CIA-UAP-D023, Briefing Notes for Mr. Walter Elder
Official description
This document contains briefing material prepared for Mr. Walter N. Elder, Executive Assistant to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), regarding a November 19, 1964, incident allegedly involving unidentified aircraft in the vicinity of Puerto Rico. The previous entry in this collection, CIA-UAP-D022, contains CIA memoranda on the same subject matter. The briefing includes additional details regarding that incident, including a characterization of the meteorological conditions and sensing capabilities of nearby U.S. military collection systems. The briefing states that a radar system aboard USS Gyatt, a guided missile destroyer operating in the vicinity, detected a contact tracking more than 3,800 knots (approximately 4,373 mph) over a period of 21 minutes. The briefing contains visual estimates regarding the phenomenon’s apparent capabilities from the pilot of an F-8 Crusader who was present during the incident.
✦ AI summary
A CIA briefing memorandum prepared for Walter N. Elder, Executive Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence, on an unidentified flying object sighted near Puerto Rico on 16, 17, 18, 19, and 24 November. On 19 November the destroyer USS Gyatt tracked a high-speed, high-altitude object on radar for about twenty-one minutes while working with an F-8 Crusader fighter; the object held a stationary position off the Crusader, evaded when the pilot tried to close using afterburner, and later closed to within four miles of the fighter as it returned to Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station. On 24 November the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range tracked a similar high-speed, high-altitude target that pulled away from another Crusader flying at Mach .99 and 45,000 feet. The pilot who observed the object on the night of the 19th, under clear skies and full moonlight, described it as delta-shaped and about the size of a jet fighter, and estimated—corroborated by the Gyatt's radar-scope photography—a speed in excess of Mach 3; the Office of Naval Intelligence had no further information and was asked to report any similar future incidents.
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▸Transcript(2 of 2 pages legible)
[PAGE 1] BRIEFING NOTES FOR MR, WALTER N, ELDER UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT FLYING IN THE VICINITY OF PUERTO RICO ON 16, 17, 18, 19, AND 24 NOVEMBER 1. On 19 November, the U.& 5, Gyatt picked up on its radar a contact tracking in excess of 3,800 knots. At this time the Gyatt was working an F-8 (Crusader) Fighter Aircraft at 35,000 feet when a high- altitude, high-speed object was detected. The object slowéd and steadied down, maintaining a position to the fighter at nine o'clock, about nine miles from the Crusader. attempted to close on the UFO, Ata The Crusader pilot selected afterburner and pout five miles, the object acceler- ated at extremely high speed in a 209 climb and pulled away from the fighter rapidly. The object appeared on Gyatt's radar for twenty-one minutes, On returning to Roosevelt Road's Naval Air Station, object again closed on the fighter from astern to four miles. 2. On 24 November, the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range again held a high-speed, high-altitude target which simultaneously pulled away rapidly from another Crusader flying at Mach . 99, 45, 000 feet, aircraft which at that time was 3. The Crusader pilot on the night of the 19th observed the UFO in full moonlight, weather was good and visibility was good. UFO was identified as a Delta shaped object ab rout the size of a jet fighter, [PAGE 2] 4, The UU S. &. Gyatt eonfirrs pictures of radar scope presentation, be in excess of Mach 3, 5, ONI has no further inform ed radar tracks with motion The pilot estimated spead to ation on this subject and we have requested that they notify us of similar incidents in the future. 6 For your information, the U. 5,5. Gyatt is a Navy Surface. to-Air Missile Destroyer equipped with the latest and most accurate radars. ‘ “om
Generated with AI from the official file — may contain errors.
Source: U.S. Department of War / AARO — public domain · war.gov/ufo
