USAF Intelligence Files on Avro Project Y-2

NW 91198 DocId 34745775 Page 232 DECLASSIFIED Authority: NND 974373 Best Possible Image INT 2-2-7 UNIDENTIFIED FLYINT OBJECTS (UFO)

AIR TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE OHIO 17 January 1955 Major General John A. Samford Director of Intelligence Headquarters, USAF Washington 25, D. C. Dear General Samford: I thought you might be interested in what is being done in the matter of…

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE Headquarters United States Air Force Washington 25, D. C. SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF, USAF SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD REPORT ON AVRO PROJECT Y2 November 1954 This document consists of pages Copy Number of copies. DS 55-0323-2

SECRET DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE Headquarters United States Air Force Washington 25, D. C. 10 December 1954 Lieutenant General Donald L. Putt Deputy Chief of Staff, Development Headquarters United States Air Force Washington, D. C. Dear Don: In response to your request for…

SECRET December 6, 1954 General James H. Doolittle, Acting Chairman Scientific Advisory Board Office of the Chief of Staff Headquarters United States Air Force Washington, D. C. Dear General Doolittle: At your request we constituted ourselves an ad hoc group to conclude the s…

SECRET hovering; for level flight the intake is changed to a normal frontal inlet by a set of slides and doors. In later versions the radial engine has been replaced by radially disposed axial flow turbojets of conventional type. This modification was originally considered as an…

SECRET such an undertaking must depend on (a) the significance of the objectives which the new airplane claims to fill and (b) the soundness of the means proposed to attain these objectives. The key feature on which the design of the Y2 is based is the utilization for hovering…

SECRET figuration to such an extent that performance in level flight appears to have been seriously compromised. Since forward flight is, after all, the important function of any airplane, we have attempted to examine into the inventor's claim for the flight characteristics with…

SECRET lengthy and expensive experiments are needed to settle these questions with finality. The inventor has assumed that some improvement in the drag situation might be obtained through boundary layer suction. The alleged gain from this source is associated with the distribut…

SECRET information to indicate that this is so. No basic laws appear to have been transgressed in the design. It is merely a question of overemphasis on the hovering characteristics without any assurance that the level flight characteristics would be tolerable. In arriving at a…

SECRET other developments in performance, if the basic ideas should be capable of realization. We do not feel that the objectives of the development have been clearly formulated. In particular, we feel that there has been a preoccupation with the hovering characteristics to such…

SECRET On the basis of the above, we recommend against any contractual support for this project until much greater potentialities have been demonstrated by A. V. Roe's own analysis. Sincerely yours, Signed: Allen F. Donovan John R. Markham C. Richard Soderberg, Chairman 8 SE…

SECRET AFOIN-201 Mr Bollum/erh/55867 1 October 1954 MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD PROBLEM: 1. To make a final report on a special project assigned to Mr. C. W. Bollum, Sr., for the purpose of investigating possible Soviet capabilities for developing and producing a Vertical Take-Off…

SECRET a. George Klein who, as of April 1953 resided in Hamburg, claims to have been chief engineer of all flying disc projects. However, his principal importance seems to be that he knew of the existence of such projects and has called attention to other Germans in this field.…

SECRET given to brief the engineering personnel of the Los Angeles Air Force Development Office. 7. An "Air Force Only" restriction was dropped in June 1954 and the following have been briefed since: Chief of Naval Operations and Staff, Chief of Staff U.S. Army and Staff, Comma…

SECRET assume any responsibility in this field. Informally, ATIC personnel have indicated to Mr. Bollum opinion that the success of Project "Y2" is very doubtful and that it is not expected that ATIC will show any great interest or take any action other than that normally taken…

SECRET 12. Subject matter will not be submitted for inclusion in the D/I Policy Book or the Daily Staff Digest. ACTION: 14. Inasmuch as Mr. Bollum is the most knowledgeable person in the D/I on the subject of this project, it is recommended that he be appointed coordinator for…

SECRET TAB "A" BRIEF ON AN UNCONVENTIONAL AIRCRAFT POSSIBLE BY 1960 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this briefing is two-fold. First, I will attempt to tell you of a project being financed by the U.S. Air Force and as a result thereof to dispel to the greatest extent possible any…

SECRET further possiblity and danger that a foreign power not entirely friendly to the U.S. might achieve the desired results sooner, the USAF has made an agreement with the Canadian government and A.V. Roe Company to take over the complete development effort. The prime contract…

SECRET aircraft and the ground which eliminates the possibility of severe impact on landing. Tests have shown that the jet lift is increased several times over that of a flat disc near the ground. Advantages of such a technique are as follows: a. It is safer and more acceptable…

SECRET is not seen to present any specific difficulty. Guns or rockets may be mounted in the nose, or to fire out of the intake. Similarly, radar may be installed in a nose pod or if scan is considered adequate, inside the intakes, where the drag penalty will be less. New types…

SECRET While the application of the "Coanda Effect" appears to be Mr. Frost's idea, he feels that such an application could have been apparent to engineers in Germany and the Soviet Bloc nations. Two particular reports, although of low reliability, are of interest. The first dea…

PART IV SUMMARY SECRET We have presented to you some evidence that flying saucers are within the capabilities of the existing "state of the art" in this country and Canada. The "state of the art" is well known in European countries. The Coanda effect has been known to all count…

SECRET AFOIN-X/Lt Col Bloomer/tjc/54738 Wrtn 13 Jan 55 MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL SAMFORD SUBJECT: Article "The Flying Disc" in December Issue of the Air Intelligence Digest 1. During the latter part of November I was approached by Major Hosford and asked for a new summary or sta…

SECRET (1) Despite the unfavorable tone of the Scientific Advisory Board, report responsible key technicians within DCS/D are split into two groups on the feasibility of the project. (2) In view of this feeling within DCS/D, General Putt's letter to ARDC the last week in Decemb…

SECRET d. No reply should be made to the MEMORANDUM from the Executive Secretary of the Scientific Advisory Board. JOSEPH A. BLOOMER Lt Colonel, USAF Directorate of Intelligence AFOIN-X Lt Col Bloomer 3 SECRET ✓ D/I File Cy, X2B2

SECRET DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WASHINGTON 25, D. C. MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL SAMFORD SUBJECT: Article "The Flying Disc" in December Issue of the Air Intelligence Digest 1. During the latter part of November I was approached by Major Hosf…

SECRET (1) Despite the unfavorable tone of the Scientific Advisory Board, report, responsible key technicians within DCS/D are split into two groups on the feasibility of the project. (2) In view of this feeling within DCS/D, General Putt's letter to ARDC the last week in Decem…

SECRET d. No reply should be made to the MEMORANDUM from the Executive Secretary of the Scientific Advisory Board. JOSEPH A. BLOOMER Lt Colonel, USAF Directorate of Intelligence 3 SECRET

SECRET DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WASHINGTON 25, D. C. 14 December 1954 MEMORANDUM FOR DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE, AFOIN SUBJECT: Scientific Advisory Board Report on AVRO "Flying Saucer" Project. 1. Attached for your information is a copy…