AIR FORCE REQUEST TO DECLASSIFY CIA MATERIAL ON UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFO)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81R00560R000100040001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 53
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2001
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: September 1, 1966
• Content Type: MF

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Memorandum for the D/CI
Subject: Air Force Request to Declassify CIA Material on Unidentified
Flying Objects (UFO)
1. The following is a brief review of events pertinent to the
subject matter.
2. In 1953 OSI convened a panel of scientists to consider reports
on unidentified flying objects and to advise us on the potential threat
to national security. This resulted in a report classified "secret."
Ms
in the UFO
sion of the
ning CIA
on of the 1953
stification for
0. In LIs r.}uch ,s a sanit e v rsion of the 1953 report had been
released to the Air Force in 1957, we requested clarification in a
meeting with an Air Force representative on 19 July. (See attachment C)
During this meeting the Air Force representative showed us a USAF copy of
the 1953 CIA report. It was stamped unclassified, indicating that the
classification had been changed sometime prior to 19 July.
7. A new request dated 27 July was prepared by USAF. (See
attachment D)
*USAF Declass/Release Instructions On File*
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._* 6B
Memorandum for the D/CI
Subject: Air Force Request to Declassify CIA Material on Unidentified
Flying Objects (UFO)
1. The following is a brief review of events pertinent to the
subject matter.
2. In 1953 OSI convened a panel of scientists to consider reports
on unidentified flying objects and to advise us on the potential threat
to national security. This resulted in a report classified "secret."
3. In 1957 following some publicity on CIA involvement in the UFO
problem, the USAF requested and obtained an unclassified version of the
conclusions of the 1953 report. That version avoided mentioning CIA
ST
involvement. (See attachment A)
5. On 12 July 1966 USAF again requested declassification of the 1953
re-,),D-1,'U. ( "'Lt--chment B) Prior -ublicity was given as justification for
down;ractin,.
o. InF cs' much -s a sari t L r r-, v..,- --.1 r of the 1953 report had been
released to the Air Force in 1957, we requested clarification in a
meeting with an Air Force representative on 19 July. (See attachment C)
During this meeting the Air Force representative showed us a USAF copy of
the 1953 CIA report. It was stamped unclassified, indicating that the
classification had been changed sometime prior to 19 July.
7. A new request dated 27 July was prepared by USAF. (See
attachment D)
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ATINTL
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8. On 10 August the Air Force representative called to ask about
the status of our reply. She stated that L1r. John Lear a newsman, had
-)ublished an article on UFO ` s in the Saturday Revietr. (See attachment
E, paragraph 3) This was the first indication during the recent interchanges
that the USAF wanted to release the complete CIA report to the public.
9. On 15 August a declassified version of the complete 1953 report
was forwarded to the Air Force. (See attachment F)
10. Prior to USAF receipt of the OSI reply, the Air Force called
twice on 16 August to determine the status of our response and to ask
about the extent of the sanitizing.
11. They called again on 18 August to request return of the USAF
copy of the CIA report which had been sent to us for sanitizing. (See
attachment G)
STATINTL
STATINTL
OSI/DSD/ACI,M:
Uxe%ATVUUT~Wce~
ch/7621 (1 September 66)
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PF, Gun Iii;*6116h U,-; 1P
$ S AUG *o
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD:
SUBJECT: Air Force Request to Declassify CIA UFO Report
REPERENCZ: 1. Memo to Ch/DSD dated 20 July 1966
2. Memo for Record died 12 August 1966
1. Mrs. Sara Hunt of the Air Force Office of Informa-
tion called the undersigned twice on 16 August and once on'
18 August.
2. The first time she asked if our response had got-
ten out and I told her it had. She requested the phone num--
STATINTLbeT of the office ible for issuing the reply and I
gave her res onsnumber.
3. The second time Mrs. Hunt called she wanted to
know the extent of the deletions, if any. I told her that,
at least, reference to CIA and names of CIA employees were
removed, and that I had heard that some additional sanitiz-
ing probably was done in the processing of the reply.
4. The devat" call was to state that Air Force had
received our response, and to ask for the return of their
copy of the CIA report which had been forwarded to us with
the request for declassification.
STATINTL
Distribution:
Orin & 1 - ACME/D8D/OSI
1 - DSD/OSI
1 - EO/OSI
08I/DSD/ACME:
STATINTL
FOR IA
:sjm/7621 (23 Aug 66)
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General.
The Panel Members were impressed with the lack of
sound data in the great majority of case histories. Among
the case histories of significant sightings discussed in
detail were the following:
Bellefontaine, Ohio (1 August 1952); Tremonton, Utah
(2 July 1952); Great Falls, Montana (15 August 1950);
Yaak, Montana (1 September 1952); Washington, D.C.
area (19 July 1952); and Haneda A.F.B., Japan
(5 August 1952), Port Huron, Michigan (29 July 1952);
and Presque Isle, Maine (10 October 1952).
After review and discussion of these cases (and about
15 others, in less detail), the Panel concluded that
reasonable explanations could be suggested for most sight-
ings and "by deduction and scientific method it could be
induced (given additional data) that other cases might be
explained in a similar manner". The Panel pointed out that
because of the brevity of some sightings (e.g., 2-3 seconds)
and the inability of the witnesses to express themselves
clearly (semantics) that conclusive explanations could not
be expected for every case reported. Furthermore, it was
considered that, normally, it would be a great waste of
effort to try to solve most of the sightings, unless such
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action would benefit a training and educational program
(see below). The writings of Charles Fort were referenced
to show that "strange things in the sky" had been recorded
for hundreds of years. It appeared obvious that there was
no single explanation for a majority of the things seen.
On Lack of Danger.
The Panel concluded unanimously that there was no
evidence of a direct threat to national security in the
objects sighted. Instances of "Foo Fighters" were cited.
These were unexplained phenomena sighted by aircraft
pilots during World War Il.in both European and Far East
theaters of operation wherein "balls of light" would fly
near or with the aircraft and maneuver rapidly. They were
believed to be electrostatic (similar to St. Elmo's fire)
or electromagnetic phenomena or possibly light reflections
from ice crystals in the air, but their exact cause or
nature was never defined. If the term "flying saucers"
had been popular in 1943-1945, these objects would have
been so labeled.
Air Force Reporting System.
It was the Panel's opinion that some of the Air Force
concern over UFO's (notwithstanding Air Defense Command
anxiety over fast radar tracks) was probably caused by
public pressure. The result today is that the Air Force
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has instituted a fine channel for receiving reports of
nearly anything anyone sees in the sky and fails to under-
stand. This has been particularly encouraged in popular
articles on this and other subjects, such as space travel
and science fiction. The result is the mass receipt of
low-grade reports which tend to overload channels of
communication with material quite irrelevant to hostile
objects that might some day appear. The Panel agreed
generally that this mass of poor-quality reports containing
little, if any, scientific data was of no value. Quite
the opposite, it was possibly dangerous in having a military
service foster public concern in "nocturnal meandering
lights". The implication being, since the interested
agency was military, that these objects were or might be
potential direct threats to national security. Accordingly,
the need for deemphasization made itself apparent. Comments
on a possible educational program are enumerated below.
It was the opinion of one of the Panel members that
the "saucer" problem had been found to be different in
nature from the detection and investigation of German V-1
and V-2 guided missiles prior to their operational use in
World War II. In this 1943-1944 intelligence operation
(CROSSBOW), there was excellent intelligence, and by June
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I. soO? A::OO
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1944 there was material evidence of the existence of
"hardware" obtained from crashed vehicles in Sweden. This
evidence gave the investigating team a basis upon which to
operate. The absence of any "hardware" resulting from
unexplained UFO sightings lends a "will-of-the-wisp" nature
to the problem. The results of the investigation, to date,
strongly indicate that no evidence of hostile act or
danger exists. Furthermore, the current reporting system
would have little value in the case of detection of enemy
attack by conventional aircraft or guided missiles; under
such conditions "hardware" would be available almost at
once.
Artifacts of Extraterrestial Origin.
It was interesting to note that none of the members of
the Panel were loath to accept that this earth might be
visited by extraterrestrial intelligence beings of some
11/1
sort, some day. What they did not find was any evidence
that related the objects sighted to space travelers. One
of the Panel members,.in his presentation, showed how he
had eliminated each of the known and probable causes of
sightings leaving him "extra-terrestial" as the only one
remaining in many cases. His background as an aeronaut-
ical engineer and technical intelligence officer could not
be slighted. However, the Panel could not accept any of
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the cases cited by him because they were raw, unevaluated
reports. Terrestrial explanations of the sightings were
suggested in some cases, and in others the time of sighting
was so short as to cause suspicion of visual impressions.
It was noted by others of the Panel members that extra-
terrestrial artifacts, if they did exist, are no cause for
alarm; rather, they are in the realm of natural phenomena
subject to scientific study, just as cosmic rays were at
the time of their discovery 20 to 30 years ago. This was
an attitude in which another of the Panel members did not
concur, as he felt that such artifacts would be of immediate
and great concern not only to the U.S. but to all countries.
(Nothing like a common threat to unite peoples!) It was
noted that present astronomical knowledge of the solar system
makes the existence of intelligence beings (as we know the
term) elsewhere than on the earth extremely unlikely, and
the concentration of their attention by any controllable
means confined to any one continent of the earth quite
preposterous.
Tremonton, Utah, Sighting.
This case was considered significant because of the
excellent documentary evidence in the form of Kodachrome
motion picture films (about 1600 frames). The Panel
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studied these films, the case history, ATIC's interpreta-
tion, and received a briefing by representatives of the
USN Photo Interpretation Laboratory on their analysis of
the film. This team had expended (at Air Force request)
approximately 1000 man-hours of professional and sub-
professional time in the preparation of graph plots of
individual frames of the film, showing apparent and
relative motion of objects and variation in their light
intensity. It was the opinion of the P.I.L. representatives
that the objects sighted were not birds, balloons or
aircraft, were "not reflections because there was no
blinking while passing through 60? of arc" and were,
therefore, "self-luminous". Plots of motion and variation
in light intensity of the objects were displayed. While
the Panel Members were impressed by the evident enthusiasm,
industry and extent of effort of the P.I.L. team, they
would not accept the conclusions reached. Some of the
reasons for this were as follows:
a. A semi-spherical object can readily
produce a reflection of sunlight without "blink-
ing" through 60 0 of arc travel.
b. Although no date was available on the
"albedo" of birds or polyethylene balloons
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in bright sunlight, the apparent motions, sizes
and brightnesses of the objects were considered
strongly to suggest birds, particularly after the
Panel viewed a short film showing high reflectivity
of seagulls in bright sunlight.
c. P.I.L. description of the objects sighted
as "circular, bluish-white" in color would be
expected in cases of specular reflections of sun-
light from convex surfaces where the brilliance
of the reflection would obscure other portions of
the object.
d. Objects in the Great Falls case were
believed to have probably been aircraft, and the
bright lights such reflections.
e. There was no valid reason for the attempt
to relate the objects in the Tremonton sighting to
those in the Great Falls sighting. This may have
been due to misunderstanding in their directive.
The objects in the Great Falls sighting are
strongly suspected of being reflections of air-
craft known to have been in the area.
f. The intensity change in the Tremonton
lights was too great for acceptance of the P.I.L.
hypothesis that the apparent motion and changing
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intensity of the lights indicated extremely high
speed in small orbital paths.
g. Apparent lack of guidance of investi-
gators by those familiar with UFO reports and
explanations.
h. Analysis of light intensity of objects
made from duplicate rather than original film.
The original film was noted to have a much lighter
background (affecting relative brightness of
object) and the objects appeared much less bright.
i. Method of obtaining data of light
intensity appeared faulty because of unsuitability
of equipment and questionable assumptions in making
averages of readings.
j. No data had been obtained on the sensi-
tivity of Kodachrome film to light of various
intensities using the same camera type at the
same lens openings.
k. Hand "jitter" frequencies (obtainable
from early part of Tremonton film) were not
removed from the plots of the "single pass plots"
at the end of the film.
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The Panel believed strongly that the data available
on this sighting was sufficient for positive identification
if further data is obtained by photographing polyethylene
"pillow" balloons released near the site under similar
weather conditions, checking bird flight and reflection
characteristics with competent ornithologists and calculating
apparent "G" forces acting upon objects from their apparent
tracks. It was concluded that the results of such tests
would probably lead to creditable explanations. of value in
an educational or training program. However, the Panel
noted that the cost in technical manpower effort required
to follow up and explain every one of the thousand or
more reports received through channels each year (1,900 in
1952) could not be justified. It was felt that there will
always be sightings, for which complete data is lacking,
that can only be explained with disproportionate effort
and with a long time delay, if at all. The long delay in
explaining a sighting tends to eliminate any intelligence
value. The educational or training program should have
as a major purpose the elimination of popular feeling that
every sighting, no matter how poor the data, must be
explained in detail. Attention should be directed to the
requirement among scientists that a new phenomena, to be
accepted, must be completely and convincingly documented.
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'O d Oti3X
In other words, the burden of proof is on the sighter,
not the explainer.
Potential Related Dangers.
The Panel Members were in agreement that although
evidence of any direct threat from these sightings was
wholly lacking, related dangers might well exist resulting
from:
a. Misidentification of actual enemy arti-
facts by defense personnel.
b. Overloading of emergency reporting
channels with "false" information ("noiseto signal
ratio").
c. Subjectivity of public to mass hysteria
and greater vulnerability to possible enemy
psychological warfare.
The -first two of these problems may seriously affect
the Air Defense intelligence system, and should be studied
by experts, possibly under ADC. If UFO's become dis-
credited in a reaction to the "flying saucer" scare, or if
reporting channels are saturated with false and poorly
documented reports, our capability of detecting hostile
activity will be reduced. More competent screening or
filtering of reported sightings at or near the source is
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required, and this can best be accomplished by an educa-
tional program.
Geographic Locations of Unexplained Sightings.
The map prepared by ATIC showing geographic locations
of officially reported unexplained sightings (1952 only)
was examined by the Panel. This map showed clusters in
certain strategic areas such as Los Alamos. This might
be explained on the basis of 24-hour watchful guard and
awareness of security measures near such locations. On
the other hand, there had been no sightings in the vicinity
of sensitive related AE establishments while there were
occasionally multiple cases of unexplained sightings in
non-strategic areas. Furthermore, there appeared to be
no logical relationship to population centers. The Panel
could find no ready explanation for these clusters. It
was noted, however, that if terrestrial artifacts were to
be observed, it would be likely that they would be seen
first near foreign areas rather than central U.S.
Instrumentation to Obtain Data.
The Panel was of the opinion that the present ATIC
program to place 100 inexpensive 35 mm. stereo cameras
(Videon Cameras) in the hands of various airport control
tower operators would probably produce little valuable
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data related to UFO's. However, it was recognized that
such action would tend to allay public concern in the
subject until an educational program had taken effect. It
was believed that procurement of these cameras was partly
the result of-public pressure in July 1952. With the poor
results of the year-long Project TWINKLE program of 24-hour
instrumentation watch (two frames of film showing nothing
distinguishable), a widespread program of skywatching would
not be expected to yield much direct data of value.
There was considerable discussion of a possible "sky
patrol" by amateur astronomers and by wide-angle cameras.
It was pointed out that at present a considerable fraction
of the sky is now -- and has been for many years -- under
surveillance every clear night in several meteor and aurora
observing programs as well as sky mapping programs at the
various locations listed below. Although the attention of
these astronomers is largely directed toward identified
rather than unidentified objects, no case of any striking
unidentified object is known to the Panel. Such an object
would most certainly be reported if found on patrol plates.
A case was cited where an astronomer refused to
interrupt his exposure in order to photograph an alleged
sighting in a different part of the sky, suggesting that if
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a program of watching could be an adjunct of planned
astronomical programs, little cost would be involved and
that the trained astronomical personnel might photograph
a sighting of an unidentified object.
It was agreed by the Panel that no government-sponsored
program of optical nation-wide sky patrol is worthwhile
at the present time, and that the encouragement of amateur
astronomers to undertake such a program might have the
adverse effect of over-emphasizing "flying saucer" stories
in the public mind. However, the issue of radar-scope
cameras for recording peculiar radar echoes would serve
several purposes, including the better understanding of
radar interference as well as identification of UFO's.
Radar Problem of Mutual Interference.
This characteristic problem of radar operation
wherein the pulse signal (of approximately the same
frequency) from station A may be picked up on the screen
of station B and show as a high-speed track or series of
dots was recognized to have probably caused a number of
UFO reports. This problem was underlined by information
received indicating ADC concern in solving this problem
of signal identification before service use of very
high-speed aircraft or guided missiles (1955-1956). One
13
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Panel member believed that one answer to this problem was
the use of a "doppler filter" in the receiving circuit.
Another suggested that the problem might be better solved
by the use of a "controlled jitter" wherein the operator
receiving "very fast tracks" (on the order of 1000-10,000
mph) would operate a circuit which would alter slightly
his station's pulse frequency rate. If the signal received
on the screen had been caused by mutual interference with.
another station, the track would now show itself at a
different distance from the center of the screen, if it
still appeared at all. Such a technical solution was thought
to be simpler and would cost much less than a "doppler filter".
Unexplained Cosmic Ray Phenomena.
Two reported cases were examined: one at Palomar
Mountain, California, in October 1949, when cosmic ray
counters went "off scale for a few seconds", apparently
while a "V" of flying saucers was observed visually; and
two, a series of observations by the "Los Alamos Bird
Watchers Association" from August 1950 to January 1951,
when cosmic ray coincidence counters behaved queerly.
Circuit diagrams and records were available for the latter,
and a Panel member was also quickly to point out that the
recorded data were undoubtedly due to instrumental effects
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that would have been recognized as such by more experienced
observers.
The implication that radioactive effects were cor-
related with unidentified flying objects in these two cases
was, therefore, rejected by the Panel.
Educational Program.
The Panel's concept of a broad educational program
integrating efforts of all concerned agencies was that it
should have two major aims: training and "debunking".
The training aim would result in proper recognition
of unusually illuminated objects (e.g., balloons, aircraft
reflections) as well as natural phenomena (meteors, fire-
balls, mirages, noctilucent clouds). Both visual and
radar recognition are concerned. There would be many levels
in such education from enlisted personnel to command and
research personnel. Relative emphasis and degree of
explanation of different programs would correspond to the
categories of duty (e.g., radar operators; pilots; control
tower operators; Ground Observer Corps personnel; and
officers and enlisted men in other categories). This
training should result in a marked reduction in reports
caused by misidentification and resultant confusion.
The "debunking" aim would result in reduction in
public interest in "flying saucers" which today evqkes a
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strong psychological reaction. This education could be
accomplished by mass media such as television, motion
pictures, and popular articles. Basis of such education
would be actual case histories which had been puzzling
at first but later explained. As in the case of conjuring
tricks, there is much less stimulation if the "secret's is
known. Such a program should tend to reduce the current
gullibility of the public and consequently their suscepti-
bility to clever hostile propaganda.
Members of the Panel had various suggestions related
to the planning of such an educational program. It was
felt strongly that psychologists familiar with mass psy-
chology should advise on the nature and extent of the
program. Also, someone familiar with mass communication
techniques, perhaps an advertising expert, would be helpful.
The teaching techniques used for aircraft identification
during the past war were cited as an example of a similar
educational task. The amateur astronomers in the U.S.
might be a potential source of enthusiastic talent "to
spread the gospel". It was believed that business clubs,
high schools, colleges, and television stations would all
be pleased to cooperate in the showing of documentary
type motion pictures if prepared in an interesting manner.
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The use of true cases showing first the "mystery" and
then the "explanations" would be forceful.
To plan and execute such a program, the Panel believed
was no mean task. The current investigatory group at ATIC
would, of necessity, have to be closely integrated for
support with respect to not only the historical cases but
the current ones. Recent cases are probably much more
susceptible to explanation than older ones; first, because
of ATIC's experience and, secondly, their knowledge of most
plausible explanations. The Panel believed that some
expansion of the ATIC effort would certainly be required
to support such a program. It was believed inappropriate
to state exactly how large a Table of Organization would be
required.
The Panel believed that, with ATIC's support, the
educational program of "training and debunking" outlined
above might be required for a minimum of one and one-half
to two years. At the end of this time, the dangers related
to "flying saucers" should have been greatly reduced if not
eliminated. Cooperation from other military services and
agencies concerned (e.g., Federal Civil Defense Administra-
tion) would be a necessity. In investigating significant
cases (such as the Tremonton, Utah, sighting), controlled
experiments might be required. An example would be the
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photographying of "pillow balloons" at different distances
under similar weather conditions at the site.
The help of one or two psychologists and writers
and a subcontractor to produce training films would be
necessary in addition. The Panel corEidered that ATIC's
efforts, temporarily expanded as necessary, could be most
useful in implementing any action taken as a result of
its recommendations. Experience and records in ATIC would
be of value in both the public educational and service
training program envisaged. At least one Panel member was
of the opinion that after public gullibility lessened and
the service organizations, such as ADC, had been trained to
sift out the more readily explained spurious sightings,
there would still be a role for a very modest-sized ATIC
section to cope with the residuum of items of possible
scientific intelligence value. This section should con-
centrate on energetically following up those cases which
seemed to indicate the evidence of unconventional enemy
artifacts. Reports of such artifacts would be expected to
arise mainly from Western outposts in far closer proximity
to the Iron Curtain than Lubbock, Texas!
Unofficial Investigating Groups.
The Panel took cognizance of the existence of such
groups as the "Civilian Flying Saucer Investigators"
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 Approved For ease 2004/03/26: CIA-RDP81R00560100040001-7
(Los Angeles) and the "Aerial Phenomena Research Organ-
ization (Wisconsin)". It was believed that such organiza-
tions should be watched because of their potentially great
influence on mass thinking if widespread sightings should
occur. The apparent irresponsibility and the possible use
of such groups for subversive purposes should be kept in
mind.
Increase in Number of Sightings.
The consensus of the Panel was, based upon the history
of the subject, that the number of sightings could be
reasonably expected to increase again this summer.
Approved For Release 2004/03/26 : CIA-RDP81 R00560R0001 00040001-7
 Approved For Release 2004/03/26 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100040001-7
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