Declassification of a 1953 UFO Report

Summary

In July 1966, the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force contacted the CIA's Defensive Systems Division to discuss the potential declassification of an old report on unidentified flying objects (UFOs). This report, produced by a scientific panel in 1953, had generated public interest after being mentioned on a television program. Dr. Robertson, the panel's leader, had made references to CIA involvement, which sparked media attention.

The request did not include new data, but it was understood that the Air Force aimed to declassify all government work on UFOs. A prior review showed that any further declassification would require significant redactions. It was suggested that a new request be submitted if access to additional details, such as meeting minutes or historical cases, was desired. Coordination between the agencies continued with the possibility of updating the process in the future.