17,909Documents 78Collections 1940–2025Years 25+Countries

Declassified UFO / UAP Document

Correspondence regarding the declassification of the Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects report

📄 correspondence
Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying ObjectsDeclassificationAir ForceUFO

Ever wanted to host your own late-night paranormal radio show?

Across the Airwaves · Narrative Sim · Windows · $2.95

You're on the air. Callers bring Mothman, Fresno Nightcrawlers, UFO sightings, reptilian autopsies, and whispers about AATIP and Project Blue Book. Every reply shapes how the night goes.

UFO & UAP Cryptids Paranormal Government Secrets Classified Files High Strangeness Strange Creatures
The night is long. The lines are open →

AI-Generated Summary

TL;DR

This letter discusses the partial declassification of the 1953 Scientific Advisory Panel report on UFOs. It highlights internal deliberations regarding which specific conclusions and recommendations should remain classified and concerns over protecting the identities of the panel members.

This document is a letter addressed to Dr. Thorton Page of Johns Hopkins University regarding the declassification of a report produced by the Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects. The panel, which was constituted in January 1953, included Dr. H. P. Robertson as Chairman, along with Samuel Goudsmit, Luis W. Alvarez, Lloyd V. Berkner, and Dr. Page himself. The Air Force had requested that the conclusions of the panel's report be declassified for use in the press. The author of the letter consulted with Dr. Robertson and Dr. Goudsmit, who agreed to the declassification of the conclusion in paragraph 2 and the recommendation in paragraph 4a. However, they advised against the declassification of the conclusion in paragraph 3 and the recommendation in paragraph 4b, suggesting that the latter be rewritten to avoid disclosing the association of the panel with the Agency. Furthermore, the letter addresses concerns regarding the potential public disclosure of the names of the panel members, noting that while the Air Force intended to keep the names within official circles, there was a risk that the information might eventually become common knowledge.

I have queried the Air Force as to whether the names of the Panel members would be used. They have replied that names would be used only within official circles and would not be given to the press. But, as such information has a tendency at times to filter out, it should be recognized that, if approval is given for use of the names, they may well become common knowledge.

Official Assessment

The Air Force requested the declassification of the conclusions of the Scientific Advisory Panel report. The author and members of the panel agreed to declassify the conclusion in paragraph 2 and the recommendation in paragraph 4a, but opposed the declassification of the conclusion in paragraph 3 and the recommendation in paragraph 4b. There was also concern regarding the disclosure of the names of the panel members to the press.

Key Persons

Organizations