Memorandum for: Director of Central Intelligence — Consultants for Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects

This memorandum, dated January 9, 1953, is addressed to the Director of Central Intelligence from the Assistant Director of Scientific Intelligence. The primary purpose of the document is to secure approval for the appointment of Dr. Luis W. Alvarez and Dr. Thornton Page as ad hoc consultants to the O/SI Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects. The panel was scheduled to convene on January 14, 1953. The document justifies the selection of these individuals by citing Dr. Alvarez's expertise in radar operation, characteristics, and anomalies, and Dr. Thornton Page's competence as an astronomer and astrophysicist. The author notes that a search of the Consultants' Registry indicated that other potential candidates were either unqualified or unavailable. The memorandum outlines that the consultants would be utilized specifically for this advisory panel rather than as regular CIA consultants, with a proposed compensation rate of $50.00 per day. The document includes approval signatures from H. Marshall Chadwell and the Director of Central Intelligence, with the final approval dated January 20, 1953.