Department of War PURSUE File
CIA-UAP-005, German Scientist's Article on 'Flying Discs'
1950
Editorial summary
This CIA Information Report, distributed July 31, 1950 and acquired in Santiago, Chile, forwards a translation of a German scientist's article on flying discs. The article, submitted to a German-language magazine published in Chile, theorizes that flying discs could be explained as a new type of aircraft. It draws on aerodynamic research said to have been developed in German facilities, proposing rotating cylinders or gas turbines to generate lift through manipulation of the boundary layer rather than conventional wings. The report is labeled unevaluated information.
Editorial summary written by govweird from the declassified document text. The official government description follows below.
Government description
This 1950 CIA Information Report from Chile discusses a German scientist's article theorizing that "Flying Discs" could be explained as a new type of aircraft based on aerodynamic principles developed in German research facilities during and after WWI, using rotating cylinders or gas-turbines to create lift through boundary layer manipulation, rather than conventional wings. A redacted version of this report has been available on CIA's public website.
Caption issued by the U.S. Department of War on war.gov/ufo. Verbatim, unedited.
Originating agency
Central Intelligence Agency
Record type
Incident date
1950
Incident location
Unspecified
Release tranche
Release 03 (May 8, 2026)
Distribution
Cleared for public release