Wilbert Smith

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Wilbert Smith

Illustration of official papers and files — Illustration: official papers and files. An artist's impression drawn for this site, not a photograph of the event.

Type	Person
On the Timeline	2 events, 1953–1983

Wilbert B. Smith (1910–1962) was a Canadian radio engineer who worked for the Department of Transport, regulating broadcasting.

Project Magnet

Portrait of Vannevar Bush. "Dr. Vannevar Bush, President, Carnegie Institution, Washington. From the News Service Mass. Institute of Technology… — Portrait of Vannevar Bush. "Dr. Vannevar Bush, President, Carnegie Institution, Washington. From the News Service Mass. Institute of Technology… Photo: Harris & Ewing · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

In 1950, while in Washington, Smith spoke with American scientist Robert Sarbacher and then wrote a memo saying the subject of flying saucers was the most highly classified matter in the U.S. government, higher even than the hydrogen bomb, and that a small group led by Vannevar Bush was studying it. Smith persuaded his department to set up Project Magnet (1950–1954) to study geomagnetism and UFOs. He later claimed contact with aliens through intermediaries. His 1950 memo remains one of the most cited early documents.

On the UAP Timeline

Illustration of wreckage at a crash site — Illustration: wreckage at a crash site. An artist's impression drawn for this site, not a photograph of the event.

Toronto dematerialization claim (1953) (1953) — An RAF instructor claims he saw a successful 'dematerialization' experiment in Toronto.
Sarbacher letter (1983) (29 November 1983) — Physicist Robert Sarbacher writes that he heard of recovered UAP materials while consulting for the Pentagon.

Connected articles

References

Wilbert B. Smith — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · archived copy

Categories: Allende letters and the philadelphia exp | Person | Project magnet | Unidentified flying object | Us air force

This page was last edited on 29 October 2026. Articles are written in our own words from the sources listed under References; disputed claims are attributed to the people who made them.

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