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Basic ltr fr Hq USAF, 3 Nov 48 to CG, AMC, "Flying Objects Incidents in
the United States"
1st Ind HCIAT/ABD/PML:
Hq AMC, Wright-Patterson Air Force, Dayton, Ohio. 8 Nov 48
TO: Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, Washington 25, D.C., ATTN,
AFOIR
1. In attempting to arrive at conclusions as to the nature of uniden-
tified flying object incidents in the United States, this Command has made
a study of approximately 180 such incidents. Data derived from initial re-
ports have been supplemented by further information obtained from check
lists submitted by mail, from interrogations of other field agencies, and
by personal investigation by personnel of this Command in the case of in-
cidents that seem to indicate the possibility of obtaining particularly
significant information.
2. The objects described fall into the following general classifica-
tion groups, according to shape or physical configuration:
a. Flat disc of circular or approximately circular shape.
b. Torpedo or cigar shaped aircraft, with no wings or fins visible
in flight.
c. Spherical or balloon shaped objects.
d. Balls of light with no apparent form attached.
3. Some of the objects sighted have definitely been identified, upon
further investigation, as weather or upper air scientific balloons of some
type. A great many of the round or balloon shaped objects indicated in
paragraph 2c above are probably of the same nature, although in most cases,
definite confirmation of that fact has been impossible to obtain.
4. Some of the objects have been identified as being astro-physical
in nature. For example, in daylight sightings, the planet Venus has been
reported as a round, silvery object at extremely high altitude. Action is
being taken to obtain the services of a prominent astro-physicist as a con-
sultant, to study all of the incidents to determine whether some can be
identified as meteors, planets or other manifestations of astral bodies.
5. Arrangements for accomplishing a study of the psychological problems
involved in this project are being made in coordination with the Aero-Medical
Laboratory at this Headquarters. The possibility that some of the sightings
are hallucinations, optical illusions or even deliberate hoaxes has been con-
sidered.
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1st Ind
Basic ltr fr Hq USAF, 3 Nov 48 to CG, AMC, "Flying Objects Incidents in
the United States"
6. Although explanation of many of the incidents can be obtained from
the investigations described above, there remains a certain number of re-
ports for which no reasonable everyday explanation is available. So far,
no physical evidence of the existence of the unidentified sightings has
been obtained. Prominent scientists, including Dr. Irving Langmuir of the
General Electric Company, have been interviewed to determine whether they
could advance any reasonable explanation for characteristics exhibited in
the objects sighted. In an early interview, Dr. Langmuir indicated that
these incidents could be explained, but insufficient data were available
at that time on which to base definite conclusions. It is planned to have
another interview with Dr. Langmuir in the near future to review all the
data now available, and it is hoped that he will be able to present some
opinion as to the nature of many of the unidentified objects, particularly
those described as "balls of light."
7. All information that has been made available to this Headquarters
indicates that the discs, the cigar shaped objects, and the "balls of light"
are not of domestic origin. Engineering investigation indicates that disc
wingless aircraft could support themselves in flight by aerodynamic means.
It is probable that the problems of stability and control could also be
solved for such aircraft. However, according to current aerodynamic theory
in this country, aircraft with such configurations would have relatively
poor climb, altitude and range characteristics with power plants now in
use.
8. The possibility that the reported objects are vehicles from another
planet have not been ignored. However, tangible evidence to support con-
clusions about such a possibility are completely lacking. The occurrence
of incidents in relation to the approach to the earth of the planets Mercury,
Venus and Mars have been plotted. A periodic variation in the frequency of
incidents, which appears to have some relation to the planet approach curves
is noted, but it may be purely a coincidence.
9. Reference is made to "The Books of Charles Fort" with an introduc-
tion by Tiffany Thayer, published 1941, by Henry Holt & Co., New York, N.Y.
It appears that similar phenomena have been noted and reported for the past
century or more.
10. In view of the above, the following conclusions are drawn:
a. In the majority of cases reported, observers have actually
sighted some type of flying object which they cannot classify as an air-
craft within the limits of their personal experience.
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1st Ind
Basic ltr fr Hq USAF, 3 Nov 48 to CG, AMC, "Flying Objects Incidents in
the United States"
b. There is as yet no conclusive proof that unidentified flying
objects, other than those which are know to be balloons, are real aircraft.
c. Although it is obvious that some types of flying objects have
been sighted, the exact nature of those objects cannot be established until
physical evidence, such as that which would result from a crash, has been
obtained.
11. It is not considered advisable to present to the press information
on those objects which we cannot yet identify or about which we cannot pre-
sent any reasonable conclusions. In the event that they insist on some
kind of a statement, it is suggested that they be informed that many of
the objects sighted have been identified as weather balloons or astral
bodies, and that investigation is being pursued to determine reasonable
explanations for the others.
12. A report, summarizing the results obtained from analysis of the
data and a technical investigation of the engineering aspects of the objects
described, is nearly complete and a copy will be forwarded to your Head-
quarters in the near future.
FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL:
[signed]
H.M. McCoy
Colonel, USAF
Chief, Intelligence Department
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