NARA PF 12.13.23

This is an automated reply to inform you that the National Archives and Records Administration received your email.

We have received your request and you will receive a response within 20 working days. Please note that submitting duplicate requests will increase wait times.

If you have any questions, you can call our office at 301-837-3190. You can also visit our web page at www.archives.gov/research/foia.

Thank you.

Dear Mr. Skvarla:

This is in reply to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request of December
13, 2023, regarding Record Group 226 *Records of the Office of Strategic
Services (OSS) *and Record Group 227 *Records of the Office of Scientific
Research and Development [OSRD]* records pertaining to Project Fantasia
(SAC-26), which was a joint OSS/OSRD project to create a luminescent
balloon as a psychological weapon against the Japanese during World War II.

Your request was received by my office on December 19, 2023 and assigned
tracking number 24-13703.

Using the search terms "Fantasia" and "SAC-26" to guide us, we have
carefully searched the Topical Index and the Code Name Index
for Record Group 226 *Records of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), *which
references documents held throughout the record group. We also searched the
file list for Record Group 226 Entry A1 145 *Records of the Office of
Strategic Services. Research and Development Branch. Subject Files,
1942–1945*, which developed or contracted for the fabrication of special
weapons and devices. However, we were not able to locate any records
responsive to your FOIA request.

We were able to locate one Project Fantasia (SAC-26)-related file, which is
open to the public and contains approximately 60 pages, in Record Group 227
Entry NC 118 151 *Records of the Office of Scientific Research and
Development. Project or Problem Files, 1942–1946*, Box 74 [STACK LOCATION:
130/22/12/4]. We would be happy to help you access these records in
the Civilian Records Consultation Area of the National Archives at College
Park, MD <https://www.archives.gov/college-park> (Archives II) Textual
Research Room (3rd Floor). You may request an appointment
<https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/textual-research-room-appointments-487599> to
do so online.

As an alternative to visiting Archives II, you may wish to hire a private
researcher to access the records on your behalf. A list of private
researchers who are familiar with Archives II is available on our website
<https://www.archives.gov/research/hire-help/locations.html?facility=college-park>
.

We do not consider this a denial of your FOIA request. However, if you are
not satisfied with our action, your options for appeal and dispute
resolution are outlined in the attachment.

This completes the processing of your FOIA request.

Sincerely,

ERIC van SLANDER

Textual Reference Archives II Branch (RR2RR)
National Archives at College Park, MD

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Jacquelyn Beasley <jacquelyn.beasley@nara.gov>
Date: Thu, Dec 14, 2023 at 2:02 PM
Subject: Fwd: Freedom of Information Act Request: NARA PF 12.13.23
To: Special Access and FOIA e-mail <specialaccess_foia@nara.gov>, Textual
Reference at Archives II <archives2reference@nara.gov>

Hello,

I am forwarding this request to your office for response.

Thank you,
Jackie

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: requests@muckrock.com <
requests@muckrock.com>
Date: Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 1:12:47 PM UTC-5
Subject: Freedom of Information Act Request: NARA PF 12.13.23
To: Special Access and FOIA e-mail <specialaccess_foia@nara.gov>

National Archives And Records Administration – Archival Or Special Access
FOIA Office
Room 5500
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740

December 13, 2023

To Whom It May Concern:

You are receiving this correspondence as a request under the Freedom of
Information Act, 5 U.S.C. subsection 552. I am requesting access to the
following records in the possession of the National Archives and Record
Administration (NARA):

All records related to Project Fantasia. Project Fantasia was a
collaboration between the Office of Strategic Services (record group 226)
and the Office of Scientific Research and Development (record group 227),
and was assigned a project number of SAC-26. A 2016 article published by
NARA in Prologue Magazine, titled "Secret Weapons, Forgotten Sacrifices,"
contains a description of Project Fantasia and identifies some of the
records as being in record group 227. It can be found here:
https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2016/
spring/office-scientific-research-development-world-war-ii

Please restrict your search for any records to record groups 226 and 227.

I would prefer to review these records in-person, at your location in
College Park, Maryland. If any of these records are being held at a
facility other than the one in College Park, please notify me of this
before processing the request.

I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as the statute
requires. If access to the records I am requesting will take longer, please
advise which tier of processing queue this request falls under and an
estimated time frame for processing.

If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption
you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of
the appeal procedures available to me under the law.

If any potentially responsive records have been destroyed and/or
transferred, then I request copies of the destruction or transfer slips as
well as any other documentation relating to, mentioning or describing said
destruction or transfer, to include but not be limited to confirmation that
NARA has no other copies of said records.

Sincerely,

Robert Skvarla, Jr.

View request history, upload responsive documents, and report problems here:
https://www.muckrock.com/
2F%2Fwww.muckrock.com%2Faccounts%2Flogin%2F%3Fnext%
3D%252Faccounts%252Fagency_login%252Fnational-archives-
and-records-administration-archival-or-special-access-
15767%252Fnara-pf-121323-155943%252F%253Femail%253Dspecialaccess_foia%
252540nara.gov&url_auth_token=AABJS6TIVhvZIOZnWED5aKK9pEM%3A1rDTin%
3AReLhyyJO9z7YSsr0yMO_kZLg2J3AYjfQyDsVX9P1AuQ

If prompted for a passcode, please enter:
••••••••

Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com

PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS
For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 155943
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115

PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is
being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share,
and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed
(i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the
department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.