• "The UFO Problem: Time fo

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    DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
    HEADQUARTERS AIR UNIVERSITY
    MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE AL 36112,5001

    October 16, 1992


    HQ AU/IMD
    50 LeMay Plaza South
    Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6334




    This is in response to your Freedom of Information Act request of September
    14, 1992, for a copy of the "Thesis Submitted to the Air Command and Staff College of Air University ..." entitled "The UFO Problem: Time for a Reassessment" by J. King, Major, USAF, dated June 1968.

    The requested document is releasable and a copy is attached. there is no charge for the document.

    Sincerely

    /s/ Lucy P. McInnis

    LUCY P. McINNIS 1 Atch
    Chief, Records Management Division Copy of Thesis
    Directorate of Information Management






    Strength Through Knowledge
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    AIR COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE




    THE UFO PROBLEM: TIME FOR A REASSESSMENT

    by

    John R.King, FR 47113, 1930-
    Major, USAF





    A Thesis Submitted to the Air and Staff College of
    Air University in Partial Fulfillment of
    The Requirements for Graduation



    June 1968

    Thesis directed by Dale E. Downing, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF
    No. 0670-68



    AIR UNIVERSITY

    MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, ALABAMA

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    ABSTRACT



    The debate centered around whether or not UFOs are
    extraterrestrial space vehicles, or whether they exist
    at all, has raged for many years. During the course of
    the debate the United States Air Force, official govern-
    ment agency responsible for UFO report evaluation, has
    been subjected to severe criticism for the manner in
    which it has handled this problem. This paper presents
    the positions of the critics, outlined the Air Force re-
    sponse and general approach to the subject and concludes
    that the Air Force has performed ineptly. Recommendations
    are made for the future conduct of UFO investigations.






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    PREFACE

    Anyone attempting a discussion of the UFO problem
    must present his scientific/technological credentials
    to the reader. Failure to present some assurance that
    things scientific and technological are not totally be-
    yond the comprehension of the writer exposes the writer
    to possible dismissal as untrained and/or unreliable.


    The writer of this paper presents the following:

    Occupation: Active duty Air Force officer with over
    fourteen years service.

    Academic Experience: Scientific. Chemistry, Biology,
    Botany, mathematics. Baccalaureate degree
    in Geology, University of Cincinnati, 1953.
    Member, Sigma Gamma Epsilon national geology
    honorary fraternity.

    Civilian Experience: Soils technician, The H. C. Nutting
    Company, General Engineering Testing, Cin-
    cinnati, Ohio.

    Air Force Experience: Technical officer. Communications-
    cs operation, maintenance. Radar
    site selection. Project Officer, Minuteman
    System program Office, in charge of develop-
    ment and aquisition of minuteman II Ground
    Electronics System (Launch Control and Sta-
    tus Monitoring System - digital data).



    iii

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    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Page

    ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii

    PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

    Chapter

    I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

    The Psychology of the Times
    The Antagonists and the Bewildered
    Formalities of the Approach to the Subject
    The Plan

    II. THE POSITION SPECTRUM AND SALIENT CHARACTERISTIC .. 9

    The Ultra Group (Hostile)
    The Ultra Group (Benevolent)
    The Normal Believers
    The Converts
    The Neutrals
    The Non-Believers

    III. THE AIR FORCE AND UFOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

    Past Performance
    The Current Situation

    IV. THE IMPLICATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

    Political
    Sociological
    Military

    V. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . . . . 91

    FOOTNOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

    APPENDIX A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

    APPENDIX B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

    APPENDIX C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

    APPENDIX D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

    BIBLIOGRAPHY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127


    iv
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTER I

    INTRODUCTION


    The Psychology of the Times

    We have not yet arrived at the point in our culture
    where it is in vogue to believe in flying saucers. On
    the contrary, if one suggests that these machines might
    exist, and that we need to look at the problem objective-
    ly, he frequently meets with a not so subtle change in
    the topic of conversation. Why is this so?
    Within the last twenty years, Man has discovered
    that through his conscious efforts he can improve his
    material lot in marvelous ways. He no longer waits for
    accidental discoveries to take place. Rather, he active-
    ly searches out answers in the physical sciences and con-
    verts these discoveries into tangible and practical materi-
    al things for the good of humanity. The general advance-
    ment of what is known as technology is attributed to
    scientists, to the scientific method, and to the pragma-
    tism of the laboratory. The accomplishments in technolo-
    gy have been so impressive that scientists and things sci-
    entific have assumed an aura almost of infallibility.

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    We are living in a pragmatic society. However, one
    detects a curious thing about all this objectivity. There
    has been built up almost a cult of allegiance to, and un-
    questioned confidence in, the scientist of today. the
    high priests are the coldly objective scientists, who
    "prove" truth and falsity in mathematical formulae and
    in laboratory demonstration. Their ability to do this
    in many areas has been quite convincing. This success
    has in large measure been responsible for the commonly
    heard statements, "It's not scientific," or, "Science
    has proven that...etc." Science is looked upon as the
    authority. However, people forget that some of the mis-
    conceptions of mankind have been shared with, or even
    caused by, the scientists of the times. The concept of
    the flat Earth and the concept of the Earth as the cen-
    ter of the universe were concepts commonly held by the
    scientists and people of the times. We today hold dif-
    ferent views about the nature of the Earth. Hopefully
    we are closer to the truth. It must be remembered that
    every succeeding generation has modified the scientific
    "truths" of past generations. No generation should be
    so brash as to think that it has once and for all deter-
    mined the ultimate in scientific truth.

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    Man continues to be egocentric and arrogant about
    his status in the universe. he has a tendency to be-
    come resentful and confused when he is confronted with
    a problem which he feels may be beyond his capacity.
    Scientists have developed what is known as the scienti-
    fic method. This approach to a problem includes as one
    of its precepts testing of hypotheses. This testing
    places emphasis on demonstrations perceivable to the
    five obvious senses. The scientific community until re-
    cently has looked askance at any attempt to include ad-
    ditional senses to the human inventory. Science has been
    using the five senses as the intellectual base for support-
    ing or refuting hypotheses. the scientific method has been
    sacrosanct. To challenge its adequacy has been heretical.
    Then along came things like psychic phenomena: clair-
    voyance, clairaudience, precognition, apportation, psychic
    surgery. In some scientific circles this must have been
    traumatic. Psychic attributes are not included in the
    five standard senses. Immediately some scientists set
    about to prove that demonstrations of psychic powers were
    either fraudulent or could be explained in terms of the
    five senses. Others refused to discuss the topic at all.
    Some of the open-minded scientists started to do what

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    True objectivity demands: investigate, on the assump-
    tion that these powers may in fact exist, and may war-
    rant a change in the established order of things. Out-
    of-hand rejection based on ignorance appears to be more
    human than scientific. These scientists who decided that
    psychic phenomena deserved investigation have been sub-
    jected to the scoffings and ridicule of the "stable"
    scientific community to the extent that much investiga-
    tion has had to be conducted clandestinely and anonymous-
    ly to preserve scientific reputation. Today, investiga-
    tions into psychic phenomena do not carry the paralyz-
    ing stigma of the past, but the existence of psychic
    senses is still not universally accepted.
    The writer's point is that objectivity may be sub-
    ject to various definitions, depending on how closely
    this objectivity conforms to the norms of the times.
    It appears to be much easier to be objective about any
    given "fact" or theory if the "fact" or theory fits neat-
    ly into the body of information currently accepted as
    valid. A "fact" or theory which fits may be taken almost
    as prima facie proof of itself. On the other hand, if
    some piece of information turns up which runs counter to
    current thought, which is unscientific, or which shakes
    the egocentricity of the scientific community or Man
    himself, then that piece of information or theory meets

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    with particular non-objecvtivity. man finds it extreme-
    ly difficult to accept or even to objectively investi-
    gate anything which threatens to shatter his emotional
    equanimity or his high regard for himself.


    The Antagonists and the Bewildered

    It is not at all surprising that the UFO debate has
    frequently become charged with emotion. It contains
    within it many of the characteristics of the Earth-as- the-center-of-the-universe debate; it is probably viewed
    by some in the scientific community as a threat to their
    reputation of near-omniscience; it carries implications
    of the highest import to Man's status and future. The
    idea of the existence of UFOs ( and the corollary that they
    are operated by intelligent beings who are extraterrestrial)
    is emotionally difficult for Man to contemplate. A large
    section of society probably wishes that the problem would
    go away. The writer feels that, at least subconsciously,
    this wishful thinking has pervaded what is claimed to be
    an objective investigation. Currently the debate is con-
    centrated on what constitutes valid proof and evidence.
    The non-believers insist on physical, "scientific" proof
    and evidence. they are adamant. The believers maintain
    that there is already ample evidence, which should be

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    accepted by the non-believers. But among the believers
    are those who have taken up positions so far away from
    the norm that they have earned nothing but the scorn and
    ridicule of the non-believers. These believers have serv-
    ed the non-believers well, because it is in the far out
    literature that monsters, little green men and ray guns
    appear, and the non-believers can point to this litera-
    ture as they make their sweeping statements about the
    mental condition of believers. And so the debate rages.

    Formalities of the Approach to the Subject

    The Problem: To investigate the bases for the op-
    posing positions taken in the existence of extraterrestri-
    al unidentified flying objects in order to determine the
    validity of the predominantly negatively oriented position
    of the U.S. AIr Force.
    The Major Objective: To determine the advisability
    of a modification in the Air Force's public relations
    approach to the subject of UFOs.
    The Specific Objectives:
    - To identify the various camps which are study-
    ing the UFO problem and to characterize their attitudes
    and consider their arguments.

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    - To weigh the divergent positions.
    - To assess the political, sociological and
    military implications contained in the UFO
    debate.
    - To analyze the advisability of the current
    Air Force approach to the UFO problem in
    view of the implications.

    Research Limitations: Research will be limited to
    source materials available in the Montgomery, Alabama,
    area, with the possible exception of written or tele-
    phonic contact with Air Force Project Blue Book person-
    nel and special project personnel at the University of
    Colorado.

    Assumptions:
    That: -
    - The Air Force will not modify its approach
    to the problem prior to the completion
    of this paper.
    - Physical evidence of the type acceptable
    to the Air Force will not be re-
    ceived prior to the completion of this paper.
    - Cognizance over UFO matters will not be
    removed from the Department of the Air Force.

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    The Plan

    In succeeding chapters the author will review the
    various schools of thought of the believers, will pre-
    sent their respective stands, and will present the types
    of evidence offered by each school. He will also present
    the position of the non-believers and of the U.S. Air
    Force. An analysis will be made of the opposing and non-
    committal positions, with an attempt to present the salient
    points of each position. In the closing chapters, some
    of the debate will be explored, and certain conclusions
    drawn and recommendations made for consideration by the
    Air Force.

    8
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    CHAPTER II


    THE POSITION SPECTRUM AND

    SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS


    The Arena

    In the UFO debate there are many shades of opinion,
    from the ultra-liberal to the ultra-conservative, with
    a graduation of opinion between these two extremes. As
    is usual in a debate with high emotional content, and
    on a subject with such profound implications, the most
    vociferous are to be found at the extremes, with the
    middle ground pleading for objectivity on the one hand
    and open-mindedness on the other.
    Diagrammatically, the position spectrum might be de-
    picted as follows. The diagram indicates the names of
    the principal spokesmen for the respective positions.
    There is no absolute line of demarcation between the con-
    tiguous positions of the believers. However, there are
    in each group certain rather clearly identifiable central
    traits which do not appear as major traits in the other
    groups. These key characteristics have been used by the
    author as the basis for the position spectrum.

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    The Position Spectrum

    --------------The Family of Believers--------------- Neutral Non-Beliver

    Ultra group Ultra group Normal Converts
    (Hostile) (benevolent) Believers

    Barker,G. Adamsky,G. Aime', M. (USAF) - - - USAF - - - - USAF

    Edwards,F. Bethurum,T. Girvan,W. Hynek,J. Fuller,J. Airman mag.

    Kent,M. Fry,G. Hall,R. Ruppelt,E. Jung,C. Menzel,D.

    Steiger,R. Leslie,D. Keyhoe,D. Look mag. Project
    Blue Book
    Williamson,G. Lorenzen,C. Quintanilla Tacker,L.

    Skully,F. Simon,B. Von Braun,W.

    Vallee,J. Sagan, C.

    Young,M. Time mag.
    University----University
    of of
    Colorado Colorado

    Note: Dashes for USAF, Qunintanilla/Project Blue Book and University of
    Colorado indicates that the position is either not clear or tends to
    vacillate

    10

    <<< CUFON Note: original has dashed line between "Qunintanilla" and Project >>> <<< Blue Book. Original diagram is turned 90 degrees. >>>
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    The Family of Believers

    Although there are differences of opinion in some
    areas, all groups in the family of believers have cer-
    tain characteristics in common. Among these are:
    - A belief in the existence of UFOs as extrater-
    restrially originating space vehicles controlled by in-
    telligent beings.
    - Enthusiasm and active attempts through personal
    contacts and published material to persuade the popu-
    lace that UFOs do exist.
    - A general contempt towards the investigative ef-
    fort of the USAF and towards its official pronouncements
    and findings. This contempt of the USAF effort is the
    most important single unifying factor within the camp
    of the believers and presents itself to the Air Force
    As a common position.
    The Ultra Group (Hostile). Although this group is
    smaller than the group which believes that space visitors
    are benevolent, the members of this group will neverthe-
    less be heard. The literature of this group contains
    claims of hostile actions by space beings. Hostility
    in this context includes instances of death and injury
    supposedly related to UFO appearances, abductions, the
    appearance of monster-like beings, reconnaissance of

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    defense installations, harassment of aircraft and auto-
    mobiles, power blackouts, imminent invasion of the world
    and other happenings which purportedly take place because
    of the basic hostility of the space beings towards Man. [1]
    It is this group which publishes the sensational, alarmist
    material so often seen at the news stands. The emphasis
    is on the threat to mankind. It is claimed that the space
    beings have mastered space travel and are using this know-
    ledge to menace the Earth. the inference is that the space
    beings are sub-humans who are morally and spiritually de-
    generate.
    Usually the books of this group are of the paperback
    type and deal with only one or two alleged incidents of
    hostile action on the part of space beings. the writing
    is usually not of the highest caliber, and the depth of
    thought and of analysis leaves much to be desired. In
    addition, care is usually taken by the authors to conceal
    the identity of the person or persons involved. [2] This
    prevents any reader from pursuing independent investiga-
    tion. While this prevents a reader from confirming the
    story, it likewise protects the author from exposure. Be-
    cause of the sensationalism, the concealment of the identi-
    ty of the principals involved, the shallow treatment of the
    subject and the general alarmist approach, the credibili-
    ty and qualifications of the authors is subject to question.

    12
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- One suspects commercial motives in the bulk of this type
    of literature
    Nevertheless, one does find a few works which are
    serious attempts to warn of the malevolent nature of at
    least some of the space beings. [3] In any serious investi-
    gation of a problem all factors and approaches should be
    considered. For this reason, claims of hostile actions
    must be considered and not rejected out of hand.
    What are hostile actions/ For the purpose of this
    paper, hostile actions are defined as actions which re-
    sult in the death or injury of human beings and actions
    which disrupt the normal flow of human activity in a
    manner antagonistic to human interests. There are in
    the literature many examples of hostile actions on the
    part of space beings: death of two South AMerican tech-
    nologists, [4] death of Capt. Mantell (USAF), [5] disappear-
    ance of U.S. aircraft, [6] injury to a scout master in
    Florida, [7] abduction of a South American farmer, [8] abduc-
    tion of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Hill, [9] the appearance of a
    monster-like being in Virginia, [10] reconnaissance of de-
    fense installations, [11] harassment of aircraft and auto-
    mobiles, [12] power blackouts [13] and actions which purported-
    ly indicate preparations for an invasion of the Earth. [14]

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    members of the group claiming hostility on the part
    of space beings take the ominous approach. In addition
    to citing examples of distasteful contact with space
    beings, they also claim suppressive actions on the part
    of mysterious representatives of space societies, and
    even threatening visits by individuals who, in the opin-
    ion of the visitee, represent such agencies as the CIA,
    FBI and clandestine US government agencies. [15] It is
    claimed that these visitors issue threats to UFO investi-
    gators to terminate their investigations immediately.
    It is claimed that the reason for such government interven-
    tion is that the implications in the existence of extra-
    terrestrial beings are so serious that the government
    does not want their existence proved to the public. [16]
    The subject of implications is treated in chapter IV of
    this paper. Suffice it to say at this point that the
    implications are serious enough that the rationale for
    suppression is not altogether unreasonable.
    Those who claim hostile intent share the burden of proof is
    upon them. As with the other camps, the hostile group
    has no convincing hardware-type evidence. The evidence

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    is circumstantial. Conclusions are drawn from the frame
    of reference of the observer. For example, if an indi-
    vidual suffers temporary paralysis caused by some action
    on the part of a space being, he, as a human being , may
    consider this to be undesirable and a hostile act. This
    is a subjective conclusion drawn from an act which in it-
    self contains no malevolent or benevolent connotation.
    In this example, consider that paralysis may likewise be
    a beneficial condition to prevent death or injury to the
    observer by keeping him a safe distance from harm. The
    same rationale can be used for the death, injury, abduc-
    tion and reconnaissance incidents cited in the literature.
    these acts could be considered benevolent or neutral in
    intent as well as malevolent. For this reason, the author
    has found that hostile type literature is more interesting
    from the standpoint of description of the incident than
    from the conclusions drawn. The account of the abduction
    of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Hill is one of the most compelling
    report in the literature and is highly recommended to in-
    terested readers. [17] While such an abduction would admit-
    tedly be very unnerving to the abducted, the incident
    caused no harm, if one can discount the possible long term
    psychological effect of the experience on the Hills.

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    In summary, the proponents of hostility tend towards
    sensationalism, address only specific cases without re-
    gard to the general context, are rather superficial in
    their treatment, may conceal the identity od the prin-
    cipals and draw conclusions concerning intent which do
    not necessarily follow from the incidents. On the other
    hand, some of the points made worthy of consideration,
    especially those which relate to implications.

    The Ultra Group (Benevolent). this group is charac-
    terized by claims of periodic personal contact with saucer
    beings, trips in flying saucers to other planets, tours
    of exotic cities on other planets and discussions with
    extraterrestrial beings concerning their way of life, at-
    titudes, philosophies and reasons for contact with the
    Earth. As a general rule, the extraterrestrial beings
    described by this group are similar to Man in physical
    characteristics, but of much higher order of intelli-
    gence. The space beings are technologically, morally,
    and spiritually for advanced and either directly or through
    implication attempt to allow Man that he, too, can attain
    this higher degree of development. The space beings are
    benevolent and urge the spiritual approach to life. [18] They
    have a fraternal attitude towards Man. Their visits to
    Earth occur either as a part of programmed visits to

    16
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- various parts of space for educational or recreational
    purposes or specifically for the purpose of enlighten-
    ing Man. In addition, there is some concern with Man's
    experimentation with nuclear energy, since atmospheric
    detonations modify the lines of magnetic force around
    the Earth sufficiently to cause an imbalance of the mag-
    netic relationships within the solar system. [19] this dis-
    turbs the space beings for at least four reasons: They
    use magnetic forces for power for their space ships; [20]
    they use magnetic lines of force for navigation; [21] they
    do not want to see the planet Earth significantly altered,
    since this would cause an imbalance within the solar sys-
    tem; and they feel that Man has within himself the poten-
    tial for spiritual development, which would suffer re-
    gression in the event of world nuclear suicide. [22] So,
    the interest of the space beings in humanity is one of
    self interest in addition to the more compelling desire
    to see Man advance spiritually. It is claimed that through-
    out the history of Man the space beings have taken an
    interest in the spiritual development of Man. [23] Propo-
    nents of the benevolent approach cite many cases of con-
    tact between Man and the space beings throughout history.
    Classic examples of such contacts, supposedly not proper-
    ly recognized, are the miracle at Fatima [24] and Ezekiel and

    17
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the wheel. [25] The cloud by day and fire by night which
    guided Moses on his journey out of Egypt is also claimed
    to have been a space ship. [26]
    the general approach of the benevolent space beings
    is to discuss problems of humanity in very broad terms.
    Concepts of love for fellow man, cooperation, pursuit
    of things spiritual, a downgrading of material wealth....
    all these topics are discussed by the space beings with
    select Earth beings. The message is that Man's value
    system is in error and that pursuit of his present way
    of life is contrary to the universal plan nd prejudi-
    cial to Man's further spiritual enlightenment. Mastery
    od space travel, telepathic communication, reception and
    display of images three-dimensionally and in color as
    exact reproductions of the original, electromagnetic
    transmission or power....all these technologies and abi-
    lities are presented as only natural consequences of high-
    er spiritual development. [27] It is pointed out that Man
    does not yet recognize that relationship which exists be-
    tween the spiritual and the material and therefore strug-
    gles along in his feeble efforts to advance his technolo-
    gy without truly understanding what he is doing. The
    point is made that Man will continue to ponder the "whys"
    in his scientific investigations until he has reached the

    18
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- point in his spiritual development where he will be able
    to comprehend the interrelationship between the spiritual
    and the material, and be able to use this understanding
    to further his interests, which he will recognize as spiri-
    tual.
    Although the emphasis is on the spiritual shortcomings
    of Man, as a matter of course during these discussions the
    Earth contactee is treated to tours of space vehicles and
    contacts with space beings. [28] the space people are usual-
    ly described as being similar to Man in stature, facial
    features, skeletal structure, etc., but of superior intel-
    ligence and ethical development....soft spoken, kind,
    gentile, polite and with a radiance which comes from super-
    ior spiritual development.
    The most convincing writers in this group present
    comprehensive, lucid, logical, literate writings in the
    highest ethical tradition. Students of philosophy,
    world religions, occult sciences and the Bible will find
    that the purported statements if the space beings are in
    consonance with the major religious beliefs of Man. Ac-
    cording to authors of this group, the space beings have
    long ago recognized the universal truths scattered through-
    out all Earth religions and have been able to synthesize
    these truths into an ethic which they live in their daily

    19
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- lives. This recognition of and adherence to the Truth
    gives the space beings individual powers which we consider
    supernatural, but which they claim derive as a natural
    result of spiritual development.
    Here again, the evidence presented by this group is
    not physical. That is, they do not present pieces of
    apace ships or other tangible items. They ask us to be-
    lieve their accounts on face value because the contacts
    did in fact occur as written. In some cases the author
    presents affidavits warranting the truth of the story or
    has signed statements by the witnesses. [29] Affidavits not-
    withstanding, many in contemporary society will find the
    spiritual approach to be too rarified to accept and will
    continue to insist on physical evidence as the only accept-
    able scientific proof.

    The Normal Believers. The author has included the
    word "normal" in identifying this group because its member-
    ship is composed of individuals who would be considered
    rational human beings, as opposed to cult-oriented, by
    the uninitiated. The Normal Believers are, nevertheless,
    believers. As such, they still are targets for the non-
    believers, but are not subjected to the intensely sarcas-
    tic criticism reserved for the Ultra Believers. The Normal
    Believers are convinced that UFOs exist and urge a serious,

    20
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- methodical approach to investigating UFO incidents.
    In addition, they feel that some attempt should be made
    to understand the extraterrestrials: to try to determine
    the reasons for their Earth visits.
    This group takes an approach acceptable to modern
    society. That is, their approach is pragmatic, practi-
    cal and in consonance with the scientific method. It is
    this group which shows an objective approach to the prob-
    lem while at the same time vigorously urging a serious
    investigation into the UFO phenomenon.
    The emphasis in this group is on establishing for the
    populace that UFOs do exist. the interest of this group
    is in feasibility, technology and the establishment of
    motive or intent. Their general approach is documentation
    of sightings, description of incidents, establishment of
    witness credibility and sincere requests for a thorough
    and methodical investigation.
    The National Investigations Committee on Aerial Pheno-
    mena (NICAP) is the single best representative organization
    for this group. It consists of respected and "normal"
    members of society who are specialists in fields such as
    the physical sciences, the humanities, psychology, etc.
    In addition to members and consultants in the Washington,
    D.C. area, the location of the home office, NICAP has

    21
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- qualified regional representatives who are on call to
    respond to reports of sightings in their respective
    geographical areas. Reports of sightings are investi-
    gated promptly and documented much in the same format
    as is recommended by the Air Force. [30] The NICAP report,
    "The UFO Evidence," is an excellent example of the object-
    ive, thorough approach of NICAP. The report consists
    of complete reports of sightings: diagrams of space ve-
    hicles as sighted, statements on color, size, shape,
    maneuvers, direction of movement, etc. Most impressive
    are the paragraphs on witnesses. NICAP has collected
    sightings from diverse individuals whose testimony can-
    not be lightly dismissed. reports come from airline
    pilots, technical people and a host of other men, women
    and children, either as individual or group witnesses
    to sightings. many sighting reports come from indivi-
    duals who were skeptics prior to their personal involve-
    ment in a sighting. NICAP is thoroughly convincing in
    pointing out that UFO sightingg do not only come from
    UFO cultists, but come from random sources and from people
    of various educational levels and occupations. In one
    section of the report there is a table showing compari-
    sons of UFO shapes, size, color, maneuvers, etc. The
    reader is immediately struck with the consistency in

    22
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- characteristics which is apparent among re-
    ported at different locations and at different periods
    of time by different witnesses. However, these consis-
    tencies are apparent not only within the NICAP report
    but appear throughout the literature, whether the UFO
    is supposedly benevolent, malevolent or neutral. (Ap-
    pendix A to this paper describes those characteristics
    of UFO sightings most commonly reported throughout the
    literature.)
    The Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO)
    is another organization which uses a "rational" approach,
    but organizational discipline appears not to be as re-
    fined as NICAP's. Hover, in addition to being rela-
    tively objective, the APRO periodical publication enables
    a reader to learn of recent sightings in the world short-
    ly after they are reported to APRO. [31]
    lest it be assumed that the Normal Believers are all
    members of one or the other of the above cited organiza-
    tions, the author offers the following examples of the
    types of statements which come from independent techni-
    cal people:

    - Dr. Herman Oberth, noted German rocket expert:
    These objects are conceived and directed by intel-
    ligent beings of a very high order. They probably
    do not originate in our solar system, perhaps not
    even in our galaxy. [32]

    23
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    - Dr. James E. MacDonald, professor of meteorology at
    the University of Arizona and senior physicist at the
    Institute of Atmospheric Physics in Tucson:

    (UFOs) are probably extraterrestrial vehicles
    engaged in something of the nature of a recon-
    naissance operation. (This conclusion is) the
    least unsatisfactory hypothesis for accounting
    for the fascinating array of UFO phenomena that
    are now on record. [33]

    - from the noted psychoanalyst, Dr. Carl Jung, after
    he tried to explain UFOs as a psychic manifestation:

    Unfortunately, however, there are good reasons
    why the UFOs cannot be disposed of in this simple
    manner. It remains an established fact, supported
    by numerous observation, that UFOs have not only
    been seen visually but have also been picked up
    on the radar screen and have left traces on the
    photographic plate. It boils down to nothing less
    than this: that either psychic projections throw
    back a radar echo, or else the appearance of real
    objects affords an opportunity for mythological
    projections. [34]

    - Dr. Leo Sprinkle, professor of psychology at the
    University of Wyoming, after having seen "something in
    the sky, round and metallic looking:"

    "...from a personal viewpoint, I am pretty well
    convinced that we are being surveyed." [35]

    Perhaps the key characteristic of the Normal Believers
    is their belief that the whole issue of the existence of
    UFOs is being suppressed by the Air Force. this allega-
    tion is dealt with more fully in Chapter III. There are
    various reasons given for this alleged suppression, but
    the most popular are the impotence of NORAD against UFOs

    24
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- and orders given to the Air Force to debunk UFOs to
    prevent mass hysteria among the populace. [36] The Normal
    Believers argue that to ignore a reality is to take an
    ostrich-like approach to the problem, and furthermore,
    the populace would be able to cope woth the realization
    that UFOs exist without hysteria. It is claimed that
    the Ir Force knows UFOs exist, protestations to the
    contrary notwithstanding. SO, the Normal Believers
    persist in their efforts to establish the existence of
    UFOs. That a congressional hearing on UFOs took place
    in 1966 largely because of the pressures of this group
    attests to its influence. [37]

    The Converts. Those who have been neutrals, skeptics
    or outright non-believers but who have eventually sided
    with the Believers have been placed in this category.
    This group, although relatively small, contains indivi-
    duals who speak persuasively, its members having been
    at one time in the neutral or negative camp. In addi-
    tion, the top level converts have been, or are present-
    ly, officially connected with the U.S. Air Force inves-
    tigation of UFOs.
    The author places in this category Edward J. Ruppelt
    (formerly Capt. Ruppelt, chief of Project Blue Book,
    1951-1953), and Dr. J. Allen Hynek, (director of Dearborn

    25
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Observatory, director of the Lindheimer Astronomical
    Research Center, Chairman of Department of Astronomy
    at Northwestern University and consultant to the USAF on
    the UFO problem since 1948.) ____ of the understandable
    characteristics of this group is the tendency to issue
    ambiguous or ambivalent public statements on the sub-
    ject of UFOs which st__ _____ t the speaker to
    maneuver in response to diverse external pressures.
    Their official and public relationship to the Air Force
    investigation most likely causes these investigators to
    assume this relatively safe, non-commital, fence-sit-
    ting position. However, the difference between the pub-
    lic position and the private position can be rather easi-
    ly detected by the serious researcher.
    Let us look at a few of the statements of Captain
    Ruppelt and Dr. Hynek as exemplifying this sometimes
    subtle shift from non-belief or skepticism to belief.
    Capt. Ruppelt (deceased) was the chief of the Air Force's
    Project Blue Book, the project charged with the resonsi-
    bility for investigating UFO reports, from 1951 until 1953.
    During the course of his tenure in this position, he and
    his staff studied over 4500 reports of UFOs. All reports
    were subjected to military intelligence analysis proce-
    dures. they were analyzed through consultations with

    26
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- astronomers, physicists, aerodynamic engineers and
    psychologists in the course of the Air Force investiga-
    tions. [38] After his release from the Air Force, Captain
    Ruppelt wrote a now famous book about these investiga-
    tions entitled "The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects." [39]
    The following statements by Capt. Ruppelt appear in
    the Book.

    I know the full story about flying saucers and
    I know it has never before been told... [40]

    Personally, I don't believe that "It can't be."
    I wouldn't class myself as a "believer" exactly,
    because I've seen too many UFO reports that first
    appeared to be unexplainable fall to pieces when
    they were thoroughly investigated. But every time
    I begin to get skeptical I think of the other re-
    ports, the many report made by experienced pilots
    and radar operators, scientists, and other people
    who knew what they are looking at. These reports
    were thoroughly investigated and they are still
    unknowns. Of these reports, the radar-visual
    sightings are the most convincing. When a ground
    radar picks up a UFO target and a ground obser-
    ver sees a light where the radar target is loca-
    ted, then a jet interceptor is scrambled at inter-
    cept the UFO and the pilot also sees the light
    and gets a radar lock on only to have the UFO
    almost impudently outdistance him, there is no
    simple answer. We have no aircraft on this earth
    that can at will so handily outdistance our
    latest jets. [41]

    What constitutes proof? Does a UFO have to land
    at the River Entrance to the Pentagon near the
    Joint Chiefs of Staff offices? Or is it proof
    when a ground radar station detects a UFO, sends
    a jet to intercept it, the jet pilot sees it, and
    locks on with his radar, only to have the UFO
    streak away at a phenomenal speed? Is it proof
    when a jet pilot fires at a UFO and sticks to his
    story even under the threat of Court Marshal? Does
    this constitute proof? [42]

    27
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Maybe the final proven answer will be that
    all of the UFOs that have been reported are
    merely misidentified known objects. Or may-
    be the pilots, radar specialists, gene-
    rals, industrialists, scientists, and the man
    on the street who have told me, "I wouldn't
    have believed it either if I hadn't seen it
    myself," knew what they were talking about.
    maybe the Earth is being visited by inter-
    planetary space ships. [43]

    The reader asks himself, "What does Capt. Ruppelt,
    the former chief of Project Blue Book, really think about
    the reality or non-reality of the existence of UFOs"
    This writer suggests that Ruppelt's personal beliefs
    are rather thinly disguised, if at all.
    Dr. Hynek, the present consultant to the Air Force
    in UFO matters, makes statements similar in approach
    to Ruppelt's. The following are examples. For the
    congressional record, Dr. Hynek made the following
    statement:

    During this entire period of nearly twenty
    years I have attempted to remain as open-
    minded in this subject as circumstances per-
    mitted, this despite the fact that the whole
    subject seemed utterly ridiculous, and many
    of us firmly believed that, like some fad or
    craze, it would subside in a matter of months. [44]

    In a well known magazine, Dr. Hynek made this statement:

    In 1948, I was asked by the U.S. Air Force
    to serve as a scientific consultant on the
    increasing number of reports of strange
    lights in the sky. I was then Director of
    the Astronomical Observatory of Ohio State
    University, and am now the Chairman of the
    Astronomy Department at Northwestern. I had

    28
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    scarcely heard of UFOs in 1948 and, like
    every other scientist I knew, assumed
    that they were nonsense. [45]

    Hynek's early skepticism and caution is further reveal-
    ed in this statement:

    It has come to my attention rather force-
    ably through correspondence and personal
    contact, that many of my colleagues in
    various fields are more than just a little
    interested in the "natives", although they
    might well disclaim this interest if chal-
    lenged. I certainly would not have expres-
    sed openly any such interest had I not been
    asked to do so officially many years ago,
    first under Project Sign and later under
    Project Blue Book. [46]

    The shift from skepticism to cautious urging that the
    subject of UFOs be taken seriously can be seen in the
    following statements:

    Despite the seeming inanity of the subject,
    I felt that I would be derelict in my scien-
    tific responsibility to the Air Force if I
    did not point out that the whole UFO pheno-
    menon might have aspects to it worthy of
    scientific attention. [47]

    All of this increased my own concern and
    sense of persona; responsibility,. and moti-
    vated me to urge the initiation of a meaning-
    ful scientific investigation of the UFO pheno-
    menon be physical and social scientists. I
    had guardedly raised this suggestion in the
    past and at various official hearings, but
    with little success. UFO was a term that
    called forth buffoonery and caustic
    banter precisely because scientists paid no
    attention to the raw data - the reports them-
    selves. [48]

    29
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Still, on the average, if several pilots
    and/or poicemen concur on the main points
    of the story, particularly if the duration
    of their experience was long enough (a mat-
    ter of minutes rather than seconds) to have
    brought their judgement into play, it is
    difficult to brush aside their seemingly
    hardheaded testimony. And when one gets
    reports from scientists, engineers and tech-
    nicians whose credibility by all common
    standards is high and whose moral caliber
    seems to preclude a hoax, one can do no less
    than hear them out, in all seriousness. [49]

    As a scientist, I must be mindful of the
    lessons of the past; all too often it has
    happened that matters of great value to
    science were overlooked because the new
    phenomenon simply did not fit the accepted
    scientific outlook of the time. [50]

    I cannot dismiss the UFO phenomenon with a
    shrug. I have begun to feel that there is
    a tendency in 20th Century science to for-
    get that there will be a 21st Century science,
    and indeed a 30th Century science, from which
    vantage points our knowledge of the universe
    may appear quite different than it does to us.
    We suffer, perhaps, from temporal provincial-
    ism, a form of arrogance that has always ir-
    ritated posterity. [51]

    Referring to a methodical investigatiuon which he proposes,
    Dr. Hynek says the following:

    Admittedly, I will be surprised if an intensive,
    year long study yields nothing. To the contrary,
    I think thatr mankind may be in for the greatest
    adventure since dawning human intelligence turned
    outward to contemplate the universe. [52]

    This writer feels that the foregoing statements need no
    commentary. It is to be remembered that the statements
    come from a man who has been officially connected with
    the UFO problem since 1948 and has been privy to most,
    if at all, of the data officially reported, in addition

    30
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    to having been personally involved in many of the
    investigations.

    The Neutrals. This group consists of that segment
    of the population which has no opinion in the UFO de-
    bate, either through personal choice or because of pro-
    fessional constraint. Within this large group are con-
    tained the astronomers, biologists and other scientists
    who speak of the possibility of intelligent life else-
    whe5re in the universe, but who are non-committal about
    the existence of UFOs. The U.S. Air Force is a member
    of the neutral group, at least officially. the Air
    Force position is a perplexing one. Al;though the Air
    Force has attempted to show officaial neutrality and
    objectivity in the UFO debate, it has in reality vacil-
    lateed between belief and non-belief, all the while try-
    ing to give the impression of neutrality. A reader of
    official Air Force pronouncements is left with the prob-
    lem of determining for himself what the position is, if
    in fact there is a position, since he may read official
    Air Force statements which are pro-UFO, neutral, and
    anti-UFO. This problem will be discussed at length in
    Chapter III of this paper.
    Of interest are the statements made by various mem-
    bers of the sceintific community relative to the possibi-
    lity of the existence of life elsewhere in the universe.

    31
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    It is acknowledged that it would not necessarily fol-
    low that UFOs exist as vehicles controlled by some extra-
    terrestrial intelligence even if it could be proven that
    life does in fact exist elsewhere. However, it appears
    that the UFO believers would derive a certain degree of
    support and the positive UFO position would gain increased
    credibility if it could be demonstrated that life exists
    elsewhere, since it is assumed that "intelligence" pre-
    sumes some type of living form.
    Dr. Carl Sagan (Department of Astronomy, Harvard
    University; Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory,
    Cambridge, Massachusetts; and advisor to the armed
    services on extraterrestrial life) has this to say:

    It now seems quite clear that Earth is not the
    only inhabited planet. there is evidence that
    the bulk of the stars in the sky have planbetary
    systems. recent research concerning the origin
    of life on Earth suggests that the physical and
    chemical processes leading to the origin of life
    occur rapidly in the early history of the major-
    ity of planets. The selective value of intelli-
    gence and technical civilization is obvious, and
    it seems likely that a large number of planets
    within our Milky Way galaxy - - perhaps as many
    as a million - - are inhabited by technical civi-
    lizations in advance of our own. Interstellar
    space flight is far beyond our present technical
    capabilities, but there seems to be no fundamen-
    tal physical objections to preclude, from our own van-
    tage point, the possibility of its deveopment
    by other civilizations. [53]

    In 1962, in an address to the convention of the American
    Rocket Society in Los Angeles, Dr. Carl Sagan said that mankind

    32
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- must be preapared to face the possibility that the Earth
    has already been visited by intelligent beings from
    elsewhere in the universe, and that they have, or have
    had, bases on the far side of the moon. [54]
    Another astronomer, Dr. Jesse Greenstein, staff
    member of Mount Wilson and Palomar observatories and
    professor of astrophysics at the California Institute
    of Technology says:

    Fascinating problems of the future will be
    concerned with life and intelligence on other
    worlds beyond the realm of physical science.
    We must try to understand things much more
    difficult than the universe, such as future
    discoveries of life and intelligence somewhere
    out there. [55]

    Certain competent lay members of society will also
    be heard. One such individual is John G. Fuller, a
    journalist recently turned free-lance UFO investigator,
    and the author of "Incident at Exeter" [56] and "The Inter-
    upted Journey." [57] Both these works are examples of
    objective reportage. Mr. Fuller has added significant-
    ly to the UFO literature with his moderate approach.
    In "Incident at Exeter" Mr. Fuller very carefully
    documents the sighting at Exeter, New Hampshire, in
    September 1965. The documentation is exhaustive, con-
    taining numerous interviews with people who were wit-
    nesses to the sighting, containing a detailed explanation

    33
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    of the approach taken by Mr. Fuller, and containing a
    detailed discussion of the many factors and situations
    surrounding that particular sighting. Incidentally,
    Mr. Fuller quotes Frank B. Salisbury, of the Department
    of Botany and Plant Pathology of Colorado State Univer-
    sity, as having said:

    I must admit that any favorable mention of
    the flying saucers by a scientist amounts
    to extreme heresay and places the one making
    the statement in danger of excommunication
    by the scientific theocracy. Nevertheless,
    in recent years I have investigated the story
    of the unidentified flying object (UFO), and
    I am no longer able to dismiss the idea light-
    ly. [58]

    Although Mr. Fuller does not specifically state that he
    is convinced that UFOs of extraterrestrial origin exist,
    his concluding statements in "Incident at Exeter" are com-
    pelling in their appael for release by the government of
    any information which it may be withholding and for a
    scientific investigagtion an a major scale.
    In "The Interrupted Journey", Mr. Fuller once more
    meticulously documents the experience of Mr. and Mrs.
    Barney Hill in connection with their alleged abduction
    by space beings. This account is anything but frivo-
    lous, and does not contain the science fiction sensa-
    tionalism which one might expect. It is a report of the
    circumstances surrounding the abduction as revealed

    34
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- independently by Mr. and Mrs. Hill to Dr. Benjamin
    Simon, M.D., under rigidly controlled hypnosis. The
    book is in large part made up of the transcript of
    the tape recorded interviews between Dr, Simon and
    Mr. and Mrs. Hill while the Hills were under hypnosis.
    Appropriate professional commentary by Dr. Simon is
    included. "The Interrupted Journey" raises many trouble-
    some questions about the existence of UFOs, the motives
    of the space beings (if the in fact exist), and what
    the experience which the Hills apparently had portends
    for the future of Man.
    Of recent, we have seen the entry of the mass news
    media into the UFO debate in a posititon of neutrality.
    Numerous articles have appeared recently in "reputable"
    newspapers and magazine in the form of editorials and
    special features, and scientific journals have carried
    a few articles on UFOs. There has been a significant
    change in the approach that the mass circulation publi-
    cations have taken. Whereas early articles were usual-
    ly derisively written as human interest stories, replete
    with appropriate references to green men, the more recent
    articles seriously raise the question of the existence
    of UFOs. [59] This change in attitude may be attributable

    35
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    to the generally more permissive outlook which the pub-
    lic has recently taken. the approach taken by mass media
    publications seems to reflect quite accurately the atti-
    tudes of the general populace at any particular point in
    time.
    Those in the neutral camp have made a most signi-
    ficant contribution to the UFO debate: they have brought
    the subject to the attention of the general public quth-
    out taking sides. they have in effect assured the public
    that the subject of UFOs can be discussed in public. It
    appears that as long as UFO articles did not appear in
    mass media in serious form the general public was reluc-
    tant to broach the subject for fear of ridicule. Once
    the newspapers and magazines began to address the subject
    with some seriousness, they seemed to signal to the faint
    hearted that it was now all right to discuss the subject.
    Popular interest and discussion in a society responsive
    to public opinion is usually a precursor of official
    action.
    One might say in summary that the Neutrals view the
    UFO debate from a position which allows them interest
    without involvement. It is a position which is politi-
    cally equivoacl and more or less professionally safe.

    36
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Non-Believers

    The spectrum for Non-Believers is less definite
    than for the Believers, and the author has chosen to
    place all Non-Believers in a common category. There
    have been, and continue to be, a few spokesmen for the
    Non-Believer group, but the output of literature for
    this group is quantitatively far below that of the
    various believer groups. Generally, the Non-Believer
    literature has as its main objective the debunking of
    believers, the challenging of witnesses to UFO incidents,
    and attempts to demonstrate "scientifically" that UFOs
    do not exist. the usual approach is to cite examples
    wherein a UFO sighting has been definitely identified
    as some neutral or man-made phenomenon or object, and
    then by analogy to extrapolate that particular solution
    to unresolved cases.
    Characteristically, the Non-Believer literature
    contains shallow argument, irrelevancies, faulty anal-
    ogy and a failure at address knotty cases of UFO sight-
    ings without rebuttal in specific or convincing terms.
    The author has personally encountered many cases
    of non-belief in which the NonBeliever has had little
    or no knowledge of the specifics of the debate and of

    37
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the evidence and has merely "felt" that UFOs do not
    exist. In these instances, the position of non-belief
    is probably taken out of a combination of ignorance
    and the desire to be considered normal, conventional
    and stable.
    Within the anti-UFO group there are various shades
    of non-belief: from the doubting to the absolutely in-
    transigent. But regardless of the degree of non-belief,
    the Non-Believers use "rationality" as a common approach.
    That is, they explain sightings in terms of what Man
    today considers acceptable as defined by the scientific
    method. This group feels that all instances of UFO
    sightings can be explained "rationally" as man-made ob-
    jects or misinterpretations of natural phenomena, or
    mental aberration, or hoax. Even in instances in which
    they are at a loss to propose an explanation they are
    confident that the explanation lies in one of the cate-
    ories cited. they do not deny that many people have
    seen what they consider to be UFOs; they say that these
    observers are mistaken in their observations and that
    what was truly seen was some "rationally" explainable
    object or phenomenon. this group will not entertain
    the idea that UFOs are extraterrestrial space vehicles.

    38
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The usual approach is to cite examples of positive
    identification of something sighted as man-made or
    natural and then to attempt to use that particular
    example as a plausible explanation for those sightings
    categorized as unknown.
    The literature of the Non-Believers becomes at times
    as caustic about the subject as that of the Believers.
    One of the prime weapons of this rational, science-orient-
    ed group ridicule. Dr. Hynek, scientist-tuened-con-
    vert, properly points out that "ridicule is not a part
    of the Scientific Method and the public should not be
    taught that it is." [60]
    The attempts by the Non-Believers to explain UFOs
    in terms of natural phenomena and mistaken identity is
    exhaustive. Let us look at some examples of the approach]
    taken as exemplified by the writings of Dr. Donald
    Menzel, [61] Professor of Astrophysics at Harvard University,
    and Lt. Col. Lawrence J. Tacker, USAF. [62] Both these
    writers are placed by the author in the category of in-
    transigent Non-Believers and, as such, may not truly
    represent the more moderate Non-Believers. However
    both Menzel and Tacker are quoted profusely in most of
    the Non-Believer literature as authorities - Menzel re-
    presenting science and Tacker representing the United
    States Air Force.

    39
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Dr. Menzel, in his "Flying Saucers'" [63] sets the general
    tone of the book in his first sentence: "Throughout the
    ages, apparitions of one kind or another have plagued the
    human race." On page 6 of the same book,. menzel states
    that "Flying saucers are real - as real as a rainbow,
    and no more dangerous." From that departure point he
    goes on throughout the book to describe how various natur-
    al phenomena in the sky behave. he implies in most cases
    that UFOs can be accounted for in large measure by these
    celectial phenomena. He describes the behavior and ap-
    pearance of the setting sun, comets and meteors, solar
    halos, mock suns, ice crystals, lenses of air, mirages,
    refraction, aurora borealis and conditions causing radar
    anomalies. These discussions are very interesting, but
    the reader is left to his own resources to try to match
    these descriptions of natural phenomena to specific UFO
    sightings. In those few instances in which Menzel arrempts
    to relate these phenomena to sightings, he does so very
    briefly and almost as if he were anxious to move on to
    his next topic.
    As an example: beginning on page twelve of the cited
    work, and continuing through page seventeen, Menzel re-
    peats several reports made by pilots in connection with
    sightings. The reports are by pilots of Eastern Airlines,

    40
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mid-Continent Airlines, Lt. George F. Gorman (ANG) and
    others. After describibg the various encounters, Menzel
    comments only on the Gorman incident. After describibg
    "fireball fighter" (foo fighter) cases experienced in
    World War II, he extrapolates the observation to the
    Gorman case with, "to my mind, the similarity of Gorman's
    object to the foo fighters seems entirely reasonable." [64]
    He gives no specifics and no analysis. He asks us to
    accept this as an explanation because it "seems reason-
    able to him. Once having established in this manner
    that the explanation lies in foo fighters, Menzel then
    incorporates this conclusions into the statement, "I
    think Gorman was right when he stated that the foo
    fighter seemed to be controlled by thought. However,
    the thought that controlled it was his own." [65] Gorman
    did not say the object was a foo fighter. [66] Menzel
    does not say how he arrived at the conclusion that the
    object was controlled by Gorman's thought; he just comes
    to that conclusion. Lest the reader question the logic
    of Menzel's conclusions, he says, "We may not be able to
    account for every detail; the impressions of the obser-
    ver are hazy and leave many gaps." [67]
    Menzel goes on in the same vein in his attempt to
    explain some of the sightings reported throughout history,

    41
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- and dispose od Ezekiel's wheel as a misinterpretation
    of a complex solar halo. [68] In like manner, the classic
    Lubbock lights case is explained: [69]

    . . . a low, thin layer of haze or smoke re-
    flected the lights of a distant house or some
    other multiple source. The haze must have been
    inconspicuous to the eye, because Tombaugh com-
    ments on the unusual clarity of the sky. [70]

    Capt. Ruppelt comments thus on the Lubbock lights case:

    When four college professors, a geologist,a
    chemist, a physicist and a petroleum engineer
    report seeing the same UFOs on fourteen differ-
    ent occasions, the event can be classified as,
    at least, unusual. Add the fact that hundreds
    of other people saw these UFOs and that they
    were photographed, and the story gets even bet-
    ter. Add a few more facts - that these UFOs were
    picked up on radar and that a few people got a
    close look at one of them, and the story begins
    to convince even the most ardent skeptic. [71]

    Apparently, Menzel was not convinced. In Menzel's dis-
    cussion of radar there is no explanation as to how radar
    picks up light reflections.
    The above examples illustrate the type of logic used
    by Menzel. The approach is one typical of the Non-Believ-
    er group. In Menzel's case, one gets the feeling almost
    of desperation. He has so long resisted the idea of UFOs
    as space vehicles, has attacked so amny of the Believers,
    becoming the champion of many of the Non-Believers, that
    he has placed himself in the uncomfortable position of not
    being able to gracefully extricate himself from his un-
    yielding position. he, himself, best illustrates his

    42
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- intransigence and closed mind with these words:

    It would be absolutely impossible for an ob-
    ject of such a shape to veer or maneuver as
    reported. And there is no possible way that
    such an object could be immune to the high
    resistance of the Earth's atmosphere at its
    reported speeds of movement. [72]

    It would appear that the use of the words "impossible"
    and "no possible way" is presumtuous and not character-
    istic of the inquisitiveness and open-mindedness desir-
    able in a scientific investigator.
    Another widely quoted Non-Believer is Lt. Col.
    Lawrence J. Tacker, a former chief of Public Information,
    Headquarters, USAF. He published a book in 1960 titled
    "Flying Saucers and the U.S. Air Force." [73] This book has
    been a key publication in the UFO debate. It is used
    by the Non-Believers for official support of their po-
    sition. Tcaker takes generally the same approach as
    Menzel in that he attempts to demonstrate that UFOs are
    cases of mistaken identity of man-made or natural objects
    and phenomena. Tacker devotes a large part of the book
    to assuring the populace that the Air Force is not with-
    holding UFO information, a charge constantly levied
    against the Air Force by all Believer groups. In Tacker's
    book one encounters what might be called the demented-by-
    reason-of-association technique, or the oblique ridicule
    method. Also, one encounters false logic in the Melzelian
    pattern.

    43
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Let us briefly look at some examples of Tacker's
    approach.
    The foreword to the book is by General Thomas D. White,
    Chief of Staff of the Air Force at the time. Gen. White
    explains that the Air Force is responsible for the air
    defense of the United States He goes on to say that
    the Air Force is in charge of UFO investigations. The
    last two sentences of the statement are subject to quest-
    ion if they are based on Tacker's arguments. These state-
    ments are:

    1. ". . . all unidentified flying object
    sightings are investigated in meticulous
    detail by Air Force personnel and quali-
    fied scientific consultants."

    2. "So far, not a single bit of material
    evidence of the existence of spaceships
    has been found."

    In his book, Tacker uses an approach which seems to contra-
    dict the first statement about meticulous Air Force investi-
    gation. The second statement should have added to it the
    words "as far as the Air Force is concerned." Another
    interesting thing about the second statement is that it
    illustrates to some degree the ambivalence or equivoca-
    tion of so many of the official pronouncements. It will
    be noted that the statement does not say that spaceships
    do not exist; it merely implies that they do not exist. What
    this sentence does is lead the careless reader to a false

    44
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- conclusion while at the same time preserving an escape
    opportunity, semantically, if the existence of UFOs is
    "proven" at some later date. In itself, it may appear
    to be a sincere statement, but in the context of the
    debate it is evasive.
    In his opening chapter, Tacker gives an account of
    a sighting near the Hawaiian Islands on 11 July 1959.
    This was a sighting reported by five separate observers,
    all airline pilots: one from Slick Airways, one from
    Empress Airlines, one from United Airlines and two from
    Pan American - all reporting the same object. Although
    each report varies in some of the specifics, these com-
    mon observations were made: very bright lights in a clear
    sky, moving at high speed and making a sharp (90 degree)
    turn in flight at high speed. Tacker then goes into
    some general information about meteors and fireballs
    and disposees of this sighting by saying that the opinion
    of the Air Technical Intelligence Center was that the
    object was a fireball, and that they felt that all ob-
    sevvers had seen this same meteor. [74] It should be noted
    here that Tacker uses the same device as Menzel, in that
    he tries first to establish in the mind of the reader
    what the object was and then, using his conclusion, he
    incorporates that conclusion into a subsequent statement.

    45
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    At the end of this particular narrative, Tacker makes
    a footnote comment that he used poetic license in report-
    ing this incident, for dramatic effect, and also, that
    this narrative "proves" the "fact" that even highly
    trained observers can be mystified by what they have
    seen. [75]
    After dealing with several other sightings, Tacker
    closes his third chapter with, "And so it goes. Sight-
    ings come in from all over the world from various types
    of individuals, with the great majority of sightings
    logically explained after objective investigation.
    Certainly the experience gained over the last 13 years
    points up to the fact that flying saucers are not space
    craft from other worlds but, rather, represent con
    ventional objects or aerial phenomena seen under con-
    fusing conditions."
    Another interesting statement by Tacker appears on
    page 47 of his book:

    The Air Force emphasizes the belief that if
    more immediate detailed objective observation-
    al data could have been obtained on the unex-
    plained flying saucer sightings in its files,
    these too would have been satisfactorily ex-
    plained as conventional objects or some form
    of aerial phenomena.

    Another example of Tacker's logic is illustrated in
    a letter, dated 15 November 1960, which he sent to

    46
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coral Lorenzen, of the Aerial Phenomena Research Organi-
    zation (APRO), and which deals with the famous Trinidade
    Island sighting. [76] In his letter Tacker quotes a state-
    ment by the Brazilian Navy Ministry, which reads in part,

    . . . . This Ministry has no motive to im-
    pede the release of photographs of the re-
    ferred to object taken by Mr. Almiro Barauna,
    who was at the Trinidade Island at the invitation
    of the Navy, and in the presence of a large
    number of the crew of the ALMIRANTE SALDANHA from
    whose deck the photographs were taken. Clear-
    ly, this Ministry will not be able to make any
    pronouncement concerning the object seen be-
    cause the photographs do not constitute suf-
    ficient proof for such purpose.

    Tacker then says,

    This official statement of the Brazilian Navy
    Ministry clearly indicates the fact that the
    photographs were of no value in proving or
    disproving the existence of flying saucers
    as space ships. I trust this clarifies any
    misunderstanding you may have had concerning
    this sighting and the Air Force Conclusion
    that it was a hoax.

    Let us consider these statements. The Brazilian Navy
    Ministry refers to an "object." They say that
    the photographs were taken in the presence of "a large
    number of the crew." They go on to say that the photo-
    graphs "do not constitute sufficient proof" to allow
    them to rule on what the object was. Tacker's logic
    leads him on to say that "clearly" the photographs
    were of no value in proving or disproving the existence
    of flying saucers as space ships. The Brazillian Navy

    47
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ministry did not say this. They said thta the photo-
    graphs did not constitute sufficient proof to enable
    them to make a pronouncement. In addition, Tacker
    qualifies his statement about the existence of fly-
    ing saucers by adding. "as space ships." So, he does
    not say that Mr. Barauna and the crew didi not see a
    flying saucer. The final twist of logic comes in the
    last sentence when Tacker says that the Air Force has
    concluded that the whole thing was a hoax.
    Mrs. Lorenzen discusses the processing and analysis of Mr.
    Barauna's film in Chapter XI of her book, "The Great
    Flying Saucer Hoax." [77] She says that the film was pro-
    cessed immediately after the photos were taken, and that
    the processing was witnesses by several of the officers
    of the ship, and that the negatives were viewed by the
    entire crew of the ship immediately after processing.
    She says that the negatives were sent to Cruzeiro do Sul
    Aerophotogrammetric Service, where they were analyzed.
    The laboratory determined that they were genuine. If this
    is true, then this causes one to wonder on what basis
    the Air Force has declared this sighting a hoax.
    These brief examples illustrate the approach taken
    by Lt. Col. Tacker and Dr. Menzel. A was pointed out
    earlier. Menzel and Tacker are not in the moderate Non-
    Believer camp, but they have become champions of this

    48
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- group and are widely quoted as the scientific and of-
    ficial authority by the Non_believer group. Some of
    the explanations for sightings presented by this group
    are easy to accept within the framework of the scienti-
    fic method. There is no question that a portion of the
    sightings arew indeed misinterpretations or hoaxes. The
    Non-Believers cite several cases of sightings which have
    been definitely identified as misinterpretations, and
    they substantiate these cases. Also, there have been
    several cases in which individuals have admitted perpe-
    trating a hoax. However, it does not follow that because
    some cases can be demonstrated to be misinterpretations
    or hoaxes that all sightings can be explained in these
    terms. It is most difficult to reconcile many sightings
    as reported by reputable and qualified observers with
    the explanantions proposed by the Non-Believers.
    This group has been severe in its debunking of
    witnesses and has incurred the wrath and disgust of
    many. The Non-Believers should remember that, while
    the Believers must demonstrate that UFOs exist, the
    Non-Believers must demonstrate that they do not. the
    crux of the debate lies in the definition of acceptable
    and valid evidence.

    49
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Summary

    very generally, these are the participants in the
    UFO debate, which goes on interminably. Unfortunately,
    the Air Force is caught in the cross-fire as the Believ-
    ers debate the intent of the space beings, the Non-Be-
    lievers try to discount the whole subject, and the
    Neutrals and Converts plead for level-headed investi-
    gation. The Air Force response to, and involvement in,
    the UFO debate will be discussed in the next chapter.

    Some Observations

    Of recent, there seems to be a general shift in
    attitude, frequently quite subtle, on the question
    of UFOs. Reputable scientists issue statements from
    time to time which do not reflect as negative as ap-
    proach as they have borne heretofore. There appears
    to be among the populace less reluctance to consider
    the possibility, at least, of the existence of UFOs.
    The shift may be attributable, in part, to advancing
    space technology, to more and more sightings by repu-
    table individuals and groups, to more photographic
    evidence and to a general feeling that there may be
    something to the UFO debate if the Air Force has asked
    the University of Colorado to study the problem.

    50
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CHAPTER III

    THE AIR FORCE AND UFOs

    It can be seen from the foregoing discussion that
    there is diversity of opinion in the UFO debate. The
    populace at large looks to the Air Force as the author-
    ity and is apparently willing to accept official Air
    Force explanations. The Air Force position on the exist-
    ence of UFOs is as follows:

    To date, the firm conclusions of project Blue
    Book are:
    1. No unidentified flyinf object re-
    ported, investigated and evaluated by the Air
    Force has ever given any indication of threat
    to our national security.

    2. There has been no evidence sub-
    mitted to or discovered by the Air Force that
    sightings categorized as UNIDENTIFIED repre-
    sent technological developments or principles
    beyond the rangee of present day scientific
    knowledge.

    3. There has been no evidence indi-
    cating that sightings categorized as UNIDENTI-
    FIED are extraterrestrial vehicles. [1]

    The challenge to this Air Force position comes from
    those who have studied the UFO problem in some detail
    and includes individuals who have been associated with
    the Air Force investigation.

    51
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Past Performance

    From the very beginning of the current UFO debate,
    which is defined as the way Mr. Arnold reported objects
    which appeared to him like "flying saucers," the Air
    Force was off to a bad start. [2] Dr. Hynek at that time
    suggested that Mr. Arnold's "saucers" were some type of
    known aircraft. Based on Kenneth Arnold's sighting, and
    the interest it generated across the nation, the Air
    Force became officially involved with UFOs. [3]
    The early years were devoted to investigation of
    specific cases and to the development of an organiza-
    tion to handle the problem. The pattern for official
    Air Force pronouncements seems to have been established
    in 1952 when a panel of consultants recommended that the
    "Air Force take immediate steps to strip the unidenti-
    fied flying objects of the special status and the aura
    of mystery they had unfortunately acquired." [4] The Air
    Force has from that time very consistently followed this
    advice. One could get the feeling that at no time has
    the Air Force been really seriously interested in the UFO
    problem. As Tacker states, "The Air Force's interest,
    or program, was born or, one might say, evolved from
    necessity." [5] In this case, necessity could be understood
    to mean necessity to quell the public clamor which followed

    52
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arnold's sighting. So, one might say that the Air Force
    was peressured by public opinion into doing something.
    Dr. Hynek, the Air Force's special consultant on
    UFOs, says this about Air Force interest in UFOs in 1948:

    . . . The Wright-Patterson group usually con-
    sisted only of a captain, who headed the team,
    one other officer, a sergeant, and myself as
    occasional consultant. The fact that the com-
    manding officer was a captain indicates the ex-
    tent of the Air Force's concern for this inves-
    tigation. [6]

    Since 1948 there has been little change in the staf-
    fing of this management office. Today, a major heads the
    office, he has a lieutenant, a staff sergeant and a secre-
    tary to assist him. However, it must be recognized that
    this is a central staff only. Major Quintanilla is assist-
    ed in investigation and evaluation by various consultants
    and by the Air Force officers located at Air Force bases.
    The writer of this paper has serious reservations about the
    competence of the officers delegated the duty of acting as
    investigating officers at Air Force bases. Although it is
    recognized that generalities may not be valid, this writer
    was apalled at the ignorance of one such officer who was
    interviewed by the writer. He had his equipment: camera,
    compass, binoculars, etc., but knew little about what he
    was supposed to investigate. He had not read any of the
    UFO literature, did not know any of the background of the UFO

    53
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- debate, except what had been briefed to him in grossly
    general terms, and did not know of the existence of
    NICAP, which he referred to as "nightcap" in his brief-
    ing notes.
    Even if one attributes exceptional competence to
    the central Blue Book staff, the grade structure and
    paucity of numbers could be interpreted by sensitive
    individuals as an indication that the Air Force does
    not take the UFO problem seriously and maintains the
    Blue Book office to assuage the sensibilities of
    the public.
    Admittedly, the Air Force is in a difficult posi-
    tion. They must try to maintain objectivity; they must
    be relatively conservative and operate within the frame-
    work of the scientific method as presently defined; they
    must consider the effects of their pronouncements on the
    American Public, bot the man-at-large and the scienti-
    fic community; they must insure that their pronounce-
    ments on the are in consonance with natioal policy....and they
    must be able to reconcile these constraints with the truth.
    In cases where the truth and the constraints are not
    compatible, something must be sacrificed. It goes with-
    out saying that any official pressure on the Air Force,
    an agency of the government, can be quite effective. If

    54
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- these pressures dictates that only partial truths be
    told, then the Air Force has only three options:
    tell that partial truth as best it can, refuse to
    comply, or refuse to say anything. The Air Force,
    as the official agency for UFO investigations, can-
    not remain silent, and it is not realistic to think
    that the Air Force is in a position to refuse the
    "guidance" of higher authority. This leaves the last
    option: tread the hazardous path of partial truth,
    ambivalence, ambiguity and vagueness. This, of course,
    may be the best path from a national standpoint, in
    view of the implications, but organizations like NICAP
    and APRO are not satisfied with this approach and con-
    stantly remind the Air Force of their displeasure through
    publications, letters to the Air Force and agitation
    among various congressmen and senators.
    A serious investigator of the UFO problem cannot
    believe that the AIr Force is satisfied with its solu-
    tions. This presumes that the investigations are carried
    out with competence. One begins to appreciate the dilemma
    of the Air Force when one sonsiders that Captain Ruppelt
    spent two years as the chief of Project Blue Book but did
    not publish his book until 1956, after leaving the Air
    Force. The question could be asked, "Why was the infor-
    mation contained in Ruppelt's book not published as an

    55
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- official Blue Book report while he was in charge of the
    UFO investigation? Ruppelt speaks his mind in his book.
    Why did he not say what he had to say while he was hold-
    ing his official position? Was it because he was official-
    ly constrained? Tacker has this to say in a rather obvious
    reference to Ruppelt:

    . . . It is conceivable that some person
    or persons associated with the Air Force
    program were personally convinced that
    flying saucers might be real and could
    be interplanetary spaceships.

    If this statement is with reference to Ruppelt, it is
    indeed astounding. Was it not Ruppelt's job to make an
    evaluation? If not, what was his function as chief?
    Was Ruppelt the Air Force's expert on UFOs? If not,
    was he incompetent? If he was incompetent, why did the
    Air Force accept his reports during his tenure as chief?
    Does a change from active duty to civillian life
    change a man's basic competence? If Ruppelt held the
    views which he espouses in his book during his tenure
    as chief, why did he not make these views publically known?
    Questions such as these are elementary. Unfortunately,
    throughout this whole UFO debate the Air Force's answers
    to questions such as these have shown remarkable inept-
    itude. In cases in which the Air Force has attempted to
    answer such questions, ineptitude has only compounded the

    56
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- problem, because the Believers immediately have taken
    the Air Force to task. In an effort to clarify and
    explain what it really meant, the Air Force has clari-
    fied itself into even greater problems by trying to ex-
    plain the logic on which the initial statement was based.
    As an example of how the Air Force gets into a posi-
    tion from which it has difficulty extricating itself,
    the writer of this paper has selected at random just
    one case from among the almost innumerable cases which
    would just as well illustrate the point. This case also
    illustrates the problem of credibility, the question of
    the thoroughness of Air Force investigations, the prob-
    lem of inconsistency, the problem of carelessness and the
    problem of community relations. This particular case
    has been widely commented on in the UFO literature and
    has caused considerable consternation as to the Air Force
    approach.
    The sighting occurred on January 11, 1966, at
    Wanaque, New Jersey. [8] The sighting was witnessed by
    entire communities. At the Wanaque reservoir, over
    which the UFO hovered for two hours, the police had to
    set up traffic controls to handle the volume of pede-
    strians and automobiles which converged on the reservoir.
    Among the witnesses were the mayor of Wanaque, a city

    57
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- councilman, various police officers and the general
    public. The UFO hovered over the reservoir from
    6:20 PM until 8:58 PM. It was observed with the naked
    eye and through binoculars. It was described as a bright
    disk between two and nine feet in diameter, silent, and
    playing a bright light an the surface of the ice on the
    reservoir. Its speed in flight was described as about
    1000 MPH as it moved up and down the reservoir (6 miles).
    The light was white, changed to green, and at times the
    white light had a red fringe. The UFO came to within
    twenty feet of the surface of the ice. Those are the
    essential elements of the sighting.
    This sighting was reported immediately to the near-
    est Air force bases (Stewart AFB, N.Y. and McGuire AFB,
    N.J.). Stewart Air Base reported no military aircraft
    in the area. Later, McGuire Air Base said that the UFO
    was a weather balloon which was launched from Kennedy
    International Airport. A weather observer at Patterson,
    N.J. then said that the UFO might be the planet Venus
    or an aircraft. Then Stewart Air Base said that an Air
    Force helicopter with a powerful beacon had been on a
    mission in the area. McGuire then called the local police
    and rescinded their balloon explanation. A Major Sherman

    58
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- then called from Stewart Air Base and denied the earlire
    Stewart explanation of the helicopter. he said that there
    were no aircraft from Stewart in the area. This call took
    place after several aircraft were seen over the reservior.
    The next day, the Pentagon announced that the UFO was a
    helicopter witha powerful beacon. Shortly thereafter,
    Wright-Patterson made the announcement that the UFO could
    be attributed to the planets Venus and Jupiter and an
    Air Force Helicopter.
    This narrative need little comment. If one tries
    to reconcile the sighting as reported by many witnesses
    at any of the explanations offered, there are sever-
    al things left unexplained. The inconsistencies in the
    official statements are obvious. Of interest is the
    matter of the aircraft in the area. There are many cases
    in the literature in which it is claimed that the Air
    Force has denied dispatching aircraft to investigate,
    even though these aircraft have been seen in the UFO
    area. As for the object itself and the official explan-
    ation, one would question a disc-shaped object able to
    move up and down the reservoir silently at 1000 MPH as
    a helicopter, a planet, or a weather balloon. How were
    these explanations arrived at without an on-the-spot
    official observer? If the Air Force did not know what

    59
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the object was, why did they try to explain it? Could
    they not have said that they did not know but would
    investigate? This is a case of poor judgement and
    inept handling. The press was quite caustic in its
    comments about the Air Force explanation. Even assum-
    ing that the thousands of people had observed some natural
    phenomenon, or aircraft, or were suffering from mass
    hallucination, or that a hoax was being perpetrated, it
    would appear that the Air Force handled the situation
    poorly and not in the best interest of Air Force-com-
    munity relations. With the way the Air Force handled
    this sighting, would it not seem natural for the popu-
    lation to wonder, at least, about the efficiency and
    coordination of the Air Force?
    In another case, several sightings of UFOs occurred
    ove the state of Oklahoma during the period 31 July to
    3 August 1965. The UFOs were tracked on radar by the
    weather bureau in Wichita and were seen by a variety of
    witnesses, including many at McConnell Air Force Base.
    The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported watching diamond-
    shaped formations of UFOs for half an hour. details in
    this case are unimportant, because regardless of the
    specifics, the Air Force pronouncement on this incident

    60
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    is inexcusable. The Air Force answer to these sightings
    was that the observers had seen the stars Rigel, Capella
    and Aldebran. There was only one problem: These stars
    were on the opposite side of the Earth from Oklahoma
    during the period of the sightings. Star locations
    were confirmed by Walter Webb, Hayden Planetarium, Boston,
    and Robbert Risser, Director, Oklahoma Planetarium, who
    said of the Air Force explanation. "This is as far from
    the truth as you can get." [10] This case illusrates the
    type of answer provided to the public by the Air Force
    in many cases. This type of answer has become so com-
    mon that the Believers have come to expect that the Air
    Force will "solve" UFO cases in this manner. What this
    does to Air Force credibility is obvious.
    Another interesting point is that the Air Force
    classifies UFOs in three general categories: Identi-
    fied, Insufficient Data and Unidentified. [11] In the case
    just mentioned, one wonders into which classification it
    was placed. the whole matter of the Air Force classifi-
    cation system, the basis on which the Air Force classifies
    sightings, what constitutes adequate substantiation for
    a classification of Identified and the validity of the
    statistical approach as a method for determining the
    existence or non-existence of UFOs have come under fire

    61
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- from a variety of sources. A particularly pointed re-
    mark comes from the "Yale Scientific Magazine":

    Based on unreliable and unscientific sur-
    mises as data, the Air Force develops elabor-
    ate statistical findings which seem impressive
    to the uninitiated public, unschooled in the
    fallacies of the statistical method. One must
    conclude that the highly publicized periodic
    Air Force pronouncements based upon unsound
    statistics serve merely to misrepresent the
    true character of UFO phenomena. [12] (See Appendix B)

    The allegation that the Air Force is concealing the
    truth about UFOs and knows more than it is telling the
    public is a frequent one. In the forefront of the censor-
    ship debate is Donald Kehoe (Major, USMC, Ret.),
    Director, NICAP. His books, "The Flying Saucer Conspira-
    cy" [13] and "Flying Saucers, Top Secret" [14] deal with what is
    claimed to be Air Force censorship of UFO information.
    One example from the latter book will illustrate the
    problem. [15]
    Kehoe had been invited to appear on a radio pro-
    gram, Armstrong Circle Theater, to participate in a
    panel discussion of the UFO problem. He had planned
    to bring up Capt. Ruppelt's claim that UFOs were real,
    were interplanetary and that the Air Force knew this,
    to the extent of publishing a report to this effect
    in an official Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC)

    62
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- report in 1948. [16] The individuaL charge of review-
    ing the program prior to its airing told Kehoe that he
    could not use that material because of time limitations
    Kehoe suspected Air Force pressure on the radio station
    and asked if this was the case. The answer he received
    was that CBS did not want ot get into difficulty with the
    Air Force. Kehoe cut the referenced discussion from his
    script, but in the heat of the discussion during the actual
    broadcast he declared that he would make an announcement
    never befor made to the public, at which time his micro-
    phone was cut off. There was a public clamor about this
    in the press and in letters from individuals to the radio
    station. In answer to an inquiry by a NICAP member,
    Herbert A. Carlborg, CBS editor of Editing, made this
    statement:

    This program has been carefully cleared for
    security reasons. therefore, it was the re-
    sponsibility of this network to insure per-
    formance that was in accordance with pre-
    determined security standards. Any indica-
    tion that there would be a deviation from
    the script might lead to a statement that
    neither this network nor the individuals on
    the program were authorized to release... [17]

    This case raises the question: Cleared for security
    by whom? It is interesting to note that Tacker claims
    that no such report existed, [18] even though Capt. Ruppelt
    said that this information was contained in a Top Secret

    63
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ATIC report which he had read while hw was chief of
    Project Blue Book. [19] Either Tacker or Ruppeli is in
    error.
    Direct and threatening official pressure on indivi-
    duals who have been involved in UFO sightings is a re-
    curring subject throughout the literature. A frequent
    charge is that the individual is approached by men in
    uniform or plain clothes and threatened with loss of
    job if he talks about his sighting. Frank Edwards cites
    one such incident in which it is claimed that an indus-
    trial worker who had seen an UFO was interviewed by two
    military men and asked to maintain silence on the subject.
    When the worker appeared hesitant, he was supposedly told
    by these military men that his employer had government
    contracts and that they would not like to see the work-
    er get into trouble with his employer. [20] This pattern
    is a frequent one in the literature.
    Although incidents such as those outlined above are
    cited in the UFO literature as indicating duplicity,
    inefficiency and confusion in the Air Force, the offi-
    cial Air Force pronouncements themselves are so phrased
    that they are subject to question. The very UFO credo
    of the Air Force, as stated in Blue Book pronouncements,
    is confusing and evasive.

    64
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Let us look at the three-part Blue Book position
    statement. [21] This is Blue Book statement:

    No identified flying object reported, investi-
    gated and evaluated by the Air Force has ever
    given any indication of threat to our national
    security.

    A reader of this statement might ask: Does this mean
    that the Air Force has determined that UFOs do exist,
    bu that the Air Force is trying to reassure the people
    that they are not hostile? Is this the prime concern
    of the Air Force. ..to determine the intent of UFOs?
    Are they not interested in determining whether or not
    UFOs exist, hostile or not? The above statement is
    qualified by the words "by the Air Force." In view of
    the way the Air Force conducts UFO investiagtions, as
    indicated by some of the examples cited earlier, the
    above statement seems to be safe enough for the Air
    Force, since the Air Force can control the outcome of
    any investigation. That is, if the Air Force says that
    a UFO sighting can be explained as a weather balloon,
    then they may also say that the weather balloon had no
    hostile intent.. The problem here is credibility. Also
    one wonders why there is even the need to make a state-
    ment about intent, since the Air Force has long maintain-
    ed that UFOs do not exist. One might also ask why an
    Air Force aircraft would shoot at a UFO if there was no

    65
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The second statement is:

    There has been no evidence submitted to or
    discovered by the Air Force that sightings
    categorized as unidentified represent tech-
    nological developments or principles beyond
    the range of present day scientific knowledge.

    The Blue Book definition of UNIDENTIFIED is:

    A sighting is considered unidentified when a
    report apparently contains all pertinent data
    necessary to suggest a valid hypothesis con-
    cerning the cause or explanation of the report
    but the description of the object or its motion
    cannot be correlated with any known object or
    phenomenon. [23]

    The Air Force statement admits that UNIDENTIFIED objects
    cannot be correlated with any known object or phenomena.
    The statement says that a report categorized as UNIDENTI-
    FIED contains all pertinent data necessary to suggest a
    valid hypothesis. It also says that the motion of the
    object cannot be corelated with any known object or
    phenomena. It seems strange, based on the above, that
    the Air Force can then say that sightings categorized
    as UNIDENTIFIED do not represent technological develop-
    ments or principles beyond the range of present day scienti-
    fic knowledge. It appaers that the Air Force is saying,
    in effect, that even though the object cannot be corre-
    lated to anything known, it nevertheless does not exhi-
    bit any features that are unknown . . . a difficult
    exercise in logic. Also, it is obvious that the Air Force

    66
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- does not accept the numerous reports of ultra-high
    speed right angle turns performed by UFOs ...
    or do they? In the official statement why is it
    necessary to say "Technological developments or
    principles . . .?" Would not "developments" suf-
    fice? One could suggeat that use of the word
    "principle" has been included to enable semantic
    escape for the future. The reason for this suggestion
    is that it is claimed by the Believers that UFGOs are
    propelled by application of certain principles of magne-
    tism. It is true that modern science is aware of the
    existence of magnetism. However, to date, it appears
    that Man has not been able to apply these principles
    to propulsion as exhibited by the flight characteristics
    of UFOs. therefore, to say that UNIDENTIFIED objects
    do not exhibit any unknown principles could be partial
    truth . . . it is just that we have not discovered how to
    apply these principles.

    The third statement is:

    There has been no evidence indicating that
    sightings categorized as UNIDENTIFIED are
    extraterrestrail vehicles.

    There can be no argument with this statement, since the
    word "evidence" used in this Air Force statement is evi-
    dence as defined by the Air Force. If the Air Force is

    67
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- convinced that it has not received acceptable evidence,
    then it is pointless to argue the validity of eye wit-
    ness reports as circumstantial but adequate.
    It can be seen that there are certain inscrutabili-
    ties in the Air Force credo. From time to time, the Air
    Force tries to clarify its position, all the while cling-
    ing to its credo. An article appeared in the July 1967
    issue of "Airman" magazine, official magazine of the
    Air Force. [24] The magazine is published monthly by the
    Internal Information Division, Directorate of Information,
    Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. Al though there
    is the usual official disclaimer, the editor of the maga-
    zine, in a note preceeding the article on UFOs, states that
    the author has done admirably in presenting an article
    which tells the truth about UFOs and what the Air Force
    knows about them. The article uses several of the ploys
    encountered in the Non-Believer literature. it begins by
    citing examples of UFO reports which were subsequently
    definitely resolved as misidentification of common ob-
    jects. The reader is then to extrapolate these cases to
    the unknowns. hoaxes are emntioned. the planet Venus is
    mentioned. The Air Force statistical listing is mentioned.
    many of the arguments against UFOs are presented. . . argu-
    ments which have become classic over the years. there is

    68
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- nothing new is presented in the article. It is unfortun-
    ate that this particular article will be read by so many,
    from the pages of "Airman" magazine and from the special
    "True" magazine reproduction of the article. [25] The author
    of the article has attempted to review years of compli-
    cated debate in five pages. The article is offered as
    the "truth." The author asks, "Are flying saucers fact
    or fiction? What does the Air Force know about them?
    Read on, and then form your own judgements." Unfortun-
    ately, amny reders will do just that. Some of the most
    intensely debated aspects of the UFO problem are perfunct-
    orily brushed aside. How this is done in the article
    can be illustrated by the following statements in the
    article. Note that the author does several things in
    this statement: ridicules the rationality of Believers;
    implies that the reader should not associate himself with
    the Believers (This is the "demented by association"
    ploy mentioned earlier); presents a faulty analogy;ex-
    poses his own closed mind with reference to the possibi-
    lity that science may progress beyond the Twentieth Cen-
    tury; leaves the questions unanswered; tries to cause
    the reader to come to an "obvious" conclusion which is
    incorrect.

    69
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Why do not UFOs, which reportedly move at
    supersonic speeds, produce sonic booms? An
    earth aircraft, or any solid object, always
    creates an audible "boom" when it exceeds
    the speed of sound. Bullets produce a sonic
    boom! Missiles cause a "boom" once they sur-
    pass the speed of sound! However, not one
    of the thousands of reports received by the
    Air Force mentions any sonic boom associated
    with the reported UFO sighting. How can UFOs
    defy Earth's gravity and perform erratic aerial
    maneuvers and square turns at supersonic speeds?
    The pilots of our aircraft and space vehicles
    haven't been able to ignore the laws of gravity
    and motion!

    the above statement illustrates the general tenor of
    the article. It can be seen that when the author says,
    "read on, and then form your own judgements" that he has
    stacked the evidence in favor of the negative position.
    No valid judgement can be made based on the article.
    It is unfortunate that the writer of the article is
    either not familliar with the UFO literature or has chosen
    to ignore it. there are several works which deal with
    the sonic boom, high speed and right angle turns. [26]
    The author of the "Airman" magazine article might also find
    it illuminating to check on the status of government-
    sponsored anti-gravity research programs. [27]
    The rather transparent attempt by the Air Force to
    dissuade the public takes a shameless form in project
    Blue Book material. As part of this material, the fol-
    lowing items are included:

    70
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1. A suggested reading material list which con-
    tains thirteen references. Of the thirteen references,
    eight deal with astronomy; one with weather; one with
    optics; one with the space program, written by Von Braun,
    a Non-Believer; one written by Menzel, the classic in-
    transigent Non-Believer; and one written by Jacques
    Valle, who reviews the history of UFO sightings. of the
    thirteen works cited, the book by Valle is the only one
    which leaves room for questioning the Air Force's nega-
    tive approach. The references to astronomy, weather,
    optics and the space program are not even relevant to the
    UFO debate. WAs the Air Force afraid to include pro-UFO
    literature? Valle is not pro-UFO; he is neutral. If a
    reader were to read every reference in the suggested read-
    ing list he would understand more about astronomy but
    would hardly see why the Air Force's position on UFOs is
    being challenged.
    2. An article entitled "Arriving from Mars by UFO?.
    this article discusses the relative positions of Earth
    and MArs with reference to favorable periods for the
    launching of space vehicles from Mars to Earth. It goes
    into several arethmetic discussions and concludes that:

    When one goes back to examine the direction
    from which the UFOs arrive, we find not a single
    case for the UFO coming in from the proper direc-
    tion to indicate that it had originated on Mars
    or Venus.

    71
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here we see an example of the refusal to consider that
    UFO technology may not be hampered by the limitations
    of our own embryo space program. The presumptuousness
    of the conclusion is so gross as to be insulting to the
    intellect.
    3. An interview with Werner Von Braun, in which he
    concludes by saying that he will not believe in UFOs un-
    til he sees one.
    4. A questionnaire that is to be completed by any-
    one seeing a meteor or fireball and then mailed to the
    American Meteor Society.
    Such an irrelevant, one-sided, transparent approach
    is demeaning to the United States Air Force.

    The Current Situation

    The results of a recent Gallup poll [28], would seem to
    indicate that the Air Force is having limited success in
    dissuading the public. According to the poll, there are
    more than five million Americans who are certain that they
    have seen flying saucers or other UFOs. A more signifi-
    cant figure is the 46% of America adult who believe that
    UFOs are real.
    Such an indication of belief in UFOs is truly amazing
    when one considers the exotic nature of the subject and
    the Air Force's attempts to dissuade the public. However,

    72
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the UFO problem has been with us for a long time, and
    some of the sensationalism has worn off. The subject
    of UFOs has become a more acceptable topic of conver-
    sation. Mass media are addressing the problem openly.
    The ridicule index is down. more and more reputable
    scientists are making statements which are more permis-
    sive and hint at the possibility that UFOs might exist.
    Dr. Hynek has done much to reinforce the Believer posi-
    tion and weaken the Non-Believer position by his subtle
    shift away from the intransigent Non-Believers. Also,
    the populace is aware that the Air Force has asked a
    University of Colorado team to study the problem.
    It appears that the citizenry is at least temporari-
    ly satisfied that the problem is being looked into.
    Both the critics and the Air Force appear to have de-
    clared a truce while they await the results of the
    Colorado investiagtion, due for public release in 1968.
    The writer of this paper predicts a resumption of
    the debate with renewed fury upon release of the Colorado
    recommendation. The reason for this prediction is that
    in the fall of 1968, the recommendation as to whether or
    not the government should invest more money in UFO investi-
    gation is csheduled to be made by the Colorado team. If
    the Colorado team recommends that the investigation be
    pursued, the Believers will feel vindicated and clamor

    73
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- for information, and the Air Force will fell the brunt
    of the assault and will be placed on the defensive. On
    the other hand, if the Colorado tem recommends no further
    investigation, this will incur the wrath of the Believers,
    who will not be convinced. So, in either case, the de-
    bate will continue on some form. It would appear to be
    advisable for the Air Force to prepare contingency plans
    for either eventuality.
    Confidence is apparently running high in some circles
    that UFOs are here to stay. In an article in "Air Progress," [29]
    Don Berliner states that civillian industry has been, and
    continues to be, interested in capitalizizng on the techni-
    cal aspects of UFO construction and propulsion and has been
    carrying on research projects aimed at solving such things
    as flight principles of a disc form and magnetic field
    propulsion. At the end of his article he says,

    Numerous large corporations, sensing the re-
    search and development potential of UFO in-
    vestigation, have quietly begun pilot projects
    aimed at cashing in on an expanded government-
    financed study which would almost certainly
    follow any positive conclusion by the Univer-
    sity of Colorado. An example is the instru-
    ment loaded microbus now being prepared by a
    large West Coast aerospace firm, which hopes
    to get it to the site of a major wave of UFO
    sightings and get precise trackings and high
    quality photographs. Additionally, there are
    billions of dollars waiting for the firm which
    first solves the puzzles of the UFO propulsion
    control and maneuverability.

    74
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    This rather commercial approach to the UFO problem
    would seem to ignore the Air Force assurance that UFOs
    are natural phenomena, man-made objects, hallucinations,
    or hoaxes.


    Summary

    It is really small wonder that the Air Force is
    being challenged. Any private citizen, trying to under-
    stand the UFO debate, and researching the problem from
    materials available at a public library, will soon see
    that the manner in which the Air Force has handled this
    problem justifies the challenge. The Air Force has suf-
    fered poor publicity, has given irrational answers to
    the public, has insulted the intelligence of the citi-
    zenry, has alienated many commerciial pilots and scientists,
    has made careless mistakes, has become officious, has lost
    credibility, has been inconsistent, has refused to modi-
    fy its basically irrelevent statistical approach to the
    problem and continues to insist that even the unknowns
    are probably explainable in terms of the familiar Even
    Dr. Menzel, the anti-UFO stalwart, has criticized at least
    one of the Air Force "solutions". Referring to the Air
    Force determination that Gorman's UFO was really lights
    suspended from a balloon, Menzel says, "Of all possible
    explanations, the idea of balls of light suspended from

    75
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- balloons could account for the observations is complete-
    ly at variance with the reports. i should rather accept
    the alternative that the objects were interplanetary
    saucers." [30]
    The frustration and anger felt by those who believe
    that the Air Force is mishandling the UFO problem has
    been succinctly, if emotionally, summed up by an author
    famous for his acrimonius attacks on the Air Force:

    Almost everybody else in the world agrees
    that where there is much smoke there must
    be some fire. But not the Air Force. To
    them we all have soot on our sun glasses
    and the moving disck we think we see are
    really drops of sweat. Very simple fellows
    in the Air Force. Too simple. [31]

    76
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    CHAPTER IV

    THE IMPLICATIONS

    The Air Force has for many years had a special of-
    fice staffed for the handling or the UFO problem. Many
    specialized disciplines have been called upon to assist
    in the analysis of UFO reports. Large civilian organi-
    zations have been formed to investigate UFO reports.
    There has been a congressional hearing on UFOs. Letters
    on the subject of UFOs have been passed between the popu-
    lace and the Air Force, the populace and members of con-
    gress, and the Air Force and members of congress. Mass
    media have sponsored programs and published special issues
    on the UFO debate, Currently the UFO problem is being
    studied by a team from the University or Colorado. Why
    does the interest and concern of the people and the govern-
    ment continue over the years at such a high level? The
    key reason lies in the implications inherent in the UFO
    debate.
    For the next few pages the author will outline some
    of the major political, sociological and military impli-
    cations associated with the existence of UFOs. Unfortun-
    ately, even if UFOs do not exist as extraterrestrial space

    77
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- vehicles, the implications of the debate have already
    been felt by the Air Force to the detriment of that ser-
    vice. Irreparable damage has been suffered by the Air
    Force in the minds of a large segment of the population
    of this country because of the way that the Air Force
    has handled the UFO problem up to this point, as pointed
    out in Chapter III of this paper.
    One finds throughout the UFO literature charges, ac-
    cusations and allegations of censorship and suppression
    aimed at the Air Force. Usually the critics end their
    discussions with a plea for release of the information
    which the Air Force is supposedly concealing, There is
    usually some statement to the effect that no matter how
    dire the implications, the sophisticated U.S. public,
    accustomed to a daily existence in a rather dire world,
    will be able to cope with the knowledge that other intel-
    ligent beings share the universe with us and have been
    visiting the Earth. One wonders whether or not the public
    has really thought out some of the implications. If the
    Air Force is under orders not to reveal what it knows
    about UFOs, maybe the implications give us a clue as to why
    this is so.

    Political Implications

    If UFOs are hostile, some of the implications might be:

    Demand for protection. Most likely, one of the
    first actions on the part of the populace after it has

    78
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- had time to assess the situation would be to demand
    protection from hostile UFOs, The public would demand
    to know of the political leaders what they had done or
    are doing to protect the people of the nation. Under
    the assumption that UFOs represent a technology far
    superior to our own, the answer would most likely be
    that programs are under consideration to study the prob-
    lem, but no effective defense has yet been devised.
    Such an announcement would be politically embarrassing,
    since UFOs have been with us for many years. In a situ-
    ation in which the populace felt threatened, and consi-
    dering that most people would not understand the techni-
    cal problems involved, such an announcement would be dis-
    advantageous to the incumbent political party.

    Transfer of emphasis from current world problems to
    the international threat. To that degree this would hap-
    pen would depend on the nature of the UFO threat. That
    is, if the hostility were moderate, only one or two iso-
    lated incidents. then the threat might serve only to add
    to the world's problems; on the other hand, if there were
    some significant and larger scale hostile operation then
    the emphasis would shift to one of immediacy,

    Change in international conflict status. This effect
    would most likely follow any significant hostile action
    against the Earth at large. Nations would soon recognize

    79
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    a common threat to Man and might reassess their posi-
    tions relative to international jealousies and conflicts.

    Demand for international unity. It is likely that the
    peoples of the world would lose interest in internation-
    al conflicts and demand international unity to try to
    counter the common threat.

    Politically, any of the last three effects would be
    highly disruptive to the political status quo and to
    government programs and plans.

    Political implications if UFOs are benevolent;

    Assuming that the intelligence behind the UFOs began
    to take more than a passing interest in Earth society,
    and in consideration that this intelligence would probab-
    ly be more advanced not only in technology but in other
    areas as well, some of the effects might be:

    Loss of allegiance; Existing political organi-
    zations might be hard pressed to maintain the allegiance
    of their people if extraterrestrial beings of a superior
    nature criticized the actions of the existing governments.

    Loss or sovereignty; International boundaries and
    traditional prerogatives or government may be lost. Direc-
    tions issued by an existing government would be subject
    to review by an authority which might be considered by
    the people to be wiser, and the people might be reluctant

    80
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    to comply without the approval of this superior authori-
    ty.
    Loss of confidence in government might be brought
    about by extraterrestrial disapproval of government opera-
    tion.
    Modification or invalidation of national object-
    ives; If national objectives were criticized by higher
    intelligences, governments might have to make a choice
    between a change of objectives or political chaos caused
    by dissension among the populace as to proper national
    objectives.

    Loss of national ego might result from decline
    of nationalism, and an enhancement of international
    spirit.
    Loss of national prestige: The loss or reduction
    or individual and national ego, the weakening of the poten-
    cy of government dictates, a decrease in nationalistic
    pride, and the realization that Earth civilization is
    relatively retarded would probably result in a loss or
    reduction of national prestige throughout the world.

    Alteration of political systems; Revamping of
    entire concepts of government may result because of ad-
    vice from superior beings, who could point out deficien-
    cies and recommend better forms of government.

    81
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Change in international power relationships:

    With a change in national objectives, possibly new forms
    of government and a shift in government priorities, power
    relationships may drastically change, since the new object-
    ives may not be supported by the existing power structures.

    Political chicanery and deception: A remote pos-
    sibility, but one which is not beyond the unprincipled,
    would be an attempt on the part of politicians to per-
    suade the people that a certain course of action or pro-
    gram was recommended by the superior intelligences, when
    in fact it was not.

    The effects listed above are far-reaching, sweeping
    effects. But one wonders if considerations such as out-
    lined above have not been causing feelings of uneasiness
    in certain government quarters,

    Sociological Implications

    The political and military effects and responses have
    their foundations in the sociological implications, influ-
    ences on the very core of the individual, . . his beliefs,
    his understanding of himself and his relationship to others...
    in short, his Man-oriented society. An intrusion by extra-
    terrestrial beings into this closed society may have the
    following effects on the human being.

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    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    If UFOs are hostile;

    Initial shock and consternation; Active hosti-
    lity on a significant scale by extraterrestrials would
    represent an event for which Man is ill-prepared. He
    would need some time to realize the magnitude of the
    threat. After realizing what this threat meant to Man-
    kind, he would most likely be disoriented, since there
    is no historical precedent that he can call on to aid
    him in confronting the problem. With time, Man would
    realize more and more what the implications were, and
    shock and consternation would grow into:

    Worldwide fear; localized panic; Classical
    panic would probably not occur except in the immediate
    vicinity of the hostile action, when it was realized
    that Man is powerless to defend himself effectively.
    With worldwide communications, any hostile action of
    significance would become worldwide knowledge. World-
    wide reaction, on an individual basis, would probably
    take the form of deep fear for the future of Man. This
    reaction would probably not be immediate, but would
    slowly evolve, becoming more and more intense with reali-
    zation.

    A turning to religion: on the face of the reali-
    zation that Man would be, for all practical purposes, de-
    fenseless against hostile UFOs, there may be a turning to

    83
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- religion for help and comfort.

    A change in human relationships: There may be
    more cooperation among the peoples of the world and among
    people in the same nation, community and neighborhood as
    they join together to face a common threat and to com-
    miserate with one another. As General Douglas MacArthur
    said in the New York Times, October 9, 1955,

    The nations of the world will have to unite,
    for the next war will be an interplanetary
    war. The nations of the earth must someday
    make a common front against attack by people
    from other planets.

    Sociological implications if UFOs are benevolent:

    Again, initial shock and consternation: Man
    would need time to sift out for himself what the appear-
    ance of extraterrestrial beings means to Man as an indi-
    vidual and as a society. Once more, Man is ill-prepared
    to do this. He would have to view flying saucers as some
    thing more than subjects for TV and comic strips, He would
    most likely look to his government for guidance. This
    guidance would be either non-existent or feeble and inade-
    quate.

    Change in human relationships: As in the Case of
    hostility, people would probably grow closer together as
    they struggled to develop an understanding and modus viven-
    di under the new conditions.

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    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Loss or reduction of ego: An encounter with
    superior beings, superior technology and superior under-
    standing in all areas which Man considers important would
    act to deflate Man's high esteem for himself. His ac-
    complishments would appear rudimentary.

    Modification of the human value system: Again,
    assuming that extraterrestrial beings took an active
    interest in the affairs of Man, certain ends pursued
    by Man as worthwhile objectives in life may be demon-
    strated convincingly to be either of limited value or
    worthless. Man would then have the choice of continu-
    ing to pursue objectives which were demonstrated to be
    false, or of modifying his value system.

    Decrease in status of scientists and world
    technology: As in the case with loss or reduction of
    ego, world technology and the scientific community which
    promotes it would lose some of its luster in the face of
    superior technology and understanding of the workings of
    natural laws and their application. This factor may be
    the basis, in part, for the too frequent reluctance of
    scientists to look too deeply into the UFO problem.
    There is the chance that the UFOs will not become active-
    ly involved with Earth society. If scientists can de-
    bunk UFOs with moderate success, and if the involvement
    of UFOs with our society remains as it has over the last
    few years, then the scientists stand a fair chance of re-
    taining their esteem.

    85
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Turmoil in world religions: Religious concepts
    based on the notion that Man holds a special and exclu-
    sive place in the Master Plan will have to be re-evalu-
    ated, not because of the special place of Man, but be-
    cause of the idea of exclusivity. Such re-evaluation
    will revitalize religion because of a better understand-
    ing of concepts presently misunderstood.

    Transfer of allegiance from traditional religions
    to the philosophy and religion of the extraterrestrials:
    While the traditional religions are undergoing a reassess-
    ment, and assuming that the extraterrestrial beings are
    advanced over Man in spiritual development, there will
    most likely be a shift in allegiance from the tradition-
    al religions to that of the extraterrestrials. The hunger
    for spiritual answers and the inability or traditional re-
    ligion to convincingly provide the answers is legendary.
    Any religion which makes Man's purpose clear and which can
    provide answers to his questions will gain a large follow-
    ing.

    Military Implications

    Since the Air Force is charged with the responsibi-
    lity for assuring the security of the skies over the
    United States, it is understandable that intrusion into
    U.S. air space by strange air vehicles at any place and

    86
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    at any time would cause considerable Air Force nervous-
    ness. Although there have been instances in which these
    strange vehicles have been pursued and fire upon by Air
    Force aircraft (See Chapter III), the Air Force claims
    that it has no physical evidence of the existence of these
    vehicles. This is a declaration of the impotence of the
    Air Force against these craft. However, the Air Force
    should not feel that it is remiss in providing air secur-
    ity for the nation. The Wright brothers would have had
    little success in convincing an F-4 pilot that he should
    be escorted to the nearest airfield.
    There are two very significant problems confronting
    Earth technology today, assuming a military threat from
    the UFOs. First, forces in being are demonstrably inade-
    quate to cope with any such threat. This inadequacy is
    reflected both in the passive role of detection and track-
    ing and also in the active role of offense action. De-
    tection by radar is thwarted by a combination of small
    radar cross-section, high speed, and ability to stop while
    in flight. Assuming that the reflective surface were suf-
    ficient to give a good return, high speed and an erratic
    flight path would make it virtually impossible to effective-
    ly pass the track through the radar network or individual
    radar stations. Any radar station working on the ballistic

    87
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- trajectory principle, or equipped with moving target
    indicator (MTI) circuitry would be confounded by the
    erratic flight and the ability of the space vehicles
    to come to a stop in flight. In the case of MTI, the
    UFO would appear to disappear from the scope when it
    stopped moving.
    Even assuming that a UFO could be detected and
    tracked, we have nothing in the inventory, aircraft
    or missile, that is capable or coping with the UFO.
    Ultra-high speed, angular maneuvers and unlimited
    ceiling assure the UFO's ability to elude any inter-
    cepting weapon, provided that the UFO is able to de-
    tect an attack. The detection capability of UFOs is
    not discussed in the literature available to the public.
    The second major problem confronting Earth technolo-
    gy is the matter of lead time, both in the laboratory and
    on the production line. If we assume that at some point
    in time we are able to determine the vulnerabilities of
    the UFO , we must then translate this understanding into
    a defensive weapon system. It would appear from the de-
    scriptions of the behavior of these vehicles that they
    employ principles which are rather exotic, in terms of
    Man's understanding of physical laws. If this is so, it
    will be no mean task to understand these principles suffi-
    ciently to be able to design a counter weapon, to

    88
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- produce that weapon, and then to deploy a system to the
    field. In such a situation, the time lapse is reckoned
    in years. We may not have sufficient time to develop
    such a defensive weapon, even assurance that we had enough
    information to begin with.
    If the UFOs are not hostile, and if they are benevo-
    lent, then the problem is not a technical one; it is more
    an ego problem and a human relations problem. Military
    ego would suffer a severe setback in the face of just one
    public demonstration of the capabilities of a disc. The
    impotence of the military establishment to cope with the
    UFOs would be manifestly apparent to all. Military wea-
    ponry and tactics would appear obsolete overnight. In
    addition to the blow to military prestige, a far more
    significant effect could be felt by military establish-
    ments world-wide. If th@ extraterrestrial beings sug-
    gested that war between nations was not a valid method
    for the resolution of international conflicts, and if they
    could demonstrate an alternative and offer guidance. mili-
    tary forces would gradually fall into disrepute and the
    world would probably see the eventual dissolution of mili-
    tary establishments world-wide.

    Summary

    Any reader would be able to think of almost an in-
    finite number of implications in economics, industry,

    89
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the arts . . . across the whole spectrum of human acti-
    vity. The point is that we should be thinking about all
    these implications so that we can be better prepared for
    the day when we might be confronted with an overt approach
    on the part of extraterrestrials. The other nagging quest-
    ion is the matter of intent. If we could determine intent
    this would be a start towards psychological adjustment and
    possible accommodation, whether the intent be hostile or
    benevolent.
    It can be seen that if the question of implications
    is explored fully, one gains an appreciation of Dr. Hynek's
    statement that "Mankind may be in for the greatest advent-
    ure since dawning human intelligence turned outward to con-
    template the universe.
    Also, one can begin to appreciate why the Believers
    have been so unkind to the Air Force. They feel that any
    knowledge which the Air Force may be withholding is right-
    fully the property of mankind, and not the exclusive pro-
    perty of any one military or political organization.
    The thought arises, or course, that in view of the
    implications, maybe release of all information on UFOs
    would herald the beginning of the dissolution of the world
    as we have come to know it. For some, this may be unac-
    ceptable, and as was pointed out earlier, if the UFOs have
    only a casual interest iu Earth and do not plan to involve
    themselves with mankind, then maybe some of the problems
    are only academic.

    90
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CHAPTER V

    CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    It is once more pointed out that if the Air Force
    is handling the UFO problem properly, in view of the
    seriousness of the implications, nevertheless, the
    interested researcher is left with the impression that
    either the Air Force investigation has been inept or
    some important information is being purposely withheld,
    giving rise to the many curious statements made by the
    Air Force as it tries as best it can to assuage the
    public, while withholding the truth.
    Based on an exhaustive review of the literature
    available to the public, the writer of this paper comes
    to the following conclusions:
    1. Many objects reported as UFOs are misidentifi-
    cations of natural phenomena or man-made objects.
    2. Many objects reported as UFOs are space vehi-
    cles.
    a. These vehicles originate extraterrestrially.
    b. These vehicles are controlled by some intel-
    ligence either on board the vehicles or at some extra-
    terrestrial location remote from the vehicles.

    91
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    c. The space technology or the extraterrestrial
    intelligence is far superior to ours.
    d. It is likely that contact has been made with
    Man on an individual and covert basis.
    e. It is not known why overt contact with Man
    has not been made.
    f. The intent of the extraterrestrial beings
    is not known.
    3. The implications for the world in the existence
    of UFOs is presently significant, and will become even
    more significant if overt contact is made.
    4. The Air Force has been inept in its handling of
    the UFO problem.
    5. The Air Force has lost some of its esteem in the
    eyes of a large segment of the U.S. population because
    of the manner in which the Air Force has handled the UFO
    problem.
    6. Defense of the anti-UFO position has been weak.
    Charges and allegations against the Air Force have not
    been satisfactorily answered.
    7. The gravity of the implications for mankind in
    the existence of UFOs may be the root cause for the
    puzzling official pronouncements and approach to the
    problem.

    92
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Recommendations

    1. Conduct an open congressional hearing with the
    Air Force, NICAP, APRO and the University of Colorado
    represented. Conduct this open hearing upon completion
    of the current initial study being conducted by the
    University of Colorado, even if results show that fur-
    ther study is required.
    2. If it is considered inadvisable to conduct an
    open hearing because of the implications, then:
    a. Quietly call in members of NICAP and enlist
    their cooperation. Explain current status and implica-
    tions, and have NICAP contact key people in APRO.
    b. Disband Project Blue Book.
    c. Establish a nationwide official UFO investi-
    gative organization independent of the Air Force. Staff
    this organization with a broad spectrum of experts.
    Train all investigators. The disbanding of Project Blue
    Book and the establishment of the investigative organi-
    zation should be done without fanfare. These actions
    might be justified as a reorganization in order to pro-
    vide a more detailed, prompt investigation of reports
    by citizens.
    3. The United States government should prepare
    contingency plans for contact with UFOs (hostile and
    benevolent).

    93
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    4. After establishment of the new investigative
    organization, the United States should actively try
    to establish contact with the UFOs and determine
    motive. Attempts at contact should not be provocative
    or aggressive.

    94
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    FOOTNOTES

    Chapter II

    1. Brad Steiger and Joan Writenour, "Flying Saucers
    Are Hostile" (New York: Universal Publishing and Distri-
    buting Corp.,l967), p. 66.

    2. Malcom Kent, "The Terror Above Us" (New York:
    Tower Publications, 1967, p. 15.

    3. Steiger, op. cit., p. 10.

    4. Ibid., p. 12.

    5. Edward J. Ruppelt, "The Report on Unidentified
    Flying Objects" (New York: Doubleday and Co. Inc., 1956),
    p. 51.

    6. Donald E. Keyhoe, "The Flying Saucer Conspiracy"
    (New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1955), p. 288.

    7. Coral Lorenzen, "The Great Flying Saucer Hoax"
    (New York; William-Frederick Press, 1962), p. 32.

    8. Coral and Jim Lorenzen, "Flying Saucer Occupants"
    (New York: The New American Library, Inc., 1967), p. 42.

    9. John G. Fuller, "The Interrupted Journey" (New York:
    Dial Press, 1966).

    10. Lorenzen, "Flying Saucer Occupants," p. 116.

    11. Frank Edwards, "Flying Saucers Serious Business"
    (New York: Bantam Books, Inc., 1966), p. 167.

    12. Ibid., p. 170 and Ruppelt, op. cit., p. 119.

    95
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    13. John G. Fuller, "Incident at Exeter" (New York:
    Putnam, 1966), p. 203 and Edwards, op. cit., p. 142 and
    Steiger, op. cit., p. 69.

    14. Steiger, op. cit., p. 10.

    15. Keyhoe, op. cit., p. 38.

    16. Vincent H. Gaddis, "Mysterious Fires and Lights"
    (New York; David McKay Co. Inc., 1967), p. 11 and Steiger
    op. cit., p. 153.

    17. Fuller, "The Interrupted Journey".

    18. George Adamski, "Inside the Flying Saucers!" (New
    York: Paperback Library, Inc., 1967), p. 66.

    19. Ibid., P. 69.

    20. Ibid., p. 59 and 69.

    21. Frank Skully, "Behind the Flying Saucers" (New
    York: Holt, 1950), p. 52.

    22. Adamski, op. cit., p. 7O and 7l.

    23. Jacques Vallee, "Anatomy of a Phenomenon" (Chicago:
    Henry Regnery Co., 1965), p. 167.

    24. Ibid., p. 148.

    25. Cleve Mitchell, "The UFO Saga" (Lakemont, Georgia:
    CSA Press, 1966), p. 84.

    26. Ibid., p. 84.

    27. Adamski, op. cit., p, 64.

    28. Ibid., p. 35.

    29. George Adamski and Desmond Leslie, "Flying Saucers
    Have Landed" (New York; The British Book Centre, 1953),
    facing p. 192.

    30. Richard H. Hall, "The UFO Evidence" (Washington,
    D. C.: NICAP, 1964).

    31. "The APRO Bulletin" (Tucson, Arizona)

    96
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    32. Gaddis, op. cit., p. 9.

    33. Ibid.

    34. "A Fresh Look at Flying Saucers", Time (August
    4, 1967), p. 32 and Lorenzen, "Flying Saucer Occupants",
    p. 164.

    35. "Flying Saucers", (Special Issue by Look Magazine),
    (New York: Cowles Communications, Inc., 1967), p. 59.

    36. Fuller, "Incident at Exeter", p. 221.

    37. "Hearing on Unidentified Flying Objects", Committee
    on Armed Services, House of Representatives, 89th Congress,
    2nd Session, 1966, Hereafter cited as "Hearing on UFOs".

    38. Ruppelt, loc. cit.

    39. Ibid.

    40. Ibid., p. 13.

    41. Ibid., p. 314.

    42. Ibid., p. 8.

    43. Ibid., p. 315.

    44. "Hearing on UFOs", op. cit., p. 6006.

    45. J. Allen Hynek "The UFO Gap", Playboy, Vol. 14,
    No. 12 (December 1967), P. 146.

    46. J. Allen Hynek, in a letter to "Science" magazine,
    (1 August, 1966).

    47. "Hearing on UFOs", op. cit., p. 6007.

    48. Hynek, "Science".

    49. Hynek, "Playboy", p. 270.

    50. "Hearing on UFOs", op. cit., p. 6007.

    51. Hynek, "Science".

    52. Hynek, "Playboy", p. 271.

    97
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    53. Carl Sagan "Unidentified Flying Objects", (an
    article copyrighted in 1963 by The Encyclopedia Americana;
    reprinted for private circulation), p. 5.

    54. Edwards, op. cit., p. 112. .

    55. Graham Berry, "Those Mysterious Signals from
    Outer Space", Los Angeles Times West Magazine, (January
    8, 1967), p. 27.

    56. Fuller, "Incident at Exeter".

    57. Fuller, "The Interrupted Journey".

    58. Fuller, "Incident at Exeter", p. 193.

    59. Time

    60. Hearing on UFOs, loc. cit.

    61. Donald H. Menzel, "Flying Saucers" (Massachusetts:
    Harvard University Press, 1953).

    62. Lawrence J. Tacker, "Flying Saucers and the USAF"
    (New York; Van Nostrand, 1960).

    63. Menzel, op. cit.

    64. Ibid., p. 18.

    65. Ibid., p. 19.

    66. Ibid., p. 17.

    67. Ibid., p. 19.

    68. Ibid., p. 125.

    69. Ruppelt, op. cit., p. 133.

    70. Menzel, op. cit., p. 38.

    71. Ruppelt, op. cit., p. 133.

    72. Menzel, op. cit., p. 283.

    73. Tacker, loc. cit.

    74. Ibid., p. 8

    98
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    75. Ibid., p. 10.

    76. Lorenzen, "The Great Flying Saucer Hoax", p. 188.

    77. Ibid., p. 159.


    Chapter III

    1. Project Blue Book, 1 March, 1967, p. 4.-

    2. Tacker, op. cit., p. 12.

    3. Ibid., p. 13.

    4. Ibid., p. 17.

    5. Ibid., p. 13.

    6. Hynek, Playboy, p. 146.

    7. Tacker, op. cit., p. 83.

    8. Edwards, op. cit., p. 179 and Edward J. Babcock
    and Timothy Green Beckly, "UFO Plagues Now Jersey Reservoir"
    Fate, October 1966, Vol. 19, No. 10, Issue 199, p. 34.

    9. Mort Young, "UFO Top Secret" (New York; Essandess
    Special Editions, 1967), p. 101.

    10. Ibid., p. 102 and Edwards, op. cit., p. 167.

    11. Project Blue Book, op. cit., p. 1.

    12. Yale Scientific Magazine, (Yale University,
    Vol. XXXVII, No. 7, April 1963).

    13. Keyhoe, "The Flying Saucer Conspiracy".

    14. Donald E. Keyhoe, "Flying Saucers Top Secret" (New
    York; Putnam's Sons, 1960).

    15. Ibid., p. 155.

    16. Ruppelt, op. cit., p. 62.

    17. Kehoe, "Flying Saucers Top Secret", p. 164.

    99
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    18. Tacker, op. cit., p. 83.

    19. Ruppelt, op. cit., p. 62.

    20. Edwards, op. cit., p. 140.

    21. Project Blue Book, op. cit., p. 4.

    22. Keyhoe, "Flying Saucers Top Secret", p. 100.

    23. Project Blue Book, op. cit., p. 2.

    24. George W. Ogles, major, USAF, "What Does the
    Air Force Really Know About Flying Saucers?", The Airman,
    Vol. XI, No. 7, July 1967, (Washington, D. C.: U. S.
    Government Printing Office, 1967), p. 4.

    25. George W. Ogles, Major, USAF, "Air Force Takes
    the Stand: 'Just the Facts, Sir' " The New Report on
    Flying Saucers by the Publishers of True, No. 2, 1967
    (Connecticut: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1967), p. 4.

    26. Leonard G. Cramp, "Space, Gravity and the Flying
    Saucer (New York: British Book Centre, 1955) and Keyhoe,
    "The Flying Saucer Conspiracy", p. 247 and Skully, loc. cit.
    and Michael Aime, "Flying Saucers and the Straight Line" (New
    York: Criterion Books, 1958).

    27. Edwards, op. cit., p. 127.

    28. Time, op. cit., p. 32

    29. Don Berliner, "The UFO from the Designer's View-
    point", Air Progress, Vol. 21, No. 4, October 1967, p. 72.

    30. Menzel, op. cit., p. 18.

    31. Skully, op. cit., p. 186.

    100
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    APPENDIX A
    TYPICAL UFO CHARACTERISTICS AND EFFECTS

    As was pointed out in Chapter II of this paper, it
    is apparent, after review of UFO sighting reports con-
    tained throughout the literature, no matter what the
    particular persuasion of the author, that there are
    certain consistencies in these sightings, regardless
    of the stand which has, at least in the past, been
    taken by Project Blue Book (Special Report #14). These
    consistencies are tabulated below.
    If it is felt that within any category of character-
    istics there is too much diversity, the author suggests
    that these differences are no greater than those which
    exist between a helicopter and a commercial jet aircraft.
    There are many reports of elongated, cigar-shaped
    objects, thought by some authors to be what is termed
    a "mother ship" i.e., a much larger vehicle which usu-
    ally does not land, but hovers near the area where the
    disc-shaped objects descend to lower altitudes or land.
    It has been theorized that master control over the disc
    shaped objects may be exerted from the "mother ship", re-
    gardless of whether or not the discs are remotely control-
    led from the "mother ship" or carry intelligent beings

    101
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    on board. A modification of this theory suggests an
    aircrart carrier type role for the "mother ship", i.e.,
    the "mother ship" transports the discs across the ex-
    panse of interplanetary space and discharges the discs
    upon reaching the near environment of the Earth. The
    cigar-shaped vehicles have been reported to be immense objects.....approximating the length of a football field.
    Several other shapes have been reported: bell-shaped
    triangular, egg-shaped, rectangular.....but these shapes
    are in the minority.
    The characteristics and effects outlined on the next
    page are applicable to the classic disc-shaped object,
    by far the most commonly reported. This is the "flying
    saucer" model. The Believer literature usually ascribes
    a scouting, probing, investigation, reconnaissance, funct-
    ion to this type of object.

    102
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Typical UFO Characteristics and Effects

    Physical Characteristics:

    Size: From two feet in diameter to over 100 feet
    in diameter.

    Shape: Circular; disc-shaped; like two saucers, one
    inverted over the other. The center of the
    disc is thicker than the edges, which may be
    sharp or blunt.

    Color: Daytime: Brilliant silver color with a sheen.

    Nighttime: Intense white light. May also be
    orange, red, green, blue. Many reports indi-
    cate a gradual change of color as maneuvers
    change, i.e., disc may be dull orange while
    hovering and change through brilliant orange
    to red to white as the disc moves progressive-
    ly faster in a horizontal or vertical direct-
    ion. The light is usually described as extreme-
    ly intense and pulsating.

    Construction:

    Material: Metal- pure magnesium. (Incidentally,
    Coral Lorenzen, of APRO, claims she had a
    sample of this material analyzed. Her report,
    with several spectrographic tables and discus-
    sion, appears in her book, "The Great Flying
    Saucer Hoax", p. 89)

    Lnnding Gear: Tripod spherical....like ball
    bearings; or tripod extensions with flat or
    wedge-shaped plates at the end of each of the
    three "legs".


    Access: Throu@h a panel usually on the under-
    side of the vehicle. Panel opens and closes
    silently and smoothly. When closed, the fit
    with the vehicle body is so precise that seams
    cannot be detected.

    103
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Exterior Features: Antenna-like projection
    is frequently reported. Center of disc fre-
    quently has a cupola. May have running lights
    and port holes.

    Interior Features: Extremely bright "burnish-
    ed aluminum" appearing walls. Compartments in
    the shape of a pie wedge, with the point or
    the wedge joining a central column. Doors fit
    without seams. May have more than one level.
    Lighted instrument panels; star charts ( See
    "The Interrupted Journey", J.G. Fuller). Source
    of light is not apparent, "seems to come from
    everywhere."

    Flight Characteristics:

    Speed: 0 (hover) to 5000 MPH or greater.

    Maneuverability: Hover; vertical ascents vertical
    descent; horizontal. High speed departure
    from Earth surface is usually on a slant.
    Ability to change from hover to high speed
    is instantaneous; ability to stop from high
    speed movement is instantaneous; right angle
    turns at high speed are common.

    Special Flight Characteristics: The discs are usual-
    ly seen to "wobble" at low speeds (instabili-
    ty?). At night, while hovering, the light
    emitted by the disc is usually reported to
    "pulsate".

    Propulsion: Propelled through application of principles
    of magnetism as yet not understood by Man.
    (Navigation is theorized to be based on a
    compehensive understanding of magnetic fields
    in space....therefore the concern that Man
    may alter the relationships by his nuclear
    explosions in space.) The power system is
    absolutely silent or may hum much like an
    electrical transformer. A high pitched,
    intense hum or whine is often reported.

    Effect on Immediate Vicinity:

    Electrical Systems: Disruption. Lights go out; auto
    ignitions fail. Some authors theorize that the
    recent power blackouts were caused by UFO experi-
    mentation.

    104
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Radioactivity: Low to high readings on radioacti-
    vity d@tection instruments.

    Human Beings: No effect, to tingling sensation, to
    paralysis, to burns on flesh. Some cases
    of involuntary compliance with unspoken
    orders from space beings.

    Animals: Horses panic; dogs cower; insects and frogs
    stop chirping. These occurrences are report-
    ed many times to have been the reason for the
    observer leaving his house to investigate,
    and once outside, then seeing the UFO.
    (See "The Interrupted Journey" for a descript-
    ion of the effect on a dog.)

    Vegetation: Matted grass; burned grass and bushes
    in the vicinity of a landing.

    Other: Many reports of strong metallic odor, some
    to the point of causing nausea, in the im-
    mediate vicinity of the UFO.

    105
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    APPENDIX B

    Extracted from Project Blue Book material distri-
    buted to Air Force base UFO officers at a meeting at the
    University of Colorado on 12 June 1967.

    TOTAL UFO (OBJECT) SIGHTINGS
    (Con@piled 15 Feb 6?)

    TOTAL
    YEAR SIGHTINGS UNIDENTIFIED SOURCE

    1947 122 12 Case Files
    1948 156 7 Case Files
    1949 186 22 BlueBook, Page 108
    1950 210 27 Case Files
    1951 169 22 Case Files
    1952 1,501 303 BlueBook, Page 108
    1953 509 42 Case Files
    1954 487 46 Case Files
    1955 545 24 Case Files
    1956 670 14 Case Files
    1957 1,006 14 Case Files
    1958 627 10 Case Files
    1959 390 12 Case Files
    1960 557 14 Case Files
    1961 591 13 Case Files
    1962 474 15 Case Files
    1963 399 14 Case Files
    1964 562 19 Case Files
    1965 887 16 Case Files
    1966 1,060 30 Case Files
    ----- ---
    TOTAL 11,108 676

    106
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- L- --+---T1----+-T--2----T----3--T-+----4T---+---T5----+-T--6----T----7--T-+------ -------------R

    STATISTICAL DATA FOR YEARS 1953-1965

    TOTAL CASES BY CATEGORY

    (Compiled 15 Feb 67)
    1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 TOTAL

    Astronomical 175 137 135 222 341 231 144 235 203 136 85 123 250 2417
    Aircraft 73 80 124 148 218 106 63 66 77 68 73 71 222 1389
    Balloon 78 63 102 93 114 58 31 22 37 19 28 20 36 701
    Insufficient Data 79 103 95 132 191 111 65 105 115 94 59 99 85 1333
    Other 62 58 65 61 120 93 75 94 77 65 58 88 126 1042
    Satellite 0 0 0 0 8 18 0 21 69 77 82 142 152 569
    Unidentified 42 46 24 14 14 10 12 14 13 15 14 19 16 253
    TOTAL 509 487 545 670 1006 627 390 557 591 574 399 562 887 7704

    ASTRONOMICAL SIGHTINGS

    Meteors 70 92 79 88 179 168 100 187 119 95 57 61 101 1396
    Stars and Planets 101 44 52 131 144 56 40 45 78 36 23 55 140 945
    Other 4 1 4 3 18 7 4 3 6 5 5
    7 9 76
    TOTAL 175 137 135 222 341 231 144 235 203 136 85 123 250 2417

    OTHER CASES

    Hoaxes, Hallucinations,
    Unreliable Reports and
    Psychological Causes 15 6 18 16 37 29 14 13 17 11 16 34 34 260
    Missiles and Rockets 2 1 1 3 2 6 14 12 13 9 13
    7 10 93
    Reflections 4 6 4 3 2 7 11 9 3 3 0
    2 7 61
    Flares and Fireworks 1 4 8 6 8 3 5 7 4 3 3
    7 4 63
    Mirages and lnversions 3 2 4 1 5 2 4 5 6 3 0
    2 5 42
    Search and Groundlights 9 6 14 9 12 8 5 6 1 3 2
    6 9 90
    Clouds and Contrails 6 3 2 1 9 5 3 4 5 4 5
    0 3 50
    Chaff 0 2 0 1 2 6 1 4 3 5 2
    1 1 28
    Birds 4 7 2 6 1 1 0 3 2 2 2
    4 11 45
    Radar Analysis 15 7 1 8 27 3 8 6 9 0 1
    2 3 90
    Photo Analysis 1 1 2 4 1 7 4 6 3 2 3
    6 6 46
    Physical Specimens 1 6 5 3 5 10 3 7 4 15 3
    8 12 82
    Satellite Decay 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 9 3 3 3
    4 8 31
    Other 1 7 4 0 9 5 3 3 4 2 4
    6 13 61
    TOTAL 62 58 65 61 120 93 75 94 77 65 58 88 126 1042

    107
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC TOTAL

    ASTRONOMICAL 14 8 44 47 15 12 20 20 12 38 21 4 255
    AIRCRAFT 8 4 32 42 31 26 29 28 14 24 22 10 270
    BALLOON 0 0 2 5 3 2 7 4 2 5 1 1
    32
    INSUFF DATA 8 3 34 27 30 22 19 19 19 34 21 6 242
    OTHER 5 1 19 15 7 5 10 5 7 9 8 3
    94
    SATELLITE 2 0 32 5 12 21 5 23 5 11 2 1 109
    UNIDENTIFIED 1 2 5 2 1 4 3 3 4 3 1 1
    30
    PENDING 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 2 6 14
    28
    TOTAL 38 18 158 143 99 92 93 104 67 126 82 40 1060

    ASTRONOMICAL

    JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC TOTAL

    Meteors 8 1 8 19 5 3 10 7 4 8 8 2
    83
    Stars/Planets 4 6 32 23 7 8 9 10 7 29 12 2 149
    Other 2a 1a 4a 5a 3a 1a 1a 3ab 1a 1a 1c
    23
    TOTAL 14 8 44 47 15 12 2 20 12 38 21 4 255

    (a) moon (b) unusual sunset (c) unusual meteorological condition

    OTHER

    JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC TOTAL

    Hoaxes,Conf.Psy 2 1 6 3 2 2 2 1 3 4 3
    29
    Missiles/Rockets 1 1
    2
    Search/Gd Lights 1 1 3 2 1 1 1
    10
    Flares/Fireworks 1 1 1 1
    4
    Reflections 3 1 2 1 2
    9
    Clouds/Contrails 2 3 1p 2p 1p
    9
    Birds 1 4 1 2 1
    9
    Radar Analysis 1n
    1
    Physical Speciman 1f 2st 1f 2st 4
    Satellite Decay 1 1
    2
    Photo Analysis 5bcdei 2ge 2c 1q
    10
    Miscellaneous 2ah 1j 1k 1r
    5
    TOTAL 5 1 19 15 7 5 10 5 7 9 8 3
    94

    (a) swamp gas (b) stellar image (c) no image (d) insuff data (e) processing defect (f) chaff
    (g) electric light (h) blown transformer (i) lighthouse (j) plasma (n) anamalous propogation
    (p) artificial cloud release (q) time exposure of moon reported to be UFO (r) electric wires
    sparking (s)indentations in ground, and soil samples (t) unknown animal

    108
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    APPENDIX C

    RECOMMENDED READING LIST

    Those interested in a relatively rapid survey of
    the salient points and the various positions and argu-
    ments in the UFO debate will find that the following
    publications will provide a good understanding of the
    problem across the spectrum.

    Ultra Group (Hostile):

    Steiger, Brad and Writenour, Joan. "Flying
    Saucers Are Hostile". New York; Universal
    Publishing and Distributing Corporation, 1967.

    Ultra Group (Benevolent):

    Adamski, George. "Inside the Space Ships".
    New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1955.

    The Normal Believers:

    Aime' Michael. "The Truth About Flying Saucers".
    New York: Criterion Books, 1956.

    Hall, Richard H. "The UFO Evidence", Washington, D.C.
    NICAP, 1964.

    Keyhoe, Donald E. "Flying Saucers: TOP SECRET",
    New York: Putnam, 1960.

    Lorenzen, Coral. "The Great Flying Saucer Hoax",
    New York; William-Frederick Press, 1962.

    Vallee, Jacques. "Anatomy of a Phenomenon",
    Chicago; Regnery, 1965.

    109
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    <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
    CUFON NOTE: Pages 110 and 111 were not sent along with the rest <<<<
    of the thesis from Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, <<<<
    Alabama. CUFON will make every effort to obtain these 2 missing <<<<
    pages and incorporate them in this file. <<<<
    <<<<
    Pages 112 - 120 consist of a copy of the portion of Air Force <<<<
    Regulation 80-17(C1), Attachment 1, (AF Form 117 Aug 67) which <<<<
    is the (blank) "Sighting of Unidentified Phenomena Questionaire" <<<<
    These pages are not included in this file because of the graphic <<<<
    nature of the form. A copy of this reporting form is reproduced <<<<
    in Appendix "B" of "The Final Report of the Scientific Study of <<<<
    Unidentified Flying Objects" (The "Condon Report") E.P. Dutton <<<<
    1968, published in association with Colorado Associated <<<<
    University Press. (pp. 829 - 837) <<<<
    <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- AIR FORCE REGULATION 80-17

    DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
    Washington, D.C. 19 September 1966
    Research and Development
    UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFO)

    This regulation establishes the Air Force program for investigating and analysing UFOs over the United States. It provides for uniform investigative procedures and release of information. The investigations and analyses prescribed are related directly to the Air Force's responsibility for the air defence of the United States. The UFO Program requires prompt reporting and rapid evaluation of data for successful identification. Strict compliance
    with this regulation is mandatory.
    -----------------------

    SECTION A - GENERAL PROVISIONS
    Paragraph
    Explanation of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
    Program Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
    Program Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

    SECTION B - PUBLIC RELATIONS, INFORMATION,
    CONTACTS, AND RELEASES

    Response to Public Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
    Releasing Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

    SECTION C - PREPARING AND SUBMITTING REPORTS

    General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
    Guidance in Preparing Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
    Transmittal of Reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
    Negative or Inapplicable Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
    Comments of Investigating Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
    Basic Reporting Data and Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
    Reporting Physical Evidence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

    SECTION A - GENERAL PROVISIONS

    1. Explanation of Terms. To insure proper and uniform usage of terms in UFO investigations, reports and analyses, an explanation of common terms
    follows:

    a. Unidentified Flying Objects. Any aerial phenomenon or object which is
    unknown or appears out of the ordinary to the observer.

    b. Familiar or Known Objects/Phenomena. Aircraft, aircraft lights,
    astronomical bodies (meteors, planets, stars, comets, sun, moon),
    balloons, birds fireworks, missiles, rockets, satellites, weather
    phenomena


    (clouds, contrails, dust devils), and other natural
    phenomena.

    2. Program Objectives. Air Force interest in UFOs is two-fold: to determine
    if the UFO is a possible threat to the United states and to use the
    scientific and technical data gained from study of UFO reports. To attain these objectives, it is necessary to explain or identify the stimulus which caused the observer to report his observation as an unidentified flying
    object.

    a. Air Defence. The majority of UFOs reported to the Air Force have
    been conventional or familiar objects which pose no threat to our
    security.

    (1) It may be possible that foreign countries may develop flying
    vehicles of revolutionary configuration or propulsion.

    (2) Frequently, some alleged UFOs are determined to be aircraft. Air
    Defence Command (ADC) is responsible for identification of
    aircraft.
    -----------
    This Regulation supersedes AFR 200-2, 20 July 1962
    OPR: AFRSTA
    DISTRIBUTION: S
    121
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Except as aircraft are determined to be the stimulus for
    a UFO report, aircraft are not to be reported under the provisions
    of this regulation.

    b. Technical and Scientific. The Air Force will analyse reports of UFOs
    submitted to it to attain the program objectives. In this connection
    these facts are of importance:

    (1) The need for further scientific knowledge in geophysics, astronomy
    and physics of the upper atmosphere which may be provided by study
    and analysis of UFOs and similar aerial phenomena.

    (2) The need to report all pertinent factors that have a direct bearing
    on scientific analysis and conclusions of UFO sightings.

    (3) The need and the importance of complete case information. Analysis
    has explained all but a small percentage of the sightings which
    have been reported to the Air Force. The ones that have not been
    explained are carried statistically as "unidentified." Because of
    the human factors involved and because of analysis of a UFO
    sightings depends on a personal interpretation by the observer
    rather than on scientific data or facts obtained under controlled
    conditions, the elimination of all unidentifieds is improbable.
    However, if more immediate, detailed and objective data on the
    unidentifieds that have been available and promptly reported,
    perhaps these too, could have been identified.

    3. Program Responsibilities:

    a. Program Monitor. The Deputy Chief of Staff, Research and Development,
    is responsible for the overall program, evaluation of investigative
    procedures, and the conduct of separate scientific investigations.

    b. Resources. The Air Force Systems Command will support the program with
    current resources within the Foreign Technology Division (FTD) at
    Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to continue Blue Book effort.
    Other AFSC resources normally used by FTD for this effort will continue
    to be made available.

    c. Investigation. Each commander of an Air Force BAse will provide a UFO
    investigative capability. When notice of a UFO sighting is received,
    an investigation will be implemented to determine if the stimulus for
    the sighting. An Air Force base receiving the notice of a UFO sighting
    may not be the base nearest the locale of the sighting. In that event,
    the reported UFO sighting will be referred to the Air Force base
    nearest the sighting for action.

    EXCEPTIONS: FTD at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, independently
    or with the help of pertinent Air Force activities, may conduct any
    other investigation to conclude its analysis or findings. HQ USAF may
    arrange for separate investigations.

    d. Analysis. FTD will:

    (1) Analyze and evaluate all information and evidence reported to bases
    on those UFOs which are not identified at the base level.

    (2) Use other Government agencies, private industrial companies, and
    contractor personnel to assist in analyzing and evaluating UFO
    reports as necessary.

    e. Findings. FTD, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, will prepare a final case
    report on each sighting reported to it after the data have been
    properly evaluated. If the final report is deemed significant, FTD
    will send the report of its findings to AFSC (SFCA), Andrews AFB, Wash
    D.C. 20331, which will send a report to HQ USAF (AFRDC), Wash D.C.
    20330.

    f. Cooperation. All AIr Force activities will cooperate with UFO
    investigators to insure that pertinent information relative to
    investigations of UFO are promptly obtained. When feasible, this will
    include furnishing air or ground transportation and other assistance.


    SECTION B - PUBLIC RELATIONS, INFORMATION, CONTACTS, AND RELEASES

    4. Response to Public Interest. The Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Information (SAF-OI), maintains contact with the public and the news media on all aspects of the UFO program and related activities. Private individuals
    or organizationsdesiring Air Force interviews, briefings or lectures, or private discussions on UFOs will be instructed to direct their requests to SAF-OI. Air Force members not officially connected with UFO investigations covered by this regulation will refrain from any action or comment on UFO reports which may mislead or cause the public to construe these opinions as official Air Force findings.

    5. Releasing Information. SAF-OI is the agency responsible for releasing information to the public and to the news media.

    a. Congressional and Presidential Inquiries. The Office of Legislative
    Liaison will:

    (1) With the assistance of SAF-OI,

    122
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    answer all Congressional and Presidential queries regarding UFOs
    forwarded to the Air Force.

    (2) Process requests from Congressional sources in accordance with AFR
    11-7.

    b. SAF-OI will:

    (1) Respond to correspondence from individuals requesting information
    on the UFO program and evaluations of sightings.

    (2) release information on UFO sightings and results of
    investigations to the general public.

    (3) Send correspondence queries which are purely technical and
    scientific to FTD for information on which to base a reply.

    c. Exceptions. In response to local inquiries regarding UFOs reported in
    the vicinity of an Air Force Base, the base commander may release
    information to the news media or the public after the sighting has been
    positively identified. If the stimulus for the sighting is difficult
    to identify at the base level, the commander may state that the
    sighting is under investigation and conclusions will be released by
    SAF-OI after the investigation is completed. The commander may also
    state that the Air force will review and analyze the results of the
    investigation. Any further inquiries will be directed to SAF-OI.


    SECTION C - PREPARING AND SUBMITTING REPORTS

    6. General Information:

    a. The Deputy Chief of Staff, Research and Development, USAF and the ADC
    have a directed immediate interest in UFOs reported within the US.
    All Air Force activities will conduct UFO investigations to the extent
    necessary for reporting action (see paragraphs 9, 10, 11, and 12).
    Investigation may be carried beyond this point when the preparing
    officer believes the scientific or public relations aspect of the case
    warrants further investigation. In this case, the investigator will
    coordinate his investigation with FTD.

    b. Paragraph 7 will be used as a guide for screenings and reportings.
    Paragraph 11 is an outline of the reporting format.

    c. Inquiries should be directed to SAF-OI (see paragraph 5)

    d. If possible, an individual selected as a UFO investigator should have a
    scientific or technical background and experience as an investigator.

    e. Reports required by this regulation are excluded from assignment of a
    reports control symbol in accordance with paragraph 3k, AFR 300-5.

    7. Guidance in Preparing Reports. The usefulness of a UFO report depends largely on accuracy, timeliness, skill and resourcefulness of the person who receives the initial information and makes the report. Following are aids
    for screening, evaluating and reporting sightings:

    a. Activities receiving initial reports of aerial objects and phenomena
    will screen the information to determine if the report concerns a valid
    UFO as defined in paragraph 1a. reports not falling within that
    definition do not require further action. Aircraft flares, jet
    exhausts, condensation trails, blinking or steady lights observed at
    night, lights circling near airport and airways, and other aircraft
    phenomena should not be reported as they do not fall within the
    definition of a UFO.

    EXCEPTION: Reports of known objects will be made to FTD when this
    information originally had been reported by local news media as a UFO
    and the witness has contacted the Air Force. (Do NOT solicit reports.)
    News releases should be included as an attachment with the report (see
    paragraph 8c)

    b. detailed study will be made of the logic, consistency, and authenticity
    of the observer's report. An interview with the observer by persons
    preparing the report, is especially valuable in determining the
    reliability of the source and the validity of the information. Factors
    for particular attention are the observer's age, occupation, and
    education, and whether he has a technical or scientific background. A
    report that a witness is completely familiar with certain aspects of a
    sighting should indicate specific qualifications to substantiate such
    familiarity.

    c. The following procedures will assist the investigation officer in
    completing the report and arriving at conclusion as required in
    paragraph 11.

    (1) When feasible, contact local aircraft control and warning (ACW)
    units, and pilots and crews of aircraft aloft at the time and place
    of the sighting. Contact any persons or organizations that may
    have additional data on the UFO or can verify evidence - visual,
    electronic, or other.

    (2) Consult military or civilian weather forecasters for data on tracks
    of weather
    123
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    balloons ar any unusual meteorological activity that may have a
    bearing on the stimulus for the UFO.

    (3) Consult navigators and astronomers in the area to determine if any
    astronomical body or phenomenon might account for the sighting.

    (4) Consult military and civilian tower operators, air operations
    units, and airlines to determine if the sighting could have been an
    aircraft. Local units of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) can be
    of assistance in this regard.

    (5) Consult persons who may know of experimental aircraft of unusual
    configuration, rocket and guided missile firings, or aerial tests
    in the area.

    (6) Consult local and State police, county sherifs, forest rangers,
    and other civil officials who may have been in the ara at the time
    of the sighting or have knowledge of other witnesses.

    8. Transmittal of Reports:

    a. Timeliness. report all information on UFO's promptly. Electrical
    transmission with a "Priority" precedence is authorized.

    b. Submission of Reports. Submit multiple-addressed electrical reports
    to:

    (1) ADC

    (2) Nearest Air Division (Defence)

    (3) FTD WPAFB. (First line of Text: FOR TDETR.)

    (4) CSAF. (First line of Text: FOR AFRDC.)

    (5) OSAF. (First line of Text: FOR SAF-OI)

    c. Written Reports. In the event that follow-up action requires a letter
    report, send it to FTD TDETR, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, 45433. FTD
    will send the reports to interested organizations in the US and to
    SAF-OI if required.

    d. Reports from Civilians. Advise civilians to report UFOs to the
    nearest Air Force Base.

    e. Negative or Inapplicable Data. If specific information is lacking,
    refrain from using the words "negative" or "unidentified" unless all
    logical leads to obtain the information outlined in paragraph 11 have
    been exhausted. For example, the information on weather conditions in
    the area, as requested in paragraph 11g, is obtainable from the local
    military or civilian weather facility. Use the phrase "not
    applicable (NA)" only when the question really does not apply to
    the sighting under investigation.

    10. Comments of Investigating Officer. This officer will make ann initial analysis and comment on the possible cause or identity of the stimulus in a supporting statement. He will make every effort to obtain pertinent items of information and to test all possible leads, clues, and hypotheses. the investigating officer who receives the initial report is in a better position to conduct an on-the-spot- survey and follow-up than subsequent
    investigative personnel and analysts who may be far removed from the area and who may arrive too late to obtain vital data or information necessary for
    firm conclusions. The investigating officer's comments and conclusions will
    be in the last paragraph of the report submitted through channels. The reporting official will contact FTD (Area Code 513,257-0916 ot 257-6678) for verbal authority to continue investigations.

    11. Basic Reporting Data and Format. Show the abbreviation "UFO" at the beginning of the text of all electrical reports and in the subject of any follow-up written reports. Include required data in all electrical reports,
    in the order shown below:

    a. Description of the Objects(s):

    (1) Shape.

    (2) Size compared to a known object.

    (3) Color.

    (4) Number.

    (5) Formation, if more than one.

    (6) Any discernible features or details.

    (7) Tail, trail or exhaust, including its size.

    (8) Sound.

    (9) Other pertinent or unusual features.

    b. Description of Course of Object(s):

    (1) What first called the attention of observer(s) to the object(s).

    (2) Angle of elevation and azimuth of object(s) when first observed.
    (Use theodolite or compass measurement if possible.)

    (3) Angle of elevation of object(s) upon disappearance. (Use
    theodolite or compass measurement if possible.)

    (4) Description of flight path and maneuvers of object(s). (Use
    elevations and azimuth, not altitude.)

    (5) How did the object(s) disappear? (Instantaneously to the North,
    for example.)

    (6) How long were the object(s) visible? (Be specific - 5 minutes, 1
    hour, etc.)

    c. Manner of Observation:

    (1) Use one or any combination of the following items: Ground-visual,
    air-visual, ground-electronic, air-electronic. (If electronic,
    specify type of radar.)

    (2) Statement as to optical aids (tele-

    124
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    scopes, binoculars, etc.) used and description thereof.

    (3) If the sighting occurred while airborne, give type of aircraft,
    identification number, altitude, heading, speed, and home station.

    d. Time and Date of Sighting:

    (1) Greenwich date-time group of sighting and local time.

    (2) Light conditions (use one of the following terms: Night, day, dawn,
    dusk).

    e. Location of Observer(s). Give exact latitude and longitude coordinates
    of each observer, and/or geographical position. In electrical reports,
    give a position with reference to a known landmark in addition to the
    coordinates. For example, use "2 mi N of Deeville"; "3 mi SW of Blue
    Lake," to preclude errors due to teletype garbling of figures.

    f. Identifying Information on Observer(s):

    (1) Civilian - Name, age, mailing address, occupation, education and
    estimate of reliability.

    (2) Military - Name, grade, organization, duty, and estimate of
    reliability.

    g. Weather and Winds-Aloft Conditions at Time and Place of Sighting:

    (1) Observer(s) account of weather conditions.

    (2) Report from nearest AWS or US Weather Bureau Office of wind
    direction and velocity in degrees and knots at surface, 6000',
    10,000', 16,000', 20,000', 30,000', 50,000', and 80,000', if
    available.

    (3) Ceiling.

    (4) Visibility.

    (5) Amount of cloud cover.

    (6) Thunderstorms in area and quadrant in which located.

    (7) vertical temperature gradient.

    h. Any other unusual activity or condition, meteorological, astronomical,
    or otherwise that might account for the sighting.

    i. Interception or identification action taken (such action is authorized
    whenever feasible and in compliance with existing air defence
    directives).

    j. Location, approximate altitude, and general direction of flight of any
    air traffic or balloon releases in the area that might account for the
    sighting.

    k. Position title and comments of the preparing officer, including his
    preliminary analysis of the possible cause of the sighting(s). (See
    paragraph 10.)

    12. Reporting Physical Evidence:

    a. Photographic:

    (1) Still Pictures: Forward the original negative to FTD (TDETR),
    Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433, and indicate the place, time, and
    date the photograph was taken.

    (2) Motion Pictures. Obtain the ORIGINAL film. Examine the film strip
    for apparent cuts, alterations, obliterations, or defects. In the
    report comment on any irregularities, particularly in films
    received from other than official sources.

    (3) Supplemental Photographic Information. Negatives and prints often
    are insufficient to provide certain valid data or permit firm
    conclusions. information that aids in plotting or in estimating
    distances, apparent size and nature of object, probable velocity,
    and movements includes:

    (a) Type and make of camera.

    (b) Type, focal length, and make of lens.

    (c) Brand and type of film.

    (d) Shutter speed used.

    (e) Lens opening used; that is "f" stop.

    (f) Filters used.

    (g) Was tripod or solid stand used.

    (h) Was "panning" used.

    (i) Exact direction camera was pointing with relation to true
    North, and its angle with respect to the ground.

    (4) Other Camera Data. If supplemental data is unobtainable, the
    minimum camera data required are the type of camera, and the
    smallest and largest "f" stop and shutter speed readings of the
    camera.

    (5) Radar. Forward two copies of each still camera photographic prints
    per AFR 95-7. Classify radarscope photographs per AFR 205-1.

    NOTE: If possible, develop film before forwarding. Mark undeveloped film clearly to indicate this fact, to avoid destruction by exposure through mail channels to final addresses.

    b. Material. Air Force echelons receiving suspected or actual UFO
    material will safeguard it to prevent any defacing or alterations which
    might reduce its value for intelligence examination and analysis.

    c. Photographs, Motion pictures, and Negatives Submitted by Individuals.
    Individuals often submit photographic and motion picture material as
    part of their UFO reports. All original material submitted will be
    returned to the individual after completion of necessary studies,
    analysis, and duplication by the Air Force.

    125
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFR 80-17

    By Order of the Secretary of the Air Force

    Official J.P. McCONNELL
    General U.S. Air Force
    Chief of Staff


    R.J. PUGH 1 Attch.
    Colonel, USAF 1. (Sec. C1)
    Director of Administrative Services

    126
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    BIBLIOGRAPHY

    Books

    Adamski, George. "Inside the Flying Saucers", New York:
    Paperback Library Inc., l967.

    Aime', Michael. "Flying Saucers and the Straight Line
    Mystery". New York: Criterion Books, 1958.

    ________. "The Truth About Flying Saucers". New York:
    Criterion Books, 1956.

    Cramp, Leonard G. "Space, Gravity and the Flying Saucer".
    New York: British Book Center, 1955.

    Davidson, Leon. "Flying Saucers: An Analysis of the Air
    Force Project Blue Book Special Report No. 14." Ramsey,
    New Jersey: Ramsey-Wallace, 1956.

    Edwards, Frank. "Flying Saucers - Serious Business". New York
    Bantam Books, Inc., 1966.

    Fuller, John G. "Incident at Exeter". New York: Putnam,
    1966.

    ________. "The Interrupted Journey". New York: Dial Press,
    1966.

    Gaddis, Vincent H. "Mysterious Fires and Lights". New York:
    David McKay Company, Inc., 1967.

    Girvan, Waverly. "Flying Saucers and Common Sense". New
    York: Citadel Press. 1956.

    Hall,Richard, "Th3 UFO Evidence". Washington, D.C.:
    NICAP, 1964.

    127
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Jessup, Morris K. "UFO and the Bible". New York:
    Citadel Press, 1956.

    ________. "The Case for tho UFO". New York: Citadel
    Press, 1955.

    Jung, Carl Gustav. "Flying Saucers: A Modern Myth of
    Things Seen in the Sky". London: Routledge and
    Paul, 1959.

    Keyhoe, Donald E. "Flying Saucers: Top Secret", New
    York: Putnam, 1960 ,

    ________. "Flying saucers from Outer Space". New York:
    Holt , 1953.

    ________. "The Flying Saucer Conspiracy", New York:
    Holt, 1955.

    Leslie, Desmond, and George Adamski. "Flying Saucers Have
    Landed". New York: The British Book Centre, 1953.

    Lorenzen, Coral. "The Great Flying Saucer Hoax", New York:
    William-Frederick Press, 1962.

    Lorenzen, Coral, and Jim Lorenzen. "Flying Saucer Occupants"
    New York: The New American Library, 1967.

    Menzel, Donald H. "Flying Saucers" Cambridge, Mass.:
    Harvard University Press, 1953.

    Menzel, Donald H., and Lyle G. Boyd. "The World of Flying
    Saucers; a Scientific Examination of a Major Myth of
    the Space Age". Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1963.

    Reeve, Bryant. "Flying Saucer Pilgrimage". Amherst, Wisc.:
    Amherst Press, 1957.

    Ruppelt, Edward J. "The Report on Unidentified Flying
    Objects", Garden City, N. Y.: Doubleday, 1956.

    Skully, Frank. "Behind the Flying Saucers". New York:
    Holt, 1950.

    Steiger, Brad, and Joan Writenour. "Flying Saucers Are
    Hostile, New York: Universal Publishing and Dist.
    Corp., 1967.

    128
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Tacker, Lawrence J. "Flying Saucers and the USAF".
    Princeton, N. Y.: Van Nostrand, 1960.

    Twitchell, Cleve. "The UFO Saga". Lakemont, Georgia:
    CSA Press, 1966.

    Vallee, Jacques. "Anatomy of a Phenomenon". Chicago,
    Illinois, Regnery, 1965.

    ________. "Challenge to Science". Chicago, Illinois:
    Regnery, 1965.

    Young, Mort. "UFO Top Secret". New York: An Essandess
    Special Edition, 1967.

    Articles and Periodicals

    Babcock, E. J., and T. G. Beckley. "UFO Plagues N. J.
    Reservoir", Fate, Vol. 19, No. 10, Issue 199 (Oct.
    1966), 34.

    Berliner, Don. "The UFO From the Designers Viewpoint",
    Air Progress, Vol. 21, No. 4 (October 1967), 36.

    Berry, Graham. "Those Mysterious Signals from Outer
    Space," Los Angeles Times West Magazine. Jan. 8,
    1967), 27.

    "Expert Says UFO Pictures Authentic," Los Angeles Times
    (Jan. 17, 1967).

    Flying Saucer Review, Vol. 10, No. 2, (Mar.- April 1964).

    Flying Saucer Review, Vol. 10, No. 6, (Nov. - Dec, 1964).

    "Flying Saucers', Look, Special Edition (1967).

    "A Fresh Look at Flying Saucers," Time, (Aug. 4, 1967).

    Gallup, George, and John Davies. "Five Million Americans
    Have Seen Flying Saucers", Fate, Vol. 20, No. 10, Issue
    211 (October 1967), 41.

    Hynek, J. Allen, Letter to the Editors of Science, Fate,
    Vol. 20, No. 1, Issue 202, January 1967), 42.

    129
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ________. "The UFO Gap." Playboy, Vol. 14, No. 12
    (December 1967), 143.

    Ogles, Major George W. "Air Force Takes the Stand: 'Just
    the Facts, Sir!" The New Report on Flying Saucers,
    No. 2, A Fawcett Publication, (1967), 4.

    ________. "What Does the Air Force Really Know About
    Flying Saucers?," The Airman (July, 1967), 4.

    Sagan, Carl. "Unidentified Flying Objects," Copyright
    1963 by the Encyclopedia Americana, Reprinted for
    private circulation.

    "UFO Reports," Flying Saucers, No. 1 (1967).

    "The World Needs an Enemy," Alabama Journal, (Sept. 8,
    1967), 4.

    World Roundup of UFO Sitings and Events, The Flying
    Saucer Review, (1958).

    Official Documents

    U. S. Congress, Committee on Armed Services, Hearing on
    Unidentified Flying Objects. #55, U. S. Printing
    Office, l966.

    Other Sources

    Project Blue Book, 1 March, 1967, brochure presented to
    Base UFO officers at a conference at the University
    of Colorado on 12 June 1967.

    130
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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