szogorting the identification. . 5. Classification of the discussion was cansidered Secret. GRAM ~ — reall dosh $i talaid sda din un Laps aa itch Sedeahihnt At dihhn tcrak od cn hun Wh add duinie ein at Si ‘inst udcad tos TO t DAD/SI . DATE: 9 Decerber 1952 SUBJECT; FCC Monitoring and Flying Saucers. “1. In accordance with your request, I intervieved Mr. Irving Weston of the Field Entineering and Monitoring Division of the FCC to determine whether the Comission at present has any snovwledse of unexplaised radio Signals vaich might possibly be connected vith unidentified flyinz saucers. His ansver ves no. . 2. Unless such signels were reasonably persistent or were causing inter- ‘ference to estavlished services; it is unlikely that they would be intercepted, or it intercested," the suoject of inquiry. this is because the’ stations are, in general, involved in special assignments and have a minimum of tine for gener2l cruising of the sreetrums- ~~ 3- The Commission has operating 12-full tine monitoring stations and ~ 6 part tire moaitoring stations. —Tyvo-(2)-of-the stations are in Alaska and one (1) in Favali, Because of the short renge of frequencies ebove 30 re/s., monitoring detz. t-290-me/s.—-1$ “confined pretty much to trans- Pr «© ja bitters fn tre tmieclate vicinity.—“tost- ofthe nonitering stations have > equinzent for hizher freane i€$,—ineh no the ARZAPR-' receiver, Dut wae little use thensof, ¥: 22. to some extent ey traveling ~ inspectors vith auton szened lively using the exarrls Of the ccneertes 2fFau rst Tiathemy sienals bee's in 1935 and the rir2 recett ef thé explanation of the Var "vursts", Chet any persistens oe jznals that nicht care fron flyins Séucers, if velov 33 ~ the cogect of considerable interes? at the FCC ané elsesher 4 kh. The cepts cf ali $ AQF u3 Stations by frequency and vy cel. letters extending bac’: three or four years.” Tnis f rai ¥ information tabulated includes freguency, ony-$ » monitoring statian reporting, and icentification. ae ees Ste en intercept suooorting th ww e221 letters, tyne of emis . a ig 5. Pile is particularly valuable in the recognition tains a file inthe Briecs Building of all reported inter.—— ri 7 i ~ ~~, : - 2? ™“. wv 8 ea, » . oe _ - - —-
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