-Caveat Lector-
The following is quoted from Jacque Vallee's "Forbidden Science"
____________________________________________________
THE PENTACLE MEMORANDUM
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington 25, D.C.
Office of the Director
Memorandum to: Director, Psychological Strategy Board
Subject: Flying Saucers
1.I am today transmitting to the National Security Council a
proposal (TAB A) in which it is concluded that the problems
connected with unidentified flying objects appear to have
implications for psychological warfare as well as for
intelligence and operations.
2.The background for this view is presented in some detail
in TAB B.
3.I suggest that we discuss as an early board meeting the
possible offensive or defensive utilization of these phenomena
for psychological warfare purposes.
Walter B[edell] Smith
Director [of the CIA]
Enclosure
_________________________________________________
[Note: for additional information regarding this controversial
document, contact Technology 1999, 3739 8th Ave, Suite One, San
Diego, CA 92103-4327, (888) 223-1999]
_________________________________________________
January 9, 1953
SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION
G-1579-4
cc: B.D. Thomas
H.C. Cross / A.D. Westerman
L.R. Jackson
W.T. Reid
P.J. Rieppal
V.W. Ellsey / R.J. Lund
Files
Extra [handwritten]
Mr. Miles E. Coll
Box 9575
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
Attention Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt
Dear Mr. Coll:
This letter concerns a preliminary recommendation to ATIC on
future methods of handling the problem of unidentified aerial
objects. This recommendation is based on our experience to date
in analyzing several thousands of reports on this subject. We
regard the recommendation as preliminary because our analysis is
not yet complete, and we are not able to document it where we
feel it should be supported by facts from the analysis.
We are making this recommendation prematurely because of a
CIA-sponsored meeting of a scientific panel, meeting in
Washington, D.C., January 14, 15, and 16, 1953, to consider the
problem of "flying saucers".
The CIA-sponsored meeting is being hold subsequent to a meeting
of CIA, ATIC, and our representatives held at ATIC on December
12, 1952. At the December 12 meeting our representatives strongly
recommended that a scientific panel not be set up until the
results of our analysis of the sighting-reports collected by ATIC
were available.
Since a meeting of the panel is now definitely scheduled we feel
that agreement between Project Stork and ATIC should be reached
as to what can and what cannot be discussed at the meeting in
Washington on January 14-16 concerning our preliminary
recommendation to ATIC.
Experience to date on our study of unidentified flying objects
shows that there is a distinct lack of reliable data with which
to work. Even the best-documented reports are frequently lacking
in critical information that makes it impossible to arrive at a
possible identification, i.e. even in a well-documented report
there is always an element of doubt about the data, either
because the observer had no means of getting the required data,
or was not prepared to utilize the means at his disposal.
Therefore, we recommend that a controlled experiment be set up
by which reliable physical data can be obtained. A tentative
preliminary plan by which the experiment could be designed and
carried out is discussed in the following paragraphs.
Based on our experience so far, it is expected that certain
conclusions will be reached as a result of our analysis which
will make obvious the need for an effort to obtain reliable data
from competent observers using the [...unreadable...] necessary
equipment. Until more reliable data are available, no positive
answers to the problem will be possible.
We expect that our analysis will show that certain areas in the
United States have had an abnormally high number of reported
incidents of unidentified flying objects. Assuming that, from
our analysis, several definite areas productive of reports can be
selected, we recommend that one or two of theses areas be set up
as experimental areas. This area, or areas, should have
observation posts with complete visual skywatch, with radar and
photographic coverage, plus all other instruments necessary or
helpful in obtaining positive and reliable data on everything in
the air over the area. A very complete record of the weather
should also be kept during the time of the experiment.
Coverage should be so complete that any object in the air could
be tracked, and information as to its altitude, velocity, size,
shape, color, time of day, etc. could be recorded. All balloon
releases or known balloon paths, aircraft flights, and flights
of rockets in the test area should be known to those in charge of
the experiment. Many different types of aerial activity should be
secretly and purposefully scheduled within the area.
We recognize that this proposed experiment would amount to a
large-scale military maneuver, or operation, and that it would
require extensive preparation and fine coordination, plus maximum
security. Although it would be a major operation, and expensive,
there are many extra benefits to be derived besides the data on
unidentified aerial objects.
The question of just what would be accomplished by the proposed
experiment occurs. Just how could the problem of these
unidentified objects be solved? From this test area, during the
time of the experiment, it can be assumed that there would be a
steady flow of reports from ordinary civilian observers, in
addition to those by military or other official observers.
It should be possible by such a controlled experiment to prove
the identity of all objects reported, or to determine
positively that there were objects present of unknown identity.
Any hoaxes under a set-up such as this could almost certainly be
exposed, perhaps not publicly, but at least to the military.
In addition, by having resulting data from the controlled
experiment, reports for the last five years could be
re-evaluated, in the light of similar but positive information.
This should make possible reasonably certain conclusions
concerning the importance of the problem of "flying saucers".
Results of an experiment such as described could assist the Air
Force to determine how much attention to pay to future situations
when, as in the past summer, there were thousands of sightings
reported. In the future, then, the Air Force should be able to
make positive statements, reassuring to the public, and to the
effect that everything is well under control.
Very truly yours,
[unsigned]
H.C. Cross
____________________________________________________
[following is a related response from Jacques Vallee]
27 April 1993
Barry Greenwood
JUST CAUSE
Dear Barry:
Thank you for sending me your thoughtful commentary about the
Pentacle document. I do agree with you on one point: the
significance of the memo comes, in part, from what it does not
say. In particular, it makes no reference to any recovered UFO
hardware, at Roswell or elsewhere, or to alien bodies. The
greater significance of what it does say will slowly emerge in
coming years as the overall implications come to light. Let me
draw your attention to three specific points.
1. Project Twinkle and other observational efforts by the
military, which you mention in an effort to show that Pentacle
was only dusting off an old idea, were purely passive projects.
In sharp contrast the Pentacle proposal goes far beyond anything
mentioned before.
It daringly states that "many different types of aerial
activity should be SECRETLY AND PURPOSEFULLY SCHEDULED
WITHIN THE AREA (my emphasis)."
It is difficult to be more clear. We are not talking simply
about setting up observing stations and cameras.
We are talking about large-scale, covert simulation of UFO
waves under military control.
2. The greatest implication, which is perhaps not obvious on
first reading but which amounts to a scandal of major proportion
in the eyes of any scientist, has to do with the outright
manipulation of the Robertson panel. Here is a special meeting of
the five most eminent scientists in the land, assembled by the
government to discuss a matter of national security. Not only
are they not made aware of all the data, but another group has
already decided "what can and cannot be discussed (Pentacle's own
words!)" when they meet. Dr. Hynek categorically stated to me
that the panel was not briefed about the Pentacle proposals.
3. Revelation of this document may seem irrelevant to Just
Cause, but its explosive nature wasn't lost on Battelle
[Institute, a DoD think tank]. As I noted in Forbidden Science,
and as Fred Beckman vividly recalls to this day, the Project
Stork team reacted with fury when Hynek went back to Battelle in
1967, demanding to know the truth. The man I have called Pentacle
snatched his notes away and told him in no uncertain terms that
the contents of the memo were not to be discussed, under any
circumstances.
[[In Forbidden Science, Vallee notes in June of 1967: "What
these people were recommending was nothing less than a carefully
calibrated and monitored simulation of an entire UFO wave" and
asks "For whom did 'Pentacle' work? Did the proposed experiment
take place? Who were these people who calmly sat around the table
with the CIA and the Air Force and who, many years before us,
understood the need to acquire second-generation data?"
And of the insights of his friend Dr. Hynek, he states
"Hynek had once assured me that if it ever turned out that a
secret study had been conducted, the American public would raise
an unbelievable stink against the military and intelligence
communities. It would be an outrage, he said, an insult to the
whole country, not to mention a violation of the most cherished
principles of American democracy." (p. 285)
Elsewhere, regarding the Pentacle document he remarks, "It
is hard to excuse the betrayal of science that took place when
the intelligence community decided to bar the Robertson Panel
from direct access to the knowledge Pentacle and his group had
obtained." While of Hynek, he laments, "Hynek was a quiet man,
who disliked confrontation and scandal, feared authority and was
in awe of secrecy. He once told me plainly that 'he would not
look under the bed even if he knew for certain that something was
hidden there.'" (pp. 425-426)]]
The Pentacle memo only proves that scientific studies of
UFOs (and even their classified components) have been manipulated
since the fifties.
But it also suggests several avenues of research which are
vital to the future of this field:
Why were Pentacle's proposals kept from the panel?
Were his plans for a secret simulation of UFO waves
implemented? If so, when, where and how?
What was discovered as a result?
Are these simulations still going on?
I invite your group to turn its investigative resources and
its analytical talent to this important task.
In reading Forbidden Science, you should recognize that the
book is a Diary, no, an analytical report or a memoir. Therefore
many important inferences, many relevant details, can only be
found by reading between the lines. Your preliminary analysis of
the Pentacle memo is not unfair, but it is somewhat simplistic,
and it takes it out of context. I invite you to go back for a
second, closer reading.
/s/ Jacques Vallee
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic
screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters
and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright
frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects
spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL
gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers;
be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and
nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
