1969 04 00 Male - John Keel - What the CIA is not telling you about Flying Saucers

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Flying Saucers" (published by MALE in April 1969) features an article titled "What The C.I.A. Is Not Telling About Flying Saucers" by John A. Keel. The cover boldly proclaims that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is withholding information about flying saucers, and the accompanying text suggests that individuals or groups involved in the UFO controversy may be discredited or silenced by the CIA, with even the United States Air Force not immune.

C.I.A. is Up About Saucers

The main article by John A. Keel posits that for nearly a generation, UFO enthusiasts have accused the CIA of intercepting mail, tapping telephones, and ordering witnesses to remain silent. Numerous reliable citizens have reported being harassed or threatened by individuals claiming to represent the U.S. government. The article suggests these tactics aim to suppress information about flying saucers. However, it also raises the possibility that a mysterious third party, rather than the U.S. Air Force or CIA, might be orchestrating these harassments and cleverly focusing blame on these agencies.

Evidence suggests that no known government agency takes the UFO "problem" seriously, but an unseen group is allegedly conducting a carefully planned campaign. The article details the historical context of UFO investigations, starting with the "flying saucer" scare of June 1947. It highlights the CIA's initial involvement in studying UFOs in the early 1950s due to concerns about potential foreign origins. The agency later declassified materials and stated that the matter was the responsibility of the Air Force.

The article criticizes the official government stance, particularly the actions of General Vandenberg, who allegedly rejected a "TOP SECRET ESTIMATE OF THE SITUATION" from ATIC in 1948 that concluded UFOs were real and potentially extraterrestrial. Project Sign was dissolved, and replaced by Project Grudge, which aimed to explain away UFO sightings as delusions, hoaxes, or natural phenomena. This led to the termination of official Air Force UFO investigations.

Despite the official stance, the article notes that "mystery men" claiming to represent the government continued to investigate UFO cases, with their identities often untraceable and vehicle license plates unissued. The establishment of Project Blue Book in 1951, headed by Captain Edward Ruppelt, marked a renewed effort to study UFO evidence. However, a 1953 CIA-convened panel, allegedly influenced by a single "ringer" agent, recommended a policy of debunking and disinterest, turning Project Blue Book into a public relations office.

Air Force Regulation 200-2, issued in August 1953, ordered Air Force personnel to remain silent about UFO sightings. The article contends that the government's policy was well-shaped by the end of 1953, influencing other branches of the service. The author laments that much of the historical documentation is lost or destroyed, making it difficult to fully understand the government's official UFO position.

The article recounts the events leading up to the 1947 "flying saucer" headlines, the Air Force's automatic investigation, and the subsequent filtering of findings to higher authorities. It criticizes General Vandenberg's rejection of the ATIC estimate and the subsequent establishment of Project Grudge as a whitewash. The author speculates that Vandenberg and the CIA might have already known something significant about UFOs, and it was important to keep the Air Force in the dark.

The narrative of UFO investigations being stopped before going too far is repeated with Project Blue Book in 1953. Captain Ruppelt's book, "Report on Unidentified Flying Objects," is cited as a valuable resource. The article suggests that even in 1952, some scientists already understood UFO patterns and could predict sightings. The CIA's role in reviewing findings and laying the groundwork for present government policy is emphasized, with the panel allegedly designed to dismiss evidence.

Since 1953, the article claims, Air Force UFO investigations have been "laughable," with carelessly assembled statistics and a focus on providing simple explanations. The author concludes that UFO enthusiasts and organizations have been battling the Air Force and denouncing the CIA, but Ruppelt and his successors were likely pawns in a larger game. The CIA, lacking the authority to investigate UFO incidents, has, by its silence, revealed more than it has by speaking. The problems surrounding UFOs are presented as deeper and more complex than generally comprehended.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The central theme of this issue is government secrecy and alleged cover-ups related to UFO phenomena, particularly involving the CIA and the U.S. Air Force. The editorial stance is critical of official government investigations, portraying them as attempts to debunk, discredit, and suppress information rather than to genuinely understand the UFO mystery. The article suggests a deliberate, possibly orchestrated, campaign to mislead the public and control the narrative surrounding flying saucers. It highlights the historical evolution of official UFO policy from investigation to dismissal and public relations management.