A Die-Hard Issue

GINs Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90

Gerald K. Haines

An extraordinary 95 percent of all United States and the Soviet Union

Americans have least heard or read also the first of UFO
at saw wave sight
something about Unidentified Flying ings. The first report of a flying
Objects (UFOs), and 57 percent saucer over the United States came
believe they are real. Former US on 24 June 1947, when Kenneth
Presidents Carter and Reagan claim Arnold, a private pilot and reputable
to have UFO. UFOlogistsa
seen a businessman, while looking for a
neologism for UFO buffsand pri downed plane sighted nine disk-
vate UFO organizations are found
shaped objects near Mt. Rainier,
throughout the United States. Many Washington, traveling at an estimated
convinced that the US Govern
are
speed of over 1,000 mph. Arnolds
and particularly CIA,
ment,
report was followed by a flood of addi
are
While Agency concern over
and
engaged in a massive conspiracy tional sightings, including reports
UFOs was substantial until coverup of the issue. The idea that from military and civilian pilots and
CIA has secretly concealed its air traffic controllers all the
the early 1950s, CIA has over
research into UFOs has been a major United States.4 In 1948, Air Force
since paid only limited and theme of UFO buffs since the mod Gen. Nathan head of the
Twining,
ern UFO phenomena emerged in the Air Technical Service
peripheral attention to the Command,
late 1940s.2 established Project SIGN (initially
phenomena. named Project SAUCER) to collect,
In late 1993, after being pressured by collate, evaluate, and distribute within
9 UFOlogists for the release of addi the government all information relat
tional CIA information on UFOs,3 ing to such sightings, on the premise
DCI R. James Woolsey ordered that UFOs might be real and of
another review of all Agency files on national security concern.5
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 1940s
(AMC) at Wright Field (later
to 1990. It chronologically examines
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base) in
the Agencys efforts to solve the mys
Dayton, Ohio, assumed control of
tery of UFOs, its programs that had Project SIGN and 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 this examination is that, soon concluded that UFOs were real
while Agency concern over UFOs was
but easily explained and not 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 hallucination,

Gerald K. Haines is the National
Reconnaissance Office historian.
Background
The emergence in 1947 of the Cold
War confrontation between the
hoax, or misinterpretation of known
objects. Nevertheless, the report rec
ommended continued military
intelligence control over the investi
gation of all sightings and did not

67
UFOs

rule out the

possibility of extraterres Early CIA Concerns, 1947-52 that most UFO sightings could be eas

trial phenomena.6 ily explained. Nevertheless, he

CIA closely monitored the Air Force recommended that the Agency con

Amid the effort, of the mounting number tinue monitoring the problem, in
mounting UFO sightings, aware

Air Force continued collect and of sightings and increasingly con coordination with ATIC. He also
to

evaluate UFO data in the late 1 940s cerned that UFOs might pose a urged that CIA conceal its interest
potential security threat. 10
Given the from the media and the public, in
under a new project, GRUDGE,
distribution of the sightings, CIA offi view of their probable alarmist tenden
which tried to alleviate public anxiety

over UFOs via public relations cam

a
cials in 1952 questioned whether they cies to accept such interest as
15
might reflect midsummer confirming the existence of UFOs.
paign designed to persuade the public
that UFOs constituted nothing madness. 11 Agency officials accepted
the Air Forces conclusions about Upon receiving the report,
Deputy
unusual or extraordinary. UFO sight
UFO reports, although they con Director for Intelligence (DDI) Rob
ings were explained as balloons,
cluded that since there is a remote ert Amory, Jr. assigned responsibility
conventional aircraft, planets, mete
possibility that they may be interplan for the UFO investigations to OSIs
ors, optical illusions, solar reflections,
or even large hailstones. GRUDGE etary aircraft, it is necessary to Physics and Electronics Division,
12
investigate each sighting. with A. Ray Gordon as the officer in
officials found no evidence in UFO
charge. 16 Each branch in the division
sightings of advanced foreign weapons of sightings contribute the
A massive buildup over was to to investigation,
design or development, and they con and Gordon coordinate
cluded that UFOs did not threaten
the United States in 1952, especially was to closely
in July, alarmed the Truman adminis with ATIC. Amory, who asked the
US security. They recommended that focus the national
tration. On 19 and 20 July, radar group to on secu
the project be reduced in scope
because the very existence of Air scopes at Washington National Air rity implications of UFOs, was
Force official interest port and Andrews Air Force Base relaying DCI Walter Bedell Smiths
encouraged peo
tracked mysterious blips. On 27 July, concerns.17 Smith wanted to know
ple to believe in UFOs and
the blips reappeared. The Air Force whether or not the Air Force investiga
contributed to a war hysteria atmo
scrambled interceptor aircraft to inves tion of flying saucers was sufficiently
sphere. On 27 December 1949, the
Air Force announced the
tigate, but they found nothing. The objective and how much more money
projects incidents, however, caused headlines and manpower would be necessary to
~
termination.
across the country. The White House determine the cause of the small per
wanted to know what was happening, centage of unexplained flying saucers.
With increased Cold War tensions, and the Air Force offered the Smith believed there was only one
quickly
the Korean war, and continued UFO that the radar chance in 10,000 that the phenome
explanation blips might
sightings, USAF Director of Intelli be the result of non posed a threat to the security of
temperature
gence Maj. Gen. Charles P. Cabell inversions. Later, a Civil Aeronautics the country, but even that chance
ordered UFO project in 1952. Administration could not be taken. According to
a new
investigation con

Project BLUE BOOK became the firmed that such radar blips were Smith, it was CIAs responsibility by
major Air Force effortstudy to the quite common and were caused by statute to coordinate the intelligence
UFO phenomenon throughout the 13 effort required solve the problem.
temperature inversions. to

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
fall the Air Material Command in connection with US
to on
reports for at least three years, CIA non
18
at Wright-Patterson. With a small reacted to the new rash of sightings by psychological warfare efforts.
staff, the Air Technical Intelligence forming a special study group within
Center (ATIC) tried to persuade the the Office of Scientific Intelligence Ledby 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.9 Projects SIGN, GRUDGE, ligence (OCI) to review the Wright-Patterson and reviewed their
and BLUE BOOK set the tone for situation.!4 Edward Tauss, acting data and findings. The Air Force
the official US Government position chief of OSIs 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
 UFOs

Amateur photographs of alleged UFOs

.---

..

47 1
I ~

--

- .~,.. -

Passoria, New Jersey. 3! July 1952

69
UFOs

~~J-J-;~~I
-

I s..

_s
-?

p
-

~ :

P-,y

p.
~--J._ ~

~
: ~0C
England, 4 March 1962

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 20 October 1960

70
 UFOs

Because of the tense Cold

War situation and
increased Soviet
accounted for. The other 10 percent The Robertson Panel, 1952-53
capabilities, the CIA Study
were characterized as a number of
incredible reports from credible Group saw serious national On 4 December 1952, the Intelli
observers. The Air Force rejected gence Advisory Committee (IAC)
the theories that the sightings
security concerns in the took up the issue of UFOs.26 Amory,
involved US or Soviet secret weapons flying saucer situation. as acting chairman, presented DCI
development or that they involved Smiths request to the committee
men from Mars; there was no evi
9, that it informally discuss the subject
dence support these concepts.
to of UFOs. Chadwell then briefly
The Air Force briefers sought to reviewed the situation 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 Director of OSI, UFOs. The committee agreed that
little understood natural added that he considered the prob the DCI should enlist the services
phenomena.9 Air Force and CIA lem of such that it of selected scientists to review and
importance
officials agreed that outside knowl should be brought to 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 and draft an NSCID on the
order that a communitywide coordi
serious. 20
This concealment of CIA nated effort towards it solution may subject. 27 Maj. Gen. John A. Sam-
interest contributed greatly to later ford, Director of Air Force
be initiated.22
charges of a CIA conspiracy and Intelligence, offered full
coverup. Chadwell briefed DCI Smith on the
cooperation. 28

The CIA also searched

subject of UFOs in December 1952. At the time, Chadwell looked
Study Group He urged action because he was con
same

the Soviet press for UFO reports, but 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 studying the UFO phenomena. An
and that sightings of unexplained
had to 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 committee created
ing at high speeds in the vicinity of June 1951 on flying saucers.
group also envisioned the USSRs in

possible use of UFOs as a psychologi major US defense installations are of Jones and his committees conclu
such nature that they are not attribut
cal warfare tool. In addition, they sions on UFOs were similar to those
able to natural phenomena or known of Agency officials: the sightings
worried that, if the US air warning
types of aerial vehicles. He drafted
were not enemy aircraft but misrepre
system should be deliberately over
a memorandum from the DCI to the
loaded by UFO sightings, the Soviets sentations of natural phenomena.
National Security Council (NSC) The British noted, however, that dur
might gain a surprise advantage in
and a proposed NSC Directive estab
any nuclear attack.
21
ing a recent air show RAF pilots and
lishing the investigation of UFOs as senior military officials had observed
a priority project throughout the
Because of the tense Cold War situa a perfect flying saucer. Given the
tion and increased Soviet intelligence and the defense research press response, according to the
the CIA and development community. 23 officer, Jones was having a most diffi
capabilities, Study Group
serious national Chadwell also urged Smith to estab cult time trying to correct public
saw security con
in the lish an external research project of opinion regarding UFOs. The public
cerns flying saucer situation.
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.24 After this briefing,
mass hysteria and panic in the Smith directed DDI 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 that 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
airwarning system so that it could tion of UFOs and to coordinate such nonmilitary scientists to study the
25
not distinguish real targets from investigations with the Air Force. UFO issue. It included Robertson as

71
 UFOs

chairman; Samuel A. Goudsmit, a UFO phenomena and use them to dis flying saucers carefully restricted, not
nuclear physicist from the Brookhaven rupt US air defenses.32 ing not only that the Robertson panel
National Laboratories; Luis Alvarez, a report was classified but also that any
high-energy 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 radar and electronics; and
on institute a policy of public education problems relating to credibility. 36
its
Lloyd Berkner, 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.3 using the media, advertising,
mass 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 McCarthyism, 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 to 17 January groups as the Civilian Flying Saucer May 1953, Chadwell transferred chief
1953. It 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 OSIs 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 essary support.37 Todos M. Odarenko,
most, if not all, sightings. For exam The Robertson panels conclusions chief of the Physics and Electronics
ple, after
reviewing motion-picture were strikingly similar tothose of the Division, did not want to take on the
film taken 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 divisions ana
and Great Falls, Montana,
one near the CIAs 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 to 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 two Following the Robertson panel find Force and other agencies on UFOs.
Air Force interceptors.3 ings, the Agency abandoned efforts to Neither the Navy nor the Army
draft an NSCID on UFOs.34 The Sci showed much interest in UFOs,
The panel concluded unanimously entific Advisory Panel on UFOs (the according to Odarenko.38
that there was no evidence of a direct Robertson panel) submitted its report
threat to national security in the UFO to the lAG, the Secretary of Defense, A nonbeliever in UFOs, Odarenko
sightings. Nor could the panel find the 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. It 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 ect appeared warranted, although tion concerning UFOs had surfaced.
clogging the channels of communica they continued to monitor sightings Besides, he argued, his division was fac
tion with irrelevant reports and by in the interest 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 National Estimates findings. ~
on the however, continued to worry about
enemies contemplating an attack on CIA officials wanted knowledge of UFOs. Of special concern were over

the United States might exploit the any Agency interest in the subject of seas reports of UFO sightings and

72
 UFOs

BLUE BOOK investigators

were able to attribute many
UFO sightings to U-2
claims that German engineers held by rise and sunset. They often appeared
the Soviets were developing a flying flights. as fiery objects to observers below.
saucer as a future weapon of war.40 Air Force BLUE BOOK investiga
tors aware of the flights
secret U-2
To most US political and military tried to explain away such sightings
leaders, the Soviet Union by the mid by linking them to natural phenom
1950s had become a dangerous oppo ena such as ice crystals and

nent. Soviet progress in nuclear the Assistant Director of OSI, wrote temperature inversions. By checking
weapons and guided missiles was par that the with the Agencys U-2 Project Staff
objects observed probably
ticularly alarming. In the summer of in Washington, BLUE BOOK inves
were normal jet aircraft in a steep
1949, the USSR had detonated an climb.42 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 to reveal
Wilton E. Lexow, head of the CIAs
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, top secret RAND Corpora
a
Soviets were continuing to develop
tion study also pointed out the According to later estimates from
conventional-type aircraft if they had
vulnerability of SAC bases to a sur a flying saucer.43 Scoville asked
CIA officials who worked on the U-

prise attack by Soviet long-range Lexow to assume responsibility for

2 project and the OXCART (SR-71,
bombers. Concern over the danger or Blackbird) project, over half of all

of a Soviet attack the United

fully assessing the capabilities and
on UFO reports from the late 1950s
limitations of nonconventional air
States continued to grow, and UFO through the I 960s were accounted
craft and to maintain the OSI central
sightings added to the uneasiness of
file on the subject of UFOs.
forby manned reconnaissance flights
US policymakers. (namely the U-2) over the United
States.45 This led the Air Force to
Mounting reports of UFOs over east make misleading and deceptive state
CIAs U-2 and OXCART as UFOs
ern Europe and Afghanistan also ments to the public in order to allay

prompted concern that the Soviets public fears and to protect an extraor
In November 1954, CIA had entered
weremaking rapid progress in this dinarily sensitive national security
CIA officials knew that the into the world of high technology While
area. project. perhaps justified, this
with its U-2 overhead reconnaissance
British and Canadians were already deception added fuel to the later con

with flying saucers. project. Working with Lockheeds spiracy theories and the
experimenting coverup
Advanced Development facility in
Project Y was a Canadian-British-US controversy of the 1970s. The per
developmental operation produce to 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 to 4 percent in 1956.46
devices.41 high-altitude experimental aircraft
the U-2. It could fly at 60,000 feet; At the build
same time, pressure was
in the mid-1950s, commercial
most
Adding to the concern was a flying ing for the release of the Robertson
saucer sighting by US Senator
airliners flew between 10,000 feet
panel report on UFOs. In 1956,
Richard Russell and his party while and 20,000 feet. Consequently, Edward Ruppelt, former head of the
the U-2 started
test flights, com
traveling on a train in the USSR in once Air Force BLUE BOOK project,
October 1955. 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 officials concluded increase in UFO sightings.44 (U)
ogist Donald Keyhoe, a retired
that Russellssighting did not sup Marine Corps major, advocated
port thetheory that the Soviets had The early U-2s were silver (they were release of all government informa
developed saucerlike or unconven later painted black) and reflected the tion relating to UFOs. Civilian
tional aircraft. Herbert Scoville, Jr., rays from the sun, especially at sun- UFO groups such as the National

73
UFOs

Investigations Committee on Aerial inquires such as Keyhoes and David Field officers from the Contact Divi
Phenomena (NICAP) and the Aerial sons, Agency officials confirmed their sion (CD), one of whom was Dewelt
Phenomena Research Organization opposition to the declassification of Walker, made contact with the Maier
(APRO) immediately pushed for the full report and worried that Key- sisters, who were thrilled that the
release of the Robertson panel hoe had the ear of former DCI VAdm. government was interested, and set

report.47 Under pressure, the Air Roscoe Hillenkoetter, who served on up a time to meet with them.53 In try
Force approached CIA for permission the board of governors of NICAP. ing to secure the tape recording, the
to declassify and release the report. Agency officers reported that they had
They debated whether to have CIA
Despite such pressure, Philip Strong, stumbled upon a scene from Arsenic
General Counsel Lawrence R. Hous
Deputy Assistant Director of OSI, and Old Lace. The only thing lack
ton show Hillenkoetter the report as a
refused to declassify the report and ing was the elderberry wine, Walker
declined to disclose CIA sponsorship
possible way to defuse the situation. 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 from their days on the stage, the offic
Agency prepared a sanitized version of
motives, some of them perhaps not ~
the report which deleted any reference ers secured a copy of the recording.
in the best interest of this country,
to CIA and avoided mention of any OSI analyzed the tape and found it
and suggested bringing in the FBI to
psychological warfare potential in the was nothing more than Morse code
UFO controversy. 48 investigate.50 Although the record is from a US radio station.
unclear whether the FBI ever insti
tuted an investigation of Davidson or
The demands, however, for more gov The matter rested there until
Keyhoe, or whether Houston ever saw
ernment information about UFOs did UFOlogist Leon Davidson talked
let up. On 8 Match 1958, Hillenkoetter about the Robertson with the Maler sisters in 1957. The
not Key-
hoe, in an interview with Mike report, Hillenkoetter did resign from sisters remembered they had talked
Wallace of CBS, claimed deep CIA the NICAP in I962.~ 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
theAgency from Keyhoe and Dr. famous UFO cases in the 1950s, Officer from Wright-Patterson, to ask
Leon Davidson, a chemical engineer which contribute if the tape had been analyzed at
helped to a growing
and UFOlogist. They demanded the sense of public distrust of CIA with ATIC. Dewelt Walker replied to

release of the full Robertson panel UFOs. One focused Davidson that the tape had been for
regard to on

report and confirmation of CIA what reported to have been warded to proper authorities for
was a tape
involvement in the UFO issue. evaluation, and no information was
recording of a signal from a fly
radio
Davidson had convinced himself that available concerning the results. Not
ing saucer; the other on reported
the Agency, not the Air Force, carried satisfied, and suspecting that Walker
most of the responsibility for UFO
photographs of a flying saucer. The CIA officer, Davidson
radio code incident began inno
was really a

analysis and that the activities of the next wrote DCI Allen Dulles demand
US Government are responsible for cently enough in 1955, when two to learn what the coded message
ing
the flying saucer sightings of the last elderly sisters in Chicago, Mildred revealed and who Mr. Walker was.
and Marie Maier, reported in the Jour
decade. Indeed, because of the The Agency, wanting to keep
nal of Space Flight their experiences
undisclosed U-2 and OXCART Walkers identity as a CIA employee
with UFOs, including the recording
flights, Davidson was closer to the secret, that another agency of
replied
truth than he suspected. CI, neverthe of a radio program in which an uni the government had analyzed the tape
less held firm to its policy of not dentified code reportedly heard.
was in question and that Davidson would
its role in UFO The sisters the program and
taped
revealing investiga be hearing from the Air Force.56 On
tions and refused to declassify the full other ham radio operators also 5 August, the Air Force wrote David
Robertson panel report.
~ claimed to have heard the space mes son saying that Walker was and is an
sage. OSI became interested and Air Force Officer and that 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.52 organization. The Air Force letter

74
 UFOs

Agency officials felt the

need to keep informed on
UFOs if only to alert the
confirmed that the recording con non of the photos, explaining that he
DCI to the more
tained only identifiable Morse code was trying to organize a TV program

which came from a known US- sensational UFO reports to brief the public on UFOs. He

licensed radio station.57 wanted mention the show that

and flaps. to on

a intelligence organization had

US
Davidson
time he wanted
wrote Dulles
to
again. This
know the identity
9, viewed the photographs and thought
them of interest. Although he
of the Morse operator and of the Union in destroying records which
advised Mayher not to take this
agency that had conducted the analy
might indict them.6 Believing that Hazen stated that
more contact with Davidson approach, Mayher
sis. CIA and the Air Force were now any
was a US citizen and would have to
would encourage more specula
only
in quandary. The Agency had pre
a
make his own decision as to what to
tion, the Contact Division washed its
viously denied that it had actually do.64
hands of the issue by reporting to the
analyzed the tape. The Air Force had
DCI and to ATIC that it would not
also denied analyzing the tape and
respond to or try to contact Davidson Keyhoe later contacted Mayher, who
claimed that Walker was an Air Force
again.62 Thus, a minor, rather told him his story of CIA and the
officer. CIA officers, under cover,
bizarre incident, handled poorly by photographs. Keyhoe then asked the
contacted Davidson in Chicago and
both CIA and the Air Force, turned Agency to confirm Hazens employ
promised get the code translation
to
into a major flap that added fuel to in in effort
and the identification of the transmit ment writing, an to
the mystery surrounding
growing
ter, if possible.
58
expose CIAs role in UFO investiga
UFOs and CIAs role in their
tions. The Agency refused, despite
investigation. the fact that CD field representatives
in another attempt to pacify David
son, a CIA officer, again under cover
were normally overt and carried cre
Another minor flap a few months dentials identifying their Agency
and wearing his Air Force uniform,
later added to the growing questions
contacted Davidson in New York association. DCI Dulless aide, John
surrounding the Agencys true role
City. The CIA officer explained that S. Earman, merely sent Keyhoe a
with regard to flying saucers. CIAs
there was no super agency involved concern over secrecy again made mat
noncommittal letter noting that,
and that Air Force policy was not to because UFOs were of primary con
ters worse. In 1958, Major Keyhoe
disclose who was doing what. While
charged that the Agency was deliber cern 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 to make their sightings public.
63 letter 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.59 After checking
November 1957 request from OSI to hoe only fueled the speculation that
with Headquarters, the CIA officer the CD to 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 made and, TV in Cleveland, Ohio, certain pho of CIA information UFOs contin
on
because the signal was of known US he took in 1952 of
tographs an
ued to
65
grow.
origin, the tape and the notes made unidentified flying object. Harry
at the time had been destroyed to CD officer, contacted May-
Real, a

conserve file space. 60 Although CIA had a declining inter

her and obtained copies of the
est in UFO cases, it continued to
photographs for analysis. On 12
Incensed over what he perceived was December 1957, John Hazen, monitor UFO sightings. Agency offi
a runaround, Davidson told the CIA another CD officer, returned the five cials felt the need to keep informed

officer that he and his agency, photographs of the alleged UFO to on UFOs if only to alert the DCI to
whichever it was, were acting like Mayher without comment. Mayher the more sensational UFO reports
Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamster asked Hazen for the Agencys evalua and flaps. 66

75
 UFOs

The 1960s: Declining CIA Involve Force to establish a special ad hoc sanitized version available to the
ment and Mounting Controversy committee to review BLUE BOOK. public.72 Webers response was rather
Chaired by Dr. Brian OBrien, a shortsighted and ill considered. It
In the early 1960s, Keyhoe, David member of the Air Force Scientific only drew more attention to the 13-
son, and other UFOlogists Advisory Board, the panel included year-old Robertson panel report and
maintained their assault on the Carl Sagan, the famous astronomer CIAs role in the investigation of
Agency for release of UFO informa from Cornell University. Its report UFOs. The science editor of The Sat
tion. Davidson now claimed that offered nothing new. It declared that urday Review drew nationwide
CIA was solely responsible for creat UFOs did not threaten the national attention to the CIAs role in investi
ing Flying Saucer furor as a tool
the security and that it could find no gating UFOs when he published an

for cold war psychological warfare UFO case which represented techno article the sanitized ver
criticizing
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. ~

changed. 67 studied intensively, with a leading uni

versity acting as a coordinator for the Unknown to CIA officials, Dr. James
In 1964, however, following high- project, to settle the issue E. McDonald, a noted atmospheric
level White House discussions on conclusively.70 from the University of Ari
-

physicist
what to do if an alien intelligence was zona, had already seen the Durant
-
discovered in space and a new out The House Armed Services Commit report on the Robertson panel pro
break of UFO reports and sightings, teealso held brief hearings on UFOs ceedings at Wright-Patterson on 6
DCI John McCotie asked for an in 1966 that produced similar results. June 1966. When McDonald
updated CIA evaluation of UFOs. Secretary of the Air Force Harold returned to Wright-Patterson on 30
Responding to McCones request, Brown assured the committee that June to copy the report, however, the
OSI asked the CD to obtain various most sightings were easily explained Air Force refused to let him see it
recent samples and reports of UFO and that there was no evidence that again, stating that it was a CIA classi
sightings from NICAP. With Key- strangers from outer space had been fied document. Emerging as a UFO
hoe, one of the founders, rio longer visiting Earth. He told the committee authority, McDonald publicly
active in the 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 tinue to investigate all UFO reports.7 coverup. He demanded the release of
samples from the NICAP database on the full Robertson panel report and
the most recent sightings.68 Followingthe report of its OBrien the Durant report. ~
Committee, the House hearings on
After OSI officers had reviewed the UFOs, and Dr. Robertsons disclosure Bowing to public pressure and the rec

material, Donald F. Chamberlain, on a CBS program that CIA

Reports ommendation of its own OBrien
OSI Assistant Director, assured indeed had been involved in UFO Committee, the Air Force announced
McCone that little had changed since analysis, the Air Force in July 1966 inAugust 1966 that it was seeking a
the 1950s. There was still no evi
early again approached the Agency for contractwith a leading university to

dence that UFOs were a threat to the declassification of the entire Robert undertake a program of intensive
security of the United States or that son panel report of 1953 and the full investigations of UFO
sightings. The
they were of foreign origin. Cham Durant report on the Robertson panel new program designed to blunt
was

berlain told McCone that OSI still deliberations and findings. The continuing charges that the US Gov
monitored UFO reports, including Agency again refused to budge. Karl ernment had concealed what it knew
the official Air Force investigation, H. Weber, Deputy Director of OSI, about UFOs. On 7 October, the Uni
-

Project BLUE BOOK. 69 wrote the Air Force that We are versity of Colorado accepted a
most anxious that further publicity $325,000 contract with the Air Force
At the same time that CIA was con not begiven to the information that for an 18-month study of flying sau

ductingthis latest internal review of the panel was sponsored by the CIA. cers. Dr. Edward U. Condon, a

UFOs, public pressure forced the Air Weber noted that there was already a physicist at Colorado and a former

76
 UFOs

Additional sightings in the

early 1970s also fueled
beliefs that the CIA was
Director of the National Bureau of in UFO investigations is warranted
somehow involved in a vast
Standards, agreed to head the pro by data of the past two decades. It
gram. Pronouncing himself an conspiracy. concluded its 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 extraterritorial visitations by intelligent beings.

origins were improbable but not ment not available elsewhere that CIA Following the recommendations of
impossible.75 Brig. Gen. Edward the Condon Committee and the
had used in its analysis of some UFO
Giller, USAF, and Dr. Thomas National Academy of Sciences, the
photography furnished by Ratchford.
Ratchford from the Air Force Secretaryof the Air Force, Robert C.
Condon and his committee were
Research and Development Office Seamans, Jr., announced on 17
impressed.
became the Air Force coordinators December 1969 the termination of
80
for the project. BLUE BOOK.
Condon and the same group met
again in May 1967 at NPIC to hear
In Giller contacted
February 1967, an analysis of UFO photographs
Arthur C. Lundahl, Director of The 1970s and 1980s: The UFO
taken at Zanesville, Ohio. The analy
CIAs National Photographic Inter Issue Refuses To 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 first
don Committee with technical a coverup for CIA activities in UFO
time a scientific analysis of a UFO
advice and services in examining pho
would stand up 78
research. Additional sightings in the
to investigation.
tographs of alleged UFOs. Lundahl The group also discussed the
early 1970s fueled beliefs that the
com
and DDI R. Jack Smith approved CIA was somehow involved in a vast
mittees plans to call on US citizens
the arrangement as a way of preserv 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
wanted the CIA and NPIC
issue guidelines for taking useful
They to group, Ground Saucer Watch
UFO photographs. In addition, CIA
maintain a low profile, however, and (GSW), wrote to CIA requesting a
officials agreed that the Condon
to take part in writing any conclu
no
copy of the Robertson panel report
Committee could release the full
sions for the committee. No work and all records relating to UFOs.8
Durant report with only minor
done for the committee by NPIC Spaulding was convinced that the
deletions.
was to be formally acknowledged. 76 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 report and of the Durant

visit NPIC to discuss the technical UFOs. The report concluded that 82
report.
little, if anything, had from the
aspects of the problem and to view
come

the special equipment NPIC had for study of UFOs in the past 21 years On 14 July 1975, Spaulding again
photoanalysis. On 20 February 1967, and that further extensive study of wrote Agency questioning the
the
Condon and four members of his UFO sightings was unwarranted. It authenticity of the reports 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 to assist the committee be discontinued. It did not mention CIAs Information and Privacy
must not be identified as CIA work. CIA participation in the Condon Coordinator, replied in an attempt
Moreover, work performed by NPIC committees investigation.79 A spe to satisfy Spaulding, At
no time

would be strictly of a technical cial panel established by the National prior to the formation of the Robert
nature. After receiving these guide Academy of Sciences reviewed the son Panel and subsequent to the

lines, the group heard a series of Condon report and concurred with issuance of the panels report has CIA
briefings on the services and equip- its conclusion that no high priority engaged in the study of the UFO phe

77
UFOs

nomena. The Robertson panel government concern over UFOs and munity shifted their interest to

report, according to Wilson, was the that the Agency was secretly involved studying parapsychology and
psychic
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 there were no additional held documents, claiming that the the UFO problem to determine what
documents in CIAs possession that Agency was still holding out key UFO sightings might tell them about
related to UFOs. Wilson was ill information.87 It was much like the Soviet progress in rockets and
informed. 83 John F. Kennedy assassination issue. missiles and reviewed its counterintel
No matter how much material the ligence aspects. Agency analysts from
and Agency released and how the Life Science Division of OSI and
In September 1977, Spaulding no matter

GSW, unconvinced by Wilsons dull and prosaic the information, peo OSWR officially devoted a small
Freedom of Informa ple continued believe in a Agency of their time issues relat
response, filed a to amount to

tion Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the coverup and conspiracy. ing to UFOs. These included
Agency that specifically requested all counterintelligence concerns that the
UFO documents in CIAs DCI Stansfield Turner was so upset Soviets and the KGB were using US
possession.
citizens and UFO groups to obtain
Deluged by similar FOIA requests for when he read The New York Times
information on sensitive US weapons
Agency information on UFOs, CIA article that he asked his senior offic
officials agreed, after much legal ers, Are we in UFOs? After development programs (such as the
Stealth aircraft), the vulnerability of
maneuvering, to conduct a reason reviewing the records, Don Wortman,
able search of CIA files for UFO the US air-defense network to pene
Deputy Director for Administration,
materials.84 tration by foreign missiles mimicking
Despite an Agency-wide reported to Turner that there was no
unsympathetic 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 has there been effort UFO sightings.
nor an organized
Counsel, conducted thorough a to collect intelligence on UFOs since
search for records pertaining to the 1950s. Wortman assured Turner CIA also maintained Intelligence
UFOs. Persistent, demanding, and that 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 remote viewing experiments. In
under a secretarys 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 to GSW. It withheld these 57 Counsel press for a summary judg 1980s, and Agency 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.85 missed the lawsuit, finding that the lead the public if released.0
Agency had conducted a thorough
the released documents pro and adequate search in good faith. 89
Although The 1980s alsoproduced renewed
duced no smoking gun and revealed charges Agency was still with
that the
only a low-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 Roswell incident, in which a

panel report of 1953, the press treated in UFOs and UFO sightings. While flying supposedly crashed in
saucer

the release in a sensational manner. most scientists now dismissed flying New Mexico, and the surfacing of doc
The New York Times, 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 Corn- research and development intelligence

78
 UFOs

Like the JFK assassination

conspiracy theories, the
UFO issue probably will
operation responsible only to the 4. See Hector Quintanilla, Jr., The
not go away soon, no
President on UFOs in the late 1940s Investigation of UFOs, Vol. 10, No.
matter what the Agency 4, Studies in Intelligence (fall 1966):
and early 1950s. UFOlogists had
pp.95-110 and CIA, unsigned memo
long argued that, following a flying does or says. randum, Flying Saucers, 14 August
saucer crash in New Mexico in 1947, 1952. See also Good, Above Top
the government
debris from the crashed
not only recovered
saucer but
9 Secret, p. 253. During World War II,
US pilots reported foo fighters

also four or five alien bodies. Accord NOTES (bright lights trailing US aircraft).
the Fearing they might be Japanese or
ing to some UFOlogists, German secret weapons, OSS investi
1. See the 1973 Gallup Poll results
government clamped tight security gated but could find no concrete
printed in The New York Times, 29
around the project and has refused to evidence of enemy weapons and often
November 1973, p. 45 and Philip J.
divulge its investigation results and filed such reports in the crackpot
Klass, UFOs: The Public Deceived
research ever since.9 In September category. The OSS also investigated
(New York: Prometheus Books, possible sightings of German V-i and
1994, the US Air Force released a
1983), p. 3. V-2 rockets before their operational
new report on the Roswell incident use during the war. See Jacobs, UFO
that concluded that the debris found 2. See Klass, UFOs, p. 3; James S. Gor Controversy, p. 33. The Central Intel
in New Mexico in 1947 probably don, The UFO Experience, Atlantic ligence Group, the predecessor of the
came from a once top secret balloon Monthly (August 1991), pp. 82-92; CIA, also monitored reports of ghost
David Michael Jacobs, The UFO Con rockets in Sweden in 1946. See
operation, Project MOGUL,
troversy in America (Bloomington: CIG, Intelligence Report, 9 April
designed to monitor the atmosphere
Indiana 1947.
for evidence of Soviet nuclear tests.
92 University Press, 1975);
Howard Blum, Out There: The Gov
ernments Secret
Quest for 5. Jacobs, The UFO Controversy, p. 156
Circa 1984, a series of documents Extraterrestrials
(New York: Simon and Quintanilla, The Investigation
surfaced which some UFOlogists said and Schuster, 1990); Timothy Good, of UFOs, p. 97.
proved that President Truman cre Above Top Secret: The Worldwide
ated a top secret committee in 1947, UFO Cover-Up (New York: William 6. See US Air Force, Air Material Com
Morrow, 1987); and Whitley Strieber, mand, Unidentified Aerial Objects:
Majestic-12, to secure the recovery of
Communion: The True Stoiy (New Project SIGN, F-TR 2274, IA,
no.
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
tific study and to examine any alien
3. In September 1993 John Peterson, an Organizations, Record Group 341,
bodies recovered from such sites. National Archives, Washington, DC.
acquaintance of Woolseys, first
Most if not all of these documents approached the DCI with a package
have proved to be fabrications. Yet of heavily sanitized CIA material on 7. See US Air Force, Projects GRUDGE
the controversy UFOs released UFOlogist Stanton and BLUEBOOKReports 1- 12 (Wash
persists.93 to

T. Friedman. Peterson and Friedman ington, DC; National Investigations

wanted to know the reasons for the Committee on Aerial Phenomena,
Like the JFK assassination conspiracy
redactions. Woolsey agreed to look 1968) and Jacobs, The UFO Contro
theories, the UFO issue probably into the See Richard War versy, pp. 50-54.
matter. J.
will not go away soon, no matter
shaw, Executive Assistant, note to

what the Agency does or says. The author, 1 November 1994; Warshaw, 8. See Cabell, memorandum to Com
belief that we are not alone in the note toJohn H. Wright, Information manding Generals Major Air
and Privacy Coordinator, 31 January Commands, Reporting of Informa
universe is too emotionally appealing
1994; and Wright, memorandum to tion Unconventional Aircraft,
on 8
and the distrust of our government is
Executive Secretariat, 2 March 1994. September 1950 and Jacobs, The
too pervasive to make the issue ame
(Except where noted, all c,tations to
UFO Controversy, p. 65.
nable to traditional scientific studies
CIA records in this article are to the
of rational explanation and evidence. records collected for the 1994 Agency- 9. See Air Force, Projects GRUDGE and
wide search that are held by the Execu BLUE BOOK and Jacobs, The UFO
tive Assistant to the DCI). Controversy, p. 67.

79
UFOs

10. (S) See Edward Tauss, memorandum 18. Smith expressed his opinions at a 26. The IAC was created in 1947 to serve

for Deputy Assistant Director, SI, meeting in the DCI Conference as acoordinating body in establishing
Flying Saucers, 1 August 1952. See Room attended by his top officers. intelligence requirements. Chaired by
also United Kingdom, Report by the See Deputy Chief, Requirements the DCI, the IAC included representa
Flying Saucer Working Party, Uni Staff, PT, memorandum for Deputy tives from the Department of State,
dentifiedFlying Objects, no date Director, Plans, Flying Saucers, 20 the Army, the Air Force, the Joint
(approximately 1950). August 1952, Directorate of Opera Chiefs of Staff, the FBI, and the AEC.
tions Records, Information
11. See Dr. Stone, OSI, memorandum to Management Staff, Job 86-00538R, 27. See Kiass, UFOs, p. 27.
Dr. Willard Machle, OSI, 15 March Box 1. (S)
1949 and Ralph L. Clark, Acting 28. See Richard D. Drain, Acting Secre
Assistant Director, OSI, memoran 19. See CIA memorandum, unsigned, tary, JAC, Minutes of Meeting held
dum for DDI, Recent Sightings 0f Flying Saucers, 11 August 1952. in Directors Conference Room,
Unexplained Obje~ts, 29 July 1952. Administration Building, CIA, 4
20. See CIA, memorandum, unsigned, December 1952.
12. Stone, memorandum to Machle. See 14
Flying Saucers, August 1952.
also Clark, memorandum for DDI,
29. (5) See Chadwell, memorandum for
29 July 1952.
the record, British Activity in the
21. See CIA, memorandum, unsigned,
Field of UFOs, 18 December 1952.
13. See Klass, UFOs, p. 15. For a brief
Flying Saucers, 19 August 1952.

review of the Washington sightings see

Good, Above Top Secret, pp. 269-27 1.
14. See Ralph L. Clark, Acting Assistant
Director, OSI, memorandum to DDI
Robert Amory, Jr., 29 July 1952.
OSI and OCT were in the Directorate
of Intelligence. Established in 1948,
OSI served as the CIAs focal point
for the analysis of foreign scientific
and technological developments. In
1980, OSI was merged into the Office
of Science and Weapons Research.
The Office of Current Intelligence
(OCI), established on 15 January
1951 was to provide all-source current
intelligence to the President and the
22. See Chadwell, memorandum for
Smith, 17 September 1952 and 24
September 1952, Flying Saucers.
See also Chadwell, memorandum for
DCI Smith, 2 October 1952 and
Klass, UFOs, pp. 23-26.
23. Chadwell, memorandum for DCI
with attachments, 2 December 1952.
See also Kiass, UFOs, pp. 26-27 and
Chadwell, memorandum, 25 Novem
ber 1952.
24. See Chadwell, memorandum, 25
November 1952 and Chadwell, mem
orandum, Approval in
30. See Chadwell, memorandum for
DCI, Consultants for Advisory Panel
on Unidentified Flying Objects, 9
January 1953; Curtis Peebles, Watch
the Skies! A Chronicle of the Flying Sau
cerMyth (Washington, DC:
Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994).
pp. 73-90; and Jacobs, The UFO Con
troversy, pp. 91-92.
31. See Fred C. Durant III, Report on the
Robertson Panel Meeting, January
1953. Durant, on contract with OSI
and a past president of the American
Rocket Society, attended the Robert
son panel meetings and wrote a
Principle summary of the proceedings.
-

National Security Council. External Research Project Concerned

15. Tauss, memorandum for Deputy
Assistant Director, SI (Philip Strong),
1 August 1952.
16. On 2 January 1952, DCI Walter
Bedell Smith created a Deputy Direc
torate for Intelligence (DDI) composed
with Unidentified Flying Objects, no
32. See Report of the Scientific Panel on
date. See also Philip G. Strong, OSI,
Unidentified Flying Objects (the Rob
memorandum for the record, Meet
ertson Report), 17 January 1953 and
ing with Dr. Julius A. Stratton, the Durant report on the panel
Executive Vice President and Provost,
discussions.
MIT and Dr. Max Millikan, Director
of CENTS. Strong believed that in
order to undertake such a review they 33. See Robertson Report and Durant

of six overt CIA organizationsOSI, would need the full backing and sup Report. See also Good, Above Top
Secret, pp. 337-38, Jacobs, The UFO
OCI, Office of Collection and Dissemi port of DCI Smith.
nation, Office National Estimates, Controversy, p. 95, and Klass, UFOs,
Office of Research and Reports, and pp. 28-29.
25. See Chadwell, memorandum for
the Office of Intelligence Coo rdina Unidentified
DCI, Flying Objects,
tionto produce intelligence analysis 2 December 1952. See also Chad- 34. See Rebet, memorandum to IAC, 18
for US policymakers. well, memorandum for Amory, DDI, February 1953.
Approval in Principle External
-

17. See Minutes of Branch Chiefs Meet Research Project Concerned with Uni 35. See Chadwell, memorandum for
ing, 11 August 1952. dentified Flying Objects, no date. DDI, Unidentified Flying Objects,

80

10 February 1953; Chadwell, letter to
Robertson, 28 January 1953; and
Reber, memorandum for JAG, Uni
dentified Flying Objects, 18
February 1953. On briefing the
ONE, see Durant, memorandum for
the record, Briefing of ONE Board
on Unidentified Flying Objects, 30
January 1953 and CIA Summary dis
seminated to the field, Unidentified
Flying Objects, 6 February 1953.
36. See Chadwell, letter to Julius A. Strat
ton, Provost MIT, 27 January 1953.
37. See Chadwell, memorandum for
Chief, Physics and Electronics Divi
sion/OSI (Todos M. Odarenko),
Unidentified Flying Objects, 27
May 1953.
38. See Odarenko, memorandum to
Chadwell, Unidentified Flying
Objects, 3 July 1953. See also
Odarenko, memorandum to Chad-
well, Current Status of Unidentified
Flying Objects (UFOB) Project, 17
December 1953.
39. See Odarenko, memorandum, Uni
dentified Flying Objects, 8 August
1955.
40. See FBIS, report, Military Unconven
tional Aircraft, 18 August 1953 and
various reports, Military-Air, Uncon
ventional Aircraft, 1953, 1954, 1955.
41. Developed by the Canadian affiliate
of Britains A. V. Roe, Ltd., Project Y
did produce a small-scale model that
hovered a few feet off the ground. See
Odarenko, memorandum to Chad
we!!, Flying Saucer Type of Planes
25 May 1954; Frederic C. E. Oder,
memorandum to Odarenko, USAF
ProjectY, 21 May 1954; and
Odarenko, T. M. Nordbeck, Ops/SI,
and Sidney Graybeal, ASD/SI, memo
randum for the record, Intelligence
Responsibilities for Non-Conven
tional Types of Air Vehicles, 14 June
1954.
42. See Reuben Efron, memorandum,
Observation of Flying Object Near
Baku, 13 October 1955; Scoville,
memorandum for the record, Inter
view with Senator Richard B. Russell,
27 October 1955; and Wilton E.
Lexow, memorandum for information,
Reported Sighting of Unconventional
Aircraft, 19 October 1955.
43. See Lexow, memorandum for informa
tion, Reported Sighting of
Unconventional Aircraft, 19 October
1955. See also Frank C. Bolser, mem
orandum for George C. Miller,
Deputy Chief, SAD/SI, Possible
Soviet Check On;
Flying Saucers,
Lexow, memorandum, Possible
Soviet Flying Saucers, Follow Up
On, 17 December 1954; Lexow,
memorandum, Possible Soviet Flying
Saucers, 1 December 1954; and A.
H. Sullivan, Jr., memorandum, Possi
ble Soviet Flying Saucers, 24
November 1954.
44. See Gregory W. Pedlow and Donald
E. Welzenbach, The Central Intelli
gence Agency and Overhead
Reconnaissance. The U-2 and
OXCARTPrograms, 1954-1974
(Washington, DC: CIA History Staff,
1992), pp. 72-73.
45. See Pedlow and Welzenbach, Over
head Reconnaissance, pp. 72-73. This
also was confirmed in a telephone
interview between the author and
John Parongosky, July 1994.
26
Parongosky oversaw the day-to-day
affairs of the OXCART program.
46. See Jacobs, The UFO Controversy,
p. 135.
47. See Peebles, Watch the Skies, pp. 128-
146; Ruppelt, The Report on Unidenti
fied Flying Objects (New York:
Doubleday, 1956); Keyhoe, The Fly
ing Saucer Conspiracy (New York:
Holt, 1955); and Jacobs, The UFO
Controversy, pp. 347-49.
48. See Strong, letter to Lloyd W. Berkner;
Strong, letter to Thorton Page; Strong,
letter to Robertson; Strong, letter to
Samuel Goudsmit; Strong, letter to
Luis Alvarez, 20 December 1957; and
UFOs
Strong, memorandum for Major James
F. Byrne, Assistant Chief of Staff, Intel
ligence Department of the Air Force,
Declassification of the Report of the
Scientific Panel on Unidentified Flying
Objects, 20 December 1957. See
also Berkner, letter to Strong, 20
November 1957 and Page, letter to
Strong, 4 December 1957. The panel
members were also reluctant to have
their association with the Agency
released.
49. See Wilton E. Lexow, memorandum
for the record, Comments on Letters
Dealing with Unidentified Flying
Objects, 4 April 1958; J. S. Earman,
letter to Major Lawrence J. Tacker,
Office of the Secretary of the Air
Force, Information Service, 4 April
1958; Davidson, letter to Berkner, 8
April 1958; Berkner, letter to David
son, 18 April 1958; Berkner, letter to
Strong, 21 April 1958; Davidson, let
Tacker, 27 April 1958;
ter to
Davidson, letter to Allen Dulles, 27
April Ruppelt, letter to David
1958;
son, 7May 1958; Strong, letter to
Berkner, 8 May 1958; Davidson, let
ter to Berkner, 8 May 1958;
Davidson, letter to Earman, 16 May
1958; Davidson, letter to Goudsmit,
18 May 1958; Davidson, letter to
Page, 18 May 1958; and Tacker, let
ter to Davidson, 20 May 1958.
50. See Lexow, memorandum for
Chapin, 28 July 1958.
51. See Good, Above Top Secret, pp. 346-
47; Lexow, memorandum for the
record, Meeting with the Air Force
Personnel Concerning Scientific Advi
sory Panel Report on Unidentified
Flying Objects, dated 17 January
1953 (S), 16 May 1958. See also La
Rae L. Tee!, Deputy Division Chief,
ASD, memorandum for the record,
Meeting with Mr. Chapin on Reply
ing to Leon Davidsons UFO Letter
and Subsequent Telephone Conversa
tion with Major Thacker, sicl 22
May 1958.
52. See Edwin M. Ashcraft, Chief,
Contact Division (Scientific), memo-
81
UFOs

randum to Chief, Chicago Office, memorandum for Austin Bricker, Jr., See also F. J. Sheridan, Chief, Wash
Radio Code Recording, 4 March to the Director, Inquiry
Assistant by ington Office, memorandum to
1955 and Ashcraft, memorandum to Major Donald E. Keyhoe on John Chief, Contact Division, National
Chief, Support Branch, OSI, 17 Hazens Association with the Investigation Committee on Aerial
March 1955. Agency, 22 January 1959. Phenomena (NICAP), 25 January
1965.
53. The Contact Division was created to 64. See JohnT. Hazen, memorandum to
collect foreign intelligence informa Chief, Contact 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 memorandum to Cleveland Resident 1965.
gence Historical Series, The Origin Agent, Ralph E. Mayher, 20 Decem
and Development of Contact Division, ber 1957. According to this
11 July1946i July 1965 (Washing memorandum, the photographs were 70. See Jacobs, The UFO Controversy, p.
DC; CIA Historical Staff, June viewed at a high level and returned 199 and US Air Force, Scientific Advi
ton,
1969). to us without comment. The Air sory Board, Ad Hoc Committee
Force held the original negatives. The (OBrien Committee) to Review
CIA records were probably destroyed. Project BLUE BOOK, Special Report
54. See George 0. Forrest, Chief, Chi
(Washington,DC: 1966). See also
cago Office, memorandum to Chief,
The New York Times, 14 August
Contact Division for Science, 11 65. The issue would resurface in the
March 1955. 1966, p. 70.
1970s with the GSW FOJA court case.

55. See Support Division (Connell), mem 71. See Congress Reassured on Space Vis
66. See Robert Amory, Jr., DDI, memo
orandum to Dewelt E. Walker, 25 randum for Assistant Director/ its, The New York Times, 6 April
April 1957. Scientific Intelligence, Flying Sau 1966.

cers, 26 March 1956. See also

56. See J. Arnold Shaw, Assistant to the Wallace R. Lamphire, Office of the 72. Weber, letter to Col, Gerald E. Jor

Director, letter to Davidson, 10 May Director, Planning and Coordination gensen, Chief, Community Relations
1957. Staff, memorandum for Richard M. Division, Office of Information, US
Bissell, Jr., Unidentified Flying Sau Air Force, 15 August 1966. The
57. See Support (Connell) memorandum cers (UFO),11 June 1957; Philip Durant report was a detailed summary
to Lt. Col. V. Skakich, 27 August 1957 Strong, memorandum for the Direc of the Robertson panel proceedings.
and Lamountain, memorandum to tor NPIC, Reported Photography of
Unidentified Flying Objects, 27
Support (Connell), 20 December 1957. 73. See John Lear, The Disputed CIA
October 1958; Scoville, memorandum
Document on UFOs, Saturday
58. See Lamounrain, cable to
to Lawrence Houston, Legislative
Support Review 3, 1966), p. 45.
(September
Counsel, Reply to Honorable Joseph
(Connell), 31 July 1958. The Lear article otherwise unsym
was
E. Garth, 12 July 1961; and Hous
pathetic to UFO sightings and the
ton, letter to Garth, 13 July 1961.
59. See cable to Skak
Support (Connell) possibility that extraterrirorials were

ich, 3 October 1957 and Skakich, involved. The Air Force had been
67. See, for example, Davidson, letter to
cable to Connell, 9 October 1957.
eager to provide Lear with the full
Congressman Joseph Garth, 26 June
1961 and Carl Vinson, Chairman, report. See Walter L. Mackey, Execu
60. See Skakich, cable to Connell, 9 Octo House Committee Armed Ser
tive Officer, memorandum for DCI,
on
ber 1957. Air Force Request to Declassify CIA
vices, letterto Rep. Robert A. Everett,
Material on Unidentified Flying
2 September 1964.
61. See R. P. B. Lohmann, memorandum Objects (UFO), 1 September 1966.
for Chief, Contact Division, DO, 9
68. See Maxwell W. Hunter, staff mem
January 1958. 74. See Klass, UFOs, p. 40, Jacobs, The
ber, National Aeronautics and Space
Council, Executive Office of the Presi UFO Controversy, p. 214 and Everer
62. See Support, cable to Skakich, 20 Feb dent, memorandum for Robert F. Clark, Physicist Scores Saucer Sta
ruary 1958 and Connell (Support) Parkard, Office of International Scien tus, The New York Times, 21
cable to Lamountain, 19 December tific Affairs, Department of State, October 1966. See also James E.
1957. Thoughts the Alien Race McDonald, Statement Unidenti
on Space on

Question, 18 File SP 16,

July 1963, fied Flying Objects, submitted to the
63. See Edwin M. Ashcraft, Chief, Con Records of the Department of State, House Committee on Science and
tact Division, Office of Operations, Record Group 59, National Archives. Astronautics, 29 July 1968.

82

75. Condon is quoted in Walter Sullivan,
3 Aides Selected in Saucer Inquiry,
The New York Times, 8 October
1966. See also An Outspoken Scien
tist, Edward Uhler Condon, The
New York Times, 8 October 1966.
Condon, an outgoing, gruff scientist,
had earlier become embroiled in a con
troversy with the House Unamerican
Activities Committee that claimed
Condon was one of the weakest links
in our security. See also Pee
atomic
bles, WatchtheSkies,pp. 169-195.
76. See Lundahl, memorandum for DDI,
7 February 1967.
77. See memorandum for the record,
Visit of Dr. Condon to NPIC, 20
February 1967, 23 February 1967.
See also the analysis of the photo
graphs in memorandum for
Photo Analysis of UFO Photogra
phy, 17 February 1967.
78. See memorandum for the record,
UFO Briefing for Dr. Edward Con-
don, 5 May 1967, 8 May 1967 and
attached Guidelines to UFO Photog
raphersand UFO Photographic
Information Sheet. See also Condon
Committee, Press Release, 1 May
1967 and Klass, UFOs, p. 41. The
Zaneville photographs turned
be a hoax.
79. See Edward U. Condon,
Scientific
Study of Unidentified Flying Objects
(New York: Bantam Books, 1969)
and Klass, UFOs, p. 41. The report
contained the Durant report with
only minor deletions.
80. See Office of Assistant Secretary
Defense, News Release, Air Force to
Terminate Project BLUEBOOK, 17
December 1969. The Air Force
retired BLUEBOOK records to the
USAF Archives at Maxwell Air Force
Base in Alabama. in 1976 the Air
Force turned over all BLUEBOOK
files to the National Archives and
Records Administration, which made
them available to the public without
major restrictions. Some names have
UFOs
been withheld from the documents. 90. (5) See John Brennan, memorandum
See Kiass, UFOs, p. 6. for Richard Warshaw, Executive Assis
tant, DCI, Requested Information
81. GSW was a small group of UFO buffs on UFOs, 30 September 1993;
based in Phoenix, Arizona, and Author interviews with OSWR ana
headed lyst, 14 June 1994 and OSI analyst,
by William H. Spaulding.
21 July 1994. This author found
almost no documentation on Agency
82. See Klass, UFOs, p. 8.
involvement with UFOs in the 1980s.
83. See Wilson, letter to Spaulding, 26
March 1976 and GSWv. CIA Civil There is a DIA Psychic Center and the
NSA studies
Action Case 78-859. parapsychology, that
branch of psychology that deals with
the investigationof such psychic phe
84. GSW v. CIA Civil Action Case 78-
859, p. 2.
nomena as clairvoyance, extrasensory
perception, and telepathy. The CIA
reportedly is also a member of an Inci
85. Author interview with Launie Ziebell,
dent Response Team to investigate
23 June 1994 and author interview
UFO landings, if one should occur.
with OSI analyst, 21 July 1994. See
This team has never met. The lack of
also affidavits of George Owens, CIA
solid CIA documentation on Agency
Information and Privacy Act Coordi
Lundahi, UFO-related activities in the 1980s
nator; Karl H. Weber, OSI; Sidney D.
leaves the entire issue somewhat
Stembridge, Office of Security; and
Rutledge P. Hazzard, DS&T; GSW murky for this period.
CIA Civil Action Case 78-859 and
Sayre Stevens, Deputy Director for Much of the UFO literature presently
National Foreign Assessment, memo focuses on contactees and abductees.
randum for Thomas H. White, See John Mack, Abduction, Human
E.
Assistant for Information, Informa Encounters with Aliens(New York:
tion Review Committee, FOIA Charles Scribners Sons, 1994) and
Litigation Ground Saucer Watch, no Howard Blum, Out There (New York:
date. Simon and Schuster, 1990).
86. See CIA
out to
Papers Detail UFO Surveil 91. See Charles Berlitz and William L.
lance, The New York Times, 13
Moore, The Roswell Incident (New
January 1979; Patrick Huyghe, UFO York: Berkeley Books, 1988); Moore,
Files: The Untold Story, The New
The Roswell Incident: New Evidence
York Times Magazine, 14 October
in the Search for a Crashed UFO,
1979, p. 106; and Jerome Clark,
(Burbank, California: Fair Witness
UFO Update, UFO Report, August
Project, 1982), Publication Number
1979.
1201; and Kiass, UFOs, pp. 280-28 1.
In 1994 Congressman Steven H.
87. Jerome Clark, Latest UFO News Schiff (R-NM) called for an official
Briefs From Around the World, of the Roswell incident. The
of study
UFO Update, August 1979 and GSW GAO is
conducting a separate investi
v. CIA Civil Action No. 78-859.
gation of the incident. The CIA is
not involved in the investigation. See
88. See Wortman, memorandum for DCI Kiass, UFOs, pp. 279-28 1; John H.
Turner, Your Question, Are we in Wright, Information and Privacy
UFOs? Annotated to The New York Coordinator, letter Derek Skreen,
to
Times News Release Article, 18 Janu 20 September 1993; and OSWR ana
ary 1979. lyst Interview. See also the made-for-
TV film, Roswell, which appeared on
89. See GSW v. CIA Civil Action 78- cable TV ott 31 July 1994 and Pee
859. See also Klass, UFOs, pp. 10-12. bles, Watch the Skies, pp. 245-251.
83
UFOs

92. See John Diamond, Air Force Probes

1947 UFO Claim Findings Are
Down to Earth, 9 September 1994,
Associated Press release; William J.
Broad, Wreckage of a Spaceship: Of
This Earth (and U.S.), The New York
Times, 18 September 1994, p. 1; and
USAF Col. Richard L. Weaver and
1st Lt. James McAndrew, The Roswell
Report, Fact Versus Fiction in New
Mexico Desert (Washington, DC:
GPO, 1995).

93. See Good, Above Top SecretS, Moore

and 5. 1. Friedman, Philip Klass and
MJ-12: What are the Facts, (Bur
bank California: Fair-Witness Project,
1988), Publication Number 1290;
Klass, New Evidence of MJ-12
Hoax, Skeptical Inquirer, vol. 14
(Winter 1990); and Moore and Jaime
H. Shandera, The MJ-12 Documents:
An Analytical Report (Burbank, Cali
fornia: Fair-Witness Project, 1990),
Publication Number 1500. Walter
Bedell Smith supposedly replaced For
restal on 1 August 1950 following
Forrestals death. All members listed
were deceased when the MJ-12 docu

ments surfaced in 1984. See Peebles,

Watch the Skies, pp. 25 8-268.

Dr. Larry Bland, editor of The George

C. Marshall Papers, discovered that one

of the so-called Majestic~12 docu

ments was a complete fraud. It
contained the exact same language as a
letter from Marshall to Presidential
candidate Thomas Dewey regarding
the Magic intercepts in 1944. The
dates and names had been altered and
Magic changed to Majic. More
over, it photocopy, not an
was a

original. No original MJ-12 docu

ments have ever surfaced. Telephone

conversation between the author and

Bland, 29 August 1994.

84