FIREBALL REPORT

Persons observing a fireball or meteor should report the information to the American Meteor Society. The information desired is contained below.

A very brilliant meteor or fireball is reported to have passed in your vicinity on *** at the hour of 4** *. Will you please answer as fully as possible the following questions, which are asked on behalf of the American Meteor Society in order that permanent records of such phenomena may be obtained. When these reports are published each contributor whose report is fairly complete will be mentioned, if possible, and due credit given. It is only by the help of those who can give personal information that data can be secured for the computation of the orbits of meteors. These data are of great scientific value and all reasonable efforts should be made to obtain them. You will be unable probably to answer all questions below, but answer those you can, as they may be of the greatest importance.

(1) Give your name and address.

(2) Where were you when you saw the meteor? (If the town is small please give county as well.)

(3) Give the date, hour, and minute when the meteor appeared; also kind of time used.

(4) In what direction did it appear (or in what direction was it first seen)? This is not asking in what direction it was going.

(5) In what direction did it disappear (or in what direction was it last seen) ? For questions 4 and 5, simply N, E, S, or W is not accurate enough, unless these were the exact directions. If compass is used, state it; also if magnetic correction has been applied to compass reading.

(6) At what height did it appear?

(Use degrees in answering.)

(7) At what height did it disappear? (Use degrees in answering.) (8) Did it pass directly overhead (i.e., through the zenith) ?

(9) If not, to which side of the zenith did it go, and how far from it? (Use degrees in answering.)

(10) Did it appear to reach the horizon? What sort of a horizon have you? (11) What angle did the path of the meteor make with the horizon and in which direction was it then going?

(12) If you are familiar with constellations describe the path of the meteor through the sky with reference to stars.

(13) Did the meteor appear to explode?

(14) What was the duration of its flight in seconds?

(15) Describe the train if one was left. If it lasted long enough to show drift, most carefully tell in what direction train drifted. Give sketch, if possible, showing this with regard to horizon.

(16) What was the duration of the train in seconds?

(17) Did you hear any sound? How long after seeing the meteor was it before you heard this sound? Did you hear an actual explosion? How long after seeing the explosion was it before you heard it?

(18) Of what color was the meteor?

(19) What was the size of the meteor? (Compare it with the Moon or with a planet or star.)

(20) Was more than one body seen before the explosion (if any)?

(21) What was condition of sky at time?

(22) Give names and addresses of others who saw the meteor.

(23) Please mail this reply to: Charles P. Oliver, American Meteor Society, 521 North Wynnewood Avenue, Narberth, Pa.

SPECIAL REPORT OF THE USAF SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD AD HOC COMMITTEE TO REVIEW PROJECT "BLUE BOOK" MARCH 1966

Members participating: Dr. Brian O'Brien (Chairman), Dr. Launor F. Carter, Mr. Jesse Orlansky, Dr. Richard Porter, Dr. Carl Sagan, and Dr. Willis H. Ware.

SAB Secretariat: Lt. Col. Harold A. Steiner.

I. INTRODUCTION

As requested in a memorandum from Maj. Gen. E. B. LeBailly, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Information, dated September 28, 1965 (tab A), an SAB Ad Hoc Committee met on February 3, 1966, to review Project "Blue Book."

The objectives of the Committee are to review the resources and methods of investigation prescribed by Project "Blue Book" and to advise the Air Force of any improvements that can be made in the program to enhance the Air Force's capability in carrying out its responsibility.

In order to bring themselves up to date, the members of the Committee initially reviewed the findings of previous scientific panels charged with looking into the UFO problem. Particular attention was given to the report of the Robertson panel which was rendered in January 1953. The Committee next heard briefings from the AFSC Foreign Technology Division, which is the cognizant Air Force agency that collates information on UFO sightings and monitors investigations of individual cases. Finally, the Committee reviewed selected case histories of UFO sightings with particular emphasis on those that have not been identified.

II. DISCUSSION

Although about 6 percent (646) of all sightings (10,147) in the years 1947 through 1965 are listed by the Air Force as "Unidentified," it appears to the Committee that most of the cases so listed are simply those in which the information available does not provide an adequate basis for analysis. In this connection it is important also to note that no unidentified objects other than those of an astronomical nature have ever been observed during routine astronomical studies, in spite of the large number of observing hours which have been devoted to the sky. As examples of this the Palomar Observatory Sky Atlas contains some 5,000 plates made with large instruments with wide field of view; the Harvard Meteor project of 1954-58 provided some 3,300 hours of observation; the Smithsonian Visual Prairie Network provided 2,500 observing hours. Not a single unidentified object has been reported as appearing on any of these plates or been sighted visually in all these observations.

The Committee concluded that in the 19 years since the first UFO was sighted there has been no evidence that unidentified flying objects are a threat to our national security. Having arrived at this conclusion the Committee then turned its attention to considering how the Air Force should handle the scientific aspects of the UFO problem. Unavoidably these are also related to Air Force public relations, a subject on which the Committee is not expert. Thus the recommendations which follow are made simply from the scientific point of view.

III. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

It is the opinion of the Committee that the present Air Force program dealing with UFO sightings has been well organized, although the resources assigned to it (only one officer, a sergeant, and secretary) have been quite limited. In 19 years and more than 10,000 sightings recorded and classified, there appears to be no verified and fully satisfactory evidence of any case that is clearly outside the framework of presently known science and technology. Nevertheless, there is always the possibility that analysis of new sightings may provide some additions to scientific knowledge of value to the Air Force. Moreover, some of the case records which the Committee looked that were listed as "identified" were sightings where the evidence collected was too meager or too indefinite to permit positive listing in the identified category. Because of this the Committee recommends that the present program be strengthened to provide opportunity for scientific investigation of selected sightings in more detail and depth than has been possible to date.

To accomplish this it is recommended that:

A. Contracts be negotiated with a few selected universities to provide scientific teams to investigate promptly and in depth certain selected sightings of UFO's. Each team should include at least one psychologist, preferably one interested in clinical psychology, and at least one physical scientist, preferably an astronomer or geophysicist familiar with atmospheric physics. The universities should be chosen to provide good geographical distribution, and should be within convenient distance of a base of the Air Force Systems Command (AFSC).

B. At each AFSC base an officer skilled in investigation (but not necessarily with scientific training) should be designed to work with the corresponding university team for that geographical section. The local representative of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) might be a logical choice for this.

C. One university or one not-of-profit organization should be selected to coordinate the work of the teams mentioned under A above, and also to make certain of very close communication and coordination with the office of Project Blue Book.

It is thought that perhaps 100 sightings a year might be subjected to this close study, and that possibly an average of 10 man-days might be required per sighting so studied. The information provided by such a program might bring to light new facts of scientific value, and would almost certainly provide a far better basis than we have today for decision on a long-term UFO program.

The scientific reports on these selected sightings, supplementing the present program of the Project Blue Book office, should strengthen the public position of the Air Force on UFO's. It is, therefore, recommended that:

A. These reports be printed in full and be available on request.

B. Suitable abstracts or condensed versions be printed and included in, or as supplements to, the published reports of Project Blue Book.

C. The form of report (as typified by "Project Blue Book" dated February 1, 1966) be expended, and anything which might suggest that information is being withheld (such as the wording on p. 5 of the above cited reference) be deleted. The form of this report can be of great importance in securing public understanding and should be given detailed study by an appropriate Air Force office. D. The reports "Project Blue Book" should be given wide unsolicited circulation among prominent Members of Congress and other public persons as a further aid to public understanding of the scientific approach being taken by the Air Force in attacking the UFO problem.

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE,

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, September 28, 1965.

Memorandum for Military Director, Scientific Advisory Board.
Subject: Unidentified flying objects (UFO's).

In keeping with its air defense role, the Air Force has the responsibility for the investigation of unidentified flying objects reported over the United States. The name of this project is Blue Book (attachment 1). Procedures for conducting this program are established by Air Force Regulation 200-2 (attachment 2).

The Air Force has conducted Project Blue Book since 1948. As of June 30, 1965, a total of 9,267 reports had been investigated by the Air Force. Of these 9,267 reports, 663 cannot be explained.

It has been determined by the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff/Plans and Operations that Project Blue Book is a worthwhile program which deserves the support of all staff agencies and major commands, and that the Air Force should continue to investigate and analyze all UFO reports in order to assure that such objects do not present a threat to our national security. The Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff/Plans and Operations has determined also that the Foreign Technology Division (FTD) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base should continue to exercise its presently assigned responsibilities concerning UFO's.

To date, the Air Force has found no evidence that any of the UFO reports reflects a threat to our national security. However, many of the reports that cannot be explained have come from intelligent and technically well qualified individuals whose integrity cannot be doubted. In addition, the reports received officially by the Air Force include only a fraction of the spectacular reports which are publicized by many private UFO organizations.

Accordingly, it is requested that a working scientific panel composed of both physical and social scientists be organized to review Projects Blue Book-its resources, methods, and findings-and to advise the Air Force as to any improvements that should be made in the program in order to carry out the Air Force's assigned responsibility.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek, who is the chairman of the Dearborn Observatory at Northwestern University, is the scientific consultant to Project Blue Book. He has indicated a willingness to work with such a panel in order to place this problem in its proper perspective.

Dr. Hyneck has discussed this problem with Dr. Winston R. Markey, the former Air Force Chief Scientist.

E. B. LEBAILLY,

Major General, U.S. Air Force, Director of Information.

AD HOC COMMITTEE ON UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFO's) —AGENDA

Thursday, February 3, 1966:

0800-Welcoming remarks: commander or vice commander, FTD. 0805-Introduction: Dr. O'Brien, SAB.

0810 "The Air Force Problem": Lieutenant Colonel Spaulding, SAFOI. 0830-Briefings on Project Blue Book: Major Quintanilla, FTD.

1000--Break.

1015-Review of selected case histories: FTD staff.

1145 Lunch.

1315-Executive and writing session.

SPECIAL REPORT OF THE USAF SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD AD HOC COMMITTEE TO REVIEW PROJECT "BLUE BOOK"

Meeting statistics bearing on this report including all times, dates, places, a listing of persons in attendance and purposes therefor, together with their affiliations and material reviewed and discussed, are available in the SAB Secretariat offices for review by authorized persons or agencies.

Approved by Harold A. Steiner, lieutenant colonel, U.S. Air Force, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board.

Mr. GALLAGHER. [Security deletion.]

Secretary MCNAMARA. [Security deletion.]

Mr. GALLAGHER. What would require a B-52 bombardment?
Secretary MCNAMARA. [Security deletion.]

Mr. GALLAGHER. A certificated target or believed to be target?
Secretary MCNAMARA. [Security deletion.]

Chairman MORGAN. Mr. Monagan, will you yield to me? I want to announce to the committee that there is an automatic "yea” and "nay" vote on daylight saving time.

Mr. MONAGAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.