Memorandum for Record: Flying Saucers (3 December 1952)
This CIA memorandum for record, dated 3 December 1952, recounts the author's meetings the previous morning with Dr. Julius A. Stratton (Executive Vice President and Provost of MIT) and Dr. Max Millikan (Director of CENIS). The author briefed them on recent flying saucer sighting reports, including the 'Limestone Base Case,' the 'Florida Scout Master,' and the 'Utah Motion Pictures,' and updated Stratton on developments since a prior August discussion. Stratton reiterated that the subject must be investigated and suggested Project LINCOLN as the best vehicle for a competent review, while noting the delicate position relative to the Air Force stemming from the 'Summer Study Report.' He recommended Alfred Hill to head the group and, if LINCOLN proved impractical, favored Cal Tech over Princeton owing to the presence of Robertson, Lauritsen, Spitzer (on temporary duty from Princeton), and Millikan's brother. Following the meeting, the author lunched with Lloyd Berkner and Jerrold Zacharias; Berkner favored scientific investigation but declined a personal role, while Zacharias suggested Shirley Quimby of Columbia University, described as an expert on 'magic and general chicanery.' The author concludes that full backing of the Director of Central Intelligence would likely be necessary to secure Air Force cooperation and access to reports. The memorandum reflects early CIA efforts that preceded the Robertson Panel.
Description
A two-page CIA memorandum for record dated 3 December 1952 documenting meetings with MIT and other scientists about arranging a scientific review of flying saucer sighting reports. It discusses candidate institutions (Project LINCOLN, Princeton, Cal Tech), named scientists, and the need for Director of Central Intelligence backing to secure Air Force cooperation.
Claims
MIT Provost JuljulA. RatJulton believed flying saucer reports orts warranted thorough scientific investigation.
90%Recent sighting cases discussed included the Limestone Base Case, the Florida Scout Master, and the Utah Motion Pictures.
90%Dr. Stratton stated the flying saucer subject must be investigated and that Project LINCOLN would be the best means of a thoroughly competent review.
90%The best vehicle for a competent review was would be Project LINCLN, though Air Force concurrence would be needed due to the sensitive 'Summer Study Report' situation.
85%Cal Tech was considered preferable to Princeton for hosting the study given presence of Robertson, Lauritsen, Spitzer, and others.
85%Full backing of the DCI would probably be necessary to secure Air Force cooperation and sighting reports.
85%Dr. Stratton believed the flying saucer subject must be investigated and that Project LINCOLN would be the best means of a thorough review.
85%The author concluded that full backing of the Director of Central Intelligence would be necessary to secure Air Force cooperation and access to reports.
85%Acceptance of the project by LINCOLN must be based on Air Force concurrence or an independent proposal from another service, due to a delicate position stemming from the 'Summer Study Report'.
85%Full backing of the Director of Central Intelligence would likely be necessary to secure Air Force cooperation for a scientific review.
85%Jerrold Zacharias suggested Shirley Quimby of Columbia, described as the most expert man in the country on magic and general chicanery.
85%Any acceptance of the project by LINCOLN would require Air Force concurrence or an independent proposal from another service, due to a delicate position stemming from the 'Summer Study Report'.
80%
Events
—
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ldata{Ory ~ Subject
Dec 1, 1952
Meeting with Stratton and Millikan
Author met at 1100 with Dr. Julius A. Stratton and Dr. Max Millikan to brief them on recent flying saucer sightings and discuss a scientific review.
Dec 1, 1952
Luncheon with Berkner and Zacharias
Author briefed Lloyd Berkner and Jerrold Zacharias on recent cases and their implications at the Faculty Club.
Jul 31, 1952
Prior discussion of subject
An earlier discussion of the flying saucer subject with Dr. Stratton referenced in the memo.
Dec 1, 1952
Meeting with Dr. Stratton and Dr. Millikan
At 1100 the author met with MIT's Stratton and Millikan to brief them on sighting reports and discuss investigation options including Project LINCOLN.
Dec 1, 1952
Faculty Club lunch with Berkner and Zacharias
Following the morning meeting, the author lunched with Lloyd Berkner and Jerrold Zacharias and briefed them on recent cases.
Jul 31, 1952
Prior discussion in August
An earlier discussion of the flying saucer subject with Dr. Stratton referenced in the memo.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
People
Organizations
Programs
Phenomena
Topics
Extracted text (OCR)
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3 December 1952
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
SUBJECT: Flying Saucers ~
2. At 1100 yesterday morning I net with Dr. Julius A. Stratton,
Executive Vice President end Provost of Massachusetts. Institute of _
Tecanolozy and Dr. Max Millikan, Director of CEHIS, I briefed them
on the various new-reports_of sigatings_ including the Limestone Base
Case, the Florida Scout Master, the Uteh Notion Pictures, ete. IalsO
brougat Dr. Stratton up to date on developments which had occurred=-=— >>
since our previous discussion of tae subject in August. Drs Stratton —--—- =
reiterated his earlier position that this is a subject wnicn must te...
investigated and he said that -probatly the best means of getting a.
thorouzhly conpstent review-of-the problem would be through Project...
LINCOLN. He said, nowever, that in view of-tne delicate position in _ a
relation to Air Force, 2s a result of tne "Sumner Study Resort, any.
acceptance of this project by LINCOLN must be based on Air Force con--
currence or on en indesendent-oroposal-from. one of the otter. services.
He said that Alfred Hill would-be tne test man to head the groude -
Assuming that it might prove impractical to plece tne Project at =
LINCOLN, we explored other_possibilities inciuding Princeton and Cal” a
Tech. Dr. Stratton felt very strongly tnat Cal “ech would be the ;
betier of the two in view of tse presence tnere of Rotvertson, Lauritson,
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of the progress that we make inchevinzg-tnis-probdlem investigated as
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danger end inalications of tne situation.
2. Following ihe meeting with Drs. Stratton and Milliken, I
had lunce at the Faculty Clud witan Lloyd Berkner_and derrold Zacharias
and briefed them on the recent cases and our feelings regarding their
implications. Eerkmer, while eoparentiy not interested in taking a
part, felt strongly taat the saucer proviem should be
xy investigated from a scientific point of view. Zacharias
did not epsear to be greatly interested in the proolem ani made only
one sucgestion, i.@.-that-Snirley Quinoy of Columbia University be
brought into tne picture. Quimby took his physics degree at the sane
time as Zacharias; is now at Coluncia University, having during the
war been a Navy scientist working on ASW. Zacharias suggested Quimby
ecause the latter is probably the most expert man in the country
on magic and general chicanery..-.-. -
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3. My conclusion from these conversations is that it will probably
be necessary to secure the full backing of DCI in order that a scien- _
tific review of this problem may be laid on. Without this backing, it
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MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
SUBJECT: Flying Szucers
1. At 1100 yesterday morning I met with Dr. Juliug Ae Stratton,
Executive Vice President and Provost of Massachusetts. Institute of
Technology and Dr. Max Millikan, Director of CEiIS. I briefed them ~
on the various new reports of sigatings including the Limestone Base
Case, the Florida Scout Master, the Utah Notion Pictures, etc. I also
brougat Dr. Stratton up to date on develogments which had occurred
since our previous discussion of the subject in August. Dr. Stratton
reiterated his earlier position that this is a subject which must te
investigated and he said thet probatly the best means of getting a
thoroughly competent review of the problem would be throug: Project
LINCOLN. He said, nowever,-that in view of tne delicate position in
relation ta Air Force, es a result of tne "Sumner Study Report, any---
acceptance of this project by LINCOLN mist be bzsed on Air Force con=
currence or on en independent proposal from one of the otier ‘services.
He said that Alfred Hill would bde-tne cest man-to head the grouDde .
Assuming thet it might prove impractical to place tae Project at
LINCOLN, we explored other possivilities inciuding Princeton and Cal -
Teche Dre Stratton felt very strongly that Cal “ech would be the
tetier of the two-in-view of tne presence tnere of Rotertson, Lauritson, —~
go Spitzer Cor tengorary duty from Princeton), Millixen's brother and
- “others. Dr. Stratton asked particularly that we keep him informed DS
'', of the progress that-we make-in-heving tnis- problem investigated as :
-.. 2° > he is perscrally very interested as well-as fully aware of the potential ._-
i: danger end inplications of the situations-—-—=—=
\,
OT ; 2. Following ihe meeting with Drs. Stratton and Milliken, I
1 3 had lunch at the Faculty Cluo wita Lloyd Rerkner and Jerrold Zacharias —_——
whe and briefed them on the recent cases and-our.feelings regarding their .
! implications, Eermery while epparentiy not interested in takinga =~
personel pert, felt strongly that te saucer-proviem snould be
thorousnly investigated from a scientific point of view. -Zacharias -
did not ensear to te greatly_interested in the preolem and made only
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one sucgestion, i.e. that Snirley Cuinoy of Colunovia University be > >
brought into the picture. Quimby took nis pnysics degree at the sane ne
time as Zacharias; is now at Coluncia University, having during the - woe
war teen a Navy selientist working on AS. Zacharias suggested Quimby
because the latter is probably the most expert man in the country _
on magic and general chicanerys >
3. My conclusion from these conversations is that it will probably
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be necessary to secure the full backing of DCI in order that a scien- ~
tific reviev of this problem may be laid on. Without this backing, it
would probably te impossible to secure the Air Force cooperation which |
would be necessary, particularly in the matter of availability of LL ve.
reports, etc. ey ;
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