Air Force Project Blue Book Special Report 14 (Hynek's annotated copy)

Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.

It will be seen, in the codes for Final Identification, that the category originally called "Rockets and Missiles", in the early work of the analysis, was changed to be called "Insufficient Information". Likewise, the final category of "Unknown" had originally been called "Electromagnetic Phenomenon". (The typewritten strikeovers and changes on page 295 (orig.) appear that way in the original Air Force Edition, and this edition is a true photo-copy of that page.)

It is interesting to speculate on the reason for changing the names of these categories. Note that the objects finally "identified" as in the "Unknown" category include almost all of the cases which would seem to be actual "flying saucers" as the public understands the term. Therefore, the fact that the Air Force originally called this category "electromagnetic phenomenon" may indicate that the Blue Book investigative staff had reason to believe that objects like the typical "flying saucer" might be electromagnetically propelled. This is of more than casual interest because of the persistent stories that circulate, which indicate that "saucers" make use of some system of electromagnetic propulsion.

## Suggestion to the Reader

After reading the Blue Book Report which starts on the next page, if you feel a desire to see the complete set of tables and graphs (omitted here for reasons of cost), you might try to borrow a copy of the full report from the Air Force. Write to the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon Building, Washington 25, D.C., and ask for one of the loan copies of Blue Book Special Report No. 14.

If, after reading the report as given here, you feel that the Air Force should be able to give a definite answer to such specific questions as "Do flying objects of (such and such) shape exist?", you might write to your Congressman or Senator, or to the President of the United States, and ask his assistance in obtaining the answer to your specific question from the Air Force.

On page 37 of the official transcript of the press conference of Maj. Gen. John A. Samford at the Pentagon, July 29, 1952, a question was asked of the General: "Is it some very highly secret new weapon that we're working on that's causing these flying saucer reports?" The General answered: "We have nothing that has no mass and unlimited power!" The transcript indicates [Laughter] at that point, and well it might. If you believe that a more meaningful and definite answer is in order from the Air Force, you might write to any of the officials mentioned above for a specific answer to the specific question quoted in this paragraph.

The publisher of this edition would be very happy to learn of any responses which might be obtained by readers following any of these suggestions. Also, any comments from readers would be welcome.