FBI PDF RELEASE 2026-06-12 INC. 1949 ⌥ 590 WORDS OCR

FBI-UAP-D011, D/FBI Correspondence Referral, 1949

▮ AI SYNOPSIS · Sonnet 4.6

This is a four-page FBI correspondence file dated January–March 1949, consisting of a letter from Rev. Charles C. Barnes, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in McMinnville, Oregon, to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover; Hoover's reply; and a referral letter from Hoover to the Inspector General of the Air Force and the Atomic Energy Commission. Barnes reported observing, the previous May, four narrow beams of light traveling northwest to southeast and converging over the Cascade Mountains, where small clouds formed within the beams and a large explosion effect was visible at approximately 10,000 feet for at least ten minutes. Barnes speculated the event might relate to radio-beam rainfall experiments or a military/scientific test.

The record is notable as an early example of a civilian UAP-adjacent report being formally routed through FBI channels directly to the AEC and Air Force Inspector General, suggesting the bureau treated the account as potentially within those agencies' purview rather than dismissing it. Page 4, containing Hoover's referral letter to those agencies, is largely illegible in the OCR transcription, leaving the precise framing of the referral unclear. The document fits a pattern of 1949-era inter-agency UAP and anomalous aerial phenomena reporting coordinated loosely through the FBI.

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This collection of documents contains correspondence between the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), J. Edgar Hoover, and Rev. Charles Barnes concerning Barnes’ account of an incident potentially involving unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). Rev. Barnes described observing four beams of light “converging in the Cascade Mountains,” at an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet, with a “great explosion” visible at the convergence point of those beams for at least ten minutes. Director Hoover replied to Rev. Barnes thanking him for his letter and informing him that he had forwarded it to the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). Director Hoover conveyed to the AEC that Rev. Barnes believed that the event may relate to a military or scientific experiment within the commission’s purview.

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4398 (5-21086) MATERIAL MIST NOT E *117-HQ-0-2* SERIALS 71-145 Declassification authority derived From -Bl Automatic Declassification Guide, issued May 24.2007 AEQUESTED BY 'OUAN FEDERAL BURIENG FEB & 1980 JPIED BY ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED FOR HISTORICAL DECLASSIFICATION of GLASSIFED MORE TCH LICLOSED T1S548TY° INVESTIGATION ceral: 109 COPIED FOR DIDA MAR I 1978 BY USE CARE IN HANDLING THIS FILE Transfer Call 3421 NW 91173 Полн 2174266А Раде 117- 997 SECTION 2 SECTION. SERIALS 71-145

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First Preshuterian Churry REV. CHARLES C. BARNES, PASTOR BOX 391 Sile Minnaille, Dregan January 31, 1949 61899 at- General 7. : Mr. J. Edgar Hoover Washington D.C. Dear Mr. Hoover: Here is a bit of information which may be of great signi- ficance, or may be merely an observation of a sientific experi- ment. It may be known by military authorities and the A.E.C. or only a few may have seen it and none reported it to the right place. Here it is. Can you pass it to the rigt persons? Last May one afternoon I saw four beams in the sky passing from the northwest to the southeast and converging in the Cascade mountains. In those four narrow beams small alouds were forming. And where the beams met apparently against the mountains a great explosion effect was to be seen. I woudd say that they were visible for at least 10 minutes or longer. The sight brought to mind an article read before the war about experiments carried on in Europe with various types of radio beams to effect rainfall. I would guess that I had seen the article. in the Science Digest. The Columbia River flood of last summer and the unusual precipitation this winter have forced me to. feel that this observation of mine should be sent somewhere in the interest of national security. I have one son in the Air Corpsand anotherworks with the A.E.C. at Hanford which causes me to pray for peace, as well the fact that as a minister I deplore the waste and tragedy of war. That is one reason that I have refrained from passing on information and ideas that might incite warlike attitudes. May I add these words to paragraph two. The explosion effect seemed to rise to a height of about ten thousand feet. 48 861 Sincerely, 0. Q. Dawes c. -*Barnes 147-0-40 83 MAR F 1949 RECORDen - 119 INDEXED • 119 Ex32 NW 91173 Docld:34743666 90 fore A, C. Page 2 CW18-3-3-49

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RECORDED - 119 114-0-109 Reverend Charles C. Barnes First Presbyterian • Church Boz 391 Mcüinnuille, Oregon Dear dr. Barnes: I have receiued your letter of January 31, 1949, and want to thank you for sending the Information with roference to the notter you mentioned, It was indeed thoughtful of you to communicate with me in this comection. Sincerely Yoursy John Edgar Hoover Director WNeamho -i Mr. Tolson 555555 clogg Glavin Ladd N1Ch018. Rosen Tracy Egan Gurnõi Terror Mohr Penningto Quinn Tamm Room Mr. Nate Gandy 9 LICE Đ0W 1i SO U 018 LEB ID /COMMUNICATIONS SECTION MAILED 15 FEB 10 1949 P.M. VERAL BUREAU OF INVESTICATA NW 91173 Docld:34743666 Page 3

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INDEXED - 119 EX-22 Dates pas. Tos 1 14-0-109 tact 3, 1549 The Inspector Consent Amportaan of the Ala Farco The Portagra Tashington 26, De Ge BREEZAL 1200 Beverend Banes nogussted that this infe Into in unishal for you infu t20De de * Monto Prorgy Gendealer Rem 30 cub CWB:arm Mr. Tolson Clege Nicholg Rosen Tracy_ Mira Marve •Mr. Mohr Mr. Penningtor Quinn Tamm Tele. Room Mr. 19s Gandy 1: 100W 3 0тbW di COMMUNICATIONS SECTION BY SPECIAL MESSENGER MAR 3 1949 FERERAL BUREAU OF WAR 2E COPERT DENT OF JUSTICE NW 91173 Docld:34743666 Page 4

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