CIA Memorandum on UFO Responsibility and Investigative Activity (1957)
This CIA document, released via the CIA Reading Room, is an internal memorandum framed around three questions concerning UFOs, using the answers as sub-headings. It draws heavily on the recollection of CIA officer Phil Strong. The memo describes how, in the summer of 1952, CIA's Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI) formed a scientific panel to study UFOs. Named participants include panel chairman H.P. Robertson of Cal Tech, Luis Alvarez (physicist at Berkeley), Thornton Page of Johns Hopkins University, and a Brookhaven National Laboratory physics chairman, among others associated with the President's Scientific Advisory Committee (ODM). The panel's report was completed on 17 January 1953, found to be thorough, and distributed to the Intelligence Advisory Committee (IAC). After the study, OSI maintained a watching process on UFO reports, routing natural-phenomena cases to the Geo-Physics Unit of the Fundamental Sciences Division and hardware/flying-craft cases to the Applied Science Division. The Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) is described as maintaining one or two officers on the question — the remnant of the larger Air Force Project 'Blue Book,' with an attached project report dated 5 May 1955. The memo addresses whether the unexplained category could include secret Soviet advanced aeronautical equipment (answer: 'conceivably, yes') and states there was no special collection against UFO targets, though radical aeronautical designs were a high-priority collection requirement. It further reports that the British and Canadians (via the jointly owned firm 'Avro') had completed the design of a saucer-shaped aircraft with jets on the circumference, said to operate at 50,000 feet or better.
Description
A CIA internal memorandum, apparently dated 1957, responding to three questions about UFOs: whether follow-up responsibility had transferred from the Air Force to CIA, what CIA was doing on UFOs, and related collection activity. It recounts the 1952 formation and January 1953 conclusion of an Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI) study panel (the Robertson Panel), the status of the Air Force's Project Blue Book, and reports of a British/Canadian (Avro) flying-saucer aircraft project.
Claims
CIA's OSI formed a scientific panel in summer 1952 to study UFO, whose report (the Robertson Panel) was completed 17 January 1953 and distributed to the Intelligence Advisory Committee.
80%CIA's Office of Scientific Intelligence formed a scientific panel in summer 1952 to study UFOs, concluding its report on 17 January 1953.
80%After the study, OSI maintained a watching brief, routing natural-phenomena UFO reports to the Geo-Physics Unit and hardware/flying-craft reports to the Applied Science Division.
75%There was no dedicated collection against UFO targets, but radical Soviet aeronautical design advances were a high-priority collection requirement.
75%H.P. Robertson, Luis Alvarez, and Thornton Page were among the members of the scientific UFO panel.
75%ATIC retained only one or two officers on the UFO question, described as all that remained of the larger Air Force 'Blue Book' project.
70%Phil Strong conceded that the unexplained UFO category could conceivably include secret Soviet advanced aeronautical equipment.
70%ATIC maintained only one or two officers on the UFO question, the remnant of the larger Air Force Project Blue Book.
70%CIA conducted no special collection against UFO targets, though radical Soviet aeronautical designs were a high-priority collection requirement.
70%The British and Canadians (via Avro) had completed the design of a flying-saucer aircraft with jets on the circumference, intended for operation at 50,000 feet or higher.
65%The British and Canadians, via the jointly owned firm Avro, had completed the design of a saucer-shaped aircraft with jets on its circumference, said to operate at 50,000 feet or better.
65%A small residual percentage of unexplained UFO cases might conceivably include secret Soviet advanced aeronautical equipment.
60%
Events
May 4, 1955
Project Blue Book report
An Air Force Project Blue Book report dated 5 May 1955 is referenced as attached.
Dec 31, 1951
OST/OSI UFO study begun
In the summer of 1952 a study of UFO was undertaken and a scientific panel formed.
Jan 16, 1953
Panel report completed (Robertson Panel)
The panel's thorough report was distributed to the Intelligence Advisory Committee.
Dec 31, 1956
Memorandum on UFO questions
CIA discussion memo answering three questions on UFO responsibility, activity, and collection.
Dec 31, 1951
OSI forms UFO study panel
In the summer of 1952, CIA's Office of Scientific Intelligence undertook a study of UFOs and formed a scientific panel (the Robertson Panel).
Jan 16, 1953
Panel report completed
The panel's study was completed and its report distributed to the Intelligence Advisory Committee.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Programs
Organizations
Events
Extracted text (OCR)
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in the Applied Science Division of 08%, Cen. Wate, ATIC, (Phil
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question, This ATIC effort is all that. ds left of enearlfer, ~ --. |
larger Air Force Project called "Blue Book." (Copy of Project rew .
port dated 5 May 1955 is attached, = conclusions areca PeA)e
Concerning take oa this question, Phil states that “very little canes
in aid that ing has been received of importacce, Twoor three
teke-off in the Soriet Caucasus, but nothing vas developed by ine 9. tt
telligeace, (Analysis of this case is attached.) This incident is - —
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category could include actual secret Soviet advanced eeronautical .
equipment. He replied, "Concefvably, yes." Hovevor, speaking from __ a
meaory be felt that the possibility existed that (f further inform-
tion vas obtainshle, the 3 remaining swsll percentage of unknowns.
might be explained, ee
os h. I also asked Phil point-blank if there vas any j
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there vas no collection as such tut that radical eeronautical design — |
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collection requirement, In this regard he added that OSI bas po
information concerning new Soviet design vhich vould indtcate possi. —
ble construction of flying emucer type aircraft, The Applied ciences
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