CIA Review of "Flying Saucers from Outer Space" by Donald Keyhoe
This three-page CIA memorandum, dated 8 December 1953 and originating from the Office of Scientific Intelligence (O/SI), reports on a consultant's review of the book 'Flying Saucers from Outer Space' by Donald Keyhoe. The review was requested to identify possible security violations regarding CIA involvement in flying-saucer investigations. The consultant characterizes the book as highly readable but distorted, filled with 'half-truths' and inferences, and asserts the author is knowingly committing a 'perpetration.' The memo notes that Air Force Reserve Public Information Officer Albert M. Chop features prominently and that Keyhoe uses Chop's statements to imply the Air Force is deliberately concealing positive conclusions from the public. It highlights that the CIA is mentioned on page 242 of the book, where Keyhoe reports that a friend with 'high level contacts' told him on February 17, 1953, that CIA 'people' advised the Air Force to issue a report debunking saucers, announce the project ended, and continue it underground. The consultant references the CIA panel (Robertson Panel) recommendations, suggests these may have been interpreted by fanatical believers as 'debunking,' and mentions Dr. Stefan T. Possony (Chief, USAF OIN Special Study Group) and Major Dewey Fournet. The consultant concludes no leak occurred regarding the O/SI Panel and that Chop likely only heard of CIA being briefed. The memo recommends no further action, arguing any investigation would only draw attention to 'sensational science fiction.'
Description
An internal CIA Office of Scientific Intelligence memorandum dated 8 December 1953, in which the Chief of the Operations Staff transmits a consultant's review of Donald Keyhoe's book 'Flying Saucers from Outer Space' to the Assistant Director for Scientific Intelligence, assessing whether the book represents a security breach concerning CIA's role in flying saucer investigations.
Claims
The memo recommends no further action be taken regarding the book to avoid drawing attention to sensational content.
90%A CIA consultant reviewed Keyhoe's book and found no security breach concerning the O/SI Panel occurred.
85%The consultant assessed the book as distorted and filled with half-truths, and recommended no further CIA action.
85%Keyhoe's book alleges that CIA advised the Air Force to debunk flying saucers publicly and continue investigations secretly.
80%Air Force officer Albert M. Chop's statements were used by Keyhoe to imply the Air Force is concealing positive conclusions about saucers.
80%The consultant assessed no security breach occurred regarding the O/SI Panel, and that Chop likely heard of CIA being briefed but no leak occurred.
75%CIA is mentioned on page 242 of the book and nowhere else.
75%Keyhoe's book is characterized as highly distorted and filled with half-truths.
70%CIA 'people' advised the Air Force to issue a report debunking saucers, tell the public the project was ended, and then carry it on underground (as stated in Keyhoe's book).
30%
Events
Dec 7, 1953
CIA review of "Flying Saucers from Outer Space"
Consultant's review of Keyhoe's book for possible security violations, forwarded within CIA O/SI.
Feb 16, 1953
Alleged high-level briefing claim
Date on which Keyhoe's friend allegedly told him CIA advised the Air Force to debunk flying saucers and continue the project underground.
Dec 7, 1953
CIA consultant review of Keyhoe's book
Transmittal of a consultant's assessment of 'Flying Saucers from Outer Space' for potential security violations.
Feb 16, 1953
Alleged CIA advice to Air Force on debunking saucers
Per Keyhoe's book, a friend with 'high level contacts' told him CIA advised the Air Force to publicly debunk saucers while continuing the project underground.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
People
Places
Programs
Extracted text (OCR)
Cie - STANCARO Pot HO, - 5 Leonid. TO : Assistant Director, Scientific Intelligence __ DATE: 8 Cecenber 1993 FROM : Chief, Cperations Staff, 0/SI SUBJECT: Pesort on Book Entitled "Flying Saucers fron Outer Space! le As reanested, the subject book was reviewed by one of - our con isultants with particular reference to possible security violations concerning CIA's pert ine the -flying-saucer investigations - Office Memérain UID » 1 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Pertin nent comments of this. consult ant are as follous:==———=-+—+ 2. he. pook itself-is highly readable, but the content. s highly disterted and filled with-so_many half-trutas and inferences that I foal certain that the author is knowingly comuitting 2 ernetrabions Prominent in the book aad is one Albert -. Chop, oa Air Force_(Reserve) Public Information Off leer Who 4 was on-cuby-at-the Pentagon until. .- . recently returning to inactive: cutyeThe autnor, Keyhoey — ———— __ makes extensive use of Chop's statements an a “imolies that - the Air Force is deliberately conce aling positive con- clusions from the ouolic. 7” several tines on page 22 of the db. "CTA is mentionec book -- nowhere else... Xeyhoe Stetes here that 4 friend of nis, with hich level 'con bacts!, told him about February 17, 1653, thats (1) CIA "people! advised the Air Force to put out 2 renort debunking the saucers, tell ‘the public the project was ended a ard then cerry ib on underground, (2) Some of the 'intelligence boys! were nace es the devil at CIA for even suggesting | the above action. c. "CTA is sucposed to have mace these recommendations following a 'secret high level briefing!.. There is no apparent Imowlecse of the CYA panel rechings although the Fenel!s recorzencations micht have’ been interoreted by a fanatical saucer "believer! as 'dedunking!. However, tnere .. was certainly no reconnerdation that suscested hiding any inforzation fran the public. . ce fin, ee ee dn idibonib. TO DATE: § Decomber Assistant Director, Scientific Intelligence . ¢ Chief, Cperations Staff, 0/ST on SUBJECT: Pesort on Book Entitled "Flying Saucers from Outer Space" 1. As requested, the subject book was reviewed by one of our consultants with particuler reference to possible security violations concerning CIA's pert in the flying saucer Pertinent comments of this consultant are as follows: 2. "Phe book itself is highly readable, but the content is hichly distorted end filled with so meny half-trutas and inferences that I feel certain that the author is knowinzly committing 2 perpetration. Prominent in the book is one Albert ii. Chop, an Air Force (Reserve) Public Information Officer who wes on cuty at the Pentagon until recently returning to inactive duty. The euthor, Keyhoe, o8 tak, mekes extensive use of Chop!s statements and inolies that 1953 investigation. the Air Force is deliderately_conceeling positive con- clusions from the sudlic. “NQTA is rentionsd several tines on page 2h2 of the Xeyhee states here that a friend of told him about February 17; de book -- nowhere else. with hich level 'contacts', = » 3, Taye Ls his advised the Air Force to put out saucers, tell-the-public the @ report debunki 2 then carry is on underground, project was ended er: t : Top Secret. Sone of the tintelligence boys! were mags cesting the above actions 2 as he aenta at CIA for even sug ce. CTA is supposed to have made these reconnencations llowing a ‘secret nigh level briefing!. There is no... parent Imoiwledcse of the CLA panel rectings althoush the nelts recorzendations nicht have been-interoreted by a abieal saucer_'believer! as 'debunking'. lowever, there — rt no recommendation tha formation fran the public. $4, 3 Oo hry 99 as v ¢ fo 3 : ainly wm Ky gs f2 Ty t-sucrested hiding any... a> ee ed sionals bene ee ee ee ee — i. : a. "Therefore, Meynoe, having built uo a tcaset for saucers being interplanetary, insists that the Air Force (and CTA) Inow the 'truth! and are refusing to Give the pudlic the facts. e. -"I saw Dr, Stefan T..Possony (Chief, USAFOIN Special Study Croup) recently.s—tie-was -not:avere-of any particular concern in the Pentazon over seynoe's assertions. However, it nisnt be wise to check directly with the officer who repteced Mejor Dewey Tournét in Currént Intellizeace. T believe his name is Srith. Part of his duties Ore. ~o follow 21) reports of sightings of UsP.Q.'s.- 9 ==> f. "As to the possibility of a Security breach, it is So difficult to say. I suspect that Choo heard of CIA's ceing | briefed but that no leek occurred regerding the 0/ST- Panel." 2. It is believed that no security breach is involved and any investigation of this book would only serve to focus additional - attention on an cbvious bit of sensational science "fiction". . t is recommended, therefore, that no further action regarding the y took be initiated” by this offices > ts - Spoor St aa | | a | OSEr6 PNarshtivl — re - i —/ Tis S 2 gt jae Mee It 7 : th | | | | | hae re ca oy * tr Ovi: $ we DR =~ Subject ~ Chrono ~ Daily reading ---.-—--—-- Rt ee te
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