PROJECT BLUE BOOK

BRIEFING AFIT BY LTCOL FRIEND
9 FEB 1961
7-3745 - 376
1003845
RETURN TO
USAF Historical Archives
ASI(ASHAF-A)
Maxwell AFB, Ala 36112
.

Air University lax
United States Air Force w
yell Fe
OWS Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Chio
REPLY TO ATTN OF: RETURN
SUBJECT: Request for Briefing AFB, Alabama 196
uary 198
TO: Commander
Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center
Attn: Col Wackwitz
Wright-Patte Ohio
1. Request a briefing be given by ATIC on UFO programs and problens
to an audience of approximately 50 to 75 members of the Institute of
Technology student body and faculty. This briefing will be sponsored
by the Institute's chaper of Tau Beta Pi and be one of a monthly
series of lectures on topics general technicel interest.
2. The time desired for the briefing is lllo hours on Thursday,
9 February, in the Institute of Technology Auditorium, 9 rebruary, in Lub Technology A Mum,DuELaL Building 125.
A total of 50 minutes will be allocated for the presentation with A total of 50 minutes will be allocated for the presentation with
possibly possibly
period.
3. I have discussed this matter informally with Major 3. I have discussed this matter informally with Major Friend and
Mr. Hieatt. Mr. Hieatt.
William I Wilson Willian  Wilson
WILLIAM J. WILSON
Captain, USAF
Vice President, Ohio Eta of Tau Beta Pi
Box 3336, Institute of Technology
-
1003845

C
the observer cannot readily explain. Lacking scientific or technical training,
"UFO" is
result of the reported sighting by a civilian pilot, Kenneth Arnold, of a series
of disc-like objects which reportedly cavorted about the mountain ridges in the
- ave of reports
of unidentified objects of various types (colors, shapes, maneuvers) by of unidentified objects observers
in various parts of the U.S.A. and in other countries also.
Since then, many such reports of sightings have been made through official
of UFO's. Observations have generally occurred in waves, but on the average,
-
reported sightings are not made through official channels, but to newspapers and
to civilian groups interested in the phenomena of UFO's, it can be estimated that
-
American countries have also experienced minor waves of UFO reports.

UFO inves-
majority of sightings arose from anything other than misidentification of natural
objects and phenomena, and that the real cause of f these sightings generally lies
in the conditions under which an object or phenomenon is seen, and (3) the con-
tinued evaluation of UFo reports is of scientific value and, especially, necessary .
It has been established that many sightings have arisen from the viewing of
frequently startling g natural objects for the first time, e.g., of very bright
can attain migrating birds, and esp ally distant

a tangible, nearby, self-propelled object, obviously unidentified.
Indeed, it is not at all surprising g that, with so many more people turning
explain. Initial l experiences with unusual events have often challenged scientifi-
cally trained men.
Virtually all the reports received by the Air Force have been highly sub-
- data on trajectories,
y charged impressions, progressed
it became clear that the majority of reports could be correlated i with the
appearance of aircraft, bire ds, celestial bjects, balloons, etc., under special
conditions.
percentage of unexplained cases fell from more than l0% .
scientific data on which to base a valid, definitive investigation.
2
constitute a threat to the national security (and the consequent, and unfortunate

possibility with probability.
assume that we on earth are not the only
-
a tribe of aborigines. The earth has been visited many times in the past by
explorers from other worlds s (attested to, the theory continues, by historical (attested to, the theory continues, by historical
accounts, long before 1947, of strange apparitions in the sky) but such visits
have been greatly increased d since the advent of the A- and H-bombs, a "tampering"
intelligence in space. This increase
in visitation was signalled by the wave of incidents that s started in June 1947,
It is for the psychologist and the sociologist more than for the physical
scientist to comment on the widespread emotional appeal of this concept, and on
the persistent attempts to link reported UFo sightings with visitations from
-
has led to the e serious quip that "a flying saucer is any aerial sighting or

sources, their emotional attachment to this explanation, and their reluctance to
and volunteer (Moonwatch) and volunteer (Moonwatch) artlficial sateliite observers), to produce UrU signtings
is surprising. It hardly appears credible that spacecraft should frequently is surprising. It hardly appears credible that spacecraft should frequently
announce themselves readily to casual observers and craftily avoid detection by announce themselves readily to casual 1 observers and craftily avoid detection by
-
Nonetheless, it must be recognized that our knowledge of the universe and
its contents, and of the physics of our atmosphere, is still imperfect, and that its contents, and of the physics of our atmosphere, is still imperfect, and that
there may be "more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in
your philosophy." '
study, and may lead to not only advances physical knowledge, but in the area
of human b behavior as well.