AARO Historical Record Report Volume 1

38
Public Interest
Segments of the American public have been interested in this topic since the term “flying
saucer” emerged after Arnold’s sighting in 1947, as evidenced by the proliferation of television,
books, movies, and podcasts today on the topic. The subject is deeply rooted in popular culture
with its own themes, mythologies, and conspiracy theories. Capt Ruppelt, who was involved
with three UFO investigations efforts, including being the initial leader of Project BLUE BOOK,
noted that there would be spikes in reported sightings after official press events mentioning
UFOs; suggesting that reports of sightings can influence the incidence of additional reported
sightings.124
Alleged Bureaucratic Barriers
Alleged bureaucratic barriers including indifference, cognitive dissonance, lack of
support or resources, and deliberate obstruction are also similarities. Some members of
investigatory panels have claimed official obstruction, ranging from lack of access to senior
decision-makers to insufficient staff and resources.
Insufficient Data and Information
Previous and current investigations have been challenged by insufficient data and
information for intelligence and scientific analysis to resolve anomalous incidents. Insufficient
data and information was compounded by inconsistent reporting and lack of continuity among
investigations and investigative practices. Capt Ruppelt, the first director of Project BLUE
BOOK, noted that the inability to collect the UFO’s altitude, size, and speed was a recurring and
significant obstacle to resolving cases.125 A similar challenge remains today, even with the
advancement in technology. Most UAP sightings have no data associated with them beyond an
often vague narrative account; and when there is hard data, it is often incomplete or of poor
quality. In terms of military reporting, the sensors on which UAP most frequently are captured
are calibrated and optimized for combat. UAP are not routinely captured by exquisite, high-
definition, multi-capability, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance collection platforms—
a threshold which is often required to successfully resolve a case.
Perceived Deception
There is a conviction among some Americans that the USG has conducted a deception
operation to conceal the fact that it has recovered extraterrestrial spacecraft and alien beings as
well as systematically exploited and reverse-engineered extraterrestrial technology.126 This
perception probably has been fueled by key UFO investigators’ public comments. For example,
J. Allen Hynek of Project BLUE BOOK, said that the USAF expected him to perform the role of
debunker; and Capt Ruppelt, the first chief of BLUE BOOK, later wrote that he was expected to
explain away every report and that the USAF sought to produce press stories in alignment with
the USAF’s position.127