UFO Group Was Reported as Communist Front in 1958

A 1958 FBI memo detailed information provided to the Bureau by well-known UFO writer Ivan Sanderson, who advised the FBI that UFO meetings held in New York City ceased having any connection to UFOs while promoting subversion of the U.S. government. “[T]he meetings are just being held under the guise of information concerning unidentified flying objects but in reality are meetings being used to expand the Communist Party line,” the FBI documented it was informed during an interview prompted by Sanderson.

The four-page memo was obtained from the National Archives as the result of a FOIA request initially submitted to the FBI. The request was filed as part of an ongoing Expanding Frontiers Research collaboration between Erica Lukes and this writer. The memo is rich in subject matter for potential topics of additional FOIA requests.

Ivan Sanderson telephoned the Newark FBI office on May 12, 1958, according to the memo, indicating he wanted to speak to an agent about information of a subversive nature. He was subsequently interviewed May 16 at his residence in New Jersey, along with Hans Stefan Santesson, a Swedish science-fiction editor from King Size Publications of New York.

Sanderson and Santesson told the FBI about their concerns surrounding a group called the New York Saucer Information Bureau, directed by Douglas Deane, an actor who reportedly expressed overt sympathy for Russian interests during group meetings. Also instrumental in the New York Saucer Information Bureau, or NYSIB, was Wayne S. Aho, who was prone to introducing himself as "Major Aho," which created confusion between his identity and that of flying saucer advocate Maj. Donald Keyhoe. Aho reportedly established the New York group and directed Washington Saucer Intelligence while being deeply embedded in UFO “contactee” culture.

Sanderson and Santesson explained the first few meetings conducted by NYSIB “dealt primarily with UFO matters” but, around February 1958, attendees began being encouraged to denounce the U.S. government. Topics turned exclusively to political matters, including nuclear arms, disingenuous politicians, and the ever-present calls to “do away with secrecy.” Those in attendance were told “Russia should not be blamed for the current world tensions” and were urged to write elected officials.

“[W]hen any requests are made of the audience,” the memo continued, “the requests are not in connection with scientific or factual information concerning unidentified flying objects, but are rather requests for the people to write their Congressmen to stop the nuclear war, to tear down our national defense, and to stop secrecy in the Government.”

Ivan Sanderson (1911-1973)

Those named by Sanderson and Santesson as influential at the meetings included dubious UFO contactees Daniel Fry and Truman Betherum. Also identified was Courtland Hastings, a member of the Princeton Class of '29 who lectured widely on UFOs and was a director of World Federalists.

“[A]ll of the above persons mentioned in connection with the NYSIB seem to have no particular jobs or visible means of support,” the FBI memo stated, “yet they travel continuously over the country attending various meetings of groups gathered together for the purpose of discussing unidentified flying objects. Sanderson also advised that these persons do not appear to be trying to capitalize from a monetary standpoint [on] the people attending the NYSIB meetings, but instead are trying to convince the people in attendance that our Government is no good."

The memo was composed by the Special Agent in Charge at the Newark, NJ, field office, sent to Dir. J. Edgar Hoover and copied to New York, Chicago and Los Angeles FBI offices. Various newsletters and printed material published by saucer groups were provided by Sanderson and Santesson. The samples demonstrated how certain segments of the UFO community were critical of the FBI and Air Force, rather ambiguously asserting they should not be allowed to get away with what they were doing. Pamphlets titled "Thy Kingdom Come" were included, issued by the Los Angeles Interplanetary Study Groups, chaired by Gabriel Green. The material addressed Prior Choice Economics, a system where acquisition of goods is eligibility-based, tallied over the course of one's lifetime of total productive work.

Ivan Sanderson was a British intelligence officer and New York City press agent during World War II. He remained in the country after the war and obtained United States citizenship. The memo documented how previous FBI contact with Sanderson disclosed he owned rare animals, was a frequent guest on the Garry Moore television show in New York, and had written many articles on UFOs, as well as regularly attended public meetings on the topic.

“Both Sanderson and Santesson advised that they would be willing to cooperate with the FBI in any manner in furnishing information in their possession concerning any of the individuals mentioned by them or concerning the NYSIB,” the memo advised recipients.

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