Memorandum: Air Force Request to Declassify an OSI Paper on UFO's

This memorandum, dated July 20, 1966, from David B. Stevenson to the Chief of the Defensive Systems Division/OSI, details an interaction between the Air Force and the CIA regarding the declassification of a 1953 report titled 'Report of the Scientific Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects.' The request was initiated by Mrs. Sara B. Hunt of the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. The impetus for this request was a CBS Reports television program featuring Dr. H. P. Robertson, the chairman of the panel, which reportedly made sufficient references to CIA involvement in UFO analysis to generate public interest and a press reaction. Upon review, it was noted that a previously sanitized version of the report existed, which had been approved by Mr. Phil Strong in December 1957. This version omitted specific details regarding original meeting minutes, case histories, and explicit CIA involvement. Although the Air Force initially sought further declassification, they eventually informed the OSI that they no longer required it, despite maintaining an interest in declassifying all U.S. Government work on UFOs. The memorandum concludes by noting that Mr. Loomis was holding the Air Force's request pending further contact from Mrs. Hunt, and that any future requests for the declassification of the original minutes and case histories would require a new, specific submission due to the extensive deletions necessary.