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

This memorandum, addressed to the Director of Central Intelligence (D/CI), provides a historical review of events concerning the declassification of CIA material related to Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). The document traces the origins of the matter to 1953, when the Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI) convened a panel of scientists to evaluate reports on UFOs and their potential threat to national security, resulting in a report classified as 'secret'. In 1957, following public interest in CIA involvement, the United States Air Force (USAF) requested and received an unclassified version of the 1953 report's conclusions, which omitted references to the CIA. The memorandum notes that Dr. H. P. Robertson, who chaired the 1953 panel, appeared on a 'CBS Reports' television program on 12 May 1966, where he discussed the CIA-sponsored panel. Subsequently, on 12 July 1966, the Air Force again requested the declassification of the 1953 report, citing prior publicity as justification. Following a meeting on 19 July between CIA and Air Force representatives, it was discovered that the Air Force already possessed a copy of the 1953 CIA report that had been stamped 'unclassified' at some point prior to the meeting. The memorandum concludes by noting that a new request was prepared by the Air Force on 27 July.