Research paper: SHOULD THE USAF REOPEN PROJECT BLUE BOOK? AIR COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE RESEARCH STUDY AIR UNIVERSITY REPORT NO. 0450-74 SHOULD THE USAF REOPEN PROJECT BLUE BOOK? 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 N… truncated (150,374 more characters in archive)