The Robertson Panel was an important committee that was commissioned by the Central Intelligence Agency in the year 1952 in response to the widespread and growing number of Unidentified Flying Object reports, particularly in the Washington D.C. area. The panel was thoroughly briefed on various U.S. military activities and intelligence matters, which is why the subsequent report was initially classified as Secret, reflecting its sensitive nature and the implications of the findings contained within it.
Later declassified and made available to the public, the Robertson Panel's extensive report ultimately concluded that the vast majority of UFO reports could be explained as simple misidentification of common and mundane aerial objects such as weather balloons, aircraft, or atmospheric phenomena. Furthermore, the remaining minority of reported sightings could, in all likelihood, be similarly explained with continued research and a more thorough investigation into each individual incident.
The Robertson Panel, which convened to assess the implications of unidentified flying objects on national security, ultimately concluded that a comprehensive public relations campaign should be undertaken to actively "debunk" UFOs, with the explicit goal of diminishing public interest in the subject altogether. Furthermore, the Panel recommended that civilian UFO groups and organizations be closely monitored to keep track of their activities and influence. Evidence suggests that these recommendations were indeed implemented more than two decades after the Panel's final conclusion, indicating a sustained effort to control the narrative surrounding UAP phenomena.
Critics, including a few of the panel members themselves, would later express their disappointment and concern regarding the Robertson Panel's influential role in rendering the study of UFOs a somewhat disreputable and controversial field of inquiry.
In 1952, a significant number of concerned civilians began reaching out to various government agencies regarding numerous UFO reports, to such an extent that daily governmental operations and duties were notably impacted; the New York Times specifically reported on August 1, 1952, that this unprecedented influx of UFO reports had made it clear that "regular intelligence work has been affected." Various prominent newspapers, including the Baltimore Sun, Washington Star, Denver Post, and Los Angeles Times, reported on July 31 that Air Force Chief of Staff Hoyt S. Vandenberg expressed concern regarding the recent spate of UFO sightings and reports, asserting that they had generated a state of “mass hysteria” among the public. There was a widespread and general concern within military circles that this hysteria and confusion being stirred up by the ongoing UFO reports could potentially be exploited by the United States’ enemies, particularly the Soviet Union, thereby posing significant risks to national security.
The Air Force had previously commissioned the Battelle Memorial Institute to conduct a comprehensive scientific study of the myriad UFO reports that had been collected through the organized and systematic efforts of Project Sign, Project Grudge, and Project Blue Book. However, Battelle insisted that they required additional time in order to perform a truly thorough and proper analysis of the extensive data. The CIA regarded the pressing and perplexing question of unidentified flying objects as so urgent and critical that they took decisive action by authorizing the immediate formation of an impromptu committee in late 1952 to investigate this phenomenon further.
The infamous ‘’’Robertson Panel’’ convened for its inaugural formal meeting on January 14, 1953, under the direction of Howard Percy Robertson. This influential figure was not only a respected physicist but also an employee of the CIA, serving in a critical capacity that would impact national security. Additionally, he held the prestigious position of director of the Defense Department's Weapons Evaluation Group, where his insights and evaluations would play a pivotal role in shaping military policy and understanding emerging threats.
Other panel members included a diverse group of respected scientists and experienced military personnel who had previously worked on various classified military projects or in-depth studies. Each individual brought their own unique perspectives and backgrounds to the table. All of them exhibited a general skepticism toward UFO reports, though their levels of doubt varied significantly from one member to another, creating a fascinating dynamic in their discussions.
Louis Alvarez, physicist (and later, a Nobel Prize winner)
Frederick C. Durant, missile expert
Samuel A. Goudsmit, Brookhaven National Laboratories physicist
Thornton Page, astrophysicist, deputy director of Johns Hopkins’ Operations Research Office.
Lloyd Berkner, physicist and J. Allen Hynek, astronomer, were associate panel members.
The Panel engaged in four consecutive days of thorough and structured formal meetings.
The first day of the investigation, they carefully viewed two intriguing amateur motion pictures that prominently featured UFOs: the 1950 Montana UFO Film and the 1952 Utah UFO Film. Notably, the latter was captured by Navy Chief Petty Officer Delbert C. Newhouse, who was well-regarded for his extensive experience and expertise in the field of aerial photography. Following this initial viewing, two dedicated Navy photograph and film analysts, Lieutenants R.S. Neasham and Harry Woo, presented their detailed conclusions regarding the footage: they determined that the two films depicted objects that could not be classified as any known aircraft, creature, or recognizable weather phenomena. In a subsequent session, Air Force Captain Edward J. Ruppelt commenced a thorough summary of the ongoing efforts and extensive research conducted by the Air Force in relation to UFO studies, highlighting the seriousness of the inquiry.
On the second day of the proceedings, Ruppelt completed his detailed presentation on the various aspects of unidentified aerial phenomena. Following this, Hynek took the floor to delve into the Battelle study, highlighting its key findings and implications for understanding UAPs. The panel then engaged in an in-depth discussion with Air Force personnel, addressing the numerous challenges and complexities inherent in effectively monitoring and documenting UFO sightings. (For more comprehensive insights on the results of the Battelle study, please refer to Project Blue Book)
The third day of the conference unfolded with Dewey J. Fournet taking the floor to speak before the panel; for over a year, he had meticulously coordinated UFO affairs for The Pentagon, navigating through the complex landscape of military sightings and investigations. Fournet, an articulate and passionate advocate, supported the extraterrestrial hypothesis as the most compelling explanation for a number of puzzling and unexplainable UFO reports that had emerged over time. For the remainder of the third day, the panel engaged in a thorough discussion of their conclusions, weighing the evidence carefully, and ultimately, Robertson agreed to take on the responsibility of drafting a preliminary report to encapsulate their findings.
On the fourth and final day of the investigation, the panel meticulously rewrote and carefully finalized their comprehensive report, ensuring, in their eyes that every detail was thoroughly addressed.
The Robertson Panel's official report, which thoroughly analyzed various UFO sightings, concluded that a significant 90 percent of these reports could be readily identified and attributed to meteorological, astronomical, or natural phenomena that are commonly observed. Furthermore, the panel indicated that the remaining 10 percent of UFO reports, while more enigmatic, could, in all likelihood, also be explained through meticulous and detailed study and investigation. It was suggested by the panel that witnesses often misidentified bright stars and planets, meteors, auroras, mirages, atmospheric temperature inversions, as well as lenticular clouds; additionally, other sightings were evaluated and judged as likely misinterpretations of conventional aircraft, weather balloons, birds in flight, searchlights, kites, and a variety of other phenomena that could account for the unusual observations.
Furthermore, the Panel suggested that the Air Force should begin a comprehensive "debunking" effort aimed at effectively reducing "public gullibility" and helping to demystify the many fascinating UFO reports that have captured the imagination of so many. The panel recommended a strategic public relations campaign, which would utilize the expertise of psychiatrists, astronomers, and an array of assorted celebrities in order to significantly diminish public interest in UFOs and related phenomena. It was also strongly recommended that the mass media be actively engaged in this debunking effort, including influential media giants like the Walt Disney Corporation, known for its wide-reaching influence and ability to shape public perceptions.
Their formal recommendation stated, "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."
Also recommended was that the government actively monitor and keep a close eye on various civilian groups that are studying, investigating, or conducting research on UFOs and related phenomena. This approach could help ensure that valuable insights and findings are accounted for and that potential information gaps are addressed effectively. "because of their potentially great influence on mass thinking ... the apparent irresponsibility and possible use of such groups for subversive purposes should be kept in mind.'
The conclusions and recommendations put forth by the esteemed Robertson Panel significantly influenced official United States policy regarding UFOs for many decades, shaping the national approach to unidentified aerial phenomena in profound ways.
The Robertson Panel’s study, which examined various aspects of unidentified aerial phenomena, was classified for a duration of five years. In 1956, however, the then-director of Project Blue Book, Ruppelt, made the first public statements regarding this influential panel, when he offered a brief yet intriguing summary of its proceedings and findings. Ruppelt did not, however, see fit to disclose the names of the panel members involved, nor did he reveal the specific government agencies represented during the discussions and evaluations that took place.
