Briefing Notes for Mr. Walter Elder
- File
- CIA-UAP-D023
- Type
- Document, 2 pages
- Agency
- CIA
- Date
- Undated
- Place
- Caribbean Sea
- Released
- Release 5, August 7, 2026
The government's description
This document contains briefing material prepared for Mr. Walter N. Elder, Executive Assistant to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), regarding a November 19, 1964, incident allegedly involving unidentified aircraft in the vicinity of Puerto Rico. The previous entry in this collection, CIA-UAP-D022, contains CIA memoranda on the same subject matter. The briefing includes additional details regarding that incident, including a characterization of the meteorological conditions and sensing capabilities of nearby U.S. military collection systems.
The briefing states that a radar system aboard USS Gyatt, a guided missile destroyer operating in the vicinity, detected a contact tracking more than 3,800 knots (approximately 4,373 mph) over a period of 21 minutes. The briefing contains visual estimates regarding the phenomenon’s apparent capabilities from the pilot of an F-8 Crusader who was present during the incident.
Full text
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Page 1
BlUEFING N0Tl£S FOR MR. WALT t:rNl.OJi;NTlFIED OBJECT FL"nNQ ON 16. 11. 1a, 1,. AND z4 Nev ·, l. On 19 Novemh", th• w. ftghter rapidly. The object appear ';ffl~ VlCINlTY OF PUgR TO RlCO 'BR • • & &yatt pit:ked up on itt radai- a on Clyatt'• radar for tvttnty..one again closed on the fighter £:rom ast . n to few: miles. 2. On 24 November. the At nth: Fleet Wfapona Rang.• again held a high.. speed, high~altitude tar .•, t which eimultaneoutl:y pulUtd away rapidly from anethe:r CJ."usader aircraft which at that time waw flying at Mach . 99. 45, 000 feet. 3. The Cru.eader pilot Qn th. ntght of the 19th oba.erved the UFO in fiul moonlight, weather was good vbl'ibility WBiJt good. UFO we.a tdtntiiled as a Delta •haptld objJJct a out th♦ 11,se of a Jet £1'1,hte:r. .nl1"1F>..,ir ti/ i~tf;t i ir- i .,... !
Page 2
4. The TJ. S. s, Gya.tt .corlfir, .lid t ~ t tra.c::kia with motion pictures of radar scope prll!l$itation. Thie pilot •.n1ttl'l.'u1t•d spttd to be in excess of Mach 3. 5. ONI has no furth•r illfor atiQp, oa tbbi subJ.-ct aad we ha v~ requested that they notU:y us e>f imtla:r incident• i:n tht• future. 6. For your information, t to-Ab: Mlse,ile. .Oea.t;roy•r -i,uipptd z U. $. 8. Gyatt ia a Navy Sui-faC!e.. th the la.test and most acc.urate