Documents / FOIA release
This 1961 Central Intelligence Agency file holds an internal memo and a proposed reply from General Counsel Lawrence R. Houston to Representative Joseph E. Karth. It concerns a constituent, Mr. Davidson, who had written to the CIA about flying saucers since the 1950s. He claimed the Agency created the flying saucer phenomenon and was withholding parts of the Scientific Advisory Panel report of January 1953. The reply calls his claims entirely unfounded. It says CIA took part in the 1953 study with the Air Force and has since referred all saucer correspondence to the Air Force.
Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.
misleading statements on this report in Captain Rugelt's book, "The Report of Unidentified Flying Objects", and explaining why a portion of the report was classified. A copy of this letter is expected for your information. In general, Mr. Davidson's belief that this Agency is involved in the "Flying Saucer future" and is using this as a tool in psychological warfare is entirely unfounded. His indication that CIA is aligning persons in leading them to believe in Flying Saucers is also entirely unfounded. This Agency in conjunction with the Air Force investigated, in 1953, the threat to national security of the then prevalent Flying Saucer rumors. Since that time, CIA has not participated in any Flying Saucer activities and has referred all correspondence to the U. S. Air Force. Very truly yours, s/. Lawrence R. Houston Leonardo F. Houston General Council ## ENGAGEMENT 1. Letter, 26 June 1961, from L. Harrison 2. Lester, 20 May 1958, Free Major Seeker 3. Letter, 21 May 1958 ## Distribution: Cris. & 1 - Pvd 13. 1 - Pte 2 - General Counsel 1 - Inspector General 1 - JD/SI 1/2 - 1/2/3 1 - Epic Registry CSI//JSSEochart:dw(8791) (5) (5)
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. 4 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.