This file contains a copy of the CIA's 1953 "Report of the Scientific Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects" that was sent to the Secretary of Defense.
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CØ 000.92
1953
DECLASSIFIED
Authority:
NND 823015
NW 91372
DocId: 34748472 Page 1
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SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ROUTING SLIP (Classified)
CLASSIFICATION [stamp: SECRET]
[vertical stamp on right: MAR 13 1953]
FROM The Secretary of Defense
1 Admin Sec TO [strikethrough: ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (TSA) INITIAL [initials]]
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SEC
SECRETARY OF ARMY
SECRETARY OF NAVY
SECRETARY OF AIR FORCE
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (Compt)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (M & P)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (L & LA)
CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
CHAIRMAN, MUNITIONS BOARD
CHAIRMAN, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD
CHAIRMAN, MILITARY LIAISON COMMITTEE - A.E.C.
TO [strikethrough: DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF FOREIGN MILITARY AFFAIRS]
[strikethrough: DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MILITARY ASSISTANCE]
[strikethrough: DIRECTOR, NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY AFFAIRS]
[strikethrough: DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL POLICY]
3 Mr. Nango
CHAIRMAN, ARMED FORCES MEDICAL POLICY COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN, DEFENSE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SERVICE
DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF GUIDED MISSILES
FOR
PREPARATION OF REPLY FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SIGNATURE
3 APPROPRIATE ACTION
PLEASE REPLY DIRECT FOR SEC. OF DEFENSE (Copy of reply to be forwarded to Sec. of Defense Files)
PLEASE FURNISH DATA ON WHICH TO BASE A REPLY
FOR
INFORMATION AND RETENTION
2 INFORMATION AND RETURN FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FILES
1 COMMENT AND/OR RECOMMENDATION
NOTE AND FORWARD
FROM CIA (Richard D Drain Sec Intelligence Advisory Committee)
DATE RECEIVED 17 March 1953
TO Sec/Def
ORIGINAL 1
NUMBER COPIES CARBON [circled: 2] OTHER
DATE 13 Mar 53 SHORT TITLE Inc
SUBJECT A Report prepared by a Panel of Scientists on the Subject of "Unidentified Flying Objects".
ENCLOSURES RECEIVED 1 Copy Report of the Scientific Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects
COMMENT (Flying saucers).
[handwritten: Law R R C & E ULR]
[handwritten: This report appears to warrant action.]
[handwritten: Copy to Panel Report to be his force by memo.]
[handwritten: Dee to R 501391 dtd 2000-53]
DECLASSIFIED
NND 823015
BY [signature] NARS, Date 4/15/85
DUE IN CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL SECTION,
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OSD
SD FORM 32
1 APR 52
PREVIOUS EDITIONS
OF THIS FORM ARE
OBSOLETE
N3/2/12
RECEIVED
DATE
3
RECEIVED
DATE
1
CONTROL NUMBER 02610
[handwritten stamp: 3/6/89]
CLASSIFICATION [strikethrough: SECRET]
SECURITY CONTROL NUMBER 02610
None
See reverse side of this form
for instructions on handling
attached material.
[vertical text: CUT HERE]
RECEIVED
DATE
4
[vertical text: CUT HERE]
NW 91372
DocID: 34748472 Page 2
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NW 91972
DoodId:34748472 Page 3
COSMIC MATERIAL
1. Do not send through the mail.
2. May be handled only by specifically authorized per-
sonnel.
3. Deliver to OSD Sub-Registry, Classified Records
Group, Correspondence Control Section, Executive
Office of the Secretary, if to be transmitted to
any office other than the one to which routed from
the OSD Sub-Registry or to any office outside of
the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
4. Do not release without receipt.
TOP SECRET
1. Do not send through the mail.
2. May be handled only by authorized personnel.
SECRET AND CONFIDENTIAL
1. May be sent by registered mail if delivered to clas-
sified Records Group, Correspondence Control Sec-
tion, Executive Office of the Secretary.
2. May be handled only by authorized personnel.
MAY 1 1963
INSTRUCTIONS TO RECIPIENTS
GENERAL (Top Secret, Secret and Confidential)
1. Do not release without receipt.
2. Deliver to Classified Records Group, Correspondence
Control Section, Executive Office of the Secretary,
if to be transmitted outside of the Office of the
Secretary of Defense.
3. When transferring this Routing Slip to another per-
son or office within OSD, without going through the
Correspondence Control Section, obtain a signature
receipts provided at the bottom of
this form and return the receipt to the Correspon-
dence Control Section for appropriate change in
charge out.
4. Indicate in Comment Section the disposition of all
copies and inclosures if other than file in Corres-
pondence Control Section.
5. Do not remove this Routing Slip from the original
or the attached material without authority of the
Head, Records and Reference Unit, Correspondence
Control Section or one of his representatives.
6. Return this Routing Slip and the attached material
to the Correspondence Control Section as soon as
possible for file.
C 58063
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[strikethrough: SECRET]
Security Information
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
13 March 1953
The Honorable
The Secretary of Defense
Department of Defense
Washington 25, D. C.
Dear Mr. Secretary:
The Director of Central Intelligence has asked that you be
furnished a copy of the attached report prepared by a panel of
scientists on the subject of "Unidentified Flying Objects." This
panel was convened at the direction of General Smith, following the
recommendation of the Intelligence Advisory Committee.
The conclusions and recommendations may be of interest to you,
in that they point out certain potential dangers to national security
which are related to the subject and suggest ways of their elimination.
Although this Agency does not consider problems arising from
sightings of "flying saucers" primarily its concern, we shall be
pleased to assist in any appropriate action that you may deem ad-
visable.
[handwritten: Federal Civil Def.]
[strikethrough: Idm] Copies of this report are also being sent to the Secretary of
Defense and to the Chairman, National Security Resources Board.
Sincerely yours,
[Signature: Richard D. Drain]
RICHARD D. DRAIN
Secretary
Intelligence Advisory Committee
Enclosure
[stamp: MAR 13 1953]
[handwritten vertical on right margin: CIA 000 92]
[strikethrough: DECLASSIFIED]
NND 823015
By [handwritten: CRC] NARS, Date [handwritten: 1/15/85]
[strikethrough: SECRET]
Security Information
113/212
NW 91372
DocId:34748472 Page 4
This material contains information
affecting the national defense of
the United States within the meaning
of the espionage laws, Title 18, USC,
Secs. 793 and 794, and transmission
or revelation of which in any manner to
an unauthorized person is prohibited by
law.
SecDef Cont. No. [handwritten: 02640]
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OFFICE OF THE
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
1953 MAR 17 AM 10 08
[unclear: January 13, 1953?]
COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE INTELLIGENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Received:
RICHMOND P. DAVIS
Brigadier General
As you know, you are a member of the
Intelligence Advisory Committee. The Committee meets
periodically in the Pentagon, and I would appreciate
it if you would attend these meetings.
I also suggest that you consider the possibility of using
the communications and intelligence facilities of the
Department of Defense to assist you in carrying out
your duties as a member of the Committee.
The Department of Defense has extensive intelligence
activities, and I am sure that the Committee would
find your participation very helpful.
Sincerely,
J. M. WILSON
Assistant Secretary
WASHINGTON 25 D. C.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
NW 91372
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COPY
SECURITY INFORMATION
REPORT OF THE SCIENTIFIC PANEL
ON
UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS Jan 17 1953
[vertical stamp: MAR 13 1953]
1. Pursuant to the request of the Assistant Director for Scientific
Intelligence, the undersigned Panel of Scientific Consultants has met to
evaluate any possible threat to national security posed by Unidentified
Flying Objects ("Flying Saucers"), and to make recommendations thereon.
The Panel has received the evidence as presented by cognizant intelli-
gence agencies, primarily the Air Technical Intelligence Center, and has
reviewed a selection of the best documented incidents.
2. As a result of its considerations, the Panel concludes:
a. That the evidence presented on Unidentified Flying
Objects shows no indication that these phenomena constitute
a direct physical threat to national security.
We firmly believe that there is no residuum of cases which indicates
phenomena which are attributable to foreign artifacts capable of hostile
acts, and that there is no evidence that the phenomena indicate a need
for the revision of current scientific concepts.
3. The Panel further concludes:
a. That the continued emphasis on the reporting of
these phenomena does, in these parlous times, result in a
threat to the orderly functioning of the protective organs
of the body politic.
We cite as examples the clogging of channels of communication by irrelevant
reports, the danger of being led by continued false alarms to ignore real
[vertical stamp: CIA 00.9.3]
DECLASSIFIED
NND 823015
By ERC NARS, Date 1/15/85
SECURITY INFORMATION
[handwritten: RK 02400]
NW 91372
DocId:34748472 Page 6
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SECURITY INFORMATION
indications of hostile action, and the cultivation of a morbid national
psychology in which skillful hostile propaganda could induce hysterical
behavior and harmful distrust of duly constituted authority.
4. In order most effectively to strengthen the national facilities
for the timely recognition and the appropriate handling of true indications
of hostile action, and to minimize the concomitant dangers alluded to
above, the Panel recommends:
a. That the national security agencies take immediate steps
to strip the Unidentified Flying Objects of the special status they
have been given and the aura of mystery they have unfortunately
acquired;
b. That the national security agencies institute policies
on intelligence, training, and public education designed to prepare
the material defenses and the morale of the country to recognize
most promptly and to react most effectively to true indications
of hostile intent or action.
We suggest that these aims may be achieved by an integrated program
designed to reassure the public of the total lack of evidence of inimical
forces behind the phenomena, to train personnel to recognize and reject
false indications quickly and effectively, and to strengthen regular
channels for the evaluation of and prompt reaction to true indications
of hostile measures.
/s/ H. P. Robertson Chairman /s/ Lloyd V. Berkner
California Institute of Technology Associated Universities, Inc.
/s/ S. A. Goudsmit
Brookhaven National Laboratories
/s/ Luis W. Alvarez
University of California /s/ Thornton Page
Johns Hopkins University
-2-
SECURITY INFORMATION
NW 91372
DocId:84748472 Page 7 View the official fileText extraction via abigailhaddad/ufo-releases; original file at war.gov.
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