Memorandum regarding the declassification of the Report of the Scientific Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects

This document consists of a memorandum dated December 20, 1957, from the Central Intelligence Agency to the Department of the Air Force, regarding the declassification of the 'Report of the Scientific Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects.' The memorandum, signed by Deputy Assistant Director Philip G. Strong, confirms that the CIA and the members of the Scientific Panel have agreed to declassify specific portions of the report. Specifically, the conclusions of paragraph 2 and recommendation 4.a were cleared for release. However, the document explicitly states that the connection to the CIA and the contents of recommendation 4.b were to remain classified to protect the agency's involvement. The attached report, dated January 17, 1953, details the findings of a panel of scientific consultants, including H. P. Robertson, Luis W. Alvarez, S. A. Goudsmit, and Thornton Page. The panel concluded that the evidence regarding Unidentified Flying Objects (referred to as 'Flying Saucers') did not indicate a direct physical threat to national security, nor did it suggest the presence of foreign artifacts capable of hostile acts. The panel further recommended that national security agencies take immediate steps to remove the 'special status' and 'aura of mystery' surrounding UFOs, suggesting an integrated program to reassure the public of the lack of evidence for inimical forces behind the phenomena.