AIR COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE
RESEARCH STUDY
AIR UNIVERSITY
REPORT NO. 0450-74
AIR COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE RESEARCH STUDY AIR UNIVERSITY REPORT NO. 0450-74 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- A RESEARCH PAPER Submitted to The Graduate Faculty of Auburn University In Partial fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of Master of Public Administration AUBURN , ALABAMA May 17, 1974 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- AIR COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE SHOULD THE USAF REOPEN PROJECT BLUE BOOK? By William E. Brummett, 310-40-5845FR, Major, USAF And Ernest R. Zuick, Jr., 549-46-3888FR, Captain, AF, CA ANG A RESEARCH STUDY SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY May 1974 AIR UNIVERSITY MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, ALABAMA --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABSTRACT This study evaluates factors related to the USAF investigation of Unidentified Flying Objects in an attempt to determine whether or not additional UFO investigation is warranted. The approach to analysis taken by this study was twofold: one writer evaluated evidence justifying the closure of Project Blue Book while the other writer evaluated evidence supporting its reopening. Based on the evidence uncovered, the study concludes that there is a definite need for a new UFO investigation. The study recommends that such an investigation should be a scientific undertaking free from bias, political pressure, and USAF or DoD jurisdiction. ii --------------------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Objectives Limitations Hypothesis Overview II. HISTORY OF USAF INVESTIGATION OF UFO s . . . 8 Project Sign Project Grudge Project Blue Book III. ARGUMENTS SUPPORTING THE TERMINATION OF PROJECT BLUE BOOK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Natural Acts Natural Phenomenon Human Behavior Studies and Recommendations to Support Termination of Project Blue Book IV. ARGUMENTS FOR REOPENING PROJECT BLUE BOOK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Priority of Project and Selection of Project Chiefs Project Chiefs' Lack of Dedication Insufficient Staff Non-Scientific Approach Outside Influence Poor Structure and Methodology of Project Blue Book iii --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page Poor Cataloguing Procedures The Barney and Betty Hill Sighting Further Developments in the Barney and Betty Hill Case The Condon Committee The Pascagoula, Mississippi Case The Bahia Blanca, Argentina Case The Ubatuba, Brazil Case New Developments in the Barney and Betty Hill Case V. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. . . . 95 Conclusions The Question of Political Pressure The Question of Project Blue Book's Filing System The Question of Project Blue Book's Changing Directorship The Question of a New Study Recommendations BIBLIOGRAPHY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 iv --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION "We know now that in the early years of the twentieth century this world was being watched closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own."(15:33) Orsen Welles, 1938 With this sentence, Orsen Welles launched his now famous "Martian Invasion" broadcast on Hallowe'en Eve, October 30, 1938. Although Welles' panic broadcast was designed as an elaborate hoax, Welles proved something which remains as true today as it was thirty-five years ago: few subjects are more intriguingly fascinating or as controversial as the possibility of an earthly surveillance by intelligent extraterrestrial beings. Many people mistakenly assume the Welles ' broadcast was the basis for the reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) which have occurred with increasing frequency in the United States since 1947, but there are written records of UFO sightings as early as the reign of King Thutmose III, circa 1504-1450 B.C., in Ancient Egypt.(32:l4) If the Welles broadcast served any benefi- 1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- cial purpose, it was perhaps that it developed a renewed awareness of the possible existence of extraterrestrial civilizations and caused people to look once again to the heavens. There were several UFO sightings during World War II by both American and Japanese pilots, but both assumed the UFOs to be a secret weapon of the enemy. During this period, American pilots reported luminous discs, quickly dubbed "foo fighters", which sometimes followed alongside their aircraft,(4:32) The first large scale UFO sightings to occur in the United States since 1897 began in 1947. Since 1947, the incidents of sightings have increased in momentum which has remained undiminished to this day. By September 1947, the United States Air Force (USAF) had become sufficiently interested in the growing number of UFO reports by reputable, respected citizens to establish "Project Sign", later named "Project Grudge", and finally renamed "Project Blue Book", the Air Force program for investigation of UFOs. Project Blue Book remained in effect for over twenty-two years and investigated reports of 12,618 sightings. Unexplained sightings ranged between the official Project Blue Book report of 6 per cent to UFOlogist estimates of 54 per cent. Despite the wide variance in unexplained sightings, Secretary of the 2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air Force, Dr. Robert Seamans, announced the termination of Project Blue Book on December 17, 1969. The decision to discontinue UFO investigations was based on an evaluation of a report prepared by the University of Colorado entitled, "Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects," more commonly referred to as the "Condon Report"; a review of the Condon Report by the National Academy of Sciences; past UFO studies; and two decades of Air Force experience investigating UFO reports. (6:141) Since 1969, and the demise of Project Blue Book, man has penetrated the once impenetrable barrier of space and has safely set foot on the lunar surface not once, but several times. Space travel to other planets and to distant stars, once thought to be "the impossible dream" by many, is now believed to be a definite probability by nearly all. Since 1969, there have also been an increased number of UFO sightings around the world. The most recent rash of sightings occurred in the Southeastern United States, centering around the three state area encompassing Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. A growing number of people, including many former UFO skeptics, feel the tremendous accomplishments of our astronauts, the surge and nature of recent UFO reports, and new developments concerning former UFO sightings, more than justify the reopening of 3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Project Blue Book. Objectives The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not Project Blue Book should be reopened. To better guarantee an unbiased study, one of the writers will present arguments supporting the closure of Project Blue Book. These arguments will embrace supportive evidence such as the "Condon Report", the review of the "Condon Report" conducted by the National Academy of Sciences, and the findings of Project Blue Book. The other writer will present arguments for reopening Project Blue Book. These arguments will contain supportive evidence such as a critical analysis of Project Blue Book and the Condon Report, new developments regarding two former UFO sightings, and two important new sightings which occurred in 1973. The writers will not attempt to prove or disprove extraterrestrial visitors are visiting the earth, but will merely gather and analyze information which will provide an argument to the Air Force that Project Blue Book should or should not be reopened. Limitations The writers were extremely fortunate insofar as the 4 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- original Project Blue Book documents, which are no longer classified, are now located in the archives of the Air University Library, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Alabama. Limitations, however, did exist. First, research was necessarily confined to sources within the Air University Library, the Montgomery Alabama Public Library, and the few books the writers were able to purchase. Second, UFOs are not a particularly favorite topic of a majority of the academia, therefore, few scientific journals mention the topic, except in a derogatory manner. Third, literary sources, other than those already mentioned, were necessarily confined to the news media and popular periodicals. Fourth, personal professional correspondence was confined to two scientists; Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Director, Department of Astronomy, Northwestern University and Mr. Stanton J. Friedman, Nuclear Physicist. Fifth, due to the fact that both of the writers are currently on active duty with the Air Force and any personal contact with UFO eyewitnesses might be construed as an official USAF investigation, personal interviews were not feasible. Hypothesis At the beginning of this study, neither of the writers possessed any bias toward or against the possible existence of UFOs, but since opposing views must be taken 5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- to better guarantee an unbiased conclusion, there were necessarily two hypotheses. For the purpose of this study, one of the writers will approach all research from the standpoint that Project Blue Book was a well organized USAF program which conducted a thorough investigation of all reported UFO sightings as substantiated by the scientifically conducted Condon Report. This writer will maintain the attitude that all UFOs can be explained as natural phenomena and contend that Project Blue Book should remain closed. This hypothesis will provide the negative portion of the joint study. Conversely, the other writer, for the purpose of this study, will approach all research as though he believes both Project Blue Book and the Condon Report were biased, unscientific investigations unworthy of the auspices of the United States Air Force. This writer will contend this bias together with new developments regarding two former UFO sightings and two specific 1973 sightings are more than sufficient reasons for reopening Project Blue Book. This hypothesis will provide the affirmative portion of the joint study. Overview The writers will begin this study with a brief discussion of the history of Air Force UFO investigations. 6 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Following this summary, one of the writers will present arguments, based on extensive research, to justify the closure of Project Blue Book, while the other writer will conversely discuss arguments he has uncovered which justify the reopening of Project Blue Book. The writers will then once again join forces and attempt to objectively analyze their findings to arrive at a conclusion whether or not Project Blue Book should be reopened. If warranted, the writers will conclude this study by presenting their recommendations regarding future UFO studies. For the purpose of this study, the terms "UFO" and "flying saucers", will be used synonymously. 7 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTER II HISTORY OF USAF INVESTIGATION OF UFOs Investigation of UFOs by the U. S. Government began on September 23, 1947, when, following a rash or UFO sightings, Lt. Gen. Nathan F. Twining, Chief of Staff of the U. S. Army, recommended to Brig. Gen. George Schulgen, Commanding General of the Army Air Force, that Headquarters Army Air Forces issue a directive assigning a priority, security classification and code name for a detailed study of UFOs. In this letter, Lt. Gen. Twining also noted that in his opinion, the phenomenon was real and not visionary or fictitious. Since Air Material Command (AMC) had originally been collecting UFO data, Lt. Gen. Twining recommended that AMC continue the investigation within its present resources until the official study could be organized.(3:1379) Project Sign On December 30, 1947, a letter from the Chief of Staff directed Air Material Command to set up a project to collect, collate, evaluate and distribute information 8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- concerning UFOs. The Air Technical Intelligence Division of AMC issued HQ AMC Technical Instruction No. 2185 , February 11, 1948, inaugurating a classified project under the code name of "Sign."(25:1) Project Sign continued its investigations of UFOs until February 11, 1949, when its project name was officially changed to "Project Grudge."(2:850) A report covering the 273 incidents investigated by Project Sign concluded that no definite and conclusive evidence existed.(25:1) This final report recommended: (1) future activities of this project should be carried on at a minimum level necessary to record, summarize and evaluate the data received on future reports and to complete the specialized investigation in progress, (2) reporting agencies should get more factual evidence on sightings, such as photographs, physical evidence, radar sightings, and data on size and shape.(2:850) Project Grudge After December 16, 1948, the USAF study of UFOs continued as "Project Grudge." Following this change, UFO investigations continued much as they previously had during Project Sign. In August 1949 a report containing analysis of 244 cases was released which concluded that Unidentified Flying Objects posed no direct threat to the 9 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- national security of the United States and that reports resulted from: (1) misinterpretation of conventional objects, (2) mass hysteria or "War Nerves", (3) hoaxes and/or (4) psychopathological persons.(23:10) The Project Grudge report recommended that: (1) investigation be reduced in scope. (2) current collection data relating to UFOs be revised to provide for submission of only those reports clearly indicating realistic technical applications, and (3) conclusions with sufficient supporting data be declassified and made public. (23:6) Based on this final report of Project Grudge, a decision was made to discontinue the project. However, investigation of UFOs was continued as part of normal intelligence activities.(2:857) Project Blue Book Following a new rash of sightings, Project Grudge was reactivated as a new and expanded investigation on October 27, 1951, under the direction of Captain E. J. Ruppelt. In March 1952 the new Project Grudge was redesignated "Project Blue Book." With this change of project designation, there also followed increased support and authority for UFO studies at the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. Project Blue Book was initially 10 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- governed by policies set forth in Air Force Letter 200-5 issued April 29, 1952. Air Force Letter 200-5 provided for a more elaborate and comprehensive reporting system whereby telegraphic reports concerning UFOs would be sent directly to both the Project Blue Book staff and to the Pentagon. These procedures were later replaced by a less complicated reporting system stated in Air Force Regulation 200-2 dated August 26, 1953. AFR 200-2 was superseded by Air Force Regulation 80-17 dated September 19, 1966. The primary relevant change noted in this regulation was in the area of information release. It provided for news releases to come from the Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Information (SAFOI). All Air Force members not officially connected with UFO investigation were to refrain from action or comments on UFO reports which might mislead public opinion. Another regulation covering UFO procedures was Joint Army Navy Air Publication 146 (JANAP-146) which reminded Air Force personnel of the severe penalties for making public statements concerning UFOs without official approval. (2:857) The USAF maintained that their interest in UFOs was related directly to the air defense of The United States and the security of its airspace. The objectives of 11 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Project Blue Book were to determine if UFOs posed a direct threat to the security of the United States and to determine if UFOs provided any unique scientific information or advanced technology that would contribute to United States technical research. In accomplishing these objectives, the USAF strived to identify and explain all UFO sightings. (27:1) During Project Blue Book's existence, the staff published 12 regular summary reports and one special report, Report Number 14. The conclusions of these reports are summed up in a Project Blue Book Report dated 1968 which states: To date, the firm conclusions of Project Blue Book are: (1) no unidentified flying object reported, investigated, and evaluated by the Air Force has ever given any indication of threat to our national security; (2) there has been no evidence submitted to or discovered by the Air Force that sightings categorized as UNIDENTIFIED represent technological developments or principles beyond the range of present-day scientific knowledge; and (3) there has been no evidence indicating that sightings categorized as UNIDENTIFIED are extraterrestrial vehicles. The Air Force will continue to investigate all sightings of unusual aerial phenomena over the US which are reported to it. The services of qualified scientists and technicians will continue to be used to investigate and analyze these reports, and periodic reports and news releases will be made on the subject as requested. The Air Force takes no stand on whether or not extraterrestrial life could or does exist. Many scientists believe that it is entirely 12 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- possible that the universe contains life on planets other than our own. No evidence yet exists that there is other life. The Air Force continues to extend an open invitation to anyone who feels that he possesses any evidence of extraterrestrial vehicles operating within the earth's space envelope to submit his evidence for analysis. Initial contact for this purpose is through the following address: PROJECT BLUE BOOK INFORMATION OFFICE SAFOI WASHINGTON, DC 20330 (27:4) Based upon the recommendations of the United States Air Force Scientific Advisory Board Ad Hoc Committee which met on February 3, 1966, a project for broad in-depth study of Unidentified Flying Objects was coordinated with the University of Colorado (Colorado Study). This study commenced on November 1, 1966, with its final report being submitted on October 31, 1968. (8:246) Conclusions of this report will be discussed in the following chapter. Based upon findings of this study, on December 17, 1969, the United States Air Force announced the termination of Project Blue Book and the retirement of its records to the USAF Archives, Maxwell AFB, Alabama; thus concluding all official government investigations of UFOs. 13 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTER III ARGUMENTS SUPPORTING THE TERMINATION OF PROJECT BLUE BOOK While many disagree with the U. S. Air Force decision to terminate Project Blue Book, there exists much evidence to support the USAF action. Several UFO sightings still remain puzzling and unsolved. However; many facets of human life still remain unknown. Even though man has used electricity for many years, scientists still are unable to agree exactly what it is or upon whether electricity flows from the positive pole to the negative p… truncated (132,869 more characters in archive)
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