Wilbert Smith memo on flying saucers and U.S. secrecy

When
Portrait of Canadian engineer Wilbert Smith
Wilbert Smith, the Canadian engineer who wrote the 1950 memo Unknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Canadian Department of Transport radio engineer Wilbert Smith sent a Top Secret memo proposing geomagnetic research tied to flying saucers. It relays what U.S. contacts reportedly told him, including that saucers were the most highly classified U.S. subject. The proposal led to Project Magnet.

Sources

  1. OtherMemorandum to the Controller of Telecommunications, Department of Transport, 21 November 1950 (transcription) (opens in a new tab)Canada Department of Transport (copy hosted by Metabunk) / 1950-11-21
  2. OtherWilbert B. Smith (biography by Michael Strainic) (opens in a new tab)NOUFORS

How sources are chosen and tiered

Where it fits

See it on the timelineMore in Government