Memorandum for Record: Meeting with Air Force Personnel Concerning Scientific Advisory Panel Report on Unidentified Flying Objects, dated 17 January 1953

This memorandum for the record, dated May 16, 1958, documents a meeting between Air Force and CIA personnel regarding the handling of inquiries from Mr. Leon Davidson concerning the January 17, 1953, Scientific Advisory Panel report on Unidentified Flying Objects. The primary objective of the meeting was to coordinate a response to Mr. Davidson, who had been persistent in his demands for the release of the full, classified report. The attendees, including representatives from the CIA's Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI) and various Air Force offices, concluded that the report must remain classified to prevent potential adversaries from gaining information that could be used against national security. It was agreed that Major Lawrence J. Tacker would serve as the point of contact for Mr. Davidson and would coordinate with the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) on the matter. Furthermore, the group discussed the strategy of issuing a press release that would utilize the panel report to satisfy public interest while maintaining security. The document also touches upon internal administrative concerns, such as the potential involvement of former DCI Vice Admiral R. H. Hillenkoetter in the matter and a suggestion by Dr. Kenzel to revise the panel report, which was deemed inadvisable by the attendees due to the risk of arousing public suspicion. The memorandum concludes with a distribution list and is signed by W. E. Lexow of the OSI.