CIA and the Condon UFO Project

Summary

In February 1967, the CIA hosted Dr. Edward Condon, the lead scientist of a $300,000 study on UFO sightings funded by the U.S. Air Force and conducted by the University of Colorado. The visit was part of a secret-level meeting to familiarize Condon and his team with the CIA's photogrammetric and photographic analysis capabilities. It was made clear that any assistance from the CIA would remain unacknowledged in the project's official reports to maintain neutrality and avoid confusion. The focus was on technical support, such as measuring objects in photographs, using specialized equipment not widely available elsewhere.

During the visit, Condon and his team were shown advanced tools like the isodensitometer and microdensitometer, essential for image analysis. Discussions emphasized the need for basic information, such as camera focal lengths, to ensure meaningful results. Most of the morning was spent on unclassified topics covering photogrammetry fundamentals and challenges in data collection. The meeting ended with lunch and a follow-up session at the Pentagon with Brigadier General Gillers. This collaboration highlighted the institutional interest in UFOs, approached with a strictly scientific and technical mindset.