CIA evaluates UFOs in 1953

Summary

In April 1958, the CIA responded to letters from two independent researchers, Leon Davidson and Donald Keyhoe, who questioned the scientific panel's report on unidentified flying objects (UFOs). This panel, composed of prominent scientists like Luis W. Alvarez and Lloyd V. Berkner, was convened in January 1953 to assess whether UFOs posed a threat to national security. Their report concluded there was no evidence that the phenomena were of extraterrestrial or hostile origin. However, Keyhoe and others argued that the report's purpose was to identify the objects, not dismiss them. Aware of the confusion, the CIA decided to release a declassified version of the report to prevent revealing the panel's connection to the agency.

The situation became more complicated when a journalist, Mike Wallace, mentioned in a TV interview the collaboration between the CIA and the panel, something the scientists had wanted to keep secret. To resolve the issue, the CIA opted to send the declassified report through the Air Force, ensuring the panel members were not directly linked to the agency. The original report, classified as secret, stated there was no evidence UFOs were a real threat and recommended security agencies stop treating them as a special concern. This official response marked a key moment in the history of government UFO investigations.