The "Robertson Report" resulting from the Scientific Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects convened in January 1953 by the CIA. Various versions of this report have been released and/or published over the years; this text is as released by the CIA under the Freedom of Information Act in October 1991. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [BLACKED OUT-] [---- BLACKED OUT ----] REPORT OF THE SCIENTIFIC PANEL ON JAN 17 1953 UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS 1. Pursuant to the request of the Assistant Director for Scientific Intelligence, the undersigned Panel of Scientific Consultants has met to evaluate any possible threat to national security posed by Unidentified Flying Objects ("Flying Saucers"), and to make recommendations thereon. The Panel has received the evidence as presented by cognizant intelli- gence agencies, primarily the Air Technical Intelligence Center, and has reviewed a selection of the best documented incidents. 2. As a result of its considerations, the Panel concludes: a. That the evidence presented on Unidentified Flying Objects shows no indication that these phenomena constitute a direct physical threat to national security. We firmly believe that there is no residuum of cases which indicates Phenomena which are attributable to foreign artifacts capable of hostile acts, and that there is no evidence that the phenomena indicates a need for the revision of current scientific concepts. 3. The Panel further concludes: a. That the continued emphasis on the reporting of these phenomena does, in these parlous times, result in a threat to the orderly functioning of the protective organs of the body politic. We cite as examples the clogging of channels of communication by irrelevant reports, the danger of being led by continued false alarms to ignore real [BLACKED OUT-] [---- BLACKED OUT ----] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [---- BLACKED OUT ----] indications of hostile action, and the cultivation of a morbid national psychology in which skillful hostile propaganda could induce hysterical behavior and harmful distrust of duty constituted authority. 4. In order most effectively to strengthen the national facilities For the timely recognition and the appropriate handling of true indications of hostile action, and to minimize the concomitant dangers alluded to above, the Panel recommends: a. That the national security agencies take immediate steps to strip the Unidentified Flying Objects of the special status they have been given and the aura of mystery they have unfortunately acquired; b. That the national security agencies institute policies on intelligence, training, and public education designed to prepare the material defenses and the morale of the country to recognize most promptly and to react most effectively to true indications of hostile intent or action. We suggest that these aims may be achieved by an integrated program designed to reassure the public of the total lack of evidence of Inimical forces behind the phenomenon, to train personnel to recognize and reject false indications quickly and effectively, and to strengthen regular channels for the evaluation of and prompt reaction to true indications of hostile measures. /s/ Lloyd V. Berkner Associated Universities, Inc. /s/ H.P. Robertson, Chairman California Institute of Technology /s/ S. A. Goudsmit Brookhaven National Laboratories /s/ Luis W. Alverez University of California /s/ Thornton Page Johns Hopkins University [BLACKED] -2- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [--- BLACKED OUT ---] TAB A SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY PANEL ON UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS 14 - 17 January 1953 MEMBERS ORGANIZATION FIELD OF COMPETENCY Dr. H.P. Robertson(Chairman) California Institute Physics, weapons of technology systems Dr. Luis W. Alverez University of Physics, radar California Dr. Lloyd V. Berkner Associated Univer- Geophysics sities, Inc. Dr. Samuel Goudsmit Brookhaven National Atomic structure, Laboratories physics Dr. Thornton Page Office of Research Astronomy, Astr Operations, Johns physics Hopkins university ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Dr. J. Allen Hynek Ohio State Univer- Astronomy sity Mr. Frederick C. Durant Arthur D. Little, Rockets, guided Inc. missiles INTERVIEWEES Brig. Gen. William N. Garland Commanding General, Scientific and ATIC technical intelli- gence Dr. H. Marshall Chadwell Assistant Director, Scientific and O/SI, CIA technical intelli- ence Mr. Ralph L. Clark Deputy Assistant Scientific and Director, O/SI, CIA technical intelli- gence [BLACKED OUT-] [---- BLACKED OUT ----] -------------------------------------------------------------------------