1949 Unidentified Flying Objects Project "GRUDGE"

REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

SEMINE TION.

ae DEPUTY DLRECTOR FOR ¢

INTELLIGENCE DOCUMENTS &
ALR INTELLIGENCE REPORTS. 2 SS.

FILE INFORMATIOM
45 AF-1R0275

THROUGH
AF 18002


Ei


ULULASSIHIEU
thority AWD 2 7/332

VA _ MARA Dats ia

eeraca im cumeasmwane

RODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

med on

2-AC 1,9/15-100

TIFIED FLYING OBJECTS

UNIIEN
ee. PROJECT. "GRU IGEN

AKOLD E. WATSON, Col USAE
Chief, Intelligence: Tepartment

1
i
i


WEUEAOOIFIEU

wa NARA bet

ra

UCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Bl 0s Sasa neue ts wae

. . . i
. . . ii
’ . . did
. . . ivév
° ° . vi :
. . . vii
. ’ . 1
. * . 1
: Anerican Reports . , . 1
‘Force Cognizance of Unidentified Aerial Objects . 2
Project Administration . . . 2
Receipt of Initial Reports . oe . 5%!
Investigation of Reports ’ . . 3
C. Recording of Information After Receipt of Report of
Investigation . . ° , 3
-D.. Consultants oo, . : . 4
Discussion of Reports of Consulting Agencies , e 5
Ae Dr. Je Ae Hynek . ar) e e 5
B. Hq, Air Weather Service . . “ 5
Cc. Dr. Ge E. Valley ° e . e 6
D. Rand Corporation . . . 6
Be 3160th Blectronics Laboratory. : . 6
F. Dr. P. ie Fitts e . e . ° 6
G. U. S$. Department of Commerce Weather Bureau . 7
VI Summary of Results of Consultants ° 7
VII Summary of AMC Evaluation of Remaining Reports ° 7
VIII Relationship Between Publicity and Dates of Reports . &
Ix Conolusions and Recommendations . ° . 10

Appendix Ael : Abr Intelligence Informtion Report Now TRe115-l8
”

Awe - H  TRALT ALS

" B Project 344 Final Report by Prof. J. A. Hynek

" C-1 Headquarters Air Weather Service

" C-2 Headguartors Air Weather Service

" D Some Considerations Affecting the Interpretation of
Reports of Unidentified Flying Objects by Dr. &.
EB. Valley

" E~l Letter, dtd 29 March 19);7, from Rand Corporation

" E~2 Space Ship Considerations, Rand Corp. (J. 3. Lipp)

" F Analysis of Project Grudge Reports, 3610th Elec-
tronics Station

" G Psychologioal Analysis of Reports of Unidentified
herial Objects, Dr. Paul t. Fitts

" H Information on Ball Lightning, U. S. Department of
Comueroe Weather ureau

Co n I Summary of AMC Evaluation of Remaining Reports,
oe Project Grudge


ULULASOIICU . .
Authority AWD 2 7/73?
= REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

By VA xara Dats YILYPY |

nonce paces

RNY Ree ee ee sees

f

“SECRET.

cs

1“

*
oo

ye ABSTRACT

A Technical Intellisence Report covering the method of investiga-
tion of unidentified flying objects and results obtained to date is

presented. .
The report discusses {n full the history of the project, the

oblems encountered, and the procedures followed in the investigation
Since the

De
‘wnd evaluation of reports of unidentified flying objects.
ature, this report comprehensively treats

project is continuous inn
reports of sightihgs only up to January 1949. Work is continuing on

later reports. -

4 |
s-SE6L2 - 3

SECRET

Trey

\yp>


ee DEULASOIFIEU
? { &
inated Airchority AWD P7/7F2_ |

’
On
i
an.

FOREWORD

The following individuals and agencies served as consultants in
the investigation and evaluation of unidentified flying objects:

° l. Dr% Je Ae Hynek, Ohio State University -- was under contract
~-' from 16 December 1948 to 30 April 19L9, Contract No. AP 33
(038) -1113

2. Ag, Air Wopther Service, Washington 25, Ds. C.

| 3. Dre Ge B. Valley, Soientific Advisory Committee

i. ‘Rand Corporation, 1500 Fourth Street, Santa Monica, Calif.
5. 3160th Electronios Laboratory, Cambridge Field Station, Mass.
6. Dr. P. Me Fitts, Air Materiel Command Aero-Medical Laboratory
7. Weather Bureau, U. S. Department of Commerce

In addition, technical sections of the Analysis and Engineering
Divisions, Air Materiel Command, were available for consultation when
: ¢

needed.

ds

Ste.


—— UEULASSIFIEU fe. gee

Auhorty AWD 271752 ms

By VA ana Das LRP

REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

INTRODUCTION

¢

t may be considered as final for the period reported

This repor
obable future trends of reports of un-

upon. It also jrdicatos the pr
identified flying objects.

( In gathoring and evaluating material for the report, it was
found, and will be seen, that the conclusions evolve without effort.
No attempt has been made to Porce evidence into a pattern that was not

clearly indicated. *

Af

NA

dit g-68642

SECRET

*

wt

"*

r2


Authority AWD P 7/752

ce NARA Dats Lite

UEULASOTFIEU

/ SUMMARY

While there are approximately 375 incidents on record, only in-
cicents Nos. 1 thru 2h are encompassed in this report. Of the later
incidents, many have not yet been investigated, few have been completely
tabulated, and none have been submitted to the consulting agencies. it
4s certain that better over-all results will be obtained in the analy~
sis of the later reports, 4s these incidents generally have been more
completely investigated.

Since 5 December 198, a series of recurring phenomena described
as "green fireballs"! have been reported in the general vicinity of Al-
pbuquerqdue ys New Mexico. [re Lincoln La Paz, noted meteoritic expert,
has been directly, though wmofficially, associated with the investiga~

tion of these sightings and has himself observed the phenomena. Ir. La

paz states he is convinced the green fireballs are not ordinary meteorse
This group of incidents has little or nothing in corumon with other in-
eidents on file with Project "Grudge", therefore, these incidents are
not considered in this report. The Scientific Advisory Committee was
asked to investigate this matter and had advised that an independant
investigation be conducted in the field of atmospheric research.

Upon eliminating several additional incidents due to vagueness
and duplication, there remain 226 incidents waich are considered in
this report. ‘Thirty of these could not be explained, because there was
found to be insufficient evidence on which to base 4 conclusion.

Consulting agencies provided plausible solutions for 16k incidents,
along with the following comments and findings:

Rand Inc. — (172 Incidents considered) ‘ie have found nothing
which would sericusly controvert simple rational explanations of the
various phenomena in terms of hallcons, conventional aircraft, planets,
meteors, bits of paper, optical 4llusions, practical jokers, psycho-

pathological reporters, and the like."

Ohio State University (Dr. Hynek = 2b Incidents considered)

Assuming evidences of observers and investigators to be correct,
Dr. Hynek concluded that 32% could be explained astronomically, 39%
could be attributed to balloons; aircraft, rockets, pirds, etc., and
34% either lacked necessary evidence or a suitable explanation was not
apparent. ‘When due allowance was made for inaccuracies in observing
and reporting, 53% might be explained astronomically.

Air Yeather Service (233 Incidents considered)

12.0% apparently were weather balloons.

ee

it
Zé

- Re {OBES “i ribo AT TE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
a oe wat BYR AO aa RARER
By VA __ NARA Dats Uy
DoT
SECRET,
Poe = “Abr Materiel Command Aero-Medical Laboratory (Dr. Paul M. Fitts .
po "212 Incidents considered)

moe, ; There are sufficient psyéhological explanations for the reports of
a unidentified flying objects to provide plausible explanations for re-

| . > ports not otherwise explainable. These errors in identifying real
Stimuli result Shiefly from inability to estimate Speed, distance, and


Nee

oULi SSIFIED
urbority AD D7 F3>

A OF RA Oe onan | oem

| Bye Vl NARA Oats Uf bf

cle

‘Evaluation of reports
denon

Reports of unidentified

ey

Ge

°

Psychopath

"planned release of umisual se
release of related psy¢

“yield

hological propa
a Employment
similar rosults.,

Pap atatseg Rye

A mild form of mass hysteria or "war nerves"

Individuals who fabricate such reports to perpetrate a

olowical oorsons.

% of these methods by or against an enemy would

COncLu

S LORS

iw

of unidentified
strate that these flying objects con
the sational security of t

flying objects to ds. “e
he United States.

stitute no direct threat ¢

flying objects are the result of s
iis interpretation of variou

s conventional objects.

“4

rial objocts coupled with the
ganda could cause mass hysteria.

\O

in : ¥ . . - oe .
oS 7 oy ar ee ge beh ac Ec weeds

| aac Aw 9 2/33)

acne or mene te ewoe mone

Sy VEL _ nan Deis LUYOe?

REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

CY:
a
CD
a
wy

Sereaunand

nv)

RECOMMENDATIONS

: ly So shjects be revises to provide for the submission of only
“reports clearly indicating realistic technical applications.

: That. Conclusions 1 and 2 of this report, with sufficient sup-
orting data, be declassified and made publio in the form of an 1 of ficial

aber Sard


Se AWD 9 >/ 23>

al £__ NARA Dats ie

‘once: omemnnect

PRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

PACTUAL DATA

- many ‘different. doscriptions for the "ghost rockets", as. he newspapers

gated and plotted, with resultant conclusions that all evidence obtained

_ omphasize ‘their etme for radar (see Appendix "a"),

wide publicity and to cause some national concern was that of Kemeth

~ wrote a series of articles about this sighting for "Fate" magazine.

. supernatural and fantastic.

[+ Forodgn | Reports

‘During the sumier of 1946, there were reported to have been
seen in Sweden a number of mystor ious aerial objeots. There wore as

tagged | them, . as there were observers. It soon became quite common for
newspapers in. ‘Sweden and in the U. S. to refer authoritatively to these
objects as ‘guided missiles with the inference that they were test
flights| from Russia or Russian-dominated areas. The "chost rockets"
were. usually. seen in. hours of darkness, almost always traveling at ex~
tremely high: speed; shaped like a ball or projectile; bright or incan-
descent blue, white, red, green, or yellow; sometimes had an associated
“noise; ‘and’ Were always seen at too great a distance to observe details.
By the end. of the summer, 19L6, an occasional report came out of Den-
mark, Norway, Spain, Greece, Fr. iforocco, Portugal, and Turkey.
Throughout: 194.7 and 1948, "ghost rocket" reports totalled less than a
dozen. None have been received within the past 6 months. These reports
reached the public through the press and the radio, they reached the
government. of the U. S. through Military Attache reports. Attaches had
obtained virtually all of their information from European press and
radio it

he ‘Swedish Defense Staff conducted a comprehensive study of
y inoidents. Several thousand reports were thoroughly investi-

-of sightings were explicable in terms of astronomical phenomena. Since g
that time, although the Swedes themselves show little concern, they of
“attempt to play up their incidents to the United States, obviously to

g rly American Reports

‘The’ ‘pirst American ‘report of unidentified objects to receive

“Arnold of Boise, Idaho. Arnold described the objects as "saucer=like
edisca” and this 1s evidently the origination of the mich-used terms
"flying > saucers" and "flying dises", This incident is Number 17 in the
project | files. The date of sighting is given as 24 June 1947. Arnold's
_ story appeared dn many newspapers throughout the country. He even

This periodical stylos itself a "cosmic reporter" and delves into the

~ <Within the month following Arnold's report, the mumber of
incidents reached a peak that remained unsurpassed for any like period
covered by this report. (This peak was, however, surpassed in May 19449, i
following an Air Force press release and a series of articles in ths
Saturday Evening Post concerning flying objects. A few individuals
later reported having seen objects prior to the Arnold incident.


anaes

Ae 74 sf FR.

f__ NARA Dats Uf ihe

RODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

“noted above, the number of reports mafintained a monthly average of
_~ "approximately twelve, with occasional up-surges often directly
’ attributable to an unusual or overly publicized. report.

--y: and often implying that something subversive, cangerouss and fearful
“was “upd

Since August 19,7 until the present, except May 1949 as

II. Air Force Copnizance of Unidentified Aerial Objects

In September. 19:7, the Air Force was forced do take official

“cognizance of the "flying discs" because of increasing demand from
the. public for an explanation, and as a result of certain publications
“persisting in using a sensational approach in reporting such items,

Se

“4

woe “Hq. AliC in a letter dated 23 September 19417, requested the
» Commanding General, Army Air Forces, to issue.a directive assigning a
- priority, Security classification and code name for a detailed study
‘of flying disc reports. Hq. AMC explained that their action was based
~on the opinion that the phenomena reported appeared to be real. Awaite-
“sing a “specific directive, Hq. AMC collected information on flying disc
_incidents in order to more clearly define the nature of the phenomena,
-..On the: 22nd of December 1947; in a memorandum, "Analysis of Flying Lise
Reports", the Director of Intelligence, Hq. USAF, concurred with ALC
‘recommendations and forwarded them to the Director of Research and
Development, ICS/i, Hq. USAF, for reply to the Commanding Ceneral, AMC.
In a letter dated 30 December 1947, the Director of Research and Devel-
opment ,_ wos/u, advised the Commanding General, AMC, that Air Force policy
was not .to tgore reports of sightings and phenomena in the atmosphere.
To implement this policy, AMC was directed by Hq. USAF, to set up a pro=
ject. with the purpese of collecting, collating, evaluating, and distri-~
buting to interested government agencies and contractors, all informa-
tion concerning sightings and phenomena in the atmosphere which might
be construed to be of concern to the national security. ‘This directive
assigned a priority ‘of 2A-to the project, a RESTRICTED classification
and a code name of "Sign". (The code name of "Sign" for the project
was changed to "Grudge" by a 16 December 1915 request of the Tirector
- of Research and Development, ICS/M. "Grudge" uncer the U.S. Joint
Services code word index refers to the title "Detailed Study of Flying
Tiscs".) As a result of the directive from Hq. USAF for establishment
of the ‘special project, Hq. ALiC Technical Instruction No. 2185, dated
11 February 1948, was published and assigned responsibility for the
project activities to the Technical Intclligence Tivision, Tate }Mgence
Tepartment, Hq. ALC.

< Department of Air Force and tepartuent of Arny letters directed
all respective subordinate units to report directly to Air Materiel Command
all information concerning unidentified flying objects. Air Intelligence - }
Requirements Memorandum No. h was published 15 February 1949 at the request _
of Air Materiel Command in an effort to obtain more comprehensive and © te
accurate information.

Ty - Project tcministration

. “At the outset, project personnel proceeded by air to the scene
ofa reported sighting to personally interrogate witnesses, This was not

2

\)

()

seo ty care et eter

: DECLASSIFIED
By VL Kana ars SLGP

£0 AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

entirely satistactory, due to the fact that +
“able was not sufficient to co

e ficiently execute
in September LOLS +
u

he method of
*- S&*perience had b i

vab I
liar objects, hoax makers, ang psych
» and these r im

the Succeeding

on implementing the
hed and followed:

When 4 sighting involves only military Personnel, ege
~the-way locations, local base inte
vestigate,

Dligence officers

The largest number of Peports are investisated by the ae |
istrict, by request through Sth Cistrict ost, ne

are instructed bo use ANG form
identified llying Objects" to assure _

Guide to Ine

ee ae Upon Completion of investigation, the reporteg sight-
ing ds then treated 48 an ineident nsecutive number,


> ote ¢ “We Beak ey re Pe ae tN SP gears ti
” AN. ar smemamen., Westin Viewer tre Se
ot, pe fee +

Lahey AOD 27/22 -

al By Vil Napa pa ZIyor?

‘Its location ang conficurati

on is then Plotted.
rought up to date,

Statistical graphs

nformation for locating and Comparing is Tecorded on
and on a tabular sheet for Convenient study.

Pertinent information is extracted, condensed, and
ident Summary Sheet, which is similar to the first
of the Cuide to Investigation,

in order that
information if

Tata is collated against monthly blimp flight reports,
information on ball lightning,

and other known aerial
QR Consultants

i Since, as Stated above, there were indications that some
Sightings could be attributed to natural phenomena, conventional ain.
craft. and’ aerial vehicles, birds, lights, Clouds, etc., effort was
made to have al) i

include the following (only those agencies which provided
ts are Considered): Te Eke,

a Pat 1. Io AL Hynek, Astronomer, Ohio State Un
| WAS avarded a contract, effective 16 December ISLE to 30 April 19h,9, *
_ for the Purpose of attempting to determine whi j

ural celestial Phenome

we 3. Dee a. B, Valley, Scientific Advisory Foarc. Since
Many Treporters colored their reports with talk

beans, “and magnetic

of ray, electronic
analyze the incidents

Dr. Valley WaS asked to


4 Saige RMR emer te 9 a wie SiON og a St NRTA

na eee,

| Artery AWD 27/752

tesa amet

UCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

~ 5s 3160th Electronics Laboratory, Cambridge Field Sta-.
on, studied all incidents by comparing evidence with research bal~_
on data, to determine which incidents may be attributed to various
: research balloons, AES

6 Dr. P.M. Fitts, Psychologist, AKC Aero-Medical Lab= |
ratory was requested to review all material relative to sightings “and.
0. provide psychological and illusory information and determine human

pacity for observing and remembering minute details of range, speed,

: * While these analyses were being conducted, the. Swedish -
Defense Staff was contacted through our Air Attache to learn the offi-
_ . Clal Swedish attitude toward the "ghost rockets". The results of these

“requests are contained in AA Reports, No. IR-115=l:8, 30 December 19h6,

cand Now TR-L7-L9, 2 March 1949 (listed as Appendix "A"),

‘Discussion of Reports cof Consulting Agencies

reuse Ae Dre J. A. Hynek, Final Report (see Appendix "BY), Dr,
Hynek's report includes the results of a concentrated study of all
‘files up to an including Incident Now 2h . However, as mentioned
above, Incidents 223 through 227 and 21 through 2, in the New Mextco
area, will not be considered in this analysis. An additional soven ine
_ Cldents were excluded by Dr. Hynek as explained in his Summary on Page
l, of. Appendix "BY". OF the remaining 228 then treated, Dr. Hynek cone
cluded that approximately 33% were astronomical with varying: degrees of
_ probability. He concluded that an additional 37% were not astronom=
ical but suggestive of other explanations, such as birds, rockets,
balloons, ordinary aircraft, etc. The remaining 30% as far as Tr.
Hynek was concerned either lacked sufficient evidence or evidence
offered suggested no explanation. In compiling these statistics,
‘Dr. Hynek cautiously accepted each case at face value, without dis.
counting evidence that sometimes "verged.on the ludicrous" and without _ -
taking into consideration psychological factors. Ur. Hynek then stated
that "53% might conceivably be considered (although the likelihood of .
‘their being so may be very small) as extra-terrestrial or astronomical —
in origin", These include "those which either are definitely astron~ _
omical or can by suitable manipulation of the evidence be construed as

RB, #99 Air Weather Service, one indorsement and one letter
(see Appendix TC") Kir Weather Service conducted an analysis similtan .
-eously with Dr. Hynek using the same evidence. AWS attempted to detere
mine whether a synoptic weather balloon could have been at the location
where a ‘sighting was reported Bo ve ee
snes In this investigation consideration was given to the wind .
direction and speed at the surface and aloft at the scheduled time of |
balloon release, and the location of the nearest weather station naking
balloon observations. AWS used files of the first 233 incidents,

\p

| Aus

varity
~ ne Behe
|

ED AT-THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

hy

VE

~
0

“very close

Pet

aa Yee a

_ These include five of New Mexico fireballs and the seven incidents that
- “duplicated others or had no information, Therefore, 221 incidents are
_. considered here. Of these » AWS coneluded that 31 incidents could have
been synoptic balloons, four of these were incidents that. Dr. Hynek .
could not explain. in addition, AWS determined that ten nore incidents
gould be attributed to astronomical phenomena. A discrepancy 4s noted
“in that, of the 31 which AWS concluded were balloons, Dr, Hynek has -
“listed six as possible meteors. In. the remaining 25) AIS and Dr. Hynek _
were in close agreement, — af ss oe

NOTE: The project files comtain listing a

of over 200 weather Stations within the U.S.A.

_ A conservative estimate of balloon releases by 9 2
.. these stattons alone would number well over 500 per aay.

eG. Ee Valley, General Study (Appendix "D"), “Tr. Valley
ec to review all reports (Incident Noe 1 thru 172 incl.) and

Provide any possible explanation. At the same time, he considered the

possibility of supporting and propelling a solid object by unusual =
‘means. (Tt will be noted that Ir, Valley's theories along these lines
ly parallel those of J. E. Lipp, Rand Corporation, Appendix

NEM. )

‘D. Rand Corporation, letter, ‘December 19s, and letter,

29 March 191)9 (Appendix "E"), Rand provided a discussion of the special

‘design and performance characteristics that are believed to distinguish Le
Space ships. Rand received files on Incidents No. 1 thru No, 233 for of.
general analysis. Althoigh the final report from Rand has not yet been ©
received, Rand reported, in a letter (Ap ndix "E") based on study of |
the first. 172 incidents, "to date, we ha found nothing which would
Seriously controvert simple rational explanations of the various phen-
omena ih terms of balloons, conventional aircraft, planets, meteors,

bits of paper, optical illusions, practical jokers, psychopathological
reporters, and the like." ye

Sey. 3160th Electronics Laboratory, Cambridge Field Station
(Appendix " I"), The Electronics Laboratory reviewed Incidents Nol .-
thru Nos 172 to determine whether any may have been sightings of special
research balloons, The Laboratory showed: that 18 could possibly have
been their balloons. Dr, lynek's analysis did not conflict with any of -
these, and in some cases served as slight confirmation, However, of =. 2
the 18, three were thought to have been Synoptic balloons. It was ieee
learned while obtaining this information, that numerous universities \
and laboratories are engaged in various types of research requiring
the use.of balloons. Even when the balloons are recovered, there is
no certain way of determining their exact path.

F. Dr, P.M, Fitts, Air llateriel Command Aero=Medical Lab=-

oratory (Appendix iG). “tr. Mtte studied 210 incidents from a psycho~ |
logical point of view and concluded "that there are sufficient psycho~ No
logical explanations for the reports of unidentified objects to provides «|

6

Rt te ne ein ante cnet neg —

\)

in tute Ado 132)

nea

By VF ara se hail eo

a5

C ing agencies are accepted as solutions to the respective incidents.

Cc va. Summary of AMC Evaluation of Remaining Reports

plausible explanations for reports not otherwise explainable." Review
of Ir. Fitt's report reveals that this conclusion is warranted, despite

its’ presumptuous sound. Ir. Fitts provided plausible explanations | -in-
six specific reports, one agreed with AWS, four agreed with Dr. Hynek
‘one Tr, + Hynek could not explain and AWS did not mentions =

us Ss. Department of Commerce Weather Bureau (Appendix ng

~~ The Weather Bureau provided much information on the phen
omenon of ball lightning and lightning in general. These phenomena > :
: cannot be. ruled out entirely. However, none of the recorded incidents”
t have been lightning.

_ Summary of Results of Consultants

. It can be stated with certainty that unidentified objects ; are
“many different types of objects and not b mitiple sightings of the same
object, or the same type object.

a rt is realized that none of the explanations given constitute
“ -positive seientific proof. Such proof might. be possible were fragments
- recovered or were damage to property or injury to personnel sustained in
any instance. On the other hand, almost every incident has less than

_ legal proof that an object was seen, or that an object appeared or per~
-- formed as described. Even in those cases where more than one witness
“reported, all witnesses seldom agreed on details.

Tn view of the foregoing, the explanations provided by consult~

> Of the 22% incidents under consideration in this report, 30
must be disregarded for lack of workable evidence. Eight were extracted
from press and radio accounts and are hardly more than rumors. In the
“investigation of five others, the observers were found to have possessed

too vivid imaginations, were of low intelligence, or were morally
questionable. It is reasonable to assume that if these thirty inci-
dents had contained sufficient information a proportionate number could
be explained as were the 16), incidents that have been explained.

With 19) incidents thus eliminated, there remain thirty-four a

which contain some evidence but have no apparent ready explanation. a a
This statement is true only under the assumption that the evidence is oy
accepted as reliable and accurate. When psychological and physio~
logical factors are taken into ccnsideration, all of these incidents
can be explained rationally, as pointed out by Rand Corporation and

. Ir. Fitts "). Air Materiel Command Acro-Medical Laboratory (see Appendixes
1 yu and fl cn

: . The remaining unexplained incidents (see Appendix "I") exhibited
few common characteristics. Two of them, by statements of the reporters,

e

would not have been made had the witnesses not read of the Mt. Ranier


humors AWD O/B
Airhoritly AWD P 71752. |

sate

cident (Ineident Noe 17). Most were distributeg without pattem
roughout the United States, 4 few were outside the Ue Ss No two
escriptions of appearance or performance were exactly alike. The re~
‘ported Sightings Occurred at various times of day and year, °

VIZ, Relationship Between Publicity and Dates of Reports

The following graph (Fig, 1) illustrates an apparent relation—

ship between reports which received wide Publicity ang the total number

of ‘reports, It is believed this has been Carried to a Sufficient degree

© allow the Conclusion that many reports are the direct result of such
li * -

sco oThis wag further illustrateg recently, when this Conmang re~

eived 61, reports of Sightings ang D1 possible Solutions following a

Saturday Evening Post article and an official press release on the sub

~ Ject of fying objects, Virtually all of the Teporters and Correspon=
dents. made reference to one of the above mentioned articles,


FIG. 1.

: REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

. stare

|

Z

arnt

amen ow mene Ow even sees

ats

> P7432)

DECLASSIFIED

—

th
w

i

ip)

1

nd

z
é

af-[ Aon 4990 |4dog |] 3ny|-Atap bung | seq | ady | rey Va aq | aoy | 790 qdeg | any étnp -
a | SHOT | |
“NX
~~ ~ ‘
N ™~ ‘
~ a) | ane
I 1 | N
7 op ,
| po
| |
j .
| | gl |
I EI |
| |
a |
| dl Jt
al | “eal
; l oO : .
\ yoy a. oy
| Ql t
mI . Al. mya
wl gpl # a
II §| 1 i
| Ei §
° par! Hl a a -
COS a petanod. .
a yyuoM yous Jd pus of MSZ zy ne
*Aaportqnd = uatTS 03 UAT fuQT 09-496 oe
OpTM paatooar "18 09 IST squ0dez AT Yam
pezyou squepTtour OJEOPPUT SOUTT THOTZIE, *squoder Apppou seyeoTpuyT eusT uaxo1g

6¢

f 7

suk

2h


hirthorss AOD 27/45)

Wuliy

By VAL nna Det tty!

2

EPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

°

IX. Conclusions and Recommendations

‘Ae There is. no evidence that objects reported upon are the
result of an advanced scientific foreign development; and, therefore,
they constitute no diréct threat to the national seour ity. In view of
this, it is recommended that the investifation and study of reports of
unidentified flying objects be reduced in scope. Headquarters AMC will
continue to investigate reports in which realistic technical applica~
tions are. clearly indicated.

‘MO?E: It is apparent that further
Study along present lines would
‘only conf irm the findings pre-
‘sented herein.
a eke. It is further recommended that pertinent collection “
directives be revised to refleot the contemplated change in polioy.

. ee Be eety ‘evidence and analyses indicate that reports of un-
identified ‘flying abjects are the result of s

«Mis interprotation of various conventional objects.
os A ‘mild form of nass-hyster ia and war nerves.

ws "‘Inddviduals who fabricate such reports to perpetrate
a hoax or to seek publicity.

| an Le " Poychopathological persons. ”

a “It is, therefore, recommended that Conclusions 1 and
2 of this report, with sufficient supporting data, be declassified and
made public in the form of ah official press release, This action
would aid in dispelling public apprehension, often directly attribut-
_ able to the sensationalistic reporting of many of these incidents by
- the press: and radio. “* .

‘There are indications that the plarned release of suf~
ficient ‘unisual aerial objects coupled with the reloase of related
psychological propaganda would cause a form of mass-hysteria., Em= -

“ ployment of these ‘methods md or against an enemy would yield similar
results. — ;

tn ‘view of this, the Psychological Warfare Division and
other governmental agencies interested in psyohological warfare should
de informed of the results of this study. These agencies should then
coordinate in and ‘provide further recommendations for public release of
material relative to unidentified flying objects as recommended herein.

10 § 68642

WN

‘TL DECLASSIFIED EPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Airherity AMD L352
By VA _ NARA Date Lee "

a
Ly
APPENDIX A-1
Air Intelligence information Report No. TR-115-L.8


7 ~ - pm ; Mree a °

wy AD ire

Seep

PRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

ces penne ot ey nee

(CLASSIFICATION)

(LEAVE BLANK) = - - \
: FRO agen) 7 Cet ~ oe
OkasSneden_ yee et : *\
DATE OF INFORMATION. a v opae EVALUATION i
29 Deceaber Ihe caps Bee - \
: va " SOURCE... - : ;
Swedish Defense Staff

‘ report. Give significance tn final one-sentence ‘paraaraph. List inclovurce at lower left. Beyin text of report on AF Form 1)£—Part I1.)

Defense Staff } has. no. 0, Brook. that any unidentified Paying objects,

of “s. the ‘past yaar, “Lrrespeotive of to
batted, ‘have: eon funneled to a | special seotion of the Defense Staff,

cund: radar ‘stations and “radar equipped. ‘dgotroyers « cooper= -.
18 ‘yadar equipments were Swedish modified British sets
e nob. ‘operated on a (2L. hour basis; however, no 9 unexplained |
his sattpment. : a 2 Seals

or. oth ourselves: ‘and ‘the: Swedes a8 Lhstanced by our mutual
lying : objects. However, . Tam convinoed that our refusal to |
yoh equipment will do more good in. inplementing our nation~| -
ho National Seourity Council documents NSC 26/1, than would
give, from the use of such (equipment: here.

interest in e:
grant an export See fo
al policy, as expreased ‘dn.
the informatic

sf Donald: Le Rardy
DONALD L. BARDY
 Golonel, USAP -
Air Attache oo °

i

“CG USAFE, USFA, AA Oslo, Copenhagen, NA, SD ~ Stookholm

2 seopee Oo -§ 6236

.
"


~DecLass

“THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

APPENDIX A-2

Air Intelligence Information Report No. IR-l7-l9


< aera een etnias Unmersere wear so na PE Rat,

DECLASSIFIED

etastes,

coe

Airhority AWD P7/F3> |

A camer Sane. Ee

(LEAVE BLANK)

z rr L7-L9

AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT

FROM (Agency) “Y
_ OAA=Sweden :
-. | DATE OF INFORMATION EVALUATION
2 March 19h,9 Be2
wl . SOURCE
Walsh, Major, USAP ‘ Personal Contact
umber; directive, precious report, ttc., as applicable) j ;

Give significance in final One-sentence paragraph. List inciosures at lower left. Begin tert of repost on AF orm 412—Part qh)

.reference to request dated 12 January 1949, Control No. DAm2l;);, and

the following information is submitted, SO

n (AFOIN Cable 51649 dated 21 February 19)9)

Swedes feel that the reported and unconfirmed incidents of ©

ines in recent years have any similarity to any such reports ‘that
ays whon Germany Was conducting experiments with missiles in the _

.

guided missile Sightings over Sweden
no proof to discount such a agtatemont,

Swedish official opinion prior to the landing of a Ve2 4in Sweden,
imber of the: "missile sightings” wore natural phenomena and.a cer~
rman fighters at high altitudes enroute across Sweden to Norway.

icial-opinion even after tha V2 missile landed in

4

The Sweden actually do not think very much about these

sid bw 0 play it up as much as possible to the U. S, Attaches

in an effort: to show their great noed for radar. Continued interest, therefore, on our
part towards ‘the: last: reported incidents, only causes extrene enbarrassment when the
Swedes em hai ze t adar request, Dor a ees NA te

om

“S/ HB. Walsh
* Major, USAF gy
Assistant Air Attache

APPROVED: | ; ‘
S/ DONALD L, HARDY

Colonel, USAF

Air. Attache
THIS IS A TRUE COPY :
Distribution by Originator CG USAFE, CG USPA, AA Oslo, AA Copenhagen, NA = SD =
ck! me, “Stockholm

NaD 36296 Poon “ho

o\