CIA Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects

Summary

In 1953, a group of scientists formed a panel to investigate unidentified flying objects. This document, addressed to Dr. Thorton Page, reveals how the CIA and Air Force were trying to declassify parts of the report for use in the press. The panel included notable figures like Luis Alvarez and Samuel Goudsait, and their conclusions were divided between what could be made public and what had to remain secret. The letter mentions concerns about the disclosure of names and the connection with the CIA, showing the delicate balance between transparency and national security.

The Air Force wanted to use the report's conclusions, but there were clear limits. Some parts, such as those related to the CIA, could not be revealed. The document also addresses how information might leak despite efforts to keep it private. This reflects the Cold War context, where even scientific studies on unexplained phenomena were entangled with issues of security and information control.