Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects, Report, 1952-1953

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levele in 8UCh -4ucation from enlisted personnel to COllll8m and research
parsomiel. Relative ~1• am degree ot explanation ~ ditterent
programs WOl1ld 001Teaponi to the categories ot dut7 (e_,g., radar operatoraJ
pilotaJ oontrol tower operators; Groun4 Observer Corpe personnal.J am
otticars and enlisted men in other categar!.ea.) Th18 tra1n!ng should
r~t 1n a marked reduction in reports caused by m1sidentit1cat1on
end renltant oanf\\td.mo
The'\lebrnktns" a.1m vould result in rednction in public interest
in •t1y111g saucers• which toc:1ay evokes a strong J)B1Chological reactiono
This edueat~on could be acc!'J!IPlished b.Y Jm1BS mecUa such as tal.et1.aion,
~on pictures,~ pop.uar artiol'.es. Buie or such education wauld
be actual oaae hiatar'iea which had been pizzliDg at ~at bit later
m:pla1ned. As 1n the case or conjurlng tricks, there is moch leu
etJmn)a:t1on 1f the •eacret" is known.
Such a program should tend to
reduce the current gullibllit;y or tho piblic am consequentq their
auceptib1lit7 to clever hostile propaganda. The .Panel noted that the
general a~.of Rusa1an pt"Opaganda based on a subject with so naav
obvious poae1hU1t1ea tor 81tplo1ta~on ~ght 1nd1cate a ~"Saible Russian
ott1c1al policy.
1-bm."8 or the Panel.had variows auggestiou related to the plan­
nbg ot 8UOh an educational program. It was felt strongq that
peyehologists fandltar vith ma.ea psychology should advise on the nature
and extent ot the programo In this connection, Dro Hadlq Cantril
(Princeton Um.varsity) \188 suggested. Cantril authored "Invaaion tram