UFO Potpourri No 400

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: 400
Date: February 1996
Publisher: John F. Schuessler
Country: USA

This issue of UFO Potpourri focuses on the passing of astrophysicist Dr. Thornton Page and delves into his contributions to UFO research, particularly his involvement with the CIA-sponsored Robertson Panel. It also touches upon the historical context of UFO investigations, the challenges of declassifying information, and the ongoing debate about the nature of unidentified flying objects.

Dr. Thornton Page Dies

The lead article announces the death of Astrophysicist Thornton Page on January 2, 1996, at his home in Nassau Bay, Texas. He was 82. Dr. Page was a notable figure among ufologists for his participation in the Robertson Panel, a group of five scientists who deliberated on the subject of UFOs under CIA sponsorship. The panel met from January 14-17, 1953, in Washington, D.C.

Page's background included being a former professor of astronomy at the University of Chicago, a physicist at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory during World War II, and deputy director of the Johns Hopkins' Operations Research Office. More information about the Robertson Panel's activities is referenced in Dr. David Jacobs' book, "The UFO Controversy in America."

A quote from the Houston Chronicle on February 12, 1975, attributes Dr. Page as stating that while some UFO sightings remain unexplained, the question of their validity should remain open. He estimated that 95 percent of UFO reports are easily explained, with 2-3 percent being hoaxes, but considered the remaining percentage to be what "keeps the spice in life."

Dr. Page also recounted an incident where the crew of a military airplane flying over the Dallas area in 1957 reported a glowing light following them for 700 miles. This object was detected by both the plane's radar and ground radar. An explanation offered was that radars had temporarily failed and the crew had seen a meteor simultaneously, which Page called "a pretty forced explanation."

Despite not having seen a UFO himself, Page stated, "We should never claim that we understand and can explain everything."

Dr. Page's writings on "The Search for Extraterrestrial Life: Recent Developments" suggest that UFOs could be considered primary evidence for ETI (Extraterrestrial Intelligence).

Consultant with NASA, Scientist Dies

This article, also from the Houston Chronicle dated Wednesday, January 3, 1996, provides further details on the life and career of Astrophysicist Thornton Leigh Page. It notes his consultation with NASA on orbiting observatories and his authorship of books on galactic evolution. He died at age 82.

Page's career spanned seven decades, encompassing advances in spectroscopy, high-energy physics, and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and Gamma Ray Observatory. He served as a research associate at the Johnson Space Center in Houston from 1968 to 1970 and again from 1976 to 1993. He was also a part-time instructor at the University of Houston-Clear Lake from 1982 to 1988.

He graduated from Yale University in 1934 and earned his doctorate in astrophysics from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. Page co-authored a 1974 book with Carl Sagan titled, "UFOs: A Scientific Debate."

He is survived by his wife, Lou, of Nassau Bay.

The Need for UFO Studies and the Robertson Panel's Legacy

An entry dated February 9, 1980, quotes Dr. Page on the necessity of UFO studies. He argued that despite over half the U.S. public believing in UFOs, it would be "foolhardy to ignore them." He stressed the importance of studying significant cases and collecting data soon after events, as it could indicate new physical phenomena and be significant for sociological-psychological studies. In "UFO's - A Scientific Debate," it was concluded that by 1968, either physical or social scientists needed to change their views on the UFO phenomenon.

Dr. Page also highlighted the need for increased funding for the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) and associated organizations, suggesting a doubling of its budget. He identified two specific studies neglected due to lack of funds:

1. A study of Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Prairie Network photos for possible UFO evidence, estimated to cost $200,000 for two photo-interpreters over three years.
2. An extended study of current NORAD radar data during UFO reports, requiring electronic specialists and special computer equipment, costing approximately $200,000 per year, with a potential total cost of $600,000 for a two-year study.

He emphasized that study results, whether positive or negative, should be reported in an objective, scientific format.

The Robertson Report and the CIA

In 1995, the Fund For UFO Research published "UFOs and Science: The Collected Writings of Dr. James E. McDonald." On page 175, Dr. McDonald discusses "The Robertson Report and the CIA."

McDonald describes the Robertson Panel's work, which involved reviewing about eight UFO reports in detail and fifteen others on a briefing basis over two working days, followed by two days of summarizing and report-drafting from January 14-17, 1953. He considers this Panel's work a "turning point in the history of UFO investigation."

McDonald recounts his attempts to obtain the full Robertson Panel report from Project Bluebook at WPAFB. He was initially given the report by Major Hector Quintanilla, who stated it had been "routinely declassified" under the "12-year rule" for DOD documents. McDonald made extensive notes and discussed the content with Quintanilla.

However, on a subsequent visit, a Xerox copy of the report was prepared but not given to McDonald. A superior officer suggested that due to the involvement of "another agency," checks were needed before release. McDonald reminded them of his prior notes and discussions, but the copy was never sent.

The "other agency," the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), ruled that the document did not fall under the "12-year rule" and reclassified it. Although a "sanitized version" was later released, the full document remained undisclosed. John Lear published sections of this "sanitized version" after requesting full release and receiving only the partial document.

McDonald noted that the Robertson Panel's fourth recommendation, as stated in the document, was for a systematic "debunking of the flying saucers" with the objective to "reduce public interest in flying saucers."

McDonald concludes that "even persons who have not seen the entire document, as I have, can sense that a minor tragedy of science may have been effected in January, 1953."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the legacy of scientific inquiry into UFO phenomena, the role of prominent scientists in investigating such phenomena, and the perceived obstacles to transparency and open research posed by government agencies. The editorial stance appears to favor continued, rigorous scientific investigation of UFOs, acknowledging the possibility of unexplained phenomena while also recognizing the need for critical analysis and the debunking of hoaxes. There is an underlying concern about government secrecy and its impact on scientific progress in the field of ufology.