Memorandum for the D/CI: Air Force Request to Declassify CIA Material on Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO)

This memorandum, dated September 1, 1966, provides a chronological review of the interactions between the CIA and the Air Force regarding the declassification of a 1953 report on Unidentified Flying Objects. In 1953, the CIA's Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI) convened a panel of scientists to assess the threat posed by UFOs, resulting in a classified report. In 1957, following public interest, the Air Force requested and received an unclassified version of the report's conclusions, which omitted references to CIA involvement. By July 1966, the Air Force again requested declassification of the 1953 report, citing prior publicity as justification. During a meeting on July 19, 1966, the Air Force presented a copy of the 1953 report that had already been stamped 'unclassified.' Subsequent requests were made by the Air Force, including an inquiry on August 10, 1966, regarding the status of the CIA's reply, prompted by an article written by newsman John Lear in the Saturday Review. This article indicated that the Air Force desired the release of the complete CIA report to the public. On August 15, 1966, the CIA forwarded a declassified version of the complete 1953 report to the Air Force. The document concludes by noting that the Air Force made follow-up inquiries on August 16 and August 18, 1966, regarding the extent of the sanitization and the return of the USAF copy of the report.