A Die-HardIssue GINsRoleintheStudyofUFOs,1947-90 GeraldK.Haines WhileAgencyconcernover UFOswassubstantialuntil theearly1950s,CIAhas sincepaidonlylimitedand peripheralattentiontothe phenomena. ‘9 Anextraordinary95percentofall Americanshaveatleastheardorread somethingaboutUnidentifiedFlying Objects(UFOs),and57percent believetheyarereal.’FormerUS PresidentsCarterandReaganclaim tohaveseena UFO.UFOlogists—a neologismforUFObuffs—andpri vateUFOorganizationsarefound throughouttheUnitedStates.Many areconvincedthattheUSGovern ment,andparticularlyCIA,are engagedina massiveconspiracyand coverupoftheissue.Theideathat CIAhassecretlyconcealedits researchintoUFOshasbeena major themeofUFObuffssincethemod ernUFOphenomenaemergedinthe late1940s.2 Inlate1993,afterbeingpressuredby UFOlogistsforthereleaseofaddi tionalCIAinformationonUFOs,3 DCIR.JamesWoolseyordered anotherreviewofallAgencyfileson UFOs.UsingCIArecordscompiled fromthatreview,thisstudytraces CIAinterestandinvolvementinthe UFOcontroversyfromthelate1940s to1990.Itchronologicallyexamines theAgency’seffortstosolvethemys teryofUFOs,itsprogramsthathad animpactonUFOsightings,andits attemptstoconcealCIAinvolvement intheentireUFOissue.‘What emergesfromthisexaminationisthat, whileAgencyconcernoverUFOswas substantialuntiltheearly1950s,CIA hassincepaidonlylimitedandperiph eralattentiontothephenomena. Background Theemergencein1947oftheCold Warconfrontationbetweenthe UnitedStatesandtheSovietUnion alsosawthefirstwaveofUFOsight ings.Thefirstreportofa “flying saucer”overtheUnitedStatescame on24June1947,whenKenneth Arnold,a privatepilotandreputable businessman,whilelookingfora downedplanesightedninedisk- shapedobjectsnearMt.Rainier, Washington,travelingatanestimated speedofover1,000mph.Arnold’s reportwasfollowedbya floodofaddi tionalsightings,includingreports frommilitaryandcivilianpilotsand airtrafficcontrollersalloverthe UnitedStates.4In1948,AirForce Gen.NathanTwining,headofthe AirTechnicalServiceCommand, establishedProjectSIGN(initially namedProjectSAUCER)tocollect, collate,evaluate,anddistributewithin thegovernmentallinformationrelat ingtosuchsightings,onthepremise thatUFOsmightberealandof nationalsecurityconcern.5 TheTechnicalIntelligenceDivision oftheAirMaterialCommand (AMC)atWrightField(later Wright-PattersonAirForceBase)in Dayton,Ohio,assumedcontrolof ProjectSIGNandbeganitsworkon 23January1948.Althoughatfirst fearfulthattheobjectsmightbe Sovietsecretweapons,theAirForce soonconcludedthatUFOswerereal buteasilyexplainedandnotextraor dinary.TheAirForcereportfound thatalmostallsightingsstemmed fromoneormoreofthreecauses: masshysteriaandhallucination, hoax,ormisinterpretationofknown objects.Nevertheless,thereportrec ommendedcontinuedmilitary intelligencecontrolovertheinvesti gationofallsightingsanddidnot GeraldK.HainesistheNational ReconnaissanceOfficehistorian. 67 UFOs ruleoutthepossibilityofextraterres trialphenomena.6 AmidmountingUFOsightings,the AirForcecontinuedtocollectand evaluateUFOdatainthelate1 940s undera newproject,GRUDGE, whichtriedtoalleviatepublicanxiety overUFOsviaa publicrelationscam paigndesignedtopersuadethepublic thatUFOsconstitutednothing unusualorextraordinary.UFOsight ingswereexplainedasballoons, conventionalaircraft,planets,mete ors,opticalillusions,solarreflections, oreven“largehailstones.”GRUDGE officialsfoundnoevidenceinUFO sightingsofadvancedforeignweapons designordevelopment,andtheycon cludedthatUFOsdidnotthreaten USsecurity.Theyrecommendedthat theprojectbereducedinscope becausetheveryexistenceofAir Forceofficialinterestencouragedpeo pletobelieveinUFOsand contributedtoa “warhysteria”atmo sphere.On27December1949,the AirForceannouncedtheproject’s termination.~ WithincreasedColdWartensions, theKoreanwar,andcontinuedUFO sightings,USAFDirectorofIntelli genceMaj.Gen.CharlesP.Cabell ordereda newUFOprojectin1952. ProjectBLUEBOOKbecamethe majorAirForceefforttostudythe UFOphenomenonthroughoutthe 1950sand1960s.8Thetaskofidenti fyingandexplainingUFOscontinued tofallontheAirMaterialCommand atWright-Patterson.Witha small staff,theAirTechnicalIntelligence Center(ATIC)triedtopersuadethe publicthatUFOswerenotextraordi nary.9ProjectsSIGN,GRUDGE, andBLUEBOOKsetthetonefor theofficialUSGovernmentposition regardingUFOsforthenext30years. EarlyCIAConcerns,1947-52 CIAcloselymonitoredtheAirForce effort,awareofthemountingnumber ofsightingsandincreasinglycon cernedthatUFOsmightposea potentialsecuritythreat.10Giventhe distributionofthesightings,CIAoffi cialsin1952questionedwhetherthey mightreflect“midsummer madness.”11 Agencyofficialsaccepted theAirForce’sconclusionsabout UFOreports,althoughtheycon cludedthat“sincethereisa remote possibilitythattheymaybeinterplan etaryaircraft,itisnecessaryto investigateeachsighting.” 12 Amassivebuildupofsightingsover theUnitedStatesin1952,especially inJuly,alarmedtheTrumanadminis tration.On19and20July,radar scopesatWashingtonNationalAir portandAndrewsAirForceBase trackedmysteriousblips.On27July, theblipsreappeared.TheAirForce scrambledinterceptoraircrafttoinves tigate,buttheyfoundnothing.The incidents,however,causedheadlines acrossthecountry.TheWhiteHouse wantedtoknowwhatwashappening, andtheAirForcequicklyofferedthe explanationthattheradarblipsmight betheresultof“temperature inversions.”Later,a CivilAeronautics Administrationinvestigationcon firmedthatsuchradarblipswere quitecommonandwerecausedby temperatureinversions.13 AlthoughithadmonitoredUFO reportsforatleastthreeyears,CIA reactedtothenewrashofsightingsby forminga specialstudygroupwithin theOfficeofScientificIntelligence (OSI)andtheOfficeofCurrentIntel ligence(OCI)toreviewthe situation.!4EdwardTauss,acting chiefofOSI’sWeaponsandEquip mentDivision,reportedforthegroup thatmostUFOsightingscouldbeeas ilyexplained.Nevertheless,he recommendedthattheAgencycon tinuemonitoringtheproblem,in coordinationwithATIC.Healso urgedthatCIAconcealitsinterest fromthemediaandthepublic,“in viewoftheirprobablealarmisttenden cies”toacceptsuchinterestas confirmingtheexistenceofUFOs.15 Uponreceivingthereport,Deputy DirectorforIntelligence(DDI)Rob ertAmory,Jr.assignedresponsibility fortheUFOinvestigationstoOSI’s PhysicsandElectronicsDivision, withA.RayGordonastheofficerin charge. 16Eachbranchinthedivision wastocontributetotheinvestigation, andGordonwastocoordinateclosely withATIC.Amory,whoaskedthe grouptofocusonthenationalsecu rityimplicationsofUFOs,was relayingDCIWalterBedellSmith’s concerns.17Smithwantedtoknow whetherornottheAirForceinvestiga tionofflyingsaucerswassufficiently objectiveandhowmuchmoremoney andmanpowerwouldbenecessaryto determinethecauseofthesmallper centageofunexplainedflyingsaucers. Smithbelieved“therewasonlyone chancein10,000thatthephenome nonposeda threattothesecurityof thecountry,buteventhatchance couldnotbetaken.”Accordingto Smith,itwasCIA’sresponsibilityby statutetocoordinatetheintelligence effortrequiredtosolvetheproblem. Smithalsowantedtoknowwhatuse couldbemadeoftheUFOphenome noninconnectionwithUS psychologicalwarfareefforts.18 LedbyGordon,theCIAStudy GroupmetwithAirForceofficialsat Wright-Pattersonandreviewedtheir dataandfindings.TheAirForce claimedthat90percentofthe reportedsightingswereeasily 68 UFOs AmateurphotographsofallegedUFOs .. - .--- - 47 1 I ~ -- - .~,.. - Passoria,NewJersey.3!July1952 69 - - ~ : P-,y UFOs — I - ~~J-J-;~~Is.. _s -? p p. — ~--J._~ ~ : ~0C England,4 March1962 70 Minneapolis,Minnesota,20October1960 UFOs BecauseofthetenseCold Warsituationand accountedfor.Theother10percent werecharacterizedas“anumberof incrediblereportsfromcredible observers.”TheAirForcerejected thetheoriesthatthesightings involvedUSorSovietsecretweapons developmentorthattheyinvolved “menfromMars”;therewasnoevi dencetosupporttheseconcepts. TheAirForcebrieferssoughtto explaintheseUFOreportsasthemis interpretationofknownobjectsor littleunderstoodnatural phenomena.’9AirForceandCIA officialsagreedthatoutsideknowl edgeofAgencyinterestinUFOs wouldmaketheproblemmore serious.20ThisconcealmentofCIA interestcontributedgreatlytolater chargesofa CIAconspiracyand coverup. TheCIAStudyGroupalsosearched theSovietpressforUFOreports,but foundnone,causingthegroupto concludethattheabsenceofreports hadtohavebeentheresultofdeliber ateSovietGovernmentpolicy.The groupalsoenvisionedtheUSSR’s possibleuseofUFOsasa psychologi calwarfaretool.Inaddition,they worriedthat,iftheUSairwarning systemshouldbedeliberatelyover loadedbyUFOsightings,theSoviets mightgaina surpriseadvantagein anynuclearattack.21 BecauseofthetenseColdWarsitua tionandincreasedSoviet capabilities,theCIAStudyGroup sawseriousnationalsecuritycon cernsintheflyingsaucersituation. ThegroupbelievedthattheSoviets coulduseUFOreportstotouchoff masshysteriaandpanicinthe UnitedStates.Thegroupalso believedthattheSovietsmightuse UFOsightingstooverloadtheUS airwarningsystemsothatitcould notdistinguishrealtargetsfrom increasedSoviet capabilities,theCIAStudy Groupsawseriousnational securityconcernsinthe flyingsaucersituation. 9, phantomUFOs.H.MarshallChad- well,AssistantDirectorofOSI, addedthatheconsideredtheprob lemofsuchimportance“thatit shouldbebroughttotheattentionof theNationalSecurityCouncil,in orderthata communitywidecoordi natedefforttowardsitsolutionmay beinitiated.”22 ChadwellbriefedDCISmithonthe subjectofUFOsinDecember1952. Heurgedactionbecausehewascon vincedthat“somethingwasgoingon thatmusthaveimmediateattention” andthat“sightingsofunexplained objectsatgreataltitudesandtravel ingathighspeedsinthevicinityof majorUSdefenseinstallationsareof suchnaturethattheyarenotattribut abletonaturalphenomenaorknown typesofaerialvehicles.”Hedrafted a memorandumfromtheDCItothe NationalSecurityCouncil(NSC) anda proposedNSCDirectiveestab lishingtheinvestigationofUFOsas a priorityprojectthroughoutthe intelligenceandthedefenseresearch anddevelopmentcommunity. 23 ChadwellalsourgedSmithtoestab lishanexternalresearchprojectof top-levelscientiststostudytheprob lemofUFOs.24Afterthisbriefing, SmithdirectedDDIAmorytopre parea NSCIntelligenceDirective (NSCID)forsubmissiontotheNSC ontheneedtocontinuetheinvestiga tionofUFOsandtocoordinatesuch investigationswiththeAirForce.25 TheRobertsonPanel,1952-53 On4 December1952,theIntelli genceAdvisoryCommittee(IAC) tookuptheissueofUFOs.26Amory, asactingchairman,presentedDCI Smith’srequesttothecommittee thatitinformallydiscussthesubject ofUFOs.Chadwellthenbriefly reviewedthesituationandtheactive programoftheATICrelatingto UFOs.Thecommitteeagreedthat theDCIshould“enlisttheservices ofselectedscientiststoreviewand appraisetheavailableevidenceinthe lightofpertinentscientifictheories” anddraftanNSCIDonthe subject. 27 Maj.Gen.JohnA.Sam- ford,DirectorofAirForce Intelligence,offeredfull cooperation. 28 Atthesametime,Chadwelllooked intoBritisheffortsinthisarea.He learnedtheBritishalsowereactivein studyingtheUFOphenomena.An eminentBritishscientist,R.V.Jones, headeda standingcommitteecreated inJune1951onflyingsaucers. Jones’andhiscommittee’sconclu sionsonUFOsweresimilartothose ofAgencyofficials:thesightings werenotenemyaircraftbutmisrepre sentationsofnaturalphenomena. TheBritishnoted,however,thatdur inga recentairshowRAFpilotsand seniormilitaryofficialshadobserved a “perfectflyingsaucer.”Giventhe pressresponse,accordingtothe officer,Joneswashavinga mostdiffi culttimetryingtocorrectpublic opinionregardingUFOs.Thepublic wasconvincedtheywerereal.29 InJanuary1953,ChadwellandH.P. Robertson,a notedphysicistfromthe CaliforniaInstituteofTechnology, puttogethera distinguishedpanelof nonmilitaryscientiststostudythe UFOissue.ItincludedRobertsonas 71 UFOs chairman;SamuelA.Goudsmit,a nuclearphysicistfromtheBrookhaven NationalLaboratories;LuisAlvarez,a high-energyphysicist;ThorntonPage, thedeputydirectoroftheJohnsHop kinsOperationsResearchOfficeand anexpertonradarandelectronics;and LloydBerkner,a directorofthe BrookhavenNationalLaboratoriesand a specialistingeophysics.3° Thechargetothepanelwastoreview theavailableevidenceonUFOsand toconsiderthepossibledangersofthe phenomenatoUSnationalsecurity. Thepanelmetfrom14to17January 1953.ItreviewedAirForcedataon UFOcasehistoriesand,afterspend ing12hoursstudyingthe phenomena,declaredthatreasonable explanationscouldbesuggestedfor most,ifnotall,sightings.Forexam ple,afterreviewingmotion-picture filmtakenofa UFOsightingnear Tremonton,Utah,on2 July1952 andonenearGreatFalls,Montana, on15August1950,thepanelcon cludedthattheimagesonthe Tremontonfilmwerecausedbysun lightreflectingoffseagullsandthat theimagesatGreatFallsweresun lightreflectingoffthesurfaceoftwo AirForceinterceptors.3’ Thepanelconcludedunanimously thattherewasnoevidenceofa direct threattonationalsecurityintheUFO sightings.Norcouldthepanelfind anyevidencethattheobjectssighted mightbeextraterrestrials.Itdidfind thatcontinuedemphasisonUFO reportingmightthreaten“theorderly functioning”ofthegovernmentby cloggingthechannelsofcommunica tionwithirrelevantreportsandby inducing“hystericalmassbehavior” harmfultoconstitutedauthority. Thepanelalsoworriedthatpotential enemiescontemplatinganattackon theUnitedStatesmightexploitthe UFOphenomenaandusethemtodis ruptUSairdefenses.32 Tomeettheseproblems,thepanelrec ommendedthattheNationalSecurity CouncildebunkUFOreportsand institutea policyofpubliceducation toreassurethepublicofthelackof evidencebehindUFOs.Itsuggested usingthemassmedia,advertising, businessclubs,schools,andeventhe Disneycorporationtogetthemessage across.Reportingattheheightof McCarthyism,thepanelalsorecom mendedthatsuchprivateUFO groupsastheCivilianFlyingSaucer InvestigatorsinLosAngelesandthe AerialPhenomenaResearchOrganiza tioninWisconsinbemonitoredfor subversiveactivities.33 TheRobertsonpanel’sconclusions werestrikinglysimilartothoseofthe earlierAirForceprojectreportson SIGNandGRUDGEandtothoseof theCIA’sownOSIStudyGroup.All investigativegroupsfoundthatUFO reportsindicatednodirectthreatto nationalsecurityandnoevidenceof visitsbyextraterrestrials. FollowingtheRobertsonpanelfind ings,theAgencyabandonedeffortsto draftanNSCIDonUFOs.34TheSci entificAdvisoryPanelonUFOs(the Robertsonpanel)submitteditsreport tothelAG,theSecretaryofDefense, theDirectoroftheFederalCivil DefenseAdministration,andthe ChairmanoftheNationalSecurity ResourcesBoard.CIAofficialssaid nofurtherconsiderationofthesub ectappearedwarranted,although theycontinuedtomonitorsightings intheinterestofnationalsecurity. PhilipStrongandFredDurantfrom OSIalsobriefedtheOfficeof NationalEstimatesonthefindings. ~ CIAofficialswantedknowledgeof anyAgencyinterestinthesubjectof flyingsaucerscarefullyrestricted,not ingnotonlythattheRobertsonpanel reportwasclassifiedbutalsothatany mentionofCIAsponsorshipofthe panelwasforbidden.Thisattitude wouldlatercausetheAgencymajor problemsrelatingtoitscredibility. 36 The1950s:FadingCIAInterestin UFOs AfterthereportoftheRobertson panel,Agencyofficialsputtheentire issueofUFOsonthebackburner.In May1953,Chadwelltransferredchief responsibilityforkeepingabreastof UFOstoOSI’sPhysicsandElectronic Division,whiletheAppliedScience Divisioncontinuedtoprovideanynec essarysupport.37TodosM.Odarenko, chiefofthePhysicsandElectronics Division,didnotwanttotakeonthe problem,contendingthatitwould requiretoomuchofhisdivision’sana lyticandclericaltime.Giventhe findingsoftheRobertsonpanel,he proposedtoconsidertheproject“inac tive”andtodevoteonlyoneanalyst part-timeanda fileclerktomaintaina referencefileoftheactivitiesoftheAir ForceandotheragenciesonUFOs. NeithertheNavynortheArmy showedmuchinterestinUFOs, accordingtoOdarenko.38 AnonbelieverinUFOs,Odarenko soughttohavehisdivisionrelievedof theresponsibilityformonitoringUFO reports.In1955,forexample,herec ommendedthattheentireprojectbe terminatedbecausenonewinforma tionconcerningUFOshadsurfaced. Besides,heargued,hisdivisionwasfac inga seriousbudgetreductionand couldnotsparetheresources.39Chad wellandotherAgencyofficials, however,continuedtoworryabout UFOs.Ofspecialconcernwereover seasreportsofUFOsightingsand 72 UFOs BLUEBOOKinvestigators claimsthatGermanengineersheldby theSovietsweredevelopinga “flying saucer”asa futureweaponofwar.40 TomostUSpoliticalandmilitary leaders,theSovietUnionbythemid 1950shadbecomea dangerousoppo nent.Sovietprogressinnuclear weaponsandguidedmissileswaspar ticularlyalarming.Inthesummerof 1949,theUSSRhaddetonatedan atomicbomb.InAugust1953,only ninemonthsaftertheUnitedStates testeda hydrogenbomb,theSoviets detonatedone.Inthespringof 1953,a topsecretRANDCorpora tionstudyalsopointedoutthe vulnerabilityofSACbasestoa sur priseattackbySovietlong-range bombers.Concernoverthedanger ofa SovietattackontheUnited Statescontinuedtogrow,andUFO sightingsaddedtotheuneasinessof USpolicymakers. MountingreportsofUFOsovereast ernEuropeandAfghanistanalso promptedconcernthattheSoviets weremakingrapidprogressinthis area.CIAofficialsknewthatthe BritishandCanadianswerealready experimentingwith“flyingsaucers.” ProjectYwasa Canadian-British-US developmentaloperationtoproduce a nonconventionalflying-saucer-type aircraft,andAgencyofficialsfeared theSovietsweretestingsimilar devices.41 Addingtotheconcernwasa flying saucersightingbyUSSenator RichardRussellandhispartywhile travelingona trainintheUSSRin October1955.Afterextensiveinter viewsofRussellandhisgroup, however,CIAofficialsconcluded thatRussell’ssightingdidnotsup portthetheorythattheSovietshad developedsaucerlikeorunconven tionalaircraft.HerbertScoville,Jr., wereabletoattributemany UFOsightingstoU-2 flights. theAssistantDirectorofOSI,wrote thattheobjectsobservedprobably werenormaljetaircraftina steep climb.42 WiltonE.Lexow,headoftheCIA’s AppliedSciencesDivision,wasalso skeptical.Hequestionedwhythe Sovietswerecontinuingtodevelop conventional-typeaircraftiftheyhad a “flyingsaucer.”43Scovilleasked Lexowtoassumeresponsibilityfor fullyassessingthecapabilitiesand limitationsofnonconventionalair craftandtomaintaintheOSIcentral fileonthesubjectofUFOs. CIA’sU-2andOXCARTasUFOs InNovember1954,CIAhadentered intotheworldofhightechnology withitsU-2overheadreconnaissance project.WorkingwithLockheed’s AdvancedDevelopmentfacilityin Burbank,California,knownasthe SkunkWorks,andKellyJohnson,an eminentaeronauticalengineer,the AgencybyAugust1955wastestinga high-altitudeexperimentalaircraft— theU-2.Itcouldflyat60,000feet; inthemid-1950s,mostcommercial airlinersflewbetween10,000feet and20,000feet.Consequently, oncetheU-2startedtestflights,com mercialpilotsandairtraffic controllersbeganreportinga large increaseinUFOsightings.44(U) TheearlyU-2sweresilver(theywere laterpaintedblack)andreflectedthe raysfromthesun,especiallyatsun- riseandsunset.Theyoftenappeared asfieryobjectstoobserversbelow. AirForceBLUEBOOKinvestiga torsawareofthesecretU-2flights triedtoexplainawaysuchsightings bylinkingthemtonaturalphenom enasuchasicecrystalsand temperatureinversions.Bychecking withtheAgency’sU-2ProjectStaff inWashington,BLUEBOOKinves tigatorswereabletoattributemany UFOsightingstoU-2flights.They werecareful,however,nottoreveal thetruecauseofthesightingtothe public. Accordingtolaterestimatesfrom CIAofficialswhoworkedontheU- 2 projectandtheOXCART(SR-71, orBlackbird)project,overhalfofall UFOreportsfromthelate1950s throughtheI 960swereaccounted forbymannedreconnaissanceflights (namelytheU-2)overtheUnited States.45ThisledtheAirForceto makemisleadinganddeceptivestate mentstothepublicinordertoallay publicfearsandtoprotectanextraor dinarilysensitivenationalsecurity project.Whileperhapsjustified,this deceptionaddedfueltothelatercon spiracytheoriesandthecoverup controversyofthe1970s.Theper centageofwhattheAirForce consideredunexplainedUFOsight ingsfellto5.9percentin1955and to4 percentin1956.46 Atthesametime,pressurewasbuild ingforthereleaseoftheRobertson panelreportonUFOs.In1956, EdwardRuppelt,formerheadofthe AirForceBLUEBOOKproject, publiclyrevealedtheexistenceofthe panel.A best-sellingbookbyUFOI ogistDonaldKeyhoe,a retired MarineCorpsmajor,advocated releaseofallgovernmentinforma tionrelatingtoUFOs.Civilian UFOgroupssuchastheNational 73 UFOs InvestigationsCommitteeonAerial Phenomena(NICAP)andtheAerial PhenomenaResearchOrganization (APRO)immediatelypushedfor releaseoftheRobertsonpanel report.47Underpressure,theAir ForceapproachedCIAforpermission todeclassifyandreleasethereport. Despitesuchpressure,PhilipStrong, DeputyAssistantDirectorofOSI, refusedtodeclassifythereportand declinedtodiscloseCIAsponsorship ofthepanel.Asanalternative,the Agencyprepareda sanitizedversionof thereportwhichdeletedanyreference toCIAandavoidedmentionofany psychologicalwarfarepotentialinthe UFOcontroversy. 48 Thedemands,however,formoregov ernmentinformationaboutUFOsdid notletup.On8 Match1958,Key- hoe,inaninterviewwithMike WallaceofCBS,claimeddeepCIA involvementwithUFOsandAgency sponsorshipoftheRobertsonpanel. Thisprompteda seriesoflettersto theAgencyfromKeyhoeandDr. LeonDavidson,a chemicalengineer andUFOlogist.Theydemandedthe releaseofthefullRobertsonpanel reportandconfirmationofCIA involvementintheUFOissue. Davidsonhadconvincedhimselfthat theAgency,nottheAirForce,carried mostoftheresponsibilityforUFO analysisandthat“theactivitiesofthe USGovernmentareresponsiblefor theflyingsaucersightingsofthelast decade.”Indeed,becauseofthe undisclosedU-2andOXCART flights,Davidsonwasclosertothe truththanhesuspected.CI,neverthe lessheldfirmtoitspolicyofnot revealingitsroleinUFOinvestiga tionsandrefusedtodeclassifythefull Robertsonpanelreport. ‘~ Ina meetingwithAirForcerepresenta tivestodiscusshowtohandlefuture inquiressuchasKeyhoe’sandDavid son’s,Agencyofficialsconfirmedtheir oppositiontothedeclassificationof thefullreportandworriedthatKey- hoehadtheearofformerDCIVAdm. RoscoeHillenkoetter,whoservedon theboardofgovernorsofNICAP. TheydebatedwhethertohaveCIA GeneralCounselLawrenceR.Hous tonshowHillenkoetterthereportasa possiblewaytodefusethesituation. CIAofficerFrankChapinalsohinted thatDavidsonmighthaveulterior motives,“someofthemperhapsnot inthebestinterestofthiscountry,” andsuggestedbringingintheFBIto investigate.50Althoughtherecordis unclearwhethertheFBIeverinsti tutedaninvestigationofDavidsonor Keyhoe,orwhetherHoustoneversaw HillenkoetterabouttheRobertson report,Hillenkoetterdidresignfrom theNICAPinI962.~’ TheAgencywasalsoinvolvedwith DavidsonandKeyhoeintworather famousUFOcasesinthe1950s, whichhelpedcontributetoa growing senseofpublicdistrustofCIAwith regardtoUFOs.Onefocusedon whatwasreportedtohavebeena tape recordingofa radiosignalfroma fly ingsaucer;theotheronreported photographsofa flyingsaucer.The “radiocode”incidentbeganinno centlyenoughin1955,whentwo elderlysistersinChicago,Mildred andMarieMaier,reportedintheJour nalofSpaceFlighttheirexperiences withUFOs,includingtherecording ofa radioprograminwhichanuni dentifiedcodewasreportedlyheard. Thesisterstapedtheprogramand otherhamradiooperatorsalso claimedtohaveheardthe“spacemes sage.”OSIbecameinterestedand askedtheScientificContactBranch toobtaina copyoftherecording.52 FieldofficersfromtheContactDivi sion(CD),oneofwhomwasDewelt Walker,madecontactwiththeMaier sisters,whowere“thrilledthatthe governmentwasinterested,”andset upa timetomeetwiththem.53Intry ingtosecurethetaperecording,the Agencyofficersreportedthattheyhad stumbledupona scenefromArsenic andOldLace.“Theonlythinglack ingwastheelderberrywine,”Walker cabledHeadquarters.Afterreviewing thesisters’scrapbookofclippings fromtheirdaysonthestage,theoffic erssecureda copyoftherecording. ~ OSIanalyzedthetapeandfoundit wasnothingmorethanMorsecode froma USradiostation. Thematterrestedthereuntil UFOlogistLeonDavidsontalked withtheMalersistersin1957.The sistersrememberedtheyhadtalked witha Mr.Walkerwhosaidhewas fromtheUSAirForce.Davidson thenwrotetoa Mr.Walker,believing himtobea USAirForceIntelligence OfficerfromWright-Patterson,toask ifthetapehadbeenanalyzedat ATIC.DeweltWalkerrepliedto Davidsonthatthetapehadbeenfor wardedtoproperauthoritiesfor evaluation,andnoinformationwas availableconcerningtheresults.Not satisfied,andsuspectingthatWalker wasreallya CIAofficer,Davidson nextwroteDCIAllenDullesdemand ingtolearnwhatthecodedmessage revealedandwhoMr.Walkerwas. TheAgency,wantingtokeep Walker’sidentityasa CIAemployee secret,repliedthatanotheragencyof thegovernmenthadanalyzedthetape inquestionandthatDavidsonwould behearingfromtheAirForce.56On 5 August,theAirForcewroteDavid sonsayingthatWalker“wasandisan AirForceOfficer”andthatthetape “wasanalyzedbyanothergovernment organization.”TheAirForceletter 74 UFOs Agencyofficialsfeltthe confirmedthattherecordingcon tainedonlyidentifiableMorsecode whichcamefroma knownUS- licensedradiostation.57 DavidsonwroteDullesagain.This timehewantedtoknowtheidentity oftheMorseoperatorandofthe agencythathadconductedtheanaly sis.CIAandtheAirForcewerenow ina quandary.TheAgencyhadpre viouslydeniedthatithadactually analyzedthetape.TheAirForcehad alsodeniedanalyzingthetapeand claimedthatWalkerwasanAirForce officer.CIAofficers,undercover, contactedDavidsoninChicagoand promisedtogetthecodetranslation andtheidentificationofthetransmit ter,ifpossible. 58 inanotherattempttopacifyDavid son,a CIAofficer,againundercover andwearinghisAirForceuniform, contactedDavidsoninNewYork City.TheCIAofficerexplainedthat therewasnosuperagencyinvolved andthatAirForcepolicywasnotto disclosewhowasdoingwhat.While seemingtoacceptthisargument, Davidsonneverthelesspressedfordis closureoftherecordingmessageand thesource.Theofficeragreedtosee whathecoulddo.59Afterchecking withHeadquarters,theCIAofficer phonedDavidsontoreportthata thoroughcheckhadbeenmadeand, becausethesignalwasofknownUS origin,thetapeandthenotesmade atthetimehadbeendestroyedto conservefilespace. 60 Incensedoverwhatheperceivedwas a runaround,DavidsontoldtheCIA officerthat“heandhisagency, whicheveritwas,wereactinglike JimmyHoffaandtheTeamster needtokeepinformedon UFOsifonlytoalertthe DCItothemore sensationalUFOreports andflaps. 9, Unionindestroyingrecordswhich mightindictthem.”6’Believingthat anymorecontactwithDavidson wouldonlyencouragemorespecula tion,theContactDivisionwashedits handsoftheissuebyreportingtothe DCIandtoATICthatitwouldnot respondtoortrytocontactDavidson again.62Thus,a minor,rather bizarreincident,handledpoorlyby bothCIAandtheAirForce,turned intoa majorflapthataddedfuelto thegrowingmysterysurrounding UFOsandCIA’sroleintheir investigation. Anotherminorflapa fewmonths lateraddedtothegrowingquestions surroundingtheAgency’struerole withregardtoflyingsaucers.CIA’s concernoversecrecyagainmademat tersworse.In1958,MajorKeyhoe chargedthattheAgencywasdeliber atelyaskingeyewitnessesofUFOs nottomaketheirsightingspublic. 63 Theincidentstemmedfroma November1957requestfromOSIto theCDtoobtainfromRalphC. Mayher,a photographerforKYW TVinCleveland,Ohio,certainpho tographshetookin1952ofan unidentifiedflyingobject.Harry Real,a CDofficer,contactedMay- herandobtainedcopiesofthe photographsforanalysis.On12 December1957,JohnHazen, anotherCDofficer,returnedthefive photographsoftheallegedUFOto Mayherwithoutcomment.Mayher askedHazenfortheAgency’sevalua nonofthephotos,explainingthathe wastryingtoorganizea TVprogram tobriefthepubliconUFOs.He wantedtomentionontheshowthat a USintelligenceorganizationhad viewedthephotographsandthought themofinterest.Althoughhe advisedMayhernottotakethis approach,HazenstatedthatMayher wasa UScitizenandwouldhaveto makehisowndecisionastowhatto do.64 KeyhoelatercontactedMayher,who toldhimhisstoryofCIAandthe photographs.Keyhoethenaskedthe AgencytoconfirmHazen’semploy mentinwriting,inaneffortto exposeCIA’sroleinUFOinvestiga tions.TheAgencyrefused,despite thefactthatCDfieldrepresentatives werenormallyovertandcarriedcre dentialsidentifyingtheirAgency association.DCIDulles’saide,John S.Earman,merelysentKeyhoea noncommittalletternotingthat, becauseUFOswereofprimarycon cerntotheDepartmentoftheAir Force,theAgencyhadreferredhis lettertotheAirForceforanappro priateresponse.Liketheresponseto Davidson,theAgencyreplytoKey- hoeonlyfueledthespeculationthat theAgencywasdeeplyinvolvedin UFOsightings.Pressureforrelease ofCIAinformationonUFOscontin uedtogrow. 65 AlthoughCIAhada declininginter estinUFOcases,itcontinuedto monitorUFOsightings.Agencyoffi cialsfelttheneedtokeepinformed onUFOsifonlytoalerttheDCIto themoresensationalUFOreports andflaps. 66 75 UFOs The1960s:DecliningCIAInvolve mentandMountingControversy Intheearly1960s,Keyhoe,David son,andotherUFOlogists maintainedtheirassaultonthe AgencyforreleaseofUFOinforma tion.Davidsonnowclaimedthat CIA“wassolelyresponsibleforcreat ingtheFlyingSaucerfurorasa tool forcoldwarpsychologicalwarfare since1951.”DespitecallsforCon gressionalhearingsandthereleaseof allmaterialsrelatingtoUFOs,little changed. 67 In1964,however,followinghigh- levelWhiteHousediscussionson - whattodoifanalienintelligencewas - discoveredinspaceanda newout breakofUFOreportsandsightings, DCIJohnMcCotieaskedforan updatedCIAevaluationofUFOs. RespondingtoMcCone’srequest, OSIaskedtheCDtoobtainvarious recentsamplesandreportsofUFO sightingsfromNICAP.WithKey- hoe,oneofthefounders,riolonger activeintheorganization,CIAoffic ersmetwithRichardH.Hall,the actingdirector.Hallgavetheofficers samplesfromtheNICAPdatabaseon themostrecentsightings.68 AfterOSIofficershadreviewedthe material,DonaldF.Chamberlain, OSIAssistantDirector,assured McConethatlittlehadchangedsince theearly1950s.Therewasstillnoevi dencethatUFOswerea threattothe securityoftheUnitedStatesorthat theywereof“foreignorigin.”Cham berlaintoldMcConethatOSIstill monitoredUFOreports,including theofficialAirForceinvestigation, - ProjectBLUEBOOK.69 AtthesametimethatCIAwascon ductingthislatestinternalreviewof UFOs,publicpressureforcedtheAir Forcetoestablisha specialadhoc committeetoreviewBLUEBOOK. ChairedbyDr.BrianO’Brien,a memberoftheAirForceScientific AdvisoryBoard,thepanelincluded CarlSagan,thefamousastronomer fromCornellUniversity.Itsreport offerednothingnew.Itdeclaredthat UFOsdidnotthreatenthenational securityandthatitcouldfind“no UFOcasewhichrepresentedtechno logicalorscientificadvancesoutside ofa terrestrialframework.”Thecom mitteedidrecommendthatUFOsbe studiedintensively,witha leadinguni versityactingasa coordinatorforthe project,tosettletheissue conclusively.70 TheHouseArmedServicesCommit teealsoheldbriefhearingsonUFOs in1966thatproducedsimilarresults. SecretaryoftheAirForceHarold Brownassuredthecommitteethat mostsightingswereeasilyexplained andthattherewasnoevidencethat “strangersfromouterspace”hadbeen visitingEarth.Hetoldthecommittee members,however,thattheAirForce wouldkeepanopenmindandcon tinuetoinvestigateallUFOreports.7’ FollowingthereportofitsO’Brien Committee,theHousehearingson UFOs,andDr.Robertson’sdisclosure ona CBSReportsprogramthatCIA indeedhadbeeninvolvedinUFO analysis,theAirForceinJuly1966 againapproachedtheAgencyfor declassificationoftheentireRobert sonpanelreportof1953andthefull DurantreportontheRobertsonpanel deliberationsandfindings.The Agencyagainrefusedtobudge.Karl H.Weber,DeputyDirectorofOSI, wrotetheAirForcethat“Weare mostanxiousthatfurtherpublicity notbegiventotheinformationthat thepanelwassponsoredbytheCIA.” Webernotedthattherewasalreadya sanitizedversionavailabletothe public.72Weber’sresponsewasrather shortsightedandillconsidered.It onlydrewmoreattentiontothe13- year-oldRobertsonpanelreportand CIA’sroleintheinvestigationof UFOs.ThescienceeditorofTheSat urdayReviewdrewnationwide attentiontotheCIA’sroleininvesti gatingUFOswhenhepublishedan articlecriticizingthe“sanitizedver sion”ofthe1953Robertsonpanel reportandcalledforreleaseofthe entiredocument.~ UnknowntoCIAofficials,Dr.James E.McDonald,a notedatmospheric physicistfromtheUniversityofAri zona,hadalreadyseentheDurant reportontheRobertsonpanelpro ceedingsatWright-Pattersonon6 June1966.WhenMcDonald returnedtoWright-Pattersonon30 Junetocopythereport,however,the AirForcerefusedtolethimseeit again,statingthatitwasa CIAclassi fieddocument.Emergingasa UFO authority,McDonaldpublicly claimedthattheCIAwasbehindthe AirForcesecrecypoliciesand coverup.Hedemandedthereleaseof thefullRobertsonpanelreportand theDurantreport. ~ Bowingtopublicpressureandtherec ommendationofitsownO’Brien Committee,theAirForceannounced inAugust1966thatitwasseekinga contractwitha leadinguniversityto undertakea programofintensive investigationsofUFOsightings.The newprogramwasdesignedtoblunt continuingchargesthattheUSGov ernmenthadconcealedwhatitknew aboutUFOs.On7 October,theUni versityofColoradoaccepteda $325,000contractwiththeAirForce foran18-monthstudyofflyingsau cers.Dr.EdwardU.Condon,a physicistatColoradoanda former 76 UFOs Additionalsightingsinthe early1970salsofueled beliefsthattheCIAwas DirectoroftheNationalBureauof Standards,agreedtoheadthepro gram.Pronouncinghimselfan “agnostic”onthesubjectofUFOs, Condonobservedthathehadan openmindonthequestionand thoughtthatpossibleextraterritorial originswere“improbablebutnot impossible.”75Brig.Gen.Edward Giller,USAF,andDr.Thomas RatchfordfromtheAirForce ResearchandDevelopmentOffice becametheAirForcecoordinators fortheproject. InFebruary1967,Gillercontacted ArthurC.Lundahl,Directorof CIA’sNationalPhotographicInter pretationCenter(NPIC),and proposedaninformalliaisonthrough whichNPICcouldprovidetheCon- donCommitteewithtechnical adviceandservicesinexaminingpho tographsofallegedUFOs.Lundahl andDDIR.JackSmithapproved thearrangementasa wayof“preserv inga window”ontheneweffort. TheywantedtheCIAandNPICto maintaina lowprofile,however,and totakenopartinwritinganyconclu sionsforthecommittee.Nowork doneforthecommitteebyNPIC wastobeformallyacknowledged. 76 RatchfordnextrequestedthatCon- donandhiscommitteebeallowedto visitNPICtodiscussthetechnical aspectsoftheproblemandtoview thespecialequipmentNPIChadfor photoanalysis.On20February1967, Condonandfourmembersofhis committeevisitedNPIC.Lundahl emphasizedtothegroupthatany NPICworktoassistthecommittee mustnotbeidentifiedasCIAwork. Moreover,workperformedbyNPIC wouldbestrictlyofa technical nature.Afterreceivingtheseguide lines,thegrouphearda seriesof briefingsontheservicesandequip- mentnotavailableelsewherethatCIA hadusedinitsanalysisofsomeUFO photographyfurnishedbyRatchford. Condonandhiscommitteewere impressed. Condonandthesamegroupmet againinMay1967atNPICtohear ananalysisofUFOphotographs takenatZanesville,Ohio.Theanaly sisdebunkedthatsighting.The committeewasagainimpressedwith thetechnicalworkperformed,and Condonremarkedthatforthefirst timea scientificanalysisofa UFO wouldstanduptoinvestigation. 78 Thegroupalsodiscussedthecom mittee’splanstocallonUScitizens foradditionalphotographsandto issueguidelinesfortakinguseful UFOphotographs.Inaddition,CIA officialsagreedthattheCondon Committeecouldreleasethefull Durantreportwithonlyminor deletions. InApril1969,Condonandhiscom mitteereleasedtheirreporton UFOs.Thereportconcludedthat little,ifanything,hadcomefromthe studyofUFOsinthepast21years andthatfurtherextensivestudyof UFOsightingswasunwarranted.It alsorecommendedthattheAirForce specialunit,ProjectBLUEBOOK, bediscontinued.Itdidnotmention CIAparticipationintheCondon committee’sinvestigation.79Aspe cialpanelestablishedbytheNational AcademyofSciencesreviewedthe Condonreportandconcurredwith itsconclusionthat“nohighpriority inUFOinvestigationsiswarranted bydataofthepasttwodecades.”It concludeditsreviewbydeclaring, “Onthebasisofpresentknowledge, theleastlikelyexplanationofUFOs isthehypothesisofextraterrestrial visitationsbyintelligentbeings.” Followingtherecommendationsof theCondonCommitteeandthe NationalAcademyofSciences,the SecretaryoftheAirForce,RobertC. Seamans,Jr.,announcedon17 December1969theterminationof BLUEBOOK.80 The1970sand1980s:TheUFO IssueRefusesToDie TheCondonreportdidnotsatisfy manyUFOlogists,whoconsideredit a coverupforCIAactivitiesinUFO research.Additionalsightingsinthe early1970sfueledbeliefsthatthe CIAwassomehowinvolvedina vast conspiracy.On7 June1975,Will iamSpaulding,headofa smallUFO group,GroundSaucerWatch (GSW),wrotetoCIArequestinga copyoftheRobertsonpanelreport andallrecordsrelatingtoUFOs.8’ Spauldingwasconvincedthatthe Agencywaswithholdingmajorfiles onUFOs.Agencyofficialsprovided Spauldingwitha copyoftheRobert sonpanelreportandoftheDurant report. 82 On14July1975,Spauldingagain wrotetheAgencyquestioningthe authenticityofthereportshehad receivedandalleginga CIAcoverup ofitsUFOactivities.GeneWilson, CIA’sInformationandPrivacy Coordinator,repliedinanattempt tosatisfySpaulding,“Atnotime priortotheformationoftheRobert sonPanelandsubsequenttothe issuanceofthepanel’sreporthasCIA engagedinthestudyoftheUFOphe somehowinvolvedinavast conspiracy. 77 UFOs nomena.”TheRobertsonpanel report,accordingtoWilson,was“the summationofAgencyinterestand involvementinUFOs.”Wilsonalso inferredthattherewerenoadditional documentsinCIA’spossessionthat relatedtoUFOs.Wilsonwasill informed.83 InSeptember1977,Spauldingand GSW,unconvincedbyWilson’s response,fileda FreedomofInforma tionAct(FOIA)lawsuitagainstthe Agencythatspecificallyrequestedall UFOdocumentsinCIA’spossession. DelugedbysimilarFOIArequestsfor AgencyinformationonUFOs,CIA officialsagreed,aftermuchlegal maneuvering,toconducta “reason ablesearch”ofCIAfilesforUFO materials.84DespiteanAgency-wide unsympatheticattitudetowardthe suit,Agencyofficials,ledbyLaunie ZiebellfromtheOfficeofGeneral Counsel,conducteda thorough searchforrecordspertainingto UFOs.Persistent,demanding,and eventhreateningattimes,Ziebelland hisgroupscouredtheAgency.They eventurnedupanoldUFOfile undera secretary’sdesk.Thesearch finallyproduced355documentstotal ingapproximately900pages.On14 December1978,theAgencyreleased allbut57documentsofabout100 pagestoGSW.Itwithheldthese57 documentsonnationalsecurity groundsandtoprotectsourcesand methods.85 Althoughthereleaseddocumentspro ducednosmokinggunandrevealed onlya low-levelAgencyinterestinthe UFOphenomenaaftertheRobertson panelreportof1953,thepresstreated thereleaseina sensationalmanner. TheNewYorkTimes,forexample, claimedthatthedeclassifieddocu mentsconfirmedintensive governmentconcernoverUFOsand thattheAgencywassecretlyinvolved inthesurveillanceofUFOs.86GSW thensuedforthereleaseofthewith helddocuments,claimingthatthe Agencywasstillholdingoutkey information.87Itwasmuchlikethe JohnF.Kennedyassassinationissue. Nomatterhowmuchmaterialthe Agencyreleasedandnomatterhow dullandprosaictheinformation,peo plecontinuedtobelieveina Agency coverupandconspiracy. DCIStansfieldTurnerwassoupset whenhereadTheNewYorkTimes articlethatheaskedhissenioroffic ers,“AreweinUFOs?”After reviewingtherecords,DonWortman, DeputyDirectorforAdministration, reportedtoTurnerthattherewas“no organizedAgencyefforttodoresearch inconnectionwithUFOphenomena norhastherebeenanorganizedeffort tocollectintelligenceonUFOssince the1950s.”WortmanassuredTurner thattheAgencyrecordsheldonly “sporadicinstancesofcorrespondence dealingwiththesubject,”including variouskindsofreportsofUFOsight ings.TherewasnoAgencyprogram tocollectactivelyinformationon UFOs,andthematerialreleasedto GSWhadfewdeletions.88Thus assured,TurnerhadtheGeneral Counselpressfora summaryjudg mentagainstthenewlawsuitby GSW.InMay1980,thecourtsdis missedthelawsuit,findingthatthe Agencyhadconducteda thorough andadequatesearchingoodfaith.89 Duringthelate1970sand1980s,the Agencycontinueditslow-keyinterest inUFOsandUFOsightings.While mostscientistsnowdismissedflying saucersreportsasa quaintpartofthe 1950sand1960s,someinthe AgencyandintheIntelligenceCorn- munityshiftedtheirinterestto studyingparapsychologyandpsychic phenomenaassociatedwithUFO sightings.CIAofficialsalsolookedat theUFOproblemtodeterminewhat UFOsightingsmighttellthemabout Sovietprogressinrocketsand missilesandrevieweditscounterintel ligenceaspects.Agencyanalystsfrom theLifeScienceDivisionofOSIand OSWRofficiallydevoteda small amountoftheirtimetoissuesrelat ingtoUFOs.Theseincluded counterintelligenceconcernsthatthe SovietsandtheKGBwereusingUS citizensandUFOgroupstoobtain informationonsensitiveUSweapons developmentprograms(suchasthe Stealthaircraft),thevulnerabilityof theUSair-defensenetworktopene trationbyforeignmissilesmimicking UFOs,andevidenceofSoviet advancedtechnologyassociatedwith UFOsightings. CIAalsomaintainedIntelligence Communitycoordinationwithother agenciesregardingtheirworkinpara psychology,psychicphenomena,and “remoteviewing”experiments.In general,theAgencytooka conserva tivescientificviewofthese unconventionalscientificissues. TherewasnoformalorofficialUFO projectwithintheAgencyinthe 1980s,andAgencyofficialspurposely keptfilesonUFOstoa minimumto avoidcreatingrecordsthatmightmis leadthepublicifreleased.’0 The1980salsoproducedrenewed chargesthattheAgencywasstillwith holdingdocumentsrelatingtothe 1947Roswellincident,inwhicha flyingsaucersupposedlycrashedin NewMexico,andthesurfacingofdoc umentswhichpurportedlyrevealed theexistenceofa topsecretUS researchanddevelopmentintelligence 78 UFOs LiketheJFKassassination operationresponsibleonlytothe PresidentonUFOsinthelate1940s andearly1950s.UFOlogistshad longarguedthat,followinga flying saucercrashinNewMexicoin1947, thegovernmentnotonlyrecovered debrisfromthecrashedsaucerbut alsofourorfivealienbodies.Accord ingtosomeUFOlogists,the governmentclampedtightsecurity aroundtheprojectandhasrefusedto divulgeitsinvestigationresultsand researcheversince.9’InSeptember 1994,theUSAirForcereleaseda newreportontheRoswellincident thatconcludedthatthedebrisfound inNewMexicoin1947probably camefroma oncetopsecretballoon operation,ProjectMOGUL, designedtomonitortheatmosphere forevidenceofSovietnucleartests.92 Circa1984,a seriesofdocuments surfacedwhichsomeUFOlogistssaid provedthatPresidentTrumancre ateda topsecretcommitteein1947, Majestic-12,tosecuretherecoveryof UFOwreckagefromRoswelland anyotherUFOcrashsightforscien tificstudyandtoexamineanyalien bodiesrecoveredfromsuchsites. Mostifnotallofthesedocuments haveprovedtobefabrications.Yet thecontroversypersists.93 LiketheJFKassassinationconspiracy theories,theUFOissueprobably willnotgoawaysoon,nomatter whattheAgencydoesorsays.The beliefthatwearenotaloneinthe universeistooemotionallyappealing andthedistrustofourgovernmentis toopervasivetomaketheissueame nabletotraditionalscientificstudies ofrationalexplanationandevidence. conspiracytheories,the UFOissueprobablywill notgoawaysoon,no matterwhattheAgency NOTES doesorsays. ‘9 1.Seethe1973GallupPollresults printedinTheNewYorkTimes,29 November1973,p.45andPhilipJ. Klass,UFOs:ThePublicDeceived (NewYork:PrometheusBooks, 1983),p.3. 2.SeeKlass,UFOs,p.3;JamesS.Gor don,“TheUFOExperience,”Atlantic Monthly(August1991),pp.82-92; DavidMichaelJacobs,TheUFOCon troversyinAmerica(Bloomington: IndianaUniversityPress,1975); HowardBlum,OutThere:TheGov ernment’sSecretQuestfor Extraterrestrials(NewYork:Simon andSchuster,1990);TimothyGood, AboveTopSecret:TheWorldwide UFOCover-Up(NewYork:William Morrow,1987);andWhitleyStrieber, Communion:TheTrueStoiy(New York:Morrow,1987). 3.InSeptember1993JohnPeterson,an acquaintanceofWoolsey’s,first approachedtheDCIwitha package ofheavilysanitizedCIAmaterialon UFOsreleasedtoUFOlogistStanton T.Friedman.PetersonandFriedman wantedtoknowthereasonsforthe redactions.Woolseyagreedtolook intothematter.SeeRichardJ.War shaw,ExecutiveAssistant,noteto author,1 November1994;Warshaw, notetoJohnH.Wright,Information andPrivacyCoordinator,31January 1994;andWright,memorandumto ExecutiveSecretariat,2 March1994. (Exceptwherenoted,allc,tationsto CIArecordsinthisarticlearetothe recordscollectedforthe1994Agency- widesearchthatareheldbytheExecu tiveAssistanttotheDCI). 4.SeeHectorQuintanilla,Jr.,“The InvestigationofUFOs,”Vol.10,No. 4,StudiesinIntelligence(fall1966): pp.95-110andCIA,unsignedmemo randum,“FlyingSaucers,”14August 1952.SeealsoGood,AboveTop Secret,p.253.DuringWorldWarII, USpilotsreported“foofighters” (brightlightstrailingUSaircraft). FearingtheymightbeJapaneseor Germansecretweapons,OSSinvesti gatedbutcouldfindnoconcrete evidenceofenemyweaponsandoften filedsuchreportsinthe“crackpot” category.TheOSSalsoinvestigated possiblesightingsofGermanV-iand V-2rocketsbeforetheiroperational useduringthewar.SeeJacobs,UFO Controversy,p.33.TheCentralIntel ligenceGroup,thepredecessorofthe CIA,alsomonitoredreportsof“ghost rockets”inSwedenin1946.See CIG,IntelligenceReport,9 April 1947. 5.Jacobs,TheUFOControversy,p.156 andQuintanilla,“TheInvestigation ofUFOs,”p.97. 6.SeeUSAirForce,AirMaterialCom mand,“UnidentifiedAerialObjects: ProjectSIGN,no.F-TR2274,IA, February1949,RecordsoftheUSAir ForceCommands,Activitiesand Organizations,RecordGroup341, NationalArchives,Washington,DC. 7.SeeUSAirForce,ProjectsGRUDGE andBLUEBOOKReports1-12(Wash ington,DC;NationalInvestigations CommitteeonAerialPhenomena, 1968)andJacobs,TheUFOContro versy,pp.50-54. 8.SeeCabell,memorandumtoCom mandingGeneralsMajorAir Commands,“ReportingofInforma tiononUnconventionalAircraft,”8 September1950andJacobs,The UFOControversy,p.65. 9.SeeAirForce,ProjectsGRUDGEand BLUEBOOKandJacobs,TheUFO Controversy,p.67. 79 UFOs 10.(S)SeeEdwardTauss,memorandum forDeputyAssistantDirector,SI, “FlyingSaucers,”1 August1952.See alsoUnitedKingdom,Reportbythe “FlyingSaucer”WorkingParty,“Uni dentifiedFlyingObjects,”nodate (approximately1950). 11.SeeDr.Stone,OSI,memorandumto Dr.WillardMachle,OSI,15March 1949andRalphL.Clark,Acting AssistantDirector,OSI,memoran dumforDDI,“RecentSightings0f UnexplainedObje~ts,”29July1952. 12.Stone,memorandumtoMachle.See alsoClark,memorandumforDDI, 29July1952. 13.SeeKlass,UFOs,p.15.Fora brief reviewoftheWashingtonsightingssee Good,AboveTopSecret,pp.269-271. 14.SeeRalphL.Clark,ActingAssistant Director,OSI,memorandumtoDDI RobertAmory,Jr.,29July1952. OSIandOCTwereintheDirectorate ofIntelligence.Establishedin1948, OSIservedastheCIA’sfocalpoint fortheanalysisofforeignscientific andtechnologicaldevelopments.In 1980,OSIwasmergedintotheOffice ofScienceandWeaponsResearch. TheOfficeofCurrentIntelligence (OCI),establishedon15January 1951wastoprovideall-sourcecurrent intelligencetothePresidentandthe NationalSecurityCouncil. 15.Tauss,memorandumforDeputy AssistantDirector,SI(PhilipStrong), 1 August1952. 16.On2 January1952,DCIWalter BedellSmithcreateda DeputyDirec torateforIntelligence(DDI)composed ofsixovertCIAorganizations—OSI, OCI,OfficeofCollectionandDissemi nation,OfficeNationalEstimates, OfficeofResearchandReports,and • theOfficeofIntelligenceCoordina tion—toproduceintelligenceanalysis forUSpolicymakers. 17.SeeMinutesofBranchChief’sMeet ing,11August1952. 18.Smithexpressedhisopinionsata meetingintheDCIConference Roomattendedbyhistopofficers. SeeDeputyChief,Requirements Staff,PT,memorandumforDeputy Director,Plans,“FlyingSaucers,”20 August1952,DirectorateofOpera tionsRecords,Information ManagementStaff,Job86-00538R, Box1.(S) 19.SeeCIAmemorandum,unsigned, “FlyingSaucers,”11August1952. 20.SeeCIA,memorandum,unsigned, “FlyingSaucers,”14August1952. 21.SeeCIA,memorandum,unsigned, “FlyingSaucers,”19August1952. 22.SeeChadwell,memorandumfor Smith,17September1952and24 September1952,“FlyingSaucers.” SeealsoChadwell,memorandumfor DCISmith,2 October1952and Klass,UFOs,pp.23-26. 23.Chadwell,memorandumforDCI withattachments,2 December1952. SeealsoKiass,UFOs,pp.26-27and Chadwell,memorandum,25Novem ber1952. 24.SeeChadwell,memorandum,25 November1952andChadwell,mem orandum,“ApprovalinPrinciple - ExternalResearchProjectConcerned withUnidentifiedFlyingObjects,”no date.SeealsoPhilipG.Strong,OSI, memorandumfortherecord,“Meet ingwithDr.JuliusA.Stratton, ExecutiveVicePresidentandProvost, MITandDr.MaxMillikan,Director ofCENTS.”Strongbelievedthatin ordertoundertakesucha reviewthey wouldneedthefullbackingandsup portofDCISmith. 25.SeeChadwell,memorandumfor DCI,”UnidentifiedFlyingObjects,” 2 December1952.SeealsoChad- well,memorandumforAmory,DDI, “ApprovalinPrinciple - External ResearchProjectConcernedwithUni dentifiedFlyingObjects,”nodate. 26.TheIACwascreatedin1947toserve asa coordinatingbodyinestablishing intelligencerequirements.Chairedby theDCI,theIACincludedrepresenta tivesfromtheDepartmentofState, theArmy,theAirForce,theJoint ChiefsofStaff,theFBI,andtheAEC. 27.SeeKiass,UFOs,p.27. 28.SeeRichardD.Drain,ActingSecre tary,JAC,“MinutesofMeetingheld inDirector’sConferenceRoom, AdministrationBuilding,CIA,”4 December1952. 29.(5)SeeChadwell,memorandumfor therecord,“BritishActivityinthe FieldofUFOs,”18December1952. 30.SeeChadwell,memorandumfor DCI,“ConsultantsforAdvisoryPanel onUnidentifiedFlyingObjects,”9 January1953;CurtisPeebles,Watch theSkies!A ChronicleoftheFlyingSau cerMyth(Washington,DC: SmithsonianInstitutionPress,1994). pp.73-90;andJacobs,TheUFOCon troversy,pp.91-92. 31.SeeFredC.DurantIII,Reportonthe RobertsonPanelMeeting,January 1953.Durant,oncontractwithOSI anda pastpresidentoftheAmerican RocketSociety,attendedtheRobert sonpanelmeetingsandwrotea summaryoftheproceedings. 32.SeeReportoftheScientificPanelon UnidentifiedFlyingObjects(theRob ertsonReport),17January1953and theDurantreportonthepanel discussions. 33.SeeRobertsonReportandDurant Report.SeealsoGood,AboveTop Secret,pp.337-38,Jacobs,TheUFO Controversy,p.95,andKlass,UFO’s, pp.28-29. 34.SeeRebet,memorandumtoIAC,18 February1953. 35.SeeChadwell,memorandumfor DDI,“UnidentifiedFlyingObjects,” 80 UFOs 10February1953;Chadwell,letterto Robertson,28January1953;and Reber,memorandumforJAG,“Uni dentifiedFlyingObjects,”18 February1953.Onbriefingthe ONE,seeDurant,memorandumfor therecord,“BriefingofONEBoard onUnidentifiedFlyingObjects,”30 January1953andCIASummarydis seminatedtothefield,“Unidentified FlyingObjects,”6 February1953. 36.SeeChadwell,lettertoJuliusA.Strat ton,ProvostMIT,27January1953. 37.SeeChadwell,memorandumfor Chief,PhysicsandElectronicsDivi sion/OSI(TodosM.Odarenko), “UnidentifiedFlyingObjects,”27 May1953. 38.SeeOdarenko,memorandumto Chadwell,“UnidentifiedFlying Objects,”3 July1953.Seealso Odarenko,memorandumtoChad- well,“CurrentStatusofUnidentified FlyingObjects(UFOB)Project,”17 December1953. 39.SeeOdarenko,memorandum,“Uni dentifiedFlyingObjects,”8 August 1955. 40.SeeFBIS,report,“MilitaryUnconven tionalAircraft,”18August1953and variousreports,“Military-Air,Uncon ventionalAircraft,”1953,1954,1955. 41.DevelopedbytheCanadianaffiliate ofBritain’sA.V.Roe,Ltd.,ProjectY didproducea small-scalemodelthat hovereda fewfeetofftheground.See Odarenko,memorandumtoChad we!!,“FlyingSaucerTypeofPlanes” 25May1954;FredericC.E.Oder, memorandumtoOdarenko,“USAF ProjectY,”21May1954;and Odarenko,T.M.Nordbeck,Ops/SI, andSidneyGraybeal,ASD/SI,memo randumfortherecord,“Intelligence ResponsibilitiesforNon-Conven tionalTypesofAirVehicles,”14June 1954. 42.SeeReubenEfron,memorandum, “ObservationofFlyingObjectNear Baku,”13October1955;Scoville, memorandumfortherecord,“Inter viewwithSenatorRichardB.Russell,” 27October1955;andWiltonE. Lexow,memorandumforinformation, “ReportedSightingofUnconventional Aircraft,”19October1955. 43.SeeLexow,memorandumforinforma tion,“ReportedSightingof UnconventionalAircraft,”19October 1955.SeealsoFrankC.Bolser,mem orandumforGeorgeC.Miller, DeputyChief,SAD/SI,“Possible SovietFlyingSaucers,CheckOn;” Lexow,memorandum,“Possible SovietFlyingSaucers,FollowUp On,”17December1954;Lexow, memorandum,“PossibleSovietFlying Saucers,”1 December1954;andA. H.Sullivan,Jr.,memorandum,“Possi bleSovietFlyingSaucers,”24 November1954. 44.SeeGregoryW.PedlowandDonald E.Welzenbach,TheCentralIntelli genceAgencyandOverhead Reconnaissance.TheU-2and OXCARTPrograms,1954-1974 (Washington,DC:CIAHistoryStaff, 1992),pp.72-73. 45.SeePedlowandWelzenbach,Over headReconnaissance,pp.72-73.This alsowasconfirmedina telephone interviewbetweentheauthorand JohnParongosky,26July1994. Parongoskyoversawtheday-to-day affairsoftheOXCARTprogram. 46.SeeJacobs,TheUFOControversy, p.135. 47.SeePeebles,WatchtheSkies,pp.128- 146;Ruppelt,TheReportonUnidenti fiedFlyingObjects(NewYork: Doubleday,1956);Keyhoe,TheFly ingSaucerConspiracy(NewYork: Holt,1955);andJacobs,TheUFO Controversy,pp.347-49. 48.SeeStrong,lettertoLloydW.Berkner; Strong,lettertoThortonPage;Strong, lettertoRobertson;Strong,letterto SamuelGoudsmit;Strong,letterto LuisAlvarez,20December1957;and Strong,memorandumforMajorJames F.Byrne,AssistantChiefofStaff,Intel ligenceDepartmentoftheAirForce, “Declassificationofthe‘Reportofthe ScientificPanelonUnidentifiedFlying Objects,”20December1957.See alsoBerkner,lettertoStrong,20 November1957andPage,letterto Strong,4 December1957.Thepanel memberswerealsoreluctanttohave theirassociationwiththeAgency released. 49.SeeWiltonE.Lexow,memorandum fortherecord,“CommentsonLetters DealingwithUnidentifiedFlying Objects,”4 April1958;J.S.Earman, lettertoMajorLawrenceJ.Tacker, OfficeoftheSecretaryoftheAir Force,InformationService,4 April 1958;Davidson,lettertoBerkner,8 April1958;Berkner,lettertoDavid son,18April1958;Berkner,letterto Strong,21April1958;Davidson,let tertoTacker,27April1958; Davidson,lettertoAllenDulles,27 April1958;Ruppelt,lettertoDavid son,7 May1958;Strong,letterto Berkner,8 May1958;Davidson,let tertoBerkner,8 May1958; Davidson,lettertoEarman,16May 1958;Davidson,lettertoGoudsmit, 18May1958;Davidson,letterto Page,18May1958;andTacker,let tertoDavidson,20May1958. 50.SeeLexow,memorandumfor Chapin,28July1958. 51.SeeGood,AboveTopSecret,pp.346- 47;Lexow,memorandumforthe record,“MeetingwiththeAirForce PersonnelConcerningScientificAdvi soryPanelReportonUnidentified FlyingObjects,dated17January 1953(S),”16May1958.SeealsoLa RaeL.Tee!,DeputyDivisionChief, ASD,memorandumfortherecord, “MeetingwithMr.ChapinonReply ingtoLeonDavidson’sUFOLetter andSubsequentTelephoneConversa tionwithMajorThacker,sicl”22 May1958. 52.SeeEdwinM.Ashcraft,Chief, ContactDivision(Scientific),memo- 81 UFOs randumtoChief,ChicagoOffice, “RadioCodeRecording,”4 March 1955andAshcraft,memorandumto Chief,SupportBranch,OSI,17 March1955. 53.TheContactDivisionwascreatedto collectforeignintelligenceinforma tionfromsourceswithintheUnited States.SeetheDirectorateofIntelli genceHistoricalSeries,TheOrigin andDevelopmentofContactDivision, 11July1946—iJuly1965(Washing ton,DC;CIAHistoricalStaff,June 1969). 54.SeeGeorge0.Forrest,Chief,Chi cagoOffice,memorandumtoChief, ContactDivisionforScience,11 March1955. memorandumforAustinBricker,Jr., AssistanttotheDirector,“Inquiryby MajorDonaldE.KeyhoeonJohn Hazen’sAssociationwiththe Agency,”22January1959. 64.SeeJohnT.Hazen,memorandumto Chief,ContactDivision,12Decem ber1957.SeealsoAshcraft, memorandumtoClevelandResident Agent,“RalphE.Mayher,”20Decem ber1957.Accordingtothis memorandum,thephotographswere viewedat“ahighlevelandreturned touswithoutcomment.”TheAir Forceheldtheoriginalnegatives.The CIArecordswereprobablydestroyed. 65.Theissuewouldresurfaceinthe 1970swiththeGSWFOJAcourtcase. SeealsoF.J.Sheridan,Chief,Wash ingtonOffice,memorandumto Chief,ContactDivision,“National InvestigationCommitteeonAerial Phenomena(NICAP),”25January 1965. 69.Chamberlain,memorandumforDCI, “EvaluationofUFOs,”26January 1965. 70.SeeJacobs,TheUFOControversy,p. 199andUSAirForce,ScientificAdvi soryBoard,AdHocCommittee (O’BrienCommittee)toReview ProjectBLUEBOOK,SpecialReport (Washington,DC:1966).Seealso TheNewYorkTimes,14August 1966,p.70. 55.SeeSupportDivision(Connell),mem orandumtoDeweltE.Walker,25 April1957. 56.SeeJ.ArnoldShaw,Assistanttothe Director,lettertoDavidson,10May 1957. 57.SeeSupport(Connell)memorandum toLt.Col.V.Skakich,27August1957 andLamountain,memorandumto Support(Connell),20December1957. 58.SeeLamounrain,cabletoSupport (Connell),31July1958. 59.SeeSupport(Connell)cabletoSkak ich,3 October1957andSkakich, cabletoConnell,9 October1957. 60.SeeSkakich,cabletoConnell,9 Octo ber1957. 61.SeeR.P.B.Lohmann,memorandum forChief,ContactDivision,DO,9 January1958. 62.SeeSupport,cabletoSkakich,20Feb ruary1958andConnell(Support) cabletoLamountain,19December 1957. 63.SeeEdwinM.Ashcraft,Chief,Con tactDivision,OfficeofOperations, 66.SeeRobertAmory,Jr.,DDI,memo randumforAssistantDirector/ ScientificIntelligence,“FlyingSau cers,”26March1956.Seealso WallaceR.Lamphire,Officeofthe Director,PlanningandCoordination Staff,memorandumforRichardM. Bissell,Jr.,“UnidentifiedFlyingSau cers(UFO),”11June1957;Philip Strong,memorandumfortheDirec tor’NPIC,“ReportedPhotographyof UnidentifiedFlyingObjects,”27 October1958;Scoville,memorandum toLawrenceHouston,Legislative Counsel,“ReplytoHonorableJoseph E.Garth,”12July1961;andHous ton,lettertoGarth,13July1961. 67.See,forexample,Davidson,letterto CongressmanJosephGarth,26June 1961andCarlVinson,Chairman, HouseCommitteeonArmedSer vices,lettertoRep.RobertA.Everett, 2 September1964. 68.SeeMaxwellW.Hunter,staffmem ber,NationalAeronauticsandSpace Council,ExecutiveOfficeofthePresi dent,memorandumforRobertF. Parkard,OfficeofInternationalScien tificAffairs,DepartmentofState, “ThoughtsontheSpaceAlienRace Question,”18July1963,FileSP16, RecordsoftheDepartmentofState, RecordGroup59,NationalArchives. 71.See“CongressReassuredonSpaceVis its,”TheNewYorkTimes,6 April 1966. 72.Weber,lettertoCol,GeraldE.Jor gensen,Chief,CommunityRelations Division,OfficeofInformation,US AirForce,15August1966.The Durantreportwasa detailedsummary oftheRobertsonpanelproceedings. 73.SeeJohnLear,“TheDisputedCIA DocumentonUFOs,”Saturday Review(September3,1966),p.45. TheLeararticlewasotherwiseunsym pathetictoUFOsightingsandthe possibilitythatextraterrirorialswere involved.TheAirForcehadbeen eagertoprovideLearwiththefull report.SeeWalterL.Mackey,Execu tiveOfficer,memorandumforDCI, “AirForceRequesttoDeclassifyCIA MaterialonUnidentifiedFlying Objects(UFO),”1 September1966. 74.SeeKlass,UFOs,p.40,Jacobs,The UFOControversy,p.214andEverer Clark,“PhysicistScores‘SaucerSta tus,”TheNewYorkTimes,21 October1966.SeealsoJamesE. McDonald,“StatementonUnidenti fiedFlyingObjects,”submittedtothe HouseCommitteeonScienceand Astronautics,29July1968. 82 UFOs 75.CondonisquotedinWalterSullivan, “3AidesSelectedinSaucerInquiry,” TheNewYorkTimes,8 October 1966.Seealso“AnOutspokenScien tist,EdwardUhlerCondon,”The NewYorkTimes,8 October1966. Condon,anoutgoing,gruffscientist, hadearlierbecomeembroiledina con troversywiththeHouseUnamerican ActivitiesCommitteethatclaimed Condonwas“oneoftheweakestlinks inouratomicsecurity.”SeealsoPee bles,WatchtheSkies,pp.169-195. 76.SeeLundahl,memorandumforDDI, 7 February1967. 77.Seememorandumfortherecord, “VisitofDr.CondontoNPIC,20 February1967,”23February1967. Seealsotheanalysisofthephoto graphsinmemorandumforLundahi, “PhotoAnalysisofUFOPhotogra phy,”17February1967. 78.Seememorandumfortherecord, “UFOBriefingforDr.EdwardCon- don,5 May1967,”8 May1967and attached“GuidelinestoUFOPhotog raphersandUFOPhotographic InformationSheet.”SeealsoCondon Committee,PressRelease,1 May 1967andKlass,UFOs,p.41.The Zanevillephotographsturnedoutto bea hoax. 79.SeeEdwardU.Condon,Scientific StudyofUnidentifiedFlyingObjects (NewYork:BantamBooks,1969) andKlass,UFOs,p.41.Thereport containedtheDurantreportwith onlyminordeletions. 80.SeeOfficeofAssistantSecretaryof Defense,NewsRelease,“AirForceto TerminateProjectBLUEBOOK,”17 December1969.TheAirForce retiredBLUEBOOKrecordstothe USAFArchivesatMaxwellAirForce BaseinAlabama.in1976theAir ForceturnedoverallBLUEBOOK filestotheNationalArchivesand RecordsAdministration,whichmade themavailabletothepublicwithout majorrestrictions.Somenameshave beenwithheldfromthedocuments. SeeKiass,UFOs,p.6. 81.GSWwasa smallgroupofUFObuffs basedinPhoenix,Arizona,and headedbyWilliamH.Spaulding. 82.SeeKlass,UFOs,p.8. 83.SeeWilson,lettertoSpaulding,26 March1976andGSWv.CIACivil ActionCase78-859. 84.GSWv.CIACivilActionCase78- 859,p.2. 85.AuthorinterviewwithLaunieZiebell, 23June1994andauthorinterview withOSIanalyst,21July1994.See alsoaffidavitsofGeorgeOwens,CIA InformationandPrivacyActCoordi nator;KarlH.Weber,OSI;SidneyD. Stembridge,OfficeofSecurity;and RutledgeP.Hazzard,DS&T;GSW CIACivilActionCase78-859and SayreStevens,DeputyDirectorfor NationalForeignAssessment,memo randumforThomasH.White, AssistantforInformation,Informa tionReviewCommittee,“FOIA LitigationGroundSaucerWatch,”no date. 86.See“CIAPapersDetailUFOSurveil lance,”TheNewYorkTimes,13 January1979;PatrickHuyghe,“UFO Files:TheUntoldStory,”TheNew YorkTimesMagazine,14October 1979,p.106;andJeromeClark, “UFOUpdate,”UFOReport,August 1979. 87.JeromeClark,“LatestUFONews BriefsFromAroundtheWorld,” UFOUpdate,August1979andGSW v.CIACivilActionNo.78-859. 88.SeeWortman,memorandumforDCI Turner,“YourQuestion,‘Arewein UFOs?’AnnotatedtoTheNewYork TimesNewsReleaseArticle,”18Janu ary1979. 89.SeeGSWv.CIACivilAction78- 859.SeealsoKlass,UFOs,pp.10-12. 90.(5)SeeJohnBrennan,memorandum forRichardWarshaw,ExecutiveAssis tant,DCI,“RequestedInformation onUFOs,”30September1993; AuthorinterviewswithOSWRana lyst,14June1994andOSIanalyst, 21July1994.Thisauthorfound almostnodocumentationonAgency involvementwithUFOsinthe1980s. Thereisa DIAPsychicCenterandthe NSAstudiesparapsychology,that branchofpsychologythatdealswith theinvestigationofsuchpsychicphe nomenaasclairvoyance,extrasensory perception,andtelepathy.TheCIA reportedlyisalsoa memberofanInci dentResponseTeamtoinvestigate UFOlandings,ifoneshouldoccur. Thisteamhasnevermet.Thelackof solidCIAdocumentationonAgency UFO-relatedactivitiesinthe1980s leavestheentireissuesomewhat murkyforthisperiod. MuchoftheUFOliteraturepresently focusesoncontacteesandabductees. SeeJohnE.Mack,Abduction,Human EncounterswithAliens(NewYork: CharlesScribner’sSons,1994)and HowardBlum,OutThere(NewYork: SimonandSchuster,1990). 91.SeeCharlesBerlitzandWilliamL. Moore,TheRoswellIncident(New York:BerkeleyBooks,1988);Moore, “TheRoswellIncident:NewEvidence intheSearchfora CrashedUFO,” (Burbank,California:FairWitness Project,1982),PublicationNumber 1201;andKiass,UFOs,pp.280-281. In1994CongressmanStevenH. Schiff(R-NM)calledforanofficial studyoftheRoswellincident.The GAOisconductinga separateinvesti gationoftheincident.TheCIAis notinvolvedintheinvestigation.See Kiass,UFOs,pp.279-281;JohnH. Wright,InformationandPrivacy Coordinator,lettertoDerekSkreen, 20September1993;andOSWRana lystInterview.Seealsothemade-for- TVfilm,Roswell,whichappearedon cableTVott31July1994andPee bles,WatchtheSkies,pp.245-251. 83 UFOs 92.SeeJohnDiamond,“AirForceProbes 1947UFOClaimFindingsAre DowntoEarth,”9 September1994, AssociatedPressrelease;WilliamJ. Broad,“Wreckageofa ‘Spaceship’:Of ThisEarth(andU.S.),”TheNewYork Times,18September1994,p.1;and USAFCol.RichardL.Weaverand 1stLt.JamesMcAndrew,TheRoswell Report,FactVersusFictioninNew MexicoDesert(Washington,DC: GPO,1995). 93.SeeGood,AboveTopSecretS,Moore and5.1.Friedman,“PhilipKlassand MJ-12:WhataretheFacts,”(Bur bankCalifornia:Fair-WitnessProject, 1988),PublicationNumber1290; Klass,“NewEvidenceofMJ-12 Hoax,”SkepticalInquirer,vol.14 (Winter1990);andMooreandJaime H.Shandera,TheMJ-12Documents: AnAnalyticalReport(Burbank,Cali fornia:Fair-WitnessProject,1990), PublicationNumber1500.Walter BedellSmithsupposedlyreplacedFor restalon1 August1950following Forrestal’sdeath.Allmemberslisted weredeceasedwhentheMJ-12“docu ments”surfacedin1984.SeePeebles, WatchtheSkies,pp.258-268. Dr.LarryBland,editorofTheGeorge C.MarshallPapers,discoveredthatone oftheso-calledMajestic~12docu mentswasa completefraud.It containedtheexactsamelanguageasa letterfromMarshalltoPresidential candidateThomasDeweyregarding the“Magic”interceptsin1944.The datesandnameshadbeenalteredand “Magic”changedto“Majic.”More over,itwasa photocopy,notan original.NooriginalMJ-12docu mentshaveeversurfaced.Telephone conversationbetweentheauthorand Bland,29August1994. 84