Person

Howard P. Robertson

Scientist, chairman of the CIA-sponsored advisory panel on UFOs (1953)

1953 · Historical figures (1933–2007) · Scientist

He chaired the scientific advisory panel sponsored by the CIA in January 1953, which arose from a December 1952 recommendation to the Intelligence Advisory Committee; its members included Luis Alvarez, Thornton Page and Lloyd Berkner. The panel recommended a “training” and “debunking” effort through the mass media and suggested monitoring civilian UFO groups; its proceedings are known from the report by F. C. Durant of February 16, 1953. The panel is documented by CIA archives.

Key claims

• The panel he chaired recommended a “training” and “debunking” effort through the mass media and the surveillance of civilian UFO groups (1953).

Today

The first volume of AARO's historical report (March 2024) cites the panel's recommendation for a “training” and “debunking” effort.

Documented authority

It measures how documented and verifiable what the person claims is, not their honesty. Each criterion is scored from 0 to 2.

Credentials 2/2

Chairman of the CIA-sponsored panel in 1953: role documented by CIA archives.

Direct access not applicable

The panel evaluated cases gathered by others: no claims in the first person.

Evidence provided not applicable

Not applicable: conclusions of an official panel, not personal claims.

Claims track record not applicable

Not applicable: conclusions of an official panel, not personal claims.

Conflicts of interest not applicable

Not applicable: opinion expressed on an official panel.

Sources

1. Robertson Panel, English Wikipedia (other)
2. CIA, Haines, “CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947–90” (archived copy) (primary source)
3. J. Snead, analysis of the AARO historical report, volume 1 (Substack) (analysis)

On this site

Documents 3

• The report of the Robertson Panel convened by the CIA (January 1953) Original available
• The 1971 note by Australian defense intelligence on U.S. handling of UFOs Original available
• CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947–90 (Gerald Haines, 1997), with the 1953 Robertson Panel Original available

Cases 3

• Great Falls 1950: two lights filmed by the baseball team manager Disputed explanation
• Tremonton 1952: the film by a Navy photographer and the seagull hypothesis Disputed explanation
• Washington, July 1952: radar targets and lights over the capital Disputed explanation

Timeline 1

• Jan 1953: The Robertson Panel, convened by the CIA, recommends “debunking” UFOs

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