1958 CIA Memo from Chief, Applied Science with references to Donald E. Keyhoe, Dir. National investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena

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Office Memorandum * UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO ‘Assistant Director, Sclentific Intelligenca = DATE: April 1958

FROM : Chief, Applied Sclence Division, st”

SUBJECT: Copzwnta on Letters Dealing with Unidentified Flying Objects...

REFERENCES: (1) Letter to Director, CLA, fren Leon Davidsoa, dated
11 March 1958
(2) Letter to Director, CIA, tron | Donald E. Keynce, 1 Director

1. As a result of the ection teken by tha LAC on 4 December
1952 (IAC-M-90, Peragraoh 3a), e@ Scientific Intelligence-Advisory _
Panel vasa convened 14018 January 1953. The panel-consisted of the
following sclentistes: H.-P. Robertson, luis W.: Alvarez, Lloyd V.>-
Berkner, &. A. Goudsnit, and Taorntca Pege. -Th2 panel concerned —- re
itself with the-evaluation of any rossible threat to Naticask

Securityiy unidentified flying objecta, Tae p 2 panel issued a report oe
dated 17 Jomary 1953. this report was classified Secret. — To

2. The letters frea Leon Davidson and Donald: Keyhee to the -=--- -

[CI concerned thesselves crimerily with Edward J. Rrovelt's beak
on Unideatiried Flying Cojects.- At the time that the scientific
panel ret, Ruppelt-was_a Ceptain_in- -the. Air. Foree and attended the. - . _
panel meatings. His-béek,; however, is concerned with the Seati=——— ET
fication of unidentified flying objects. Ruppelt's statements
regarding the missioa or-the panel are in error, -Fa has led the > 7
reada> to believe the-penel's mission was to identify the flying |

_ Ojects and to make recermendations on methods to further identlfy
such oojects. This is the basis for the apparent contradictions
woich arose curing the Mike Wallece television interview. This is
also the besis for hx. Keyhoe's misgivings.

3. In late October 1957, Major Jamea F. Byrne of AFCIN-XIA
requested a declassiNed versioa of the panel réport. This
office contacted each member of the panel and an agreed uson,
d2ck assified version was written end sent to the Assistant Chief
of Stef’, Intelligence, Departzent of the Air Force on 20 December
1957. It wes the decision of ell the panel members and the CIA
that while no nesber of the panel objected to the use of his nare
in connection with the declassified version, they desired ‘that no
connectioa of the panel members with CIA be disclosed.

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FROM : Chief, Applied Science Divisioa, SI-

SUBJECT: Comments on Latters Dealing with Unidentified Flying Objects

REFERENCES: (1) Letter to Director, CIA, fren Leoo Davidson, dated
11 March 1958
(2) Letter to Director, CIA, from Donald EB. Keyhoe, Director

of National Investigations Camnittee on Aerial Phenamena ~~

1. As a& result of the ection teken by the LAC on 4 December —

1952 (IAC-M-90,. Peragradh 3a), a Selentific Intelligence Advisory Soe

Panel vas convened-14<13 Jenuary 1953. Tha panel consisted of the
following scientists: H. P. Robertson, Luis W. Alvarez, Lloyd V.
Perlmer, S.A. Goudanit, end Tnorntca Page. The panel concerned
itself with the. evaluat: ion of any possible threat to National ;
Securityty unidentified flying objects. The panel issued a report
dated 17 January 1953. . hia report. was classified Secret, -

2. The letters froa Leon Davidson and Donald Keyhoe to the=--—

CCl concerned themselves vrimerily with Edvard J, Ruovelt's boak ~
on Unidentified Flying Coiects. At the time that the scientific
perel ret, Puppelt was a Captain in the Air Force and ettended the.

panel meatings. His _bock, however, is concerned with the identie ~ = >

ee of unidentified flying objects.__ Ruppelt's atatements

garcing the missioa of the panel are-in-error.. Ee haz led the

readies to believe the paresl's missioa was to identify the flying

objects and to make recemmendations on methods _to further. identify -

such oojects. This is the vasis for the anparcnt contradictions.

which arose Garing the Mike Wallece-television- interview. This is

also the besis for My. Keyhoe's misgivings.

3. In late. October_1957, Major James F. Byrne of AFCIN-XIA -—-

requested a declassified version of the panel report. This - —
office contacted each member of the panel end an agreed upon,

declassified ver3ion wes written end sent to the Assistant Chier
of Staiy, Intelligence, Departzent of.the-Air Force on 20 December
1957. It wes the decision of all the panel members and the CIA
that while no resver-of-the panel objected-to the use of his name
in connection wita the declassified version, they desired ‘that no-
connaction of the panel members with CIA be disclosed.

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SUBJECT: Comments on Letters Dealing with Unidentified Flying Objects ©

hh, It de appsrent froa reeding Mr. Davidson's letter that
Hike Wallace bead a copy of the scientific panel report. Jno

eadition, the association of CIA with the US Air Force in the
selection of the panel was revealed during the television -
interview. Therefore, the panel members have been associated

with CIA, contrary to their wishes and contrary to CIA's desirese

5. The real_inteat of the referenced letters is to obtain a
copy of the-panel_report. In view of this, and of the above, it

woulda be most expedient to send them the declaseified versioa.——
In order to not reveal an association between the pensl mewbers -
and CIA, either the Air. Force should answer the letters or we a
ehoold make: it plain_to the recipients that we ootained the... -_

6. Attached are copies of the declassified panel report.

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REPORT oF Tae: SCIENTIFIC PAVED
OW .
" VuREETFTED FLYING cayEcrs

WT Jexmaary 1953

23 Ths undersignad Panel of Setentific Consultants has mat abo
the request. of tha. Covernnent to evaluate any possible threat to
national security posed vy Unidentitied ¥ Flying jects ("Flying
Senecers"), and to make recommendation. The Panel has received,
the evidence 88 presented by cognizant Covermental agencies
pricarily the Vaitea States Air Force, and hag reviewed a salection —

of the best documented” incidents. — —~-

27 As a-resolt of its considerations, tha Panel concludes?

mhat tha _eviasare presented on Unidentified vying — -

Gjects shows sno indication that these phencsera constitute
a direct physical that to national eecaritys |
wo fizoly believe that there fe no restdmen of cases which indicates
phancrena which ars attributable to foreiza artifects capeble of
hostile asta, and that there is no evidence that the ghenemera

gnateate a-nesd for the revision of carrent scientific coneeptss

33 fn the lignt of this conclusion, the Penel recommends?
‘that the national secur security agencies take immediate ateps
to strip the Unidentified Flying Cojects of ths special statas --

thay have been given and the aura of nystery they have

unfortimately acquireds”


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We suggest that this ain may be achieved by an integrated program _

designed to reaseure the peblic of the total lack of avidence of
inimical forces behind the pheacmonas .
/o/ _Wlova Vs Berkmer

“Associated Vaiversities, 2 inte

3/__s- Pi. “Roberton Chatrzan Jaf _ Si Ai Goudantt —

Jef Lats W) W; Alva: “Aivares, —faf Thornton Page

avavate op technology Brooknaven: Natioaal Laboratories

University or Califorata John Bopsins Uaiversity