Documents / Report
This Central Intelligence Agency file gathers the 1953 Report of the Scientific Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects, dated January 17, 1953, and the papers that went with it. The panel was chaired by H. P. Robertson. It found no evidence that the phenomena were a direct threat to national security. It recommended stripping UFOs of their special status and aura of mystery and starting a public education program. The file also holds F. C. Durant's account of the meetings, 1952 CIA memos proposing research, and transmittal letters.
From the source: Release of 2026-06-12 This file contains correspondence and reports dated 1952–1953 from the Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects, convened by the CIA’s Office of Scientific Intelligence. The panel’s primary conclusion was that “flying saucers” did not pose a direct physical threat to the national security of the United States. The panel found no evidence that these phenomena were attributable to hostile foreign artifacts or indicated a need to revise existing scientific concepts. However, the panel identified a significant indirect threat stemming from the public’s fascination with the subject. The panel concluded that the high volume of reports, encouraged by a "sensationalist press," could overwhelm and clog vital intelligence and communication channels, potentially distracting from genuine threats. Furthermore, they warned that a “morbid national psychology” could be exploited by adversaries to incite “hysterical behavior and harmful distrust of duly constituted authority.” To mitigate these risks, the panel recommended an official policy of “debunking” to “strip the UFO subject of its mystery,” alongside a training initiative for military personnel to better recognize and filter out misidentified objects, thereby reducing communication “noise” and allowing the national security apparatus to focus on more "legitimate defense concerns."
Amory said when approved copies should be sent to 0 ~ . e ) S - ~ 'R~ S~ mation IAC-D-67 18 February 1953 INTELLIGENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS 1. Transmitted herewith is a copy of the report (Tab A) of the scientific panel convened as a result of the action taken by the Intelligence Advisory Committee on 4 December (IAC-M- 90, paragraph 3A) on this subj ect. Attached ·to the report are a sunma.ry of evi dence presented (Tab B) and a l i st of the personnel participating (Tab C). 2 . It is proposed to t r ansmit copies of this report to the Secretary of Defense; the Director, Federal Civil Defense Adminis tration; and the Chairman, National Security Resources Board for their information and such action as they may f eel neces sary. 3. The results of the panel's studies have moved CIA to conclude that no National Security Council Intelligence Directive on t his sub ject is warranted. 4. Please inform the undersigned by 25 February 1953 if you do not concur in the action and conclusions conta ined in paragraphs 2 and 3, above. JAMES Q. REBER Secret a ry Mrs . Powell called 24 Feb and said that Mr . __.:,:g.r.._release to those mentioned in paragraph 2 , 'ic() ,~ ( Mr .~tler - ~62•/ ~-r ~;.,,._ BJ. '1' Mr! lay ~ C. °3 0 (J ~~~ ~~ H-jJ.•u...., f-- l dJ C. D. Jackson w..t..:..G. If ~ I Tracey Barnes ~o t/P '-1(_. George Morgan ,,__ ,,,,½! ~ ?,5 tJ 5~,r 1 oty l<' ,..[~ ,___; f}. v
Report, from the pursue collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 42 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.