FBI File Reveals 1952 Indiana UFO Sighting and Civil Defense Interest

In the early One such inquiry originated from the Department of Civil Defense in Franklin, Indiana, which wrote directly to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The letter, preserved in the declassified FBI file, asked whether the International Flying Saucer Bureau (IFSB) had been cleared or recognized as a subsidiary by the federal government.

The official, who had cleared the correspondence with the state director, expressed interest in joining the IFSB with the idea of channeling local saucer enthusiasts into Civil Defense work. S. 31, had seen some success with its Ground Observation Corps, which had four posts in the county.

The letter enclosed a copy of the IFSB newsletter and requested guidance on what steps to take with interested persons. This exchange illustrates how local civil defense structures intersected with the growing UFO phenomenon, as officials sought to organize public interest rather than dismiss it. The FBI's role in responding…