PURSUE archive · catalogue card
DOW-UAP-D093
Analysis of Flying Object Incidents in the United States, 1948
This card reproduces what the official catalogue publishes. Our own analysis (cross-checked sources, timeline and hypotheses) will come when its turn arrives in the weekly review.
- Agency
- Department of War
- Incident date
- Dec 10, 1948As the catalogue writes it: “12/10/48”
- Place
- VirginiaAs the catalogue writes it: “Virginia”See the area on the globe →
- Published in PURSUE
- Jul 10, 2026
- Records
- 1 record · Document
01 Official description
This file contains a U.S. Air Force (USAF) Air Intelligence Division study, “Analysis of Flying Object Incidents in the United States,” Study No. 203, dated 12/10/1948. The analysis includes an assessment of various reported unidentified flying object (UFO) incidents and theories to account for their nature and origin. Overall, the study assesses that “it appears that some object has been seen; however, the identification of that object cannot be readily accomplished.” The study offers that two “reasonable” origins might account for the phenomena: technologies of a domestic or foreign origin. It also suggests that, if foreign, it is prudent for the United States to assume that UFO observations are attributable to scientific, military, or intelligence activities of the Soviet Union, and, in that case, to take seriously the threat such objects may pose. The file also contains contemporary UFO reports and examples of experimental “flying wing” type aircraft planforms that might account for certain commonly reported UFO characteristics.
AARO comment
This file appears to be an earlier draft version of the file contained in DOW-UAP-D094, whose content is substantively similar.
02 Catalogue records · 1
DOW-UAP-D093 · Document · Department of War · Jul 10, 2026
Analysis of Flying Object Incidents in the United States, 1948
12/10/48 · Virginia
03 Related cases
Other catalogue cards from the same area or the same decade.
04 Sources
- [1]
Record · U.S. Department of War
Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE)
Card, descriptions and comments: PURSUE catalogue, U.S. Department of War. The files are not hosted here; they open on their official site.
Checked on Oct 4, 2026 · Open the original ↗
May contain errors by the AI and the editor · always check the official source.