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Declassified UFO / UAP Document

Correspondence regarding declassification of the Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects report

📄 correspondence
Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying ObjectsDeclassificationAir ForcePhilip G. StrongThornton Page

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AI-Generated Summary

TL;DR

This letter details the internal deliberations regarding the partial declassification of the 1953 Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects report. It highlights concerns about protecting the Agency's association with the panel while addressing Air Force requests for public release.

This document is a letter addressed to Dr. Thornton Page at Johns Hopkins University from Philip G. Strong, Deputy Assistant Director. The correspondence concerns the declassification of a report produced by the Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects, which was constituted in January 1953. The panel included Dr. H. P. Robertson as Chairman, along with Samuel Goudsmit, Luis W. Alvarez, Lloyd V. Berkner, and Dr. Page himself. The Air Force had requested that the conclusions of this report be declassified for press use. The author notes that he has discussed the matter with Dr. Robertson and Dr. Goudsmit, who agree that the conclusion in paragraph 2 and the recommendation in paragraph 4a can be declassified. However, they do not agree to the declassification of the conclusion in paragraph 3 or the recommendation in paragraph 4b. The author suggests that the association of the Panel with the Agency should not be disclosed and proposes rewriting paragraph 1 to eliminate this connection. Regarding the names of the panel members, the Air Force indicated they would only be used within official circles and not given to the press, though the author acknowledges that such information often filters out and may become common knowledge. The letter concludes by requesting Dr. Page's reaction to the Air Force's declassification proposal and his approval regarding the use of the panel members' names, provided the Agency's connection remains withheld.

I have queried the Air Force as to whether the names of the Panel members would be used. They have replied that names would be used only within official circles and would not be given to the press. But, as such information has a tendency at times to filter out, it should be recognized that, if approval is given for use of the names, they may well become common knowledge.

Key Persons

  • H. P. RobertsonChairman of the Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects
  • Samuel GoudsmitMember of the Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects
  • Luis W. AlvarezMember of the Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects
  • Lloyd V. BerknerMember of the Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects
  • Thornton PageRecipient of the letter and member of the Scientific Advisory Panel

Organizations