WSJ Reports Alleged Pentagon Memo on 'Yankee Blue' Ritual
The Wall Street Journal published claims regarding a Secretary of Defense directive that allegedly ordered the immediate cessation of an Air Force ritual called 'Yankee Blue'. The practice reportedly included fabricated assertions about reverse-engineering non-human craft.
Background
In June 2023, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Secretary of Defense's office had distributed a directive across military branches commanding the immediate stop of a practice known as 'Yankee Blue'. According to the article, this Air Force ritual involved service members being falsely informed they were participating in operations with recovered non-human vehicles. The publication did not release the actual memorandum, specify its exact date, or reveal sources. Following the article, no military service confirmed awareness of such a directive.