Memorandum for the Record: Visit of Dr. Condon to NPIC, 20 February 1967

On 20 February 1967, Dr. E.U. Condon and four members of his University of Colorado investigative team visited the National Photographic Interpretation Center (NPIC). The visit was facilitated by the U.S. Air Force, which had contracted the University of Colorado to study UFO sightings. The team included Dr. Richard Lowe, Dr. David Saunders, Dr. William Price, and Dr. Thomas Rachford. The primary purpose of the visit was to introduce the team to the photogrammetric and photographic analysis capabilities available at NPIC. During the meeting, which was classified as SECRET, several ground rules were established. NPIC agreed to assist Dr. Condon with technical work, such as measuring objects in images, but stipulated that this work would not be attributed to the CIA. Furthermore, NPIC would not produce written reports or formal conclusions. The visit consisted of a series of briefings on photogrammetry, microdensitometry, and isodensitometry, as well as a tour of the facility to view equipment such as the Point Transfer Device, the Mann 800 Comparator, and the Benson-Lehner Plotter. The discussions were primarily unclassified and focused on the technical challenges of analyzing UFO photography, particularly regarding the lack of basic information like camera focal lengths. The group concluded their visit at 1235 hours to attend a meeting with Brig. Gen. Gillers at the Pentagon.