PROJECT BLUE BOOK

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MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

SUBJECT: Unidentified Flying Object Conference

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1. A meeting was held at the Department of Air Forcé@,
at 1330 on 17 Feb 1959, for the purpose of discussing the Air Force
philosophy toward and policy regarding the Unidentified) Flying Objects
Program. The following persons associated with the pr

Mr. A. Francis Arcier, AFCIN-4

Col Le T. Glaser, AFCIN-4E, -_T

Dr. Je Allen Hynek, Air Force Scientific (eee ah
Consultant UFO Program yp fC”.

Mre Be Le Griffing, AFCINe Ey a ; (eo 4.

Maj J. F. Byrne, AFCIN-XQA A tf}

Maj L. J. Tacker, SAFIS=3 ; ed (OM

Maj J. E, Boland, SAFLL :

Ma j Re. Je Friend, AFCINe4 Eg

2. Brief on Dr. Hynek:

Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Astrophysicist, Ohio State University,
presently on leave of absence to act as Associate Director of the
Satellite Tracking Program for the Smithsonian Institute.

Dr. Hynek has been the Air Force's scientific consultant on
the UFO Program for ten years and has been invaluable in this capacity.

Dr..Hynek suggested this meeting to allow him to air some of
his views on the UFO Program and his personal problem of adverse publicity.
(Letters and publications intimating his only interest in the UFO Program
was for financial gain.)

Dr. Hynek indicated that he felt the Air Force had done a good
job of handling a very difficult program with the limited resources
available. The purpose of the meeting being to improve on these resources
and other facets of the program in an effort to improve on our job.

3. The agenda is attached as TAB}A

4. Discussion, Conclusions and Suggestions:

ae Official Name of the Program:

It was concluded that the present name of "Unidentified
Flying Objects" was not appropriate and that a name change was desirable.
However, it was felt that this was not the proper time for a change due
to the possibility of supplying the UFO fanatics with ammunition for a Cc
new attacke This subject is to be given further consideration. In this race
connection it was decided to no longer identify the unsolved cases as
"unknowns" but rather as "unidentified."

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Index

Agenia = Tab A

Statistics « Tab 3B

Letter to Dr. Hynek - Tab ©

Commercial Press Releases = Tab 0
Suggested Changes to AFF 200-7 « Tab 8
List of Private UFO Organizations « Tab F
Letter from Mr. Haber - Tab G

General Conslusions and Recommendations of
Sefentifie Advisory Panel « Tab H

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POR: APCIN = AEA

ATTACHED IS A PIECE OF THE MATERIAL FOUND WHERE SOME OBJECT BURNED AND/OR
EXPLODED AND FELL TO THE GROUND ABOUT 21.300 FEB.7, 1959 ABOUT 1 MILE SOUTH
OF JACKSON, TENN, YOU REQUESTED THROUCH MEMPHIS AIR TRAFPIC CONTROL, THAT
THIS BE FORWARDED TO YOUe, ..sne

PUBLTO REPORTS TODAY, INDICATE THAT IT WAS THE WORK OF A PRANKSTER WHO
INFLATED A BALLOON WITH SOME EXPLOSIVE GAS AND ATTACHED A FUSE, THE BURNING
FUSE PROBABLY APPEARED TO BE A MOVING LIGHT, AND WHEN THE FIRE REACHED

THE BALLOON —~ IT EXPLODED WITH A FLASH,

PEDERAL AVIATION MJENCY |

ATCS R#2 =
MCKELLAR AIRPORT 4
JACKSON, TENNESSEE ee

MaAK..

:

BY JOSEPH L. aA pal ,

RESS INTERNATIONAL

WASHINGTON, JAN. 27--(UPI)--PEOPLE ARE SEEING FEWER FLYING SAUCERS,
AND A PSYCHIATRIST HERE THINKS MAYBE SAUCERS ARE GOING OUT OF FASHION.

1; THEY ARE, HOWEVER, DR. ADDISON M. DUVAL IS SURE “SOMETHING ELSE
WILL COME INTO STYLE."

DUVAL, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF WASHINGTON'S FAMOUS ST. ELIZABETHS
HOSPITAL, TOLD UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL THAT SEEING THINGS WHICH

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DON'T EXIST IS A COMMON RESULT CF ANXIETY GENERATED BY FEAR OF THE
UNKNOWN.»

AND THE TIMES AREN'T GETTING ANY LESS ANXIOUS OR THE FUTURE ANY LESS
UNCERTAIN.

OF COURSE, NOT EVERYBODY WHO SEES WHAT THE AIR FORCE CALLS AN
UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT (UFC) IS MENTALLY SICK. BUT SOME SIGHTERS,
DUVAL BELIEVES. ARE SUFFERING FROM DELUSIONS OR HALLUCINATIONS.

THE AIR FORCE REPORTED LAST WEEK THAT UFO REPORTS FELL OFF 14 PER
CENT IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1958 TO A TOTAL OF 296. MOST OF THESE WERE
SUBSEQUENTLY IDENTIFIED AS REAL THINGS--PLANES, BALLOONS, SHOOTING
STARS, PLANETS, AND EVEN EARTH SATELLITES.

THE AIR FORCE FOUND THAT FOUR OF THE £96 UFO'S WERE ARTIFICIAL MOONS
SHEUTED ROL THEY WINREESTHETN WAY ACHOES. THE SEX<’ IT LISTED FEQLE THAR
ONE PER CENT OF THE TOTAL AS “UNKNOWN"--MEANING THAT THE AIR FORCE
COULDN'T FIND OUT WHAT THE THING REPORTED ACTUALLY WAS-

AS FOR NON-RATIONAL UFO SIGHTINGS, DUVAL SAID “WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO PREDICT” THE FLYING SAUCER CRAZE. WHENEVER SOMETHING CAPTURES
THE INTEREST OF PEGPLE GENERALLY, HE SAID, IT USUALLY SHOWS UP IN
DELUSIONS OF THE MENTALLY ILL»

DUVAL RECALLS A PERIOD WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE PART OF
THE "AMOS 'N* ANDY® RADIO TEAM.

IF THE FLYING SAUCER DELUSION IS ON THE DECLINE, ONE REASON MAY BE
THAT SAUCERS ARE GETTING "TOO MUCH COMPETITION FROM REAL THINGS =~
SATELLITES, LUNAR PROBES, SUN ROCKETS,” DUVAL SAID. AFTER A WHILE ANY
WIDELY SHARED DELUSION TENDS, HE SAID, .°TO GET OUT OF STYLE.”

HE THINKS THE NEXT DELUSION MAY BE AN ELABORATION OF THE SPACE-
TRAVEL MOTIF. BUT JUST WHAT FORM IT WILL TAKE HE COULDN'T GUESS.

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be Dr. Hynek's Problem of Adverse Publicity:

Several solutions for Dr. Hynek's problem of adverse pub-
licity were proposed, the most drastic of which was to have Dr. Hynek
withdraw from his present position as scientific consultant for one or
two years. It was the consensus of opinion that any solution which cost
the services of Dr. Hynek would be unsuitable due to his immense value
to the program. The course of action decided upon to attempt to correct
this problem was to omit the use of Dr. Hynek's name in any of the offi-
cial release on the UFO subject. Further Dr. Hynek is to forward all
letters received by him on the UFO subject to SAFIS-3 for reply. Dr.
Hynek to maintain his present status until it can be determined if the
new positive and more scientific approach to the program would reduce
if not eliminate his problem of adverse publicity. The release of Dr.
Hynek to be only a last resort solution.

c. Education of the Public:

It was concluded that the Air Force should direct positive
efforts toward taking full advantage of all favorable publicity associated
in any way with the UFO Program. That specific efforts should be made
toward producing information which would educate the public and be ad-
vantageous to the UFO Program. Pictures and/or descriptions of the
phenomena or objects determined as being probably responsible for a
Sighting should accompany the news releases. It was decided that a
collection of such pictures should be made and filed fa@ this purpose.

ad. Rapid Processing of Information to SAFIS:

In all instances SAFIS should be notified as soon as
possible what the probable Air Technical Intelligence Center's analysis
will be and particularly in the case of those sightings which are being
given the "full blower" technique by the press. It helps the Air Force's
position if SAFIS can give positive information that the investigators
are at the location of the sighting and the official investigation
und erway e

ee. Investigation and Reporting:

It was decided that the Air Force's investigation and
reporting processes in connection with the UFO Program needed revamping.
The conclusions were that the investigations should be more scientific,
faster and more complete. In order to accomplish this improvement in
investigation techniques, it was decided that AFR 200-2, dated 5 Feb 1958,
which outlines the responsibilities and requirements of the Air Force
Agencies responsible for these investigations be revised. This revision
to outline more specifically responsibilities, also to outline the dee
sired qualifications of selected investigators, and to list equipment
with which each investigation team should be supplied. Further, a
Suggested training course which should be given to all personnel selected
as investigators should be supplied (See TAB-B). It was also suggested
that the investigators from the 1006th AISS be brought to ATIC for an

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WEAPON : Te, I )-=ma ‘ “
FLYING SAUCER ~ CHIEF, AS AS KED re EN. VILL IAM oD
"I ANSWER THA EES HE Hap INFORMAT Ion te sued ARMy
SENTRAL REPLIED, "BECaue SN yg FEAR AND TREPIDAT SMS TANT LATE
Es » THE ARMY Mre E SELIEVES ry ON," THE
Bec TALLY AFT CHASING Ge PERT sary YES Tema ING SAUCERS,»
. CE ONLY To Finn OUT it NIMSELF.DID wor.
~~ WAS 4 FLOCK OF

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PASHINGTON, JAN. 22.--(UPI)=-THE AIR FORCE INDICATED TODAY THAT
THERE AREN'T AS MANY "FLYING SAUCERS® AS THERE USED To BE,

it DID NOT PUT IT JUST THAT WAY, OF COURSE, BECAUSE tT HAS
NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS SUCH A THING AS A FLYING SAUCER.
IN FACT, THE AIR FORCE HAS SAID THERE IS. NO SUCH THEWoO

WHAT THE SERVICE DID WAS TO ISSUE A NEW REPORT on UNIDENTIFLED
FLYING OBJECTS (UFO) IN WHICH IT SAID THAT THE NUMBER oe * UNKNOWN"
CASES HAD BEEN REDUCED TO A FRACTION OF ONE PER CENT ArreR INVES TI GA-
TION OF SIGHTINGS.

IN THE LAST HALF OF 1952, THE AIR FORCE ANALYZED 296 UFO REPORTS
AND CATALOGUED ONLY Two AS CASES OF "UNKNOWNS®,

THE BREAKDOWN:

25 BALLOONS, 6) AIRCRAFT, 96 ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENON, 4 SATELLITES,
5) "OTHER" suct ac HOAXES , {IGHTS AND BIRDS. 61 IGNORED BECAUSE oF
INSUFFICIENT DATA SUPPLIED BY PERSONS REPORPING SIGHTINGS.

SATELLITES BECAME A NEW UFO CATEGORY IN 195¢.

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AFR 2000e2 DATEL 5 FEBRUARY 1958,
AND CHANGE THERETO DATED 3 JULY 1958

1. This regulation as it stands serves well the purpose for which
it was written. Uowever, the Air Forse investigators are doing little
more then meeting the minimum requirements of this document, and in many
instances require prompting by the Air Techaical Intelligence Center to
deliver even thie minimum date,

2- The shortecmings of the UFO investigation procedures probably
are due mostly to the Air Bases assigning inexperienced and/or unqualified
people to this task, and also to lack of interest in the Program, It is
difficult to become fired up over a Program in whieh the boss shows little
or no interest.

3. The ATIC proposes the following as a solution to the problems
associated with UFO investigation.

&, Assigneent of competent persons as investigators.

bd. Short training progrem for the personnel proposed for use
as investigators. The length of this training program should depend upon
the basic qualifications of the personnel selected. However, it is
Suggested that such « training program not exceed twenty (20) hours. In
all instences the program ahould inclule hours of instruction on the
followings |

(1) Histery and philosophy of the UFO Program.

(2) Introduction te Astronomy (Basic terminology and
description of the more sommon astronomical bodies).

(3) Methode of interrogation.
(4) Use of equipment.

(5) Reporting.

Me

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Mansfiela, Ohie
ATIC, 2/6/59
Wri ghtePat. tersaon, Chie

Dear Sirs,

In a renewed aitenmpt to secure factual information concerning
UFO%s in general «and, im particular, information concerning the
Olden tioore sig t'ng of « 10 linding near Huntsburg and yontvilley
Ohio, Nov. &, *S7, I am folicwing Genaral Maher's suf¢cest'on that
I again write your offices, I ad° *:‘s reluctantly, as I have

found tie ATIC adept at giving avasive answers or fie liherate falsee
noodg to those wio aak far tual juestiona concerning Urots,

Yai have received my revGrta on the ¢cxse as wel] as many other reports,

Vou lmnow that tie J4ffal C.D. re) om has been rele sed, You mow
that the a ig-wss broadcast over television, radio, and the press,
You ‘tiow that even Aime stone eave a fair rep of the onse in
his Prencoh text," Flying Seucers «4 the Straight-Line uystery.?
Too, you know tuat dozens of jovermnant: gente were on the landing
ip soon after toe craft landed «as reported by Olden loore,s

I mention these facts as I do not wish to be embarrased Henry
Joe bbe la- like est atemants that -you now nothing ahout the laden
Moore Sitting ovr, tiat the foots are too sketchys

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Specifically, how do you explain the foot or shoes prints and the

deep markings left by the oraft and its occupsnts? fore Important,
what caused {= craft to le cve a his degree of radioactivityy
Thig latter and wost bevertant  juestiom is moet 8 Ale op 5 a
frien of mine (anong othera)ics bean physically suffer fer ale
nose two yeors <fter viewing » UFO at close range andi for a long
period of time, This, sires is a matter of civilian defenses ané@
I consider it rthy of serious consid raticna,.

Your answer to these questions can help me and otherg to help

our fellow sen wo may still Selieve that UPOts are harmless
er who are doluded by your and others propaganda thet they
rot axiat,.

Dre Carl G. Jung, fared paycvlocist has stated, Tr it is true
that the AAP (American Air Force) withholds telitalt facts
them one can only sey this is ths -ost unpaycholog toad ami atupid
poliey one could coudd invent..The public cugrt ts be told the
truth,*

Sirs, UMOta have inflicted 4d «th and danage to many ie
Some ef this death and damage ‘could have been avoided had ans
been given tie truth concer ige UFO's. You can give the Americans
this truth if you ars interssted in oiviiian Americans.

I again ask for fA specifie anavemte the speci fio questi =
paragraph four, If you cannot give this are you brave e
specify the specifie governmental office and the spec
responsible for kesping the UP truthe from a former

Since rely,
Dan Be Haber

On ly, 25 and 16 January 1953, upon request of the Dirsstor of
Intelligence of the Air Force a Sciantific Afvisory Panel was asteblished.

The general cooclusions reached by the penel were that unidentified
flying objecte:

a. Held no direst physical threat
b. Were not foreign developments capable of hostile acta to the U. S.

Ce Were not unknown piisRhomene reguiring the revision of current
scientific concepts.

The penel further sonsluded that unleas de-emphasized, UFOs did
constitute a threat to the orierly functioning of the protective units
of the body politic, because:

@. Unwarranted mass of irrelevent reports could clog vitel
channels of communications,

be Skillful hostile propagendists could induce nationel hysterical
behavior and harmful distruet of duly comstituted authority.

Ge Continued false reports might hide indications of a genuine
hostile action.

e

@ result, the panel ade the following basic recommendations:

That iwmediste steps be taken to strip UFOs of the aure of
I systery which they had unfortunately acquired, to reassure
the public of the total lack of evidence of inimical forces
behind the phenomena,

be That investigating and reporting personne] be trained to
recognize and reject false tniications quickly and effectively.

indoctrination course outlining those factors of investigation peculiar
to UFO cases.

f. Analysis and Eveluation:

It was felt that in the past many cases were given an une
scientific and "fast brush" treatment in an effort to get them filed.
It was decided that the approach should be more scientific and positive.
Unless the analyst could be sure of his conclusions beyond doubt, then a
statement in the vein of the following should summarize his analysis:

"There is no evidence available to indicate that
the object sighted in this case was not a meteor" or
"In view of all the available evidence, the object of
this sighting was probably a meteor."

It was also suggested that a panel of qualified men, in
diversified fields be formed and used for consultation. The men on
this panel to be qualified in the following areas:

Sociology
Astronomy
Psychology
Physics

Public Relations

This panel to be used on an "on-call" basis, but to meet at least once
each month; at which time a summary of the months activities will be
presented to them. The purpose of this panel is to review some of the
more troublesome cases, spot trends in the program and make suggestions

as to the future outlook. The formation of this panel to be given further

consideration by the ATIC,

&e Reevaluation of Old Cases:

Many UFO organizations have been constantly reopening the
more sensational of the old cases to the further embarrassment of the
Air Force. It was decided that the Aerial Phenomena Group, AFCINe/Ele,
would review these old cases, which in view of greater scientific knowe-
ledge and experience, may be removed from the "unknown" category and
reclassified as a "probable."

he. Claims of UFO Organizations:

In many instances the private UFO organizations, or their
sponsors, have made claims thet some individual, usually a person held
in high esteem by the public, has made some statement sympathetic with
the views of the organization. It was decided that SAFIS-3 would write
letters to each person so quoted and ask for corroboration or denial,
and for further detail if in the affirmative.

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5 Summary:

ae That the Air Force needs to take a more positive approsch
toward the UFO Program.

be The Air Force investigations be more scientific and thorough.
c. The analysis be scientific and thorough.

d. The public be kept more abreast of the UFO Program by an
approach of pre-education.

es An expansion be made of the resources available to the
ATIC to help with the overall analysis of the program.

Prepared by:

J
Major, USAF

l.

2e

AGENDA FOR UFO POLICY MEETING

Introduction.

&e Purpose of meeting - to discuss the Air Force philosophy
toward and policy regarding the UFO Program, with an aim
toward correcting deficiencies.

b. Statistics.

ce Cost and manpower estimates for January 1959.

Areas of Interest.

&@ Public Relations.

(1) Unidentified Flying Objects a misnomer, possibility of
using Unidentified Aerial Phenomena as official name.

(2) Dr. Hynek's problem of adverse publicity.

(3) Education of public - advantage taken of all favorable
publicity.

(4) Rapid processing of information on reported cases to
prevent possible "snow-balling" at SAFIS,

Attacking the Probleme
a Reporting.
(1) Speed.
(2) Accuracy and completeness.
b. Investigations.
(1) Speed.
(2) Completeness.
ce Analysis and evaluation of reports.

4d. Suggested changes to AFR 20082, dated 5 February 1958, and
change thereto.

@e Re-evaluation of old cases catalogued as "unknown" when
bringing "Blue Book" up to date. The “unknown" cases,
especially the more sensational, are being exploited over
and over by organizations and individuals with some specific
axe to grind.

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f. Possible investigation of UFO Organizations and key personnel
that have proved the most troublesome.

&e Conclusions.
Future Oytlook.

ae What appears to be the normal extension of the "Flying Saucer"
craze?

be What can we do to lessen the impact of this new problem?

ce Conclusions.

Summary «

AFR 200-2 DATED 5 FEBRUARY 1956,
AND CHANGE THERETO DATED 3 JULY 1958

le. This regulation as it stands serves well the purpose for which
it was written. However, the Air Force investigators are doing little
more than meeting the minimum requirements of this document, and in many
instances require prompting by the Air Technical Intelligence Center to
deliver even this minimum data.

2. The shortcomings of the UFO investigation procedures probably

are due mostly to the Air Bases assigning inexperienced and/or unqualified

people to this task, and also to lack of interest in the Program. It is
difficult to become fired up over a Program in which the boss shows little
or no interest.
3- The ATIC proposes tine following as a solution to the problems

associated with UFO investigation.

a. Assignment of competent persons as investigators.

be Short training program for the personnel proposed for use
as investigators. The length of this training program should depend upon
the basic qualifications of the personnel selected. However, it is
Suggested that such a training program not exceed twenty (20) hours. In
all instances the program should include hours of instruction on the
following:

(1) History and philosophy of the UFO Program.

(2) Introduction to Astronomy (Basic terminology and
description of the more common astronomical bodies).

(3) Methods of interrogation.
(4) Use of equipment.

(5) Reporting.

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c¢. The following is a list of equipment with which every
UFO investigation team should be supplied:
(1) Geiger Counter
(2) Camera
(3) Tape recorder
(4) Binoculars
(5) Magnifying gh ss
4h. The investigating teams could be authorized to make phone
calls directly to the Air Technical Intelligence Center from the investi-
gation area for the purpose of reporting high priority findings or

preliminary conclusions,