CUFON - UFO INFORMATION SERVICE SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT DOCUMENT FILES

Mr. Peter L. Clarke 5 December 1983

KOB Television

4 Broadcast Plaza SW

PO Box 1351

Albuquerque NM 87103

Dear Mr. Clarke

This is in reference to your Freedom of Information Act request for 18 November 1983 requesting access to information regarding photographs taken by Paul Bennewitz in 1980 near Kirtland AFB.

The only information we have in our files regarding this incident is a copy of a message, originator unknown, which apparently was placed in circulation in at least three cities in the U.S. This message discusses analysis of UFO photographs, and, while it does not mention who the photographer was, it does mention the name Bennewitz. The purported originator, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, has reviewed the message and confirmed that it is a hoax. While the Air Force Intelligence Service is listed as a recipient of the message, we have no record of ever receiving it from AFOSI. The copy that we have in our files was forwarded to us by the organisation Citizens Against UFO Secrecy.

We are attaching a copy of the document as we received it. We have, however, removed the bogus security markings so as not to alarm any recipients. We are also attaching other documents created by this agency as a result of the bogus message. These documents have previously been released to the public through the Freedom of Information Act.

For your further information, this agency collected information on UFO sightings for a few years. However, our interest in this topic was discontinued in the mid-1970's and our UFO records were transferred to the General Services Administration for inclusion in Project Blue Book. These records are available for public inspection through the National Archives and Records Service, Modern Military Branch, 8th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington DC 20408.

Sincerely 3 Atch

1-3. Docs on UFO Incident

SUSAN COOKSEY

Freedom of Information Manager