PURSUE Release 03 — Transmission of CIA Scientific Advisory Panel Rept 1953 (DOW-UAP-D085)
Source: U.S. Department of War, PURSUE (Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters) — Release 03 (third tranche), published 12 June 2026. Document DOW-UAP-D085.
URL: release portal https://www.war.gov/UFO/release/03/ · bundle https://www.war.gov/medialink/ufo/061226/release_03/release_03_documents.zip (file: DOW-UAP-D085_Transmission-of-CIA-Scientific-Advisory-Panel-Rept_1953.pdf)
Captured: 2026-06-12. The released PDF was an image-only/garbled scan; text below is a clean Gemini (gemini-3-flash) re-OCR, 2026-06-12. Page markers [--- p.N ---], handwriting [handwritten: …].
What this is: Transmission of CIA Scientific Advisory Panel Rept 1953. Index/analysis: pursue-release-03-uap-records.
[--- p.1 ---]
[handwritten: CB 000.92 1953]
[stamp: DECLASSIFIED Authority: NND 823015]
[--- p.2 ---]
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ROUTING SLIP (Classified)
CLASSIFICATION [stamp: SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION] [stamp: MAR 13 1953]
FROM: The Secretary of Defense
TO: 1 Admin Sec [initialed] THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY DEPUTY DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SEC. SECRETARY OF ARMY SECRETARY OF NAVY SECRETARY OF AIR FORCE
2 ASSISTANT [illegible] SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (ISA) [initialed] DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF FOREIGN MILITARY AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MILITARY ASSISTANCE DIRECTOR, NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL POLICY
3 Mr. Hayes [initialed] CHAIRMAN, ARMED FORCES MEDICAL POLICY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, DEFENSE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION DIRECTOR, MILITARY TRAFFIC SERVICE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF GUIDED MISSILES
FOR: PREPARATION OF REPLY FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SIGNATURE
3 APPROPRIATE ACTION
PLEASE REPLY DIRECT FOR SEC. OF DEFENSE (Copy of reply to be forwarded to Sec. of Defense Files)
PLEASE FURNISH DATA ON WHICH TO BASE A REPLY
FOR: INFORMATION AND RETENTION
INFORMATION AND RETURN FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 2 FILES
COMMENT AND/OR RECOMMENDATION
1 NOTE AND FORWARD
FROM: CIA (Richard D Drain Sec Intelligence Advisory Committee) DATE RECEIVED: 17 March 1953
TO: Sec/Def
DATE: 13 Mar 53 SHORT TITLE: ltr NUMBER COPIES: ORIGINAL: 1 CARBON: [blank] OTHER: 1 [circled]
SUBJECT: A Report prepared by a Panel of Scientists on the Subject of “Unidentified Flying Objects”. COMMENT: (Flying Saucers).
INCLOSURES RECEIVED: 1 copy Report of the Scientific Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects
[handwritten: [illegible initials] This report appears to warrant action.]
[handwritten: Cpy ltr & Panel Report to Sec Air Force by memo. See Lee Log 501391 dtd 2 Apr 53]
DUE IN CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL SECTION, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OSD: None
CONTROL NUMBER: 02610 LNW
SD FORM 1 APR 52 32 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THIS FORM ARE OBSOLETE [handwritten: N3/212] [handwritten: 3/689]
CLASSIFICATION [stamp: SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION]
RECEIVED: [blank] DATE: [blank] CONTROL NUMBER: [blank]
RECEIVED: [blank] DATE: [blank] CONTROL NUMBER: [blank]
[stamp: DECLASSIFIED NND 823015 By [initials] NARS, Date 1/15/85]
[stamp: 02610]
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INSTRUCTIONS TO RECIPIENTS
COSMIC MATERIAL
- Do not send through the mail.
- May be handled only by specifically authorized personnel.
- Deliver to OSD Sub-Registry, Classified Records Group, Correspondence Control Section, Executive Office of the Secretary, if to be transmitted to any office other than the one to which routed from the OSD Sub-Registry or to any office outside of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
- Do not release without receipt.
TOP SECRET
- Do not send through the mail.
- May be handled only by authorized personnel.
SECRET AND CONFIDENTIAL
- May be sent by registered mail if delivered to Classified Records Group, Correspondence Control Section, Executive Office of the Secretary.
- May be handled only by authorized personnel.
GENERAL (Top Secret, Secret and Confidential)
- Do not release without receipt.
- Deliver to Classified Records Group, Correspondence Control Section, Executive Office of the Secretary, if to be transmitted outside of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
- When transferring this Routing Slip to another person or office within OSD, without going through the OSD Sub-Registry, obtain the signature of the recipient on one of the receipts provided at the bottom of this form and return the receipt to the Correspondence Control Section for appropriate change in charge out.
- Indicate in Comment Section the disposition of all closures included, other than file in Correspondence Control Section.
- Do not remove this Routing Slip from the Original of the attached material without authority of the Head, Records and Reference Unit, Correspondence Control Section or one of his representatives.
- Return this Routing Slip and the attached material to the Correspondence Control Section as soon as possible for file.
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SECRET Security Information
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
[stamp: MAR 13 1953]
13 March 1953
The Honorable The Secretary of Defense Department of Defense Washington 25, D. C.
Dear Mr. Secretary:
The Director of Central Intelligence has asked that you be furnished a copy of the attached report prepared by a panel of scientists on the subject of “Unidentified Flying Objects.” This panel was convened at the direction of General Smith, following the recommendation of the Intelligence Advisory Committee.
The conclusions and recommendations may be of interest to you, in that they point out certain potential dangers to national security which are related to the subject and suggest ways of their elimination.
Although this Agency does not consider problems arising from sightings of “flying saucers” primarily its concern, we shall be pleased to assist in any appropriate action that you may deem advisable.
[handwritten: Federal Civil Def.]
Copies of this report are also being sent to the Secretary of Defense and to the Chairman, National Security Resources Board.
Sincerely yours, [signature: Richard D. Drain] RICHARD D. DRAIN Secretary Intelligence Advisory Committee
Enclosure
[handwritten: CB 000.92]
[vertical stamp: OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 1953 MAR 17 AM 10 08]
[stamp: DECLASSIFIED NND 823015 By [initials] NARS, Date 1/15/85]
[handwritten: N3/212]
SECRET Security Information
[stamp: SecDef Cont. No. 02610]
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[Note: This page is the reverse of page 4 and contains mirrored text from the previous page.]
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COPY SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION
REPORT OF THE SCIENTIFIC PANEL ON UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
[stamp: MAR 13 1953]
Jan 17 1953
-
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 intelligence agencies, primarily the Air Technical Intelligence Center, and has reviewed a selection of the best documented incidents.
-
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 indicate a need for the revision of current scientific concepts.
- 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
[handwritten: CB 000.92]
[handwritten: Ref Pt 02610]
[stamp: DECLASSIFIED NND 823015 By [initials] NARS, Date 1/15/85]
SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION
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SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION
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 duly constituted authority.
- 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 phenomena, 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. Alvarez University of California
/s/ Thornton Page Johns Hopkins University
-2- SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION