DoW · DOW-UAP-D086
US Navy Flying Discs Reporting Directive (1948)
This 3 page document is a Fifth Naval District cover letter (Norfolk, Virginia, dated 13 December 1948) that quotes in full a Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) confidential letter of 1 November 1948 directing all naval districts to report "Flying Discs" sightings. The directive orders stations to forward any disc or unidentified-aerial-object sighting to the nearest Air Force command and to the District Intelligence Office, and to obtain photographic evidence where possible. It is an administrative tasking, not a sighting account.
Key excerpts
“1. The Director of Intelligence, U.S. Air Force has informed the Navy Department that a cycle of reappearance of "Flying Discs" is becoming apparent, and that the beginning of a new interval is imminent. They have requested that any such sightings be reported as quickly as possible, and that these phenomena be investigated. (p. 1)”
“2. It is requested, therefore, that all stations be directed to report to the nearest Air Force command and to the Naval District Intelligence Office any reported sighting of "Flying Discs" or other unidentified [aerial] objects. It is desired, also, that photographic evidence of the phenomena be obtained whenever possible. (p. 1)”