Declassification of the Report of the Scientific Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects

This memorandum, dated December 20, 1957, is addressed to the Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Department of the Air Force, from the Central Intelligence Agency. It concerns the declassification of the 'Report of the Scientific Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects.' The author, Philip C. Strong, Deputy Assistant Director, informs the recipient that the CIA and the members of the Panel have reached a decision regarding the release of the report's contents. Specifically, the conclusions of paragraph 2 and Recommendation 4.a are approved for declassification. However, the document explicitly states that the connection between the report and the CIA must not be disclosed. Furthermore, Recommendation 4.b is to remain classified. To facilitate the Air Force's use of the declassified material, the author provides a revised version of the report, which includes a paraphrased version of paragraph 1, the exact wording of paragraph 2, a new paragraph 3 containing the declassified Recommendation 4.a, and appropriate paraphrasing of the remainder of paragraph 4, excluding Recommendation 4.b. The document concludes with a distribution list that includes several members of the Scientific Panel, specifically Dr. Robertson, Dr. Berkner, Dr. Alvarez, and Dr. Page, as well as Legislative Counsel Mr. John Werner.