(:L1.:s Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90 f'\ :I,.iJ I,' " Gera7d K. Haines

An exmlOrdinary 95 pen:em uf all Uniu;d Sc;ucs and ehe; Sovie;r Union Americans have at Ic::ut heard ()( rC::1U also S;IW the first wave; of UFO sight. something about Unidentified Flying jngs. The: tirst report of a ~f1ying Objects (UFOs). and 57 percent saucer" over rhe came believe they are real. I Former US on 24 June 1947. when Kenneth Presidents Carter and Reagan claim Arnold. a priV:ltc pilot and reputable to have seen a UFO. UFOlogists-a businessman. while looking for a neologism for UFO buffs-and pri­ downed sighted nine disk­ vate UfO organizations are found shaped objectS nc:ar Mt. Rainier. throughout the United States. Many Washington, traveling ae an estim:m:d are convinced that the US Govern­ speed of over 1.000 mph. Arnold's, While Agency concern over ment. and parricuIarly CIA. are report was followed by a flood of addi­ engaged in a massive and tional sightings, including reports , UFOs was substantial" until coverup of the issue. The idea that from military and civilian pilots and the early 1950s, CIA has CIA has secrecly concealed its air craffic controllers allover the research into UFOs has been a major Uniced Scaces." In 1948. Air Force, since paid onlylimited.and theme of UFO buffs since the mod­ Gen. Nathan Twining. head of ~he peripheral attention to the ern UFO phenomena emerged in the Air Technical Service Command. late 1940s.2 established (initially phenomena.. named Project SAUCER) to coUecr •. In late 1993. after being pressured by collate. evaluate. and distribute within. UFOlogists for the release of addi­ the government all informacion rdat~ tional CIA information on UFOs,' ing to such sightings. on the premise DCI R James Woolsey ordered that UFOs might be real and of another review of all Agency fLIes on concern.s .' " UFOs. Using CIA records compiled from that review. this study traces The Technical Intelligence Division. CIA interest and involvement in the of the Air Material Command UFO controversy from the late 19405 (AMC) ae Wright Field (later to 1990. It chronologically examines Wright-Patterson Air Force Base) in the Agency's efforts co solve the mys­ Dayton. . assumed control of tery of UFOs, its programs that had, ' Project SIGN an~ began its work on an impact on UFO sightings. and its 23 January 1948. Although at first attempts to conceal CIA involvement fearful that the objects might be in the entire UFO issue. What Soviet secret weapons, the Air Force emerges from chis examination is that. soon concluded thac UFOs were real while Agency concern over UFOs was bue easily explained and noc extraor­ substantial until the early 1950s. CIA . dinary. The Air Force report found has since paid only limited and periph­ that almost all sightings stemmed eral attention to the phenomena. from one or more of three causes: mass hysteria and . . or misinterpretacion of known Background objects. Nevertheless. the report rec- Gerald K. Haines is the National , ommended continued military Reconnaissance Office historian. The emergence in 1947 of the Cold intelligence control over the investi­ War confrontation between the gation of all sightings and did not

.w: This document is made available through the declassification efforts and research of John Greenewald, Jr., creator of: The Black Vault

The Black Vault is the largest online Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) document clearinghouse in the world. The research efforts here are responsible for the declassification of hundreds of thousands of pages released by the U.S. Government & Military.

Discover the Truth at: http://www.theblackvault.com C00242525 UFOs , ::, .'.

rule OUt the possibility of extraterres­ Early CIA ConCttDS, 1947-52 that most UFO sightings could be eas­ erial phenomena. 6 ilyexplained. Nevertheless. he CIA closely monitored the Air Force recommended that the Agency con-. Amid mounting UFO sighcings. the effort. aware of the mounting number rinue monitoring the problem. in Air Force continued to colleCt and of sighcings and increasingly con­ coordinacion with ATIC. He also evaluate UFO data in the late 1940s cerned that UFOs might pose a urged that CIA conceal its interest under a new project, GRUDGE, potential security threat. 10 Given the from the media and the public, "in which tried to alleviate public anxiety distribution of the sighcings. CIA offi­ view of their probable alarmist tenden­ over UFOs via a public relations cam­ cials in 1952 questioned whether they cies" to accept such interest as paign designed to persuade the public might reflect" midsummer confirming the existence of UFOs. 15 that UFOs constituted nothing madness." II Agency officials accepted unusual or extraordinary. UFO sight­ the Air Force's conclusions about Upon receiving the report. Deputy ings were explained as balloons, UFO reports. although they con­ Director for Intelligence (001) Rob­ conventional aircraft, planets. mete­ cluded that "since there is a remote ert Amory, Jr. assigned responsibility ors, optical illwions, solar reflections. possibility chat they may be interplan­ for the UFO investigations to OSt's or even "large hailstones." GRUDGE etary·aircraft. it is necessary to Physics and EleCtronics Division. officials found no evidence in UFO investigate each sighcing." tl with A. Ray Gordon as the in sighcings of advanced foreign weapons charge. Iii Each branch in the division design or development, and chey con­ A massive buildup of sightings over was to contribute to the investigation. cluded that UFOs did not threaten the Uniced Scates in 1952, especially and Gordon was to coordinate closely US security. They recommended that in July. alarmed the Truman adminis­ with ATIC. Amory. who asked the the project be reduced in scope tration. On 19 and 20 July, group to focw on che national secu­ because the very existence of Air scopes at Washington National Air­ rity implications of UFOs, was Force official interest encouraged peo-. port and Andrews Air Force Base relaying DCI Walter Bedell Smith's concerns. I? Smith wanted to know pie to believe in UFOs and tracked mysterious blips. On 27 July, the blips reappeared. The Air Force whether or not the Air Fon:e investiga­ contributed to a "war hysteria" acmo- scrambled interceptor aircraft to inves­ tion of flying saucers was sufficiently . sphere. On 27 December 1949, che tigate, but they found nothing. The objective and how much more money Air Force announced the project's incidents. however, caused headlines and manpower would be necessary to termination. 7 across the country. The White House determine the cause of the small per­ wanted to know what was happening. centage of unexplained flying saucers, Wirh increased Cold War tensions. and the Air Force quickly offered the Smith believed "there was only one the . and continued UFO explanation that the radar blips might chance in 10,000 chat the phenome­ sightings, USAF DireCtor of Intelli­ be the result of "temperature non posed a threat to the security of gence Maj. Gen. Charles P. Cabell inversions." Later. a Civil Aeronautics the country, but even that chance ordered a new UFO project in 1952. Administration investigation con­ could not be taken." According to became the firmed that such radar blips were Smith. it was CIA's responsibility by major Air Force effort to study the quite common and were caused by statute co coordinate the intelligence UFO phenomenon throughout the temperature inversions. U effort required to solve the problem. 1950s and 1960s. 8 The: task of identi­ Smith also wanted to know what use fying and explaining UFOs continued Although it had monitored UFO could be made of the UFO phenome­ to fallon the: Air Material Command reports for at least three years, CIA non in connection with US at Wright-Pam:rson. With a small reacted to the new rash of sightings by psychological warfare efforts. 18 Staff, the Air Technical Intelligence forming a special study group within Center (ATIC) tried to persuade the the Office of Scientific Intelligence Led by Gordon. the CIA Study public that UFOs were not extraordi­ (OSI) and the Office of Current Intel­ Group met with Air Force officials at nary.' Projects SIGN. GRUDGE, ligence (OCI) to review the Wright-Patterson and reviewed their and BLUE BOOK set the cone for situation. I. Edward Tauss, acting data and findings. The Air Force the official US Government position chief of OS1's Weapons and Equip­ claimed that 90 percent of the regarding UFOs for the next 30 years. ment Division. reported for the group reported sightings were easily

68 C00242525

UFOs

Amateur photographs of alleged UFOs

., .: .,.::,;;~ . '.

...... "

69 .~ C00242525 ,-- UFOs

...... :'

Sheffield. England. 4 March 1962 !~},;.. > .:?.... ':i-.'

Minneapolis. Minnesota. 20 October t960 70 C00242525 UFOs

Because of the tense Cold War situation" and increased Soviet accounted for. The other 10 percent • The , 1952-53 were characterized as "a number of capabilities, the CIA Study incredible reports from credible Group saw serious national On 4 December 1952, the Intelli­ observers." The Air Force rejected security concerns in the gence Advisory Committee (IAC) the theories thac the sighrings took up the issue of UFOs. 26 Amory, involved US or Soviet secret weapons situation. as acting chairman,' presented DCI development or that they involved Smith's request to the committee "men from Mars"; there was no evi­ mat it informally discuss the subject dence: to support these concepts. of UFOs. Chadwell then briefly The Air Force: briefers sought to reviewed the siruation and the active explain these UFO reports as the mis­ phantom UFOs. H. Marshall Chad­ program of the ATIC relating to interpretation of known objects or well, Assistant Direccor" of OSI, UFOs. The commirtee agreed that little understood natural added thac he considered the prob­ the DCI should "enlist the services ' phenomena. I' Air Force and CIA lem of such importance "that it of selected scientists co review and officia.ls agreed that outside knowl­ should be brought co the attention of appraise the available evidence: in the edge of Agency interest in UFOs the National Security Council, in light of pertinent scientific theories" would make the problem more order that a communicywide coordi­ and draft an NSCro on the lO 27 serious. This concealment of CIA nated effort towards it solution may subjeCt. Maj. Gen. John A. Sam­ interest contributed gready to later be initiated. "U ford, Director of Air Force charges of a CIA conspiracy and Intelligence, offered full coverup. cooperation. 28 Chadwell briefed DCI Smith on the subject of UFOs in December 1952. The CIA Study Group also searched At me same time, Chadwdllooked He urged aCtion because he was con­ the Soviet press for UFO reports, bue into British efforts in this area. He vinced that "something was going on found none, causing the group to learned the British also were active in that must have immediate attention" conclude that the absence of reports srudying the UFO phenomena. An and that "sightings of unexplained had [0 have been the result of deliber­ eminent British scientist, R. V. Jones, ate Soviet Government policy. The objects at great altitudes and travel­ headed a standing commirtee created group also envisioned the USSR's ing at high speeds in the vicinity of in June 1951 on flying saucers. possible use of UFOs as a psychologi­ major US defense inscaJlations are of Jones' and his committee's conclu­ cal warfare tool. In addition, they such that they are not attribut­ sions on UFOs were similar to those worried that, if the US air warning able to natural phenomena or known of Agency officials: the sightings sYstem should be deliberl\tely over­ types of aerial vehicles." He drafted were not enemy aircraft but misrepre­ loaded by UFO sightings, the Soviets a memorandum from the DCI to the sentations of narura! phenomena. might gain a surprise advantage in National Security Council (NSC) The British noted, however, that dur­ any nuclear attack. 21 and a proposed NSC Directive estab­ ing a recent air show RAP pilots and lishing the investigation of UFOs' as senior military officials had observed Because of the tense Cold War situa­ a priority project throughout the a "perfect flying saucer." Given the tion and increased Soviet intelligence and the defense research press response, according to the capabilities, the CIA Study Group and development community. 23 officer, Jones was having a most diffi­ saw serious national security con­ Chadwell also urged Smith to estab­ cult time trying to correct public cerns in the flying saucer situation. lish an external research project of opinion regarding UFOs. The public The group believed that the Soviets top-level scientists to study the prob­ was convinced they were real. 29 could use UFO reportS to touch off lem of UFOs. 2. After this briefing, mass hysteria and panic in the Smith directed 001 Amory to pre­ In January 1953, Chadwell and H. P. United States. The group also pare a NSC Intelligence Directive RobertsOn, a noted physicist from the believed thac the Soviets might use (NSCID) for submission to the NSC California Institute of Technology, UFO sightings to overload the US on the need to continue the investiga­ put together a distinguished panel of air warning system so that it could tion of UFOs and to coordinate such nonmilitary scientists to srudy the not distinguish real targets from investigations with the Air Force. 2s UFO issue. It included Robertson as

71 .~.

-: '"-'~. C00242525 I: I UFOs

chairman; Samuel A. Goudsmit, a UFO phenomena and use chern to dis­ flying saucers carefully restricted. not­ nuclear physicist from the Brookhaven rupe US air defenses. 32 ing not only that the RobertSon panel National Laboratories; Luis Alvua. a report was classified but also that any high- physicist; Thornton Page. To meet these problems. the panel rec­ mention of CIA sponsorship of the the deputy director of the Johns Hop­ ommended that the National Security panel was forbidden. This attitude kins Operations Research Office and Council debunk UFO reportS and would later cause the Agency major an expert on radar and eleCtronics; and institute a policy of public education problems relating to its credibility.36 Uoyd Beckner. a director of the to reassure the public of the lack of Brookhaven National Laboratories and evidence behind UFOs. It suggested a specialist in geophysics. 30 using the mass media. advertising, The 1950s: Fading CIA Interest in business clubs. schools. and even the UFOs The charge to the panel was to review Disney corporation to get the message the available evidence on UFOs and across. Reporting at the height of After the report of the RobertSon to consider the possible dangers'of the McCarchyism. the panel also recom­ panel, Agency officials put the entire phenomena to US national security. mended that such private UFO issue of UFOs on the back burner. In The panel met from 14 co 17 January groups as the Civilian Flying Saucer May 1953, Chadwell transferred chief 1953. Ie reviewed Air Force data on Investigators in Los Angeles and the responsibility for keeping abreast of UFO case histories and, after spend­ Aerial Phenomena Research Organiza­ UFOs to OSl's Physics and Electronic ing 12 hours studying the tion in WISConsin be monitored for Division. while the Applied Science phenomena. declared that reasonable subversive activities. 33 Division continued to provide any nec­ explanations could be suggested for essa.ry support.37 T odos M. Odarenko. most, if not all. sightings. For exam­ The RobertSon panel's conclusions chief of the Physics and Electronics ple, after reviewing motion-picture were strikingly similar to those of the Division. did not want to take on the film taleen of a UFO sighting near earlier Air Force project reports on problem, contending that it would Tremonton, Utah, on 2 July 1952 SIGN and GRUDGE and to those of require too much of his divi~ion's ana­ and one near Great Falls, Moncana, the CIA's own OSI Study Group. All lytic and clerical time. Given the on 15 August 1950. the panel con­ investigative groups found that UFO findings of the RobertSon panel, he cluded that the images on the reportS indicated no direct threat co proposed to consider the project "inac­ Tremonton film were caused by sun­ national security and no evidence of tive" and to devote only one analyst light reflecting off seagulls and that visits by extraterrestrials. part-time and a file clerk to maintain a the images at Great Falls were sun­ reference file of the activities of the Air light reflecting off' the surface of cwo Following the Robertson panel find­ Force and other agencies on UFOs. Air Force interceptors. 31 ings, the Agency abandoned effortS co Neither the Navy nor the AImy draft an NSCID on UFOs.}4 The Sci­ showed much interesc in UFOs, The panel concluded unanimously entific Advisory Panel on UFOs' (the according to Odarenko. 38 chae chere was no evidence of a direcc RobertSon panel) submitced its report ehreat to nacional security in the UFO to the lAC, the Secretaty of Defense, A nonbeliever in UFOs. Odarenko sighcings. Nor could the panel find che Director of the Federal Civil sought to have his division relieved of any evidence that the objects sighted Defense Administration. and the the responsibility for monitoring UFO might be extraterrestrials. Ic did find Chairman of the National Security reportS. In 1955, for example, he rec­ that continued emphasis on UFO Resources Board. CIA officials said ommended that the entire project be reporting might threaten "the orderly no further consideration of the sub­ terminated because no new informa­ functioning" of the government by ject appeared warranted, although tion concerning UFOs had surfaced. clogging the channels of communica­ they continued eo monitor sightings Besides, he argued, his division w2;' fac­ tion with irrelevant reports and by in the imerest of national security, ing a serious budget reduction and inducing "hysterical mass behavior" Philip Strong and Fred Durant from could not spare the resources. 39 Chad­ harmful to constituted authority. OSI also briefed the Office of well and other .Agency officials, The panel also worried that potential Nacional Estimates on the findings. 35 however. continued to worty about enemies contemplating an attack on CIA officials wanted knowledge of UFOs. Of special con<;;ern were over­ the United States might exploit the any Agency ineerest in the subject of seas reports of UFO sightings and

72 C00242525

UFOs

BLUE BOOK" investigators were able to attribute many UFO sightings to U-2 d:lin1S that German engineers hdd by • rise and sunset. They often appeared the Soviets were devdoping a "fiying flights. as fiery objects to observers bdow. saucer" as a future weapon of war.·o Air Force BLUE BOOK investiga­ tors aware of the secret U-2 flights To most US political and military cried to expl:lin away such sightings leaders. the by the mid- " by linking them to natural phenom­ 19505 had become a dangerous oppo­ ena such as ice cryStals and nent. Soviet progress in nuclear the Assistant Director of OS I. wrote temperarure inversions. By checking weapons and guided missiles was par­ that the objects observed probably with the Agency's U-2 Project Staff ticularly alarming. In the summer of were normal jet aircraft in a steep in Washington. BLUE BOOK inves­ 1949. the USSR had detonated an dimb.41 tigators were able to attribute many atomic bomb. In August 1953. only UFO sightings to U-2 flights. They nine months after the United States were careful. however. not co reveal Wilton E. wow. head of the CIA's tested a hydrogen bomb. the Soviets the true cause of the sighting to the Applied Sciences Division. was also detonated one. In the spring of public. skeptical. He questioned why the 1953. a top secret RAND Corpora­ Soviets were continuing to develop tion study also pointed OUt the conventional-type :lircraft if they had According to later estimates from vulnerability of SAC bases to a sur­ CIA officials who worked on the U- a "flying saucer."~ Scoville asked prise attack by Soviet long-range project and the OXCART (SR-71. wow to assume responsibility for 2 bombers. Concern over the danger or Blackbird) project. over half of all fully assessing the capabilities and of a Soviet attack on the United limitations of nonconventional :lir­ UFO reports from the late 1950s States continued to grow. and UFO crafe: and co m:lintain the OSI central through the 19605 were accounted sightings added to. the uneasiness of for by manned reconnaissance flights file on the subject of UFOs. US policymakers. (namely the U-2) over the United States.·s This led the Air Force to Mounting reports of UFOs over east­ make misleading and deceptive ~tate­ ern Europe and Afghanistan also CIA's U-2 and OXCART as UFOs ments to the public in order to allay prompted concern rhat the Soviets public fears and to protect an extraor­ were making rapid progress in this In November 1954. CIA had entered dinarily sensitive national security area. CIA officials knew thac the into the world of high technology project. While perhaps justified. chis British and Canadians were already with its U-2 overhead reconnaissance added fuel to the later con­ experimenting with "flying saucers." project. Working with Lockheed's spiracy theories and the coverup Project Y was a Canadian-British-US Advanced Dcvdopment facilicy in controversy of the 1970s. The per­ developmental operation to produce Burbank. California. known as the centage of what the Air Force a nonconventional flying-saucer-type Skunk Works. and Kelly Johnson. an considered unexplained UFO sight­ aircraft, and Agency officials feared eminent aeronautical engineer. the ings fell to 5.9 percent in 1955 and the Soviets were testing similar Agency by August 1955 was testing a co 4 percent in 1956. ~G devices. 41 high-alticude experimental aircraft­ the U-2. It could fly at 60.000 feec; At the same time. pressure was build­ Adding to the concern was a flying in the mid-1950s. mosc commercial ing for the release of the Robertson ~ucer sighting by US Senator airliners flew between 10,000 feet pand report on UFOs. In 1956. Richard Russell and his party while and 20.000 feet. Consequendy. Edward Ruppelt. former head of the tl'2veling on a train in the USSR in once the U-2 started tesc flights. com­ Air Force BLUE BOOK project. October 19;;. After extensive inter­ mercial pilots and air traffic publicly revealed the existence of the views of Russell and his group, controllers began reporting a large panel. A best-selling book by UFOI­ however. CIA offici:!.ls concluded increase in UFO sightings. H (u) ogist . a retired chac Russell's sighting did not sup­ Marine Corps major. advocated port the theory th:u the Soviets had The early U-2s were silver (they were release of all government informa­ developed sauc.erlike or unconven­ later painted black) and reflected the cion relating co UFOs. Civilian tional aircraft. Herbert Scoville. Jr.• rays from the sun. especially at sun- UFO groups such as the National

73 C00242525

UFOs'

. Investigations Committee on Aerial inquires such as Keyhoc's and David­ Field officers from the Concact Divi­ Phenomena (NlCAP) and the Aerial son's. Agency officials confirmed their sion (CD). one of whom was Dewelt Phenomena Research Organization opposition to the declassification of Walker. made concact with the Maier (APRO) immediately pushed for the full report and worried that Key­ sisters. who were "thrilled thac the release of the RobertSon panel hoe had the ear of former DCI VAdm. government was interested." and set report}' Under pressure. the Air Roscoc Hillenkoetter. who served on up a time to meet with them. 53 In try­ Force approached CIA for permission the board of governors ofNlCAP. ing to secure the cape recording. the [0 declassify and release the report. They debated whether to have CIA Agency officers reported that they had Despite such pressure. Philip Strong. General Counsel Lawrence R. Hous­ stumbled upon a scene from Arsmic and Old we. "The only thing lack­ Deputy Assistant Director of OSlo ton show HiIlenkoctter the report as a ing was the elderberry wine." Walker refused to declassify the report and possible way to defuse the situation. declined to disclose CIA sponsorship cabled Headquarters. After reviewing CIA officer Frank Chapin also hinted of the panel. As an alternative. the the sisters' scrapbook of clippings that Davidson might have ulterior Agency prepared a sanitized version of from their days on the stage. the offic­ motives. "some of them perhaps not the report which deleted any reference ers secured a copy of the recording. S-4 in the best interest of this country." to CIA and avoided mention of any OSI analyzed the cape and found it psychological warfare potential in the and suggested bringing in the FBI to was nothing more than Morse code investigate. Although the record is UFO concroversy. ~a ,0 from a US radio scation. unclear whether the FBI ever insti­ The demands. however. for more gov­ tuted an investigation of Davidson or The matter rested there until ernment information about UFOs did Keyhoe. or whether Houston ever saw UFOlogist Leon Davidson talked not let up. On 8 March 1958. Key­ Hillenkoetter about the RobertSon with the Maier sisters in 1957. The hoc. in an interview with Mike report. Hillenkoetter did resign from sisters remembered they had ~ked Wallace of CBS. claimed deep CIA the NlCAP in 1962,51 with a Mr. Walker who said he was involvement with UFOs and Agency from the US Air Force. Davidson sponsorship of the RobertSon panel. The Agency was also involved with then wrote to a Mr. Walker. believing This prompted a series of letters to Davidson and Keyhoe in two rather him to be a US Air Force Intelligence the Agency from Keyhoe and Dr. famous UFO cases in the 1950s. Officer from Wright-Patterson. to ask Leon Davidson. a chemical engineer which helped contribute to a growing if the tape had been analyzed at and UFOlogist. They demanded the of public distrust of CIA with ATIC. Dewclt.Walker replied co release of the full Robertson panel regard to UFOs. One focused on Davidson that the cape had been for­ report and confirmation of CIA what was reported to have been a tape warded to proper·authorities for involvement in the UFO issue. recording of a radio signal from a fly­ evaluation. and no information was Davidson had convinced himself that ing saucer; the other on reported available concerning the results. Not the Agency, not the Air Force. carried satisfied. and suspecting thac Walker photographs of a flying saucer. The· most of the responsibility for UFO was really a CIA officer, Davidson "radio code" incident began inno­ analysis and that "the activities of the next wroce DCI Allen Dulles demand­ cendyenough in 1955. when twO US Government are responsible for ing to learn whac the coded message elderly sisters in Chicago, Mildred the flying saucer sightings of the last revealed and who Mr. Walker was." decade." Indeed. because of the and Marie Maier. reported in the Jour­ The Agency. wanting co keep undisclosed U-2 and OXCART nalo/Space Flight their experiences Walker's identity as a CIA employee flights. Davidson was closer to the with UFOs, including the recording secret. replied that another agency of truth than he suspected. cr. neverthe­ of a radio program in which an uni­ the government had analyzed the cape less held firm to its policy of not dentified code was reportedly heard. in question and that Davidson would " revealing its role in UFO investiga­ The sisters taped the program and be hearing from the Air Force.,6 On tions and refused to declassify the full other ham radio operators also 5 August, the Air Force wrote David­ Robertson panel report. ~9 claimed to have heard the "space mes­ son saying that Walker "was and is an sage." OS[ became interested and Air Force Officer" and chac the tape In a meeting with Air Force representa­ asked the Scientific Contact Branch "was analyzed by another government tives to discuss how to handle future to obtain a copy of the recording. Sl organization." The Air Force letcer

.*, 74 C00242525 UFOs

Agency officials" felt the need to keep informed on UFOs if only to alert the confirmed that the recorcling con­ DCI to the more cion of the photos. explaining that he tained only identifiable Morse code was trying to organize a 1V program which came from a known US­ sensational UFO reports to brief the public on UFOs. He licensed radio station. ~7 and flaps. wanted to mention on the show that a US intelligence organization had Davidson wroce Dulles again. This viewed the photographs and thought time he wanted to know the identity them of interest. Although he Union in destroying records which of the Morse operator and of the advised Mayher not to cake this might indict them."lil Believing that agency that had conducted the analy­ " approach. Hazen stated that Mayher any more contact with Davidson sis. CIA and the Air Force were now was a US citizen and would have to in a quanduy. The Agency had pre­ would only encourage more specula­ tion. the Contact Division washed its make his own decision as to what to viously denied that it had actUally do." analyzed the tape. The Air Force had hands of the issue by reporting to the' also denied analyzing the tape and DCI and to ATIC thac it would not Keyhoe later contacted Mayher, who claimed that Walker was an Air Force . respond to or try to contact Davidson officer. CIA officers. under cover, again. liZ Thus, a minor, rather told him his scory of CIA and the contacted Davidson in Chicago and bizarre incident. handled poorly by photographs. Keyhoe then asked the promised to get the code tranSlation both CIA and the Air Force. curned Agency to confirm Hazen's employ­ and the identification of the transmit­ into a major flap that added fuel to ment in writing, in an effort to ter. if possible.'8 the growing mystery surrounding expose CIA's role in UFO investiga­ UFOs and CIA's role in their tions. The Agency refused, despite investigation. In another attempt to pacify David­ the fact thac CD field representatives were normally overt and carried cre­ son. a CIA officer. again under cover Another minor flap a few months dentials identifying their Agency and wearing his Air Force uniform. later added to the growing questions association. DCI Dulles's aide, John contacted Davidson in New York surrounding the Agency's true role City. The CIA officer explained that with regard eo flying saucers. CIA's S. Earman, meeely sent Keyhoe ;f there was no super agency involved concern over again made mat­ noncommittalleeter noting that, and that Air Force policy was not to eers worse. In 1958. Major Kcyhoe because UFOs were of primacy con­ clisdose who was doing what. While charged thae the Agency was deliber­ ceen to the Department of the Air seeming to accept this argument, ately asking eyewitnesses of UFOs Force, the Agency had referred his Davidson nevertheless pressed for dis­ not co make their sightings public.63 leeter to the Air Force for an appro­ closure of the recording message and priate response. Like the response to the source. The officer agreed to see The incident stemmed from a Davidson, the Agency reply to Key­ what he could do. S9 After checking November 1957 request from OS1 to hoe only fueled the speculation that with Headquarters, the CIA officer the CD co obtain from Ralph C. the Agency was deeply involved in phoned Davidson to report that a Mayher. a photographer for KYW- UFO sightings. Pressure for release thorough check had been maae and, 1V in Cleveland. Ohio. certain pho­ because the signal was of known US of CIA information on UFOs contin­ tographs he took in 1952 of an ued to grow. liS origin, the tape and the notes made unidentified flying object. Harry at the time had been destroyed to Real, a CD .officer. contacted Mav­ conserve file space. GO her and obtained copies of che . Although CIA had a declining inter­ photographs for analysis. On 12 esc in UFO cases, ic continued to Incensed over what he perceived was December 1957. John Hazen. monitor UFO sightings. Agency offi­ a runaround, Davidson rold the CIA another CD officer. returned the five cials felt the need co keep informed officer thac Hhe and his agency. photographs of the alleged UFO to on UFOs if only to alert the DCI co whichever it was, were acting like Mayher without comment. Mayher the'more sensational UFO reports Jimmy Hoffa and rhe Teamster asked Hazen for the Agency's evalua- and flaps. GG

75 C00242525 " ,i \. :: l i i,'/ UFOs r;;\! I," ! '

The 19605: Dec:liniag CIA involve­ Force [0 establish a special ad hoc sanitized version available to the ment and Mounting Controversy committee co review BLUE BOOK. public.n Weber's response was rather Chaired by Dr. Brian O'Brien, a shortsighted and ill considered. It In the early 19605, Keyhoe, David­ member of the Air Force Scientific only drew more attention to the 13- son, and omer UFOlogists Advisory Board, the panc:l included year--old Robertson panel report and maintained meir assault on the , the &mous astronomer CIA's role in the invescigation of Agency for release of UFO informa-: from Cornell Universi£Y. Its report UFOs. The science editor of Th~ Sat­ non. Davidson now claimed that offered noching new. Ic declared thac urday &Vi~ drew nationwide CIA "was solely responsible for creat­ UFOs did noc threacen the national attention to the CIA's role in investi­ ing me Flying Saucer furor as a tool security and mac it could find "no gating UFOs when he published an for cold war psychological warfare UFO case which represented techno­ article cricidzing the "sanitized ver­ since 1951.· Despite calls for Con­ logical or scientific advances outside sion" of the 1953 Robertson panel gressional hearings and the release of of a terrestrial framework. " The com­ report and called for release of the all materials relating to UFOs, little mittee did recommend that UFOs be entire document. 7' changed." studied incensivc:ly, wich a leading uni­ versity acting as a coordinator for the Unknown to CIA officials, Dr. James In 1964, however, following high­ project, to setde che issue E. McDonald, a noted atmospheric level White House discussions on conclusivc:ly.70 physicist from the Universi£Y of Ari­ what to do if an alien inteUigence was zona, had already seen the Durant discovered in seace and a new out­ The House Armed Services Commit­ repor~ on the Robertson panel pro­ break of UFO reports and sightings, tee also held brief hearings on UFOs ceedings at Wright-Patterson on 6 DCI John McCone asked for an in 1966 mac produced similar results. June 1966. When McDonald updated CIA evaluation of UFOs. Secrecary of the Air Force Harold returned to Wright-Patterson on 30 Responding to McCone's request, Brown assured the committee that June to copy the report, however, me OSI asked me CD to obtain various mosc sighcings were easily explained Air Force refused to let him see ic recent samples and reports of UFO and that there was no evidence chac again, scating thac it was a GIA classi­ sighcings from NICAP. With Key­ "strangers from outer space" had been fied documenc. Emerging as a UFO hoe, one of me founders, no longer visicing Earth. He cold me committee authori£Y, McDonald publicly active in me organization, CIA offic­ members, however, that the Air Force claimed that the CIA was behind the ers met with Richard H. Hall, the would keep an open mind and con- . Air Force secrecy policies and acting director. Hall gave the officers cinue co invescigace all UFO reports. 71 coverup. He demanded the release of samples from the NICAP database on the full Robertson panel report and me most recent sightings. 68 Following che report ofies O'Brien the Durant report. 74 Committee. che House hearings on After OSI officers had reviewed che UFOs, and Dr. Robertson's disclosure Bowing to public pressure and che rec­ material, Donald F. Chamberlain, on a CBS R~ports program that CrA ommendation of its own O'Brien OSI Assistant Direccor, assured indeed had been involved in UFO Committee, the Air Force announced McCone that lictle had changed since analysis. me Air Force in July 1966 in August 1966 chat ic was seeking a the early 1950s. There was scill no evi­ again approached che Agency for contracc wich a leading university [0 dence chac UFOs were a chreac to the declassification of the entire ­ undertake a program of intensive securi£Y of che Uniced Staces o'r chat son panel reporc of 1953 and the full investigacions of UFO sighcings. The chey were of "foreign origin." Cham­ Durant report on che Robertson panel new program was designed co blunt berlain told McCone thac OSI still deliberations and findings. The concinuing charges that the US Gov­ monicored UFO reports, including Agency again refused to budge. Karl ernment had concealed what it kne~ the official Air Force investigation, H. Weber, Depucy Direccor of OSl, abouc UFOs. On 7 October, the Uni­ Project BLUE BOOK.69 wroce che Air Force chat "We are versi£Y of Colorado accepced a mosc anxious thac further publici£Y $325,000 concract with the Air Force Ac the same time chac CrA was con­ not be given to che information thac for an IS-month study of flying sau­

ducting this latest internal review of the panc:l was sponsored by the erA. n cers. Dr. Edward U. Condon, a UFOs, public pressure forced the Air Weber noced thac there was already a physiciSt ar Colorado and a former

76

.~ ' .. " '." '...... ,:._. C00242525 UFOs

Additional "sightings in the early 1970s also fueled beliefs that the CIA was Direccor of the National Bureau of • somehow involved in a vast in UFO investigations is warranted Standards. agreed to head the pro­ by data of the past cwo decades." It gram. Pronouncing himself an conspiracy. concluded irs review by declaring, "agnostic" on the subject of UFOs, "On the basis of present knowledge. Condon observed that he had an the least likely explanation of UFOs open mind on the question and is the hypothesis of extraterrestrial thought that possible exuaterricorial visitations by intelligent beings." origins were "improbable buc noc " Following the recommendations of ment not available c:lsc:where that CIA impossible. "1' Brig. Gen. Edward had used in itS analysis of some UFO the Condon Committee and the Giller. USAF. and Dr. Thomas photography furnished by Ratchford. National Academy of Sciences, the Ratchford from the Air Force Condon and his committee were Secretary of the Air Force, Robert C. R.c:search and Development Office impressed. 71 Seamans. Jr.• announced on 17 became the Air Force coordinators December 1%9 the termination of for the project. BLUE BOOK.80 Condon and the same group met again in May 1%7 at NPIC co hear In February 1967. Giller contacted an analysis of UFO photographs Arthur C. Lundahl. Director of The 1970s and 1980s: The UFO taken at Zanesville, Ohio. The analy­ CIA's National Photographic Inter­ Issue Refuses T ~ Die sis debunked that sighting. The pretation Center (NPIC). and committee was again impressed with proposed an informal liaison through The Condon report did not satisfy the technical work performed. and which NPIC could provide the Con­ many UFOlogistS. who considered it Condon remarked that for the firse don Committee with technical a coverup for CIA activities in UFO advice and services in c:xa.mining pho­ cime a scientific analysis of a UFO research. Additional sighcings in the would stand up to investigation. -s tographs of allc:gcd UFOs. Lundahl early 1970$ fueled beliefs that the and 001 R. Jack Smith approved The group also discussed the com­ CIA was somehow involved in a vast the arrangement as a way of "preserv­ mittee's plans to calion US citizens conspiracy. On 7 June 1975, Will­ ing a window" on the new effort. for additional photographs .and to iam Spaulding, head of a small UFO They wanted the CIA and NPIC to issue guidelines for taking useful group, Ground Saucer Watch maintain a low profile, however, and UFO photographs. In addition, CrA (GSW), wrote to CIA requesting a to take no part in writing any conclu­ officials agreed that the Condon copy of the RobeCtSon panel report sions for the committee. No work Committee could release the full and all records relating to UFOS.81 done for the committee by NPIC Durant report with only minor Spaulding was convinced that the was to be formally acknowledged. 76 deletions. Agency was withholding major files on UFOs. Agency officials provided Ratchford next requested that Con­ In April 1969, Condon and his com­ Spaulding with a copy of the Robert­ don and his committee be allowed to mittee released their report on son panel reporc and of the Durant visit NPIC to discuss the technical UFOs. The report concluded that report. 82 aspectS of the problem and to view litde, if anything, had come from the the special equipment NPIC had for study of UFOs in the pase 21 years On 14 July 1975. Spaulding again photoanalysis. On 20 February 1967, and that further extensive study of wrote the Agency questioning the Condon and four members of his UFO sightings was unwarranted. It authenticity of the repoCtS he had committee visited NPIC. Lundahl also recommended that the Air Force received and alleging a CIA coverup emphasized to the group that any special unit, Project BLUE BOOK •. of itS UFO activities. Gene Wilson, NPIC work eo assist the committee be discontinued. It did noc mention CIA's Information and Privacy muse not be identified as CIA work. CIA paccicipacion in the Condon Coordinator, replied in an attempt Moreover, work performed by NP(C committee's investigation. 79 A spe­ to satisfy Spaulding. "At no time would be miccly of a technical cial panel established by the National prior to the formarion of the Robert­ nacure. After receiving these guide­ Academy of Sciences reviewed the son Panel and subsequent to the lines. the group heard a series of Condon repocc and concurred with issuance of the panel's report has CIA briefings on ehe services and equip- its conclusion that "no high priority engaged in the study of the UFO phe-

n ...

;i,- •• C00242525

UFOs

nomena." The RobertSOn panel • government concern over UFOs and munity shifted their interest to report, according to Wtlson, was "the that the Agency was secretly involved studying and summation of Agency interest and in the surveillance of UFOs. 86 GSW phenomena associated with UFO involvement in UFOs." Wilson also then sued for the release of the with­ sightings. CIA officials also looked at inferred that mere were no additional held documents. claiming that the the UFO problem to determine what documents in CIA's possession mat Agency was still holding out key UFO sightings might tell them about related co UFOs. Wilson was ill information. ff1 It was much [ike the Soviet progress in rockets and informed.u John F. Kennedy issue. missiles and reviewed its counterintel­ No matter how much material the ligence aspects. Agency analysts from In September 19n. Spaulding and Agency released and no matter how the Life Science Division of OSI and GSW. unconvinced by Wilson's dull and prosaic the information. peo­ OSWR officially devoted a small response, filed a Freedom of Informa­ ple continued to believe in a Agency amount of their time to issues relat­ tion Act (FOIA) lawsuit against me covernp and conspiracy. ing to UFOs. These included Agency that specifically requeste4 all counterintelligence concerns that the UFO documents in CIA's possession. DCI Stansfield Turner was so upset Soviets and the KGB were using US Deluged by similar FOIA requests for when he read Th~ N~ York Tim~s citizens and UFO groups to obtain Agency information on UFOs, CIA article that he asked his senior offic­ informacion on sensitive US weapons officials agreed, after much legal ers, "Are we in UFOs?" After development programs (such as the maneuvering, to conduct a "reason­ reviewing the records. Don Wortman. Stealth aircraft). the vulnerability of able search" of CIA files for UFO Deputy Direccor for Administration. the US air-defense network to pene­ materials." Despite an Agency-wide reported co Turner thac there was "no tration by foreign missiles mimicking unsympametic attitude toward the organized Agency effort to do research UFOs. and evidence of Soviet suit, Agency officials, led by Launie in connection with UFO phenomena advanced technology associated with Ziebell from the Office of General nor has there been an organized effort UFO sightings. Counsel. conducted a thorough to collect intelligence on UFOs since search for records pertaining to the 1950s." Wortman assured Turner CIA also maintained Intelligence UFOs. Persistent, demanding. and chat the Agency records held only . Community coordination with other even threatening at times. Ziebell and "sporadic instances of correspondence agencies regarding their work in para­ his group scoured the Agency. They dealing with the subject." including psychology, psychic phenomena, and even turned up an old UFO file various kinds of reports of UFO sight­ "" experiments. In under a secretary's desk. The search ings. There was no Agency program general. the Agency took a conserva­ finally produced 355 documents total­ to collect actively information on tive scientific view of these ing approximately 900 pages. On 14 UFOs, and the material released to unconventional scientific issues. December 1978, the Agency released GSW had few deletions. 88 Thus There was no formal or official UFO all but 57 documents of about 100 assured, Turner had the General . project within the Agency in the pages co GSW. It withheld these 57 Counsel press for a summary judg­ 1980s. and Ag.ency officials purposely documents on national security ment against the new lawsuit by kept files on UFOs to a minimum to grounds and to protect sources and GSW. In May 1980. the courts dis­ avoid creating records that might mis­ methods. S5 missed the lawsuit. finding that the lead the public if released. 90 Agency had conducted a thorough Although the released documents pro­ and adequate search in good faith. 89 The 1980s also produced renewed duced no smoking gun and revealed charges that the Agency was still with­ only a [ow-level Agency interest in the During the late 1970s and 1980s. the holding documents relating to the,. UFO phenomena after the Robertson Agency continued its low-key interest 1947 . in which a pand report of 1953, the press treated in UFOs and UFO sightings. While flying saucer supposedly crashed in the release in a sensational manner. most scientists now dismissed flying New Mexico. and the surfacing of doc­ Th~ N~w York Tim~s, for example, saucers reports as a quaint part of the uments which purportedly revealed claimed that the declassified docu­ 1950s and 1960s. some in the the existence of a top secret US ments confirmed intensive Agency and in the Intelligence Com- research and development intelligence .... 78 C00242525 UFOs

Like the JFK" assassination conspiracy theories, the I UFO issue probably will operation responsible only to me not go away soon, no 4. Sec Hccror Quintanilla. Jr.• "The President on UFOs in me lace 1940s Investigation of UFOs," Vol. 10. No. matter what the Agency 4. Studies in Intt:liigmc~ (fall 1966): II and early 1950s. UFOlogiscs had pp.95·110 and CIA, unsigned memo­ long argued mac, following a flying does or says. randum, "Flying Saucers." 14 August saucer crash in New Mexico in 1947, 1952. Sec also Good, AbolJ4 Top the government not only recovered Secr~t. p. 253. During World War II. debris from the crashed saucer but US pilots reported "foo fighters" also four or five alien bodies. Accord­ NOTES (bright lights trailing US aircraft). ." Fearing they might be Japanese or ing to some UFOlogiscs, me German secret weapons, OSS investi­ government clamped tight security 1. Sec the 1973 GaUup Poll results gated but could find no conctete around me projeCt and has refused to printed in Th~ N~ York Tim~s, 29 evidence of enemy weapons and often November 1973, p. 45 and Philip J. divulge ics investigation reswcs and filed such tcporrs in the "crackpot" Klass. UFOs: Th~ Public D4cnlltli research ever since. 91 In September category. The OSS also investigated (New York: Prometheus Books. possible sightings ofGecman V·l and 1994, the US Air Force released a 1983), p. 3. V-2 rockets before their operational new report on the Roswell incident usc during the war. See Jacobs, UFO mat concluded that me debris found 2. See Klass, UFOs, p. 3; James S. Gor­ Controumy. p. 33. The Ccmral Intel· in New Mexico in 1947 probably don, "The UFO Expei:icnce, - Ati4ntic ligence Group, the predcce.ssor of the came from a once tOP secret balloon Month" (August 1991.), pp. 82-92; CIA. also monitored reporrs of " rockets" in Sweden in 1946. Sec operation, Project MOGUL, David Michael Jacobs. Th4 UFO Con· CIG. Intelligence Report, 9 April designed to monitor me atmosphere trov4rtJ in Ammca (Bloomington: Indiana University Press. 1975); 1947. for evidence of Soviet nuclear tesCS.92 Howard Blum. Out Thue: Th~ GOII· nnmmti Secra Q~t for 5. Jacobs. Th~ UFO Controtl4rtJ. p. 156 Circa 1984, a series of documencs Extrllt41T'4Strials (New York: Simon and Quintanilla. "The Investigation surfaced which some UFOlogiscs said and Schuster. (990); . of UFOs,· p. 97. . proved that President Truman cre­ Aboll~ Top S~cret: Th~ Worldwitk ated a tOP secret committee in 1947. UFO Cotlt'r-Up (New York: William 6. See US Air Force. Air Material Com­ Majestic-12. to secure the recovery of Morrow, 1987); and Whidey Strieber. mand. "Unidentified Aerial Objects: Communion: Th4 Trut' Story (New Projccr SIGN, no. F-TR 2274. LA. UFO wreckage from Roswell and York: Morrow, 1987). February 1949. Records of the US Air any other UFO crash sight for scien· Force Commands. Activities and tiflc study and to examine any alien 3. In September 1993 John Peterson. an Organiutions. Record Group 341, bodies recovered from such sites. acquaintance ofWoolscy·s. first National Archives. Washington. DC. Most if not all of these documencs approached the DCI with a package have proved to be fabrications. Yet ofhcavily sanitized CLA material on 7. Sec US Air Force. Proj4cts GRUDGE me controversy persiscs. 93 UFOs released to UFOlogist Stanton. and BLUEBOOK Reports J- J2 (Wash­ T. Friedman. Peterson and Friedman ington. DC; Nationallnvcstigations wanted to know the reasons for the Committee on Aerial Phenomena. Like the JFK assassination conspiracy redactions. Woolsey agreed to look 1%8) and Jacobs. The UFO ContrfJ­ meories. the UFO issue probably into the matter. See Richard J. War­ IJmy. pp. 50-54. will not go away soon. no maHer shaw. Executive Assisranc. note to what me Agency does or says. The author. 1 November 1994; Warshaw. 8. Sec Cabell. memorandum to Com­ belief chac we are not alone in the note to John H. Wright. Information manding Generals Major Air Commands. "Reporting oflnforma­ universe is [00 emotionally appealing and Privacy Coordinator. 31 January tion on Unconventional Aircraft." 8 and the distrust of our government is 1994; and Wtight. memorandum to Executive Secretariat. 2 March 1994. September 1950 and Jacobs. The toO pervasive to make the issue ame· (Except where noted. all citations to UFO ControlJ4rtJ, p. 65. nable to traditional scientific studies CIA records in this article arc to the of rational explanation and evidence. records collected for the 1994 Agency­ 9. Sec Air Fotee. Projms GRUDGE and wide search that arc held by the Execu­ BLUE BOOK and Jacobs. Th~ UFO tive Assistant to the DCl). Conrrov4rtJ. p. 67.

79 .... C00242525

UFOs

10. (5) See Ec:Iwacd Tauss. memorand~m IS. Smith expressed his opinions at a 26. The IAC was created in 1947 to serve for Deputy Assistant Direaor. SI. meeting in the DCI Conference as a coordinating body in establishing "Flying Saucers." 1 August 1952. See Room attended by his tOP officers. intelligence requirements. Chaired by also United Kingdom. Repon: by the See Deputy Chief. Requirements me DCI, me IAC included representa­ "Flying Saucer" Working Party. "Uni­ Staff. Fl. memorandum for Deputy tives from me Oeparanenc of State, dencified Flying Objects." no date Dircaor. Plans. "Flying Saucers." 20 me Army, me Air Force, the Joint (approximately 1950). August 1952. Directorate of Opera­ Chie& ofScaff, me FBI. and me AEC. clons Records. Information 11. Sec Dr. Stone. OSlo memorandum to Management Scaff, Job S~0053SR. 27. Sec Klass. UFOs. p. 27. Dr. Willard Machle. 051.15 March Box 1. (S) 1949 and Ralph L Clark, Acting 28. See Richard D. Drain. Acting Secre­ Assistant Director. OSlo memoran­ 19. Sec CIA memorandum. unsigned. tary. IAC. -Minutes of Meeting held dum for DOl. "Recent Sightings of "Flying Saucers: 11 August 1952. in Director's Conference Room. Unexplained Objects," 29 July 1952. Administracion Building. CIA." 4 20. See CIA. memorandum. unsigned. December 1952. 12. Stone. memorandum to Machle. See "Flying Saucers." 14 August 1952. also Clark, memorandum for DOt 29. (S) See Chadwell. memorandum for 29 July 1952. 21. See CIA. memorandum. unsigned. me record. "British Activity in me "Flying Saucers: 19 August 1952. Field of UFOs." 18 December 1952. 13. See Klass. UFOs, p. 15. Fora brief review of the Washingron sightings see 30. Sec Chadwell. memorandum for Good. Aboll~ Top S~crd. pp. 269-271. 22. See Chadwell. memorandum for Smith. 17 September 1952 and 24 DCI. "Consultants for Advisory Panel September 1952. "Flying Saucers. " on Unidentified Flying Objects." 9 14. See Ralph L Clark. Acting Assistant January 1953; Curtis Peebles. Wa«h Dircaor, OSI. memorandum to DOl See also Chadwell. memorandum for DCI Smith. 2 October 1952 and th~ Skin! A Chronicle ofth~ Flying Sau­ Roben: Amory. Jr .• 29 July 1952. Klass. UFOs. pp. 23-26. cO" Myth (Washington. DC: OSI and OCI were in the Directorate Smithsonian Institution Press. 1994). of Intelligence. Established in 1948. pp. 73-90; and Jacobs. Th~ Cf.FO Con­ OSI served as the CIA's focal point 23. Chadwell. memorandum for DCI trounry. pp. 91-92. for the analysis of foreign scientific wim attachments. 2 December 19'52. Sec also Klass. UFOs. pp. 26-27 and and technological developments. In 31. 'See Fred C. Durant III. Repon: on me 1980. 051 was merged into the Office Chadwell. memorandum. 25 Novem­ ofScience and Weapons Research. ber 1952. RobertSOn Panel Meeting. January 1953. Durant. on contract wim OSI The Office of Current Intelligence and a past president of me American (OCI), established on 15 January 24. See Chadwell. memorandum. 25 Rocket Society. an:ended me Robert­ 1951 was co provide all-source current November 1952 and Chadwell. mem­ son panel meetings and wrote a intelligence co the President and che orandum. "Approval in Principle­ summary of me proceedings. National Security Council. External Research Project Concerned with Unidentified Flying Objects." no 15. T auss. memorandum for Deputy 32. See Repon: of the Scientific Pand on date. See also Philip G. Strong. OSlo Unidentified Flying Objects (me Rob­ Assiscant Direccor. SI (Philip Strong). memorandum for the record. "Meet­ 1 August 1952. eruon Repon:). 17 January 1953 and ing wim Dr. Julius A. Stratton. the Durant repot[ on the panel Executive Vice President and Provost. discussions. 16. On 2 January 1952. DCI Walter MIT and Dr. Max Millikan. Director Bedell Smith crelted a Deputy Direc­ ofCENIS." Scrong believed mac in torate for Intelligence (001) composed order to unden:ake such a review they 33. See Robertson Repon: and Duranc of six oven: CIA organiucions-OSI. would need the full backing and sup­ Repon:. See also Good. Abou~ Top ocr. Office of Collection and Dissemi­ port of DC I Smim. S~t:m. pp. 337-3S.Jacobs, Th~ UFO nation. Office National Estimates. Controllnry, p. 95, and Klass. UFO i. pp.2S-29. " Office of Research and ReportS. and 25. See Chadwell. memorandum for the Office oflntelligence Coordina­ DCI. " Unidentified Flying Objects." tion-to produce intelligence analysis 2 December 1952. See also Chad­ 34. See Reber, memorandum co IAC. IS for US policymakers. well. memorandum for Amory. 001. February 1953. "Approval in Principle - External 17. See Minutes of Branch Chiefs Meet­ Research Project Concerned wim Uni­ 35. See Chadwell. memorandum for ing. 11 August 1952. dcntified Flying ObjeCts." no date. 001. "Unidentified Flying Objects."

80 C00242525 UFOs

10 February 1953; Chadwell. letter to Baku." 13 October 1955; Scoville, Strong. memorandum for Major James RobertSOn. 28 January 1953; and memorandum for the record, "Inter­ F. Byrne. Assistant Chief of Scaff, Intd­ Re~r. memorandum for IAC. "Uni­ view with Senator Richard B. Russdl." ligence Department of the Air Force. dentified Flying Objects." 18 27 October 1955; and WJton E. "Dcclassificacion of the 'Report of the February 1953. On briefing the Lc:xow. memorandum for informacion. Scientific Panel on Unidentified Flying ONE. see Durant. memorandum for "RepOrted Sighting of Unconventional Objects,''' 20 December 1957. See the record. "Briefing of ONE Board Aircraft." 19 October 1955. also Berkner.letter to Strong, 20 on Unidentified Flying ObjectS." 30 November 1957 and Page. letter to January 1953 and CIA Summary dis­ 43. Sec Lexow. memorandum for informa­ Strong, 4 December 1957. The panel seminated to che field. "Unidentified cion. "Reported Sighting of members were also cc1uctanc to have Flying ObjectS." 6 February 1953. Unconventional Aircraft." 19 Occober their association with the Agency 1955. See also Frank C. Bolsec. mem­ released. 36. Sec Chadwell. letter to Julius A. Strat­ orandum for George C. Miller. con, Provost MIT. 27 January 1953. Deputy Chief. SAD/SI. "Possible 49. See Wuton E. Lc:xow. memorandum Soviet Flying Saucers. Check On;" for the record. UCommentS on Letters 37. See Chadwell. memorandum for Lc:xow. memorandum. "Possible Dealing with Unidentified Flying Chief. Physics and Electronics Divi- . Soviet Flying Saucers. Follow Up Objects." 4 April 1958: J. S. Earman. sion/OSI (Todos M. Odarenko), On." 17 December 1954; Lc:xow. letter to Major Lawrence J. Tacker. "Unidentified Flying ObjectS." 27 memorandum. "Possible Soviet Flying Office of the Secretary of the Air May 1953. Saucers." 1 December 1954; and A. Force. Information Service. 4 April H. Sullivan. Jr.• memorandum. "Possi­ 1958; Davidson. letter to Berkner. 8 38. Sec Odarenko. memorandum to ble Soviet Flying Saucers." 24 April 1958; Berkner.letter to David­ Chadwell. "Unidentified Flying November 1954. son. 18 April 1958; Berkner.letter to ObjectS." 3 July 1953. See also Strong. 21 April 1958; Davidson.let­ Odarenko. memorandum to Chad­ 44. See Gregory W. Pedlowand Donald ter to Tacker. 27 April 1958: well. "Current Status of Unidentified E. Welzenbach. Th~ CmtrallnuUi­ Davidson. letter to Allen Dulles. 27 Flying ObjectS (UFO B) Project." 17 gmc~ Agmcy and OuO'h~ad April 1958; Ruppelt. letter to David­ December 1953. R~connaisranc~: Th~ U-2 and son. 7 May 1958; Strong. letter to OXCART Programs. 1954-1974 Beckner. 8 May 1958; Davidson, let­ ter to Berkner. 8 May 1958; 39. See Odarenko. memorandum. "Uni_ (Washington. DC: CIA History Scaff, 1992). pp. 72-73. Davidson. letter to £arman. 16 May dentified Flying Objects." 8 August 1958; Davidson. letter to Goudsmic. 1955. 45. See Pedlow and Welzenbach. Outr­ 18 May 1958: Davidson. letter to Page. 18 May 1958; and Tacker.let~ h~ad &connaissanc~. pp. 72-73. This 40. Sec FBIS. cepott. "Military Unconven­ ter to Davidson. 20 May 1958. tional Aircraft." 18 August 1953 and also was confirmed in a telephone various reports. "Military-Air. Uncon­ intervi~ between the author and ventional Aircnft." 1953. 1954. 1955. John Parongosky. 26 July 1994. 50. See Lcxow. memorandum for Parongosky oversaw che day-co-day Chapin. 28 July 1958. affairs of che OXCART program. 41. Developed by the Canadian affiliate of Bricain's A. V. Roc. Ltd .• Project Y 51. See Good. Abo,,~ Top S~cm. pp. 346- did produce a small-scale modc:l chat 46. Sec Jacobs. Th~ UFO ControuO'f}, 47; Lexow, memorandum for the hovered a few feet off the ground. Sec p. 135. record. UMeeting with the Air Force Odarenko. memonndum to Chad­ Personnc:l Concerning Scientific Advi­ well. "Flying Saucer Type of Planes" 47. See Peebles, Watch th~ Slt~s. pp. 128· sory Panel Report on Unidentified 25 May 1954; Frederic C. E. Oder. 146; Ruppelt. Th~ Rtport on Unidmti­ Flying Objects. dated 17 January memorandum co Odarenko. "USAF fi~d Flying Obj~cts (New York: 1953 (S)." 16 May 1958. See also La Project Y." 21 May 1954; and Doubleday, 1956); Keyhoc. Th~ Fly­ Rae L. T eel. Deputy Division Chief. Odarenko. T. M. Nordbeck. Ops/Sl. ing SaucO' Conspiracy (New York: ASD, memorandum for the record, and Sidney Graybeal. ASD/SI, memo­ Hole. 1955); and Jacobs. Th~ UFO "Meeting with Mr. Chapin on Reply­ randum for che record, "Intelligence ControuO'f}. pp. 347-49. ing co Leon Davidson's UFO Letcer . Responsibilities for Non-Conven­ and Subsequent Telephone Conversa­ tional Types of Air Vehicles." 14 June 48. See Strong. letter to Uoyd W. Berkner; cion with Major Thacker, [sic)" 22 1954. Strong, letter co Thorton Page; Scrong. May 1958. letter co Robertson; Strong. letcer to 42. Sec Reuben Efron. memorandum. Samuel Goudsmit; Scrong. lecter co 52. See Edwin M. Ashcnft. Chief. "Observation of Flying Object Near Luis Alvarez, 20 December 1957; and Concacc Division (Scientific). memo-

81 C00242525 UFOs f

randum to Chief. Chicago Office. memorandum for Austin Bricker. Jr.• See also F. J. Sheridan, Chief. Wash­ "Radio Code Recording." 4 March Assistant to the Director, "Inquiry by ington Office. memorandum to 1955 2nd Ashcraft. memo[2lldum to Major Donald E. Kcyhoc on John Chief. Contact Division. "National Chief. Support Branch, OSI. 17 Hazen's Association with the Investigation Committee on Aerial March 1955, Agency," 22 January 1959. Phenomena (NlCAP)," 25"}anuary 1965. . 53. The Contact Division W3$ created to 64. See John T. Hazen. memorandum to collect foreign intelligence informa­ Chief, C..ontact Division. 12 Decem­ 69. Chamberlain, memorandum for DCI, tion from sources within the United ber 1957. See also Ashcraft, "Evaluation of UFOs, " 26 January States. See the Directorate of Intelli­ memnrnndum to Cleveland Resident 1965. gence .Hist~rical Series, Th~ Origin Agent. MRaiph E. Mayher." 20 Decem­ lind Dru~lopmmt ufContlla Diuision, ber 1957. According to this 11 July 1946-1 July 1965 (Washing­ memorandum, the photographs were 70. See Jacobs. Th~ UFO Control/my, p. ton. DC; CIA Historical Scaff. June viewed .:It "a high level and returned 199 and US Air Force, Scientific Advi­ 1969). to us without comment.." The Air sory Board, Ad Hoc Committee Force held the original negatives. The (O'Brien Committee) to Review Project BLUE BOOK. Sp~dIll &port 54. See George O. Forrest. Chief. Chi: CIA rccords were probably destroyed. (Washington, DC: (966). Sec also cago Office. memorandum to Chief. Th~ NI!W York TImes, 14 August Contact Division for Science. II 65. The is.~ue would resurface in the 1966. p. 70. March 1955. 1970s with the GSW FOIA court case.

55. See Support Division (Connell). mem­ 6G. Sec Rnhcrt Amory. J r.. 0 DI. memo­ 71. Sec "Congress Reassured on Space Vis­ orandum to Dewelt E. Walker. 25 randum for Assistant Directorl itS," Th~ N(W York TImes, G April April 1957. Scienlific Intelligence, "Flying Sau­ 1966. cers," 2(, March 1956. Seealso 56. See J. Arnold Shaw. Assistant to the Walbl:c R. Lamphire, Office of the 72. Weber, letter to Col. Gerald E. Jor­ Director. letter to Davidson. 10 May Dim:c ..r. Planning and Coordination gensen. Chief. Communiry Relations 1957. Staff. mcmorandum for Richard M. Division, Office of Informacion, US Bissell. Jr.. ·.. Unidentified Flying Sau­ Air Force, 15 August 1966. The 57. See Support (Connell) memorandum cers (UFO): II June 1957; Philip Durant report W3$ a detailed summary to Lt. Col. V. Sbkich. 27 August 1957 Stron~. memorandum for the Direc­ of the RobertSon panel proceedings. and Lamountain. memorandum to tor, NI'IC, "Reported Photography of Support (Connell). 20 December 1957. Uniacnrified Flying ObjectS,· 27 Oct"I ...·r 1958; Scoville. memorandum 73. Sec John Lear, "The Disputed CIA to Llwr"nce Houston, Legislative Document on UFOs," Saturday 58. See Lamountain. cable co SuppOrt CoUIIS<-I. MReply co Honorable Joseph R~il!W (Sepcember 3, 1966). p. 45. (Connell). 31 July 1958. E. Garlh.~ 12 July 1961; and Hous­ The Lear article W3$ otherwise unsym­ ton. 1"lIcr co Garth, 13 July 1961. pathetic to UFO sighcings and the 59. See Support (Connell) cable to Skak­ possibility that cxtraterritorials were ich. 3 Ocrober 1957 and Skakich. involved. The Air Force had been 67. Sec. IiI[ ~'!(ample, Davidson, lecter to cable to Connell, 9 October 1957. eager to provide Lear with the full Con~r~-s.~man Joseph Garth, 26 June report. Sec W:i.Jter L. Mackey, Execu­ 1961 :111.1 Carl Vinson, Chairman, tive Officer, memorandum for DCI. GO. See Sbkich. cable co Connell. 9 Ocro­ Hou~~' Committee on Armed Ser­ ber 1957. vict's. krrer to Rep. Robert A. Everett, "Air Force Request to Declassify CIA Material on Unidentified Flying 2 S"I""mber 1964. G1. See R. P. B. lohmann. memorandum Objects (UFO)," 1 September 1966. for Chief. Contact Qivision. DO. 9 G8. Sec ~ I.cxwdl W. Hunter. staff mem­ January 1958. ber, N:lrional A~ronautics and Space 74. Sec Klass. UFOs, p. 40, Jacobs. Th~ CoulI,·il. Executive Office of the Presi­ UFO Controumy. p. 214 and Everet " G2. See Support. cable to Skakich. 20 Feb­ dent. mcmorandum for Robert F. Clark, "Physicist Scores 'Saucer Sta­ ruary 1958 and Connell (SupPOrt) Parkard. Office of International Seien­ tUS,'" Th~ N~ York Tim~J. 21 cable to Lamountain. 19 December tifi ... AfEtirs. qepartment of State. October 1966. Sec also James E. 1957. "TllIIu~hts on the Space Alien Race McDonald, "Statement on Unidenti­ Qu,·~'i,,"." 18 July 1963, File SP 16. fied Flying Objects," submitted to the G3. See Edwin M. Ashcrafr, Chief. Con­ Re"'r

. .. 82 C00242525 UFOs

75. Condon is quoted in Walter Sullivan, been withheld !Tom the documentS. 90. (S) See John Brennan. memorandum "3 Aides Selected in Saucer Inquiry." See Klass. UFOs. p. 6. for Richard Warshaw. Executive Assis­ Tht NtIII York Tima. 8 Octohcr cane. DCI. "Requested Information 1966. See also MAn. OutSpoken Scien­ 81. GSW was a small group of UFO buffs on UFOs: 30 September 1993; tist. Edward Uhler Condon." Tht based in Phoenix. Arizona. and Author interviews with OSWR ana­ NtIII York Tima. 8 October 1966. headed by Wtlliam H. Spaulding. lyst. 14 June 1994 and OSI analyst. Condon. an outgoing. gruff scientist. 21 July 1994. This author found had c:arlier become embroiled in a con­ 82. See Klass. UFOs. p. 8. almost no documentation on Agency troversy with the House Unamerican involvement with UFOs in the 19805. Activities Committee that claimed Condon was "one of the weakest links 83. See Wilson. letter co Spaulding. 26 There is a DIA Psychic Center and the in our atomic security." See also Pee­ March 1976 and GSW v. CIA Civil NSA studies parapsychology. that bles. Wa«hthtSkitS.pp.169-195. Action Case 78-859. branch of psychology thac deals with the investigation of such psychic phe­ 76. See Lundahl. memorandum for DDI. 84. GSW v. CIA Civil Action Case 78- 859. p. 2. nomena as . cxuasensory 7.February 1967. . and cdepathy. The CIA reportedly is also a memhcr of an Inci­ 85. Author interview with Launie Ziebell. Sec memorandum for the record. dent Response T cam to investigate n. 23 June 1994 and author interview MV'lSit of Dr. Condon to NPIC. 20 UFO landings. if one should occur. with 051 analyst. 21 July 1994. See February 1967." 23 February 1967. This tcam has never met. The lack of also affidavics of George Owens. CIA See also the analysis of the photo­ solid CIA documentation on Agency Information and Privacy Act Coordi­ UFO-related activities in the 19805 graphs in memorandum for Lundahl. nator; Karl H. Weber. OSI; Sidney D. MPhoto Analysis of UFO Photogra­ Scembridge. Office of Security; and leaves the entire issue somewhat phy," 17 February 1967. Rudedge P. Hazzard. DS&T; GSW v. murky for this period. CIA Civil Action Case 78-859 and 78. See memorandum for the record. Sayre Stevens. Deputy Direccor for Mu~ of the UFO literature presently "UFO Briefing for Dr. Edward Con­ National Foreign Assessment. memo­ focuses on concaccees and abductees. don. 5 May 19~7." 8 May 1967 and randum for Thomas H. White. See John E. Mack. Abduction. Human attached MGuidelines to UFO Photog­ Assistant for Information. Informa­ EncountaT with Alims (New Yol'k: raphers and UFO Photographic tion Review Committee. MFOIA Charles Scribner's Sons. 1994) and Information Sheet." See also Condon Litigacion Ground Saucer Watch." no Howard Blum. Out Thut (New York: Committee. Press Release. 1 May date. Simon and Schuster. 1990). 1967 and Klass. UFOs. p. 41. The Zaneville photographs turned out to 86. See "CIA Papers Detail UFO Surveil­ 91. See Charles Berlic: and William L. be a hoax. lance." Tht NtTII York TimtS. 13 Moore. Tht RosweD lncidtnt (New January 1979; Patrick Huyghe. "UFO York: Berkeley Books. 1988); Moore. 79. See Edward U. Condon. Scitntific Files: The Untold Story." Tht Ntul "The Roswdllncident: New Evidence Study ofUnidtntifitd Flying Objms York Tjm~r Magazint. 14 Oceober in ehe Search for a Crashed UFO." (New York: Bantam Books. 1969) 1979. p. 106; and . (Burbank. California: Fair Witness and Klass. UFOs. p. 41. The repore "UFO Update," UFO Report. August. Project. 1982). Publication Number 1979. contained the Durant report with 1201; and Klass~ UFOs. pp. 280-28\. only minor deletions. In 1994 Congressman Steven H. 87. Jerome Clark. "LatCSt UFO News Schiff (R-NMl called for an official 80. See Office of Assistant Secretary of Briefs From Around the World." study of the Roswell incident. The Defense. News Release. "Air Force to UFO Updatt. August 1979 and GSW GAO is conducting a separate investi­ Terminate Project BLUEBOOK," 17 v. CIA Civil Action No. 78-859. gation of the incident. The CIA is . The Air Force not involved in the investigation. See retired BLUEBOOK records co che 88. See Wortman. memorandum for OCI Klass. UFOs. pp. 279-281; John H. USAF Archives ae Maxwell Air Force Turner. "Your Question. 'Are we in Wright. Information and Prival.."y Base in . In 1976 ehe.Air UFOs?' Annotated to Tht Ntul York Coordinator. letter to Derek Skrecn. Force eurned over all BLUEBOOK Timts News Release Areicle." 18 Janu­ 20 September 1993; and OSWR ana­ filcs co ehe National Archives and ary 1979. lyst interview. See also the made-for­ Records Adminiscration. which made TY film. Roswto, which appeared on them available to the public without 89. See GSW v. CIA Civil Action 78- cable TY on 31 July 1994 and Pee­ major restricdons. Some names have 859. See also Klass. UFOs. pp. 10-12. bles. Watch rht Skits. pp. 245-25 \.

83 C00242525 1:11 Iill UFOs ;'

92. See John Diamond, "Air Force Probes 1947 UFO Claim Findings Arc Down to Earth," 9 September 1994, Associated Press release: William J. Broad, "Wreckage of a 'Spaceship': Of This Earth (and U.S.>," Th~N~ York Tim~s. 18 September 1994, p. I: and USAF Col. Richard L Weaver and 1st Lt. James McAndrew. Th~ Rosw~/l Report, Faa Vmur Fiction in N~ Mo:ico D~sm (Washington, DC: GPO, 1995).

93. Sec Good. Aboll~ Top S~cnt; Moore and S. T. Friedman, "Philip Klass and MJ-12: What are the Fact5,~ (Bur­ bank California: Fair-Witness Projecr, 1988), Publication Number 1290: Klass, "New Evidence of MJ-12 Hoax," SkqJticallnquir". vol. 14 (Winter 1990): and Moore and Jaime H. Shandera, Th~ MJ-12 Docummts: An AIUllJrical R~ort (Burbank, Cali­ fornia: Fair-Witness Project, 1990), Publication Number 1500. Walter Bedell Smith supposedly replaced For­ restal on 1 August 1950 following Forresral's death. All members liSted were dcccascd when the MJ-12 "docu­ ments" sur&ced in 1984. See Peebles, Watch th~ Skin, pp. 258-268.

Dr. Larry Bland, editor of Th~ G~org~ C MarrhaU Papm. discovered that one of the so-called Majescic-12 docu­ ments was a complete fraud. It contained the exact same language as a (euer from Marshall to Presidential candidate Thomas Dewey regarding the MMagic" intercepu in 1944. The dates and names had been altered and "" changed to "Majic." More­ over, it was a photocopy, not an original. No original MJ-12 docu­ ments have ever surfaced. Telephone conversation between the author and Bland. 29 August 1994.

84