CIA-UAP-004: Case 17708 (Closed) and Dr. Leon Davidson, 1958

Source file: CIA-UAP-004-CASE_17708_CLOSED_AND_DR_LEON_DAVIDSON.pdf Originating agency: Central Intelligence Agency, Contact Division, Support Branch (Chicago Office) Document reference: CHI-58-17; Case 17708 Classification: CONFIDENTIAL (Approved for Release 2026) Date: 9 January 1958 Page count: 1 (read in full) VIRIN: 260508-O-D0360-1081 PURSUE Release: 3

Summary

This is a one-page internal CIA memorandum dated 9 January 1958, reference CHI-58-17, written from R.P.B. Lohmann (of the Contact Division's Support Branch) to the Chief of the Chicago Office. It reports the outcome of a telephone contact with Dr. Leon Davidson concerning Case 17708, described as closed. Davidson had been seeking to resolve questions about a "space message and its transmitter," records for which he was told had been destroyed by the evaluating agency.

The memo is candid about the CIA's approach: Davidson was given a "noncommittal and evasive answer" on instructions, and the author acknowledges this was "hardly fair to Davidson" and unlikely to satisfy him. The document also notes that Davidson almost certainly knew he was dealing with the CIA, and that he specifically mentioned "your agency" in a prior telephone conversation — meaning the CIA — with LaMountain.

Research Article

Background: Dr. Leon Davidson and the CIA

Dr. Leon Davidson was a chemical engineer and early civilian UFO researcher who is best known for his persistent efforts in the 1950s and 1960s to obtain government documents on flying saucers through what would now be recognized as early freedom-of-information-style inquiries. He was particularly focused on the CIA's role in UFO investigations and was convinced that the agency was suppressing or managing UFO information. This document provides a rare internal CIA perspective on how the agency handled Davidson's specific inquiries.

Case 17708 refers to Davidson's inquiry about a "space message and its transmitter." The memo notes that records relating to "the transmitter" had been destroyed by the evaluating agency — a statement Davidson was told, and which he indicated he had heard before.

The telephone contact

The memo reports that CIA officials contacted Davidson by telephone to advise him that his inquiry could not be resolved because the relevant records had been destroyed. Davidson accepted the statement but was not satisfied, noting he had been told this before. He also mentioned that he had a second article in preparation concerning Air Force handling of space sightings, then in the hands of Pentagon security review personnel — which he believed was mild enough to pass review. Davidson also hinted he might return to the matter of the space message at a later date.

The CIA's internal candor

Paragraph 2 of the memo is notable for its frankness. The author writes: "We appreciate that there have been many cooks in the kitchen on this dish and that, as a result, the extraordinarily noncommittal and evasive answer we were instructed to give Davidson was perhaps the only one possible if we were to avoid crossing up previous statements of our own, and other involved agencies, to this man. But the answer was hardly fair to Davidson, and one not likely to be fully accepted by him."

This passage reveals that the CIA's evasive response was a deliberate coordination strategy across multiple agencies, not simply a lack of information, and that the responsible officer recognized its inadequacy.

Davidson's awareness of the CIA

Paragraph 3 addresses a notable aspect of Davidson's knowledge: although effort had been made to conceal the CIA identity of officers Walker and Shakich who had previously contacted Davidson, the memo states the CIA was "reasonably sure" that when Davidson met with them in the Court of Appeals Building conference room, "he knew very well with whom he was dealing." Furthermore, in the Davidson-LaMountain telephone conversation, Davidson specifically mentioned "your agency" — presumably meaning the CIA.

Conclusion

The memo closes with the observation: "We are sure more will be heard from Davidson." This proved accurate: Davidson continued his UAP research and correspondence with government agencies for years afterward. The document is signed by R.P.B. Lohmann, with the notation "FXLaMountain:rs" indicating it was routed through LaMountain. The document is stamped "FULL TEXT COPY DO NOT RELEASE" and marked CONFIDENTIAL.

Key People

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Notable Quotes

"We appreciate that there have been many cooks in the kitchen on this dish and that, as a result, the extraordinarily noncommittal and evasive answer we were instructed to give Davidson was perhaps the only one possible if we were to avoid crossing up previous statements of our own, and other involved agencies, to this man. But the answer was hardly fair to Davidson, and one not likely to be fully accepted by him." — page 1

"We are reasonably sure that when Davidson talked to us in the Court of Appeals Building conference room, he knew very well with whom he was dealing, and in the Davidson-LaMountain telephone conversation, Davidson specifically mentioned 'your agency' by which he presumably meant CIA." — page 1

"We are sure more will be heard from Davidson." — page 1