Documents / FOIA release
This Central Intelligence Agency memorandum for record, written by W. E. Lexow of the Applied Science Division, describes a meeting between CIA and Air Force officials about the Scientific Advisory Panel Report on Unidentified Flying Objects, dated 17 January 1953. Participants agreed that the full Secret report could not be declassified and chose a press release as the way to handle inquiries such as those from Leon Davidson. They also talked about Major Keyhoe's organization, Admiral Hillenkoetter's role on its board, and Dr. Menzel's suggestion.
Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.
SUBJECT: Meeting with Air Force Personnel Concerning Scientific Advisory Panel Report on Unidentified Flying Objects, dated 17 January 1953 (Secret)
that this was perhaps the best way to handle it, inasmuch as in his capacity of Legislative Liaison, it would best satisfy congressional requirements. Major Tacker will draft an Air Force press release, clearing it through the various sections of the Air Force, and will then submit it to Mr. Cary for Agency review, Mr. Cary will consult with the Office of Security, Mr. Strong, and the undersigned when he receives the draft press release.
6. The Air Force representatives believe that much of the trouble they have been having with Major Keyhoe along these same lines could be alleviated if the Major did not have such important personages as Vice Admiral R. H. Hillenkoetter, USN (Pat.), former DCI, on the board of governors of his organization. They suggested that perhaps if the Admiral was shown the Secret panel report he would understand and take appropriate actions. Mr. Cary said that he would relate this suggestion to Mr. Houston (General Counsel).
7. Major Boland suggested that it might be advisable to contact the panel members to consider a recording of the panel report somewhat along the lines that Dr. Menzel suggested in his letter to all the members of the panel. Dr. Menzel has received the unclassified version from Mr. Leon Davidson. Mr. Strong feels that this may be inadvisable at the present time, inasmuch as the report has already been made available to the public and any change may arouse suspicion. However, he will contact Dr. Robertson and discuss this.
W. E. LEXOW
Chief, Applied Science Division, SI
Distribution:
Orig - DAD/C/SI
2 - ASD/SI
1 - Mr. Chapin (Assin to the DC1)
( b x ) $ \frac { 1 } { 1 } - \mathrm { S O / S I } $ Office of Security)
OSI/ASD/NEIexon:g1/632 FOIA release, from the cia-readingroom collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. The text was read from the page images by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word. 3 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.