Meeting of OSI Advisory Group on UFOs, January 14–17, 1953 (Robertson Panel)

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“+: Memorandum for file OSi-4 TAN 21 January 1953

Meeting of OSI Advisory Crovd on UFO
January-14-thru 17, -1953---——-_ Deelassified by wins a
date 20 APR & _

At 0945 on January 24s 1953, an ad hoc panel of ‘seientific consultants
/- WAS convened. ta_raview the "Unidontified Flying Osjeets" problem, <A detailed
” statement of the problem presented to the group by Cl is attached as “Appendix,

A, fhe panel consisted of the following: -- —

- Dr, Pobertson, CIT”
‘Dr. Lnis~Alvarez
Dr, S, Gordsnit , Broolshaven ,

- Dr. Thornton Page, OR) Johns Hopkins =
Dr. S.A, Hynek, consultant to ATIC,

The following meabors of the. Staff of- ost were present for various parts _ co
or the discussions: - an we

/ f° tb, con, Ofer (Pee) ————= PP gl
DB, Stevenson= (Weapons) we oo a we a : nee wees

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Pa To assist the scientific panel in its_review_and eral ysis of evidence;

Capt, BE. 7. Aappelt- of ATIC, Lt. Neashan and Mr, H, Woo of the Navy photo 0+ + |

dnterprstation lab ab-Anacostd daw and Major Fournet and Capt. Saith of Air ue
' Force Olrastorate of Intelligence? were- present... . ° rae vot

A fingl report ion the- results. of the neeting is being prepared ‘for the :
AD/Sti ty 6. Durant fout it is believed that the_ following is a: fair statenent

of the conclusions Te reached: => >

. 1. No evilence 45 av2ilabdle to Oo indicate any Phy sical inreat + 9) the
- _ Security of the United States, ~ oo ;

_. 2, No evidence is availeble to indicate the ex existence or use of any
es yet unknom (to us) fundaneatal scientific principles,

. 3, The subject "UFO" is not of direct intelligence interest. ‘tt is of
indirect intelligence interest only insofer as any knowledge about the ra
inuneralle unsolved mysteries of the wiiverse are of dntelligence int terest.

4. The suodject "UFO" is of operational interest for three reasons!
(an) Interference with air defense by intentional enemy jamming or ~
i oo by lack of ability on the part of operating personnel to dia~
eco erimirate betveen radar anoralies and actual eirborne weapcas ~
Peete _ (bo) Related to (2), interference with air defense ty ‘overloading -.
conmunication lines froa the air defense observation stations, a

- (ec) Fossibility of a psycholozical offensive by the eneny tined
with respect to an actual-.attacs could conceivably seriously


At 0945 on January 14, 1953, an ad hoc panel of scientific consultants
was convened.to review the "Unidentified Flying Gojects" problen, A deteiled
statement of the problen presented to the grouo by CIA is attached as Appendix, '
A, The panel consisted of the: following:———--—--—

. Dr. Robertson, .CIT
‘Dr, Luis~Alvarez an ae
Dr. 5. Gondsmit , Broolhaven .
’ Dr, Thornton Page, OR) Johns Hopkins
‘Dr. JA. Hynek, consultant to ATIC, ; ;
The following neabers- of the staff of Ost were present for various parts |
of the discussions. wo —. ee tet

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i
Dear ot ictal: “nfo vein Ee

Dr. HM,
’ PG.

Chadwell

Strong

Col,
DB,

Oler | (P&E)

Stevenson (Weapons)

Durent TIT ~~

ee

. . .
. . “ ary
ee SSSSSSSSSSSSSsFeFese ot mo .

’ Capt. BE. wv. _*appelt of ATIC, —

' Force Dizeatorate of Intelligenc? were: present, .

es yet unknown (to us)- fundaneatal scientific principles. _

To asalst the

interpretation lab at -Anacostiay an and Major Fournet and Capt. § Suith of Air

A final report .on_the- “yesu ts of the neéting is being p presare3 ‘for the

_ AD/SI by (2.0. Durant fout - it is believed that. _the. .foloving is a fair. statencat

of the conclusions reached :—

1. No evilence is available to indicate | any Phy sical inreat 40 the me

_ Security of the United States,

2, No evidence is availeble to indicate “the existence. or use of eng:

3. The subject_"UT0" is not of direct intelligence interest. Tt is of
indirect intelligence interest only insofer_as any knowledge about the
inuneralle unsolved mysteries of the wiverse are of. intelligence: int erest.

Ae The subject WORM 4as- “of operational | interest for three. reasons: ote tty

scientific panel in- “Ate. review.and enalysis of evidence} ot,
Lt. Neashan and Mr.-H, Woo of. the Ravy photo e+!

(a) Interference with air defense. by. intentioral enemy jamming or >

eriminate “petueen radar: anovaiies-and- actual. eirborne ‘veapons

(bv) Related to (2), interference with air defense ty ‘overloading
cormunication lines froathe air defense observation stations, . oe .
(c) Fossibility of a psycholozical offensive by the eneny tined

with respect to an actual-attac: could conceivably seriously


reduce the defonse effort of the general: public.
.
: it is noted that these general conclusions as stated here do not eneci~
fically answer the neels presented in Appendix Av~ However, it is antidipated ——.---
that comment on these points will ba presented 4 in a “written stavenent” fren” -
- > the scientific panel to > AD/Siy Do cs. : orth tee
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