GLOSSARY AF. Air Force. AFB. Air Force Base. ATIC. Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio. Home of the Project Blue Book UFO Investigation. Blip. Spot on radar scope indicating the presence of an aircraft or other object. Also called return” or “target.” CAA. Civil Aeronautics Administration; now the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA). CIA. Central Intelligence Agency. CIRVIS. Communications Instructions for Reporting Vital Intelligence Sightings; intelligence network detailed […] Read More
APPENDIX F: NICAP ADVISORS, AFFILIATES, AND SUBCOMMITTEES The panel of Special Advisors I. Science II. Aviation and Missiles Dr. James C. Bartlett, Jr., Baltimore, Capt. C. S. Chiles, Eastern Airlines, Md. Astronomer; member Association New York, N.Y. of Lunar and Planetary Observers. Samuel Freeman, Bedminister, N.J. Jack Brotzman, Naval Research Laboratory, past president, National Aviation Washington, D. C., Physicist (electronics). Trades Association. Dr. Robert L. Hall, University of Morton Gerla, Jamaica, […] Read More
Appendix E ELECTRO-MAGNETIC EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS BY Washington D. C., NICAP Subcommittee Introduction During October and November, 1957, a new rash of unidentified flying objects (UFO) reports broke out in the United States and other countries. The frequency of the reports was so great that the stories were widely reported on the newswires, making headlines around the country. In the United States the […] Read More
Appendix D SKYHOOK BALLOONS The Aeronautical Division of General Mills, Inc., of Minneapolis, Minnesota, launched and tracked every skyhook balloon that has been sent aloft previously to the middle of 1952. “They knew what their balloons looked like under all lighting conditions and they also knew meteorology, aerodynamics, astronomy, and they knew UFOs . . . . . What made these people so sure that UFOs existed? […] Read More
Appendix C SOME STATEMENTS BY SCIENTISTS AND PILOTS SCIENTISTS WHO HAVE SEEN UNIDENTIFIED OBJECTS Dr. Clyde W. Tombaugh, famous astronomer, discoverer of the planet Pluto, who has sighted UFOs: “These things, which appear to be directed, are unlike any other phenomena I ever observed.” Prof. Henry Carlock, physics professor at Mississippi College, Jackson, Miss., who observed a UFO for about a minute in 1957: “It had a Halo […] Read More
Appendix B THE GRIFFIN STATEMENT Late in 1958, while looking into the Air Force UFO investigation, Washington newsman Bulkey Griffin was invited to visit the UFO project at Air Technical Intelligence Center, Dayton, Ohio, to “see for himself.” While there Mr. Griffin was shown some of the files and asked some pointed questions. The following is one of a series of articles he wrote as a result […] Read More
Part IV Appendices Appendix A FEDERAL AVIATION AGENCY Redmond Oregon. Jan. 15, I960 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. The following in the original records on file at this facility and is all the information contained in this record concerning UFO sighted September 2, 1959. Taken from log of this date. 1259Z Robert Dickerson Redmond city police reported strange bright light descending rapidly north of the station. At […] Read More
Chapter 9 Why the Air Force UFO Investigation is Unscientific In response to criticisms of its UFO (flying saucer) investigation, the Air Force has issued periodic statements attributing its conclusions to “top scientists.” The claim is made that the investigation has been completely scientific and, by implication, that the conclusions (that flying saucers do not exist) are unquestionably correct. In order to judge these claims, it is necessary […] Read More
Chapter 8 The Scientific Obligation “Men of science are being increasingly compelled to pursue the end of governments rather than those proper to science.” — Bertrand Russell. The investigation of unidentified flying objects has been a curious business from the start. Although government today is making increasing use of scientific talent in defense programs, scientific investigation of phenomena has never been considered a purely governmental concern. It […] Read More
Chapter 7 Pigeon-holes of Science The following words of the American philosopher William James have particular application to one of the main difficulties in UFO investigation- -the failure of the scientific community to recognize that a serious problem exists which should be explored by science: “Round about the accredited and orderly facts of every science there ever floats a sort of dust-cloud of exceptional observations, of occurrences minute […] Read More
Chapter 6 The UFOs and Proof What constitutes proof…? “This is the provocative question asked by Captain Edward J. Ruppelt, former chief of the Air Force UFO project. This is the essence of the UFO controversy and the main stumbling block preventing a conclusive answer. Time after time, as Ruppelt reported, pilots and other good observers have reported UFOs which could not be explained. Twice the Air TechnicalIntelligence […] Read More
Chapter 5 UFOlogy—A Delineation Although UFOlogy has a definite function to perform, it is not a science, and should not have to be a science to perform this function. The fact is that few so-called UFOlogists are scientists, and few have sufficient knowledge of scientific techniques to enable them to provide scientific conclusions. What UFOlogy is, and what it should be, can best be determined by examining the […] Read More
Chapter 4 The Manipulators of Fear At large in the circus-like arena of UFOlogy are certain ringmasters, who are not above embellishing the facts to thrill their audiences. They seem to feel that a few “white lies” are justified as long as they can put on a good show and sell tickets. Manipulating the emotion of fear in the crowd is the ringmasters’ specialty. They know that people […] Read More
Chapter 3 Science and the Unexpected “If you do not expect the unexpected, you will not find it; for it’s hard to be sought out and difficult.” –Heraclitus (circa 500 B. C.) Have you ever seen a “ghost?” If so, take my advice and never mention it to anyone. Other witnesses or physical evidence would not make any difference. Your plea for a hearing would soon be drowned […] Read More