CIA-UAP-002, Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects, Report, 1952-1953

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."

•13 October 1952
M001WtDUM FOR: Deputy- Director (Intelligence)
SUBnCT: Flying saucers
1. ~ unidentified objects (F.cying saucers) have be~n the
eubJect al Air Force obaervation and analyaia becauae of :the poss1b1l1t;y
that. such obJecta might conceivably be an attack on the U.S. It they
are n01i 1 it ia conceivable that the eneJV might take advantage at the
contu.aion created by the by the~ Saucers to use &this convenience
some air w~ against the United States.
2. 'lhus tar Def'enee Department conducted research 1n this area
bas been confined to the et"f'ort by A-2 through ATIC with the result that
an explanation bas been provided on all. but 20 per cent ot the total
1500 re»Orted aightinp a£ Flying Saucers.
3. Determination c4 the acienti:tic capabilities c4 the USSR to
create and control Plying Saucers as a weapon against the United States
is a primary concern at the ell/OSI. l ts review ot existing 1.nf'orme.tion
does not 1ead to the conclusion that tho saucers ore USSR crea~d. or
controlled. It is the view at OSI that collection of' intel.l.igcnce
inf'ormaticm on the capabilities ot the USSR to produce, launch, and
control FJ.y1.Dg Saucers and the analysis of' •~h data as might be collected
cannot be very et"fective until there is adequate fundamental. scJ t!'!lti.tic
research launched to clari.t'y the nature and causes of' Flying Saucer• and
to dertse means wh~eby they might be inatantl.y ident1t1.ed.
4. The major scientif'ic intelligence problems in respect to Saucers
are:
a. What is the present level 'of' Soviet knowledge regard.ing
these phenomena?
b. What are possible Soviet capabilities to utilize these
phenomena to the detriment of US security interests?
c. What effect do f'lying oaucera have 0n. our wurn.1118
aysteD.
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appro~ed r· ·•
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