DOW-UAP-D095, Joint U.S.-Canadian Aviation Projects and UFO Sighting Reports, 1954-1955

Scientific Advisory Board panels initially concluded that the Avro project warranted no more than limited support and appointed a select committee for further review.

the tentative conclusions of both panels were to the effect that this project warranted no more than limited support

The technical review described Y2 as an approximately circular aircraft built around a radial-flow turbojet, with exhaust deflected downward for takeoff and hovering.

Y2 is an airplane of circular planform built around a radial flow turbojet

Reviewers challenged several claimed forward-flight advantages and warned that emphasis on hovering might compromise ordinary aircraft performance.

we are compelled to take exception to all three of these claims

The committee recommended against additional U.S. support until Avro demonstrated greater potential through its own analysis and development work.

We recommend against further support

A 1954 intelligence memorandum assigned an inquiry into Soviet capability to develop a vertical-takeoff aircraft that could resemble a flying saucer.

investigating possible Soviet capabilities for developing and producing a Vertical Take-Off Aircraft

The memorandum cataloged postwar German disc-aircraft stories involving George Klein, Otto Habermohl, Rudolf Schriever, and Robert Miethe, presenting them as reports and claims rather than verified programs.

claims to have been chief engineer of all flying disc projects

The project was briefed to personnel from the Army, Marine Corps, CIA scientific intelligence, Strategic Air Command, Air Defense Command, and RAND, showing broad defense interest despite technical disagreement.

Key Personnel of CIA-OSI

The memorandum records that Air Technical Intelligence Center personnel considered Project Y2’s success doubtful and recommends separating intelligence on terrestrial saucer-shaped aircraft from ordinary UFO processing.

success of Project "Y2" is very doubtful

The briefing’s stated purpose was to explain the U.S.-funded project and argue that another nation might fly such an aircraft first.

there is a very good possibility that we may not be the nation to successfully fly such an aircraft

The briefing described Avro Canada as beginning fabrication work on related configurations and anticipated a first flight test in spring 1956.

A.V. Roe Canada, Limited at this time are starting fabrication

The design briefing described a large radial-flow gas turbine and claimed a ground-effect lift increase, while the earlier scientific review remained skeptical of overall performance.

Tests have shown that the jet lift is increased several times over that of a flat disc near the ground

The concept study considered guns, rockets, radar, guided missiles, and a larger bomber version, demonstrating that the project was evaluated as a potential military aircraft.

Guns or rockets may be mounted in the nose

The intelligence briefing discussed two explicitly low-reliability reports and acknowledged that they might have been fabricated.

Two particular reports, although of low reliability, are of interest

War.gov’s official description says the file also contains a July 1955 KC-97 incident near Newfoundland that a USAF committee could not reconcile with known Soviet, American, or Canadian systems or explain through the simultaneous radar and visual reports.

unable to explain the simultaneous ground radar returns and aircrew visual sightings