Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

AP/Press Association Images

The Irish government were briefed on flying saucers in 1950

The letter came from the embassy in Washington.

A LETTER FROM the Irish Embassy in Washington was sent to the Irish government in 1950.

The letter was sent to the Department of External Affairs by an embassy staffer, who enclosed a copy of the book The Flying Saucers Are Real, by Donald Keyhoe.

It is part of the ninth volume of documents released in the Documents on Irish Foreign Policy project.

In the letter, the staff member says that “the book speaks for itself”, pointing out that it was selling well in the States.

The book is considered a seminal book, which investigates numerous encounters between United States Air Force fighters, personnel, and other aircraft, and UFOs between 1947 and 1950.

Flying_saucers_are_real_cover_keyhoe Wikimedia Wikimedia

In the letter home, releases from the US Department of Defence are included, with the writer saying that his “newspaper friends” had assured him the book was “completely factual”.

He tells a story of an American Airlines plane that was “circled three times by one of these manifestations”.

The letter writer says that they do not “commit [themselves] to believe in any of the views” expressed in the book.

However, they say that there has been talk that the book was inspired by the American authorities which means people may accept the idea that “there is a possibility of the inhabitants of another planet visiting this one”.

Read: Ancient Waterford site reveals Vikings moved from raiding to trading

Read: A bedroom frozen in time – the interiors of a life 100 years ago

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Author
Paul Hosford
View 39 comments
Close
39 Comments
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds