Black Vault compilation, pp. 91-93

•
2. On defense. (a) I~ there eVidence that OFO sighting! may represent
a defense hazard? No such e~idence came to light in the study. This,
however, wu not an objective ot the study and was properly construed
u a Department or Defense matter. (b) The Report !tates: "'l'he history
ot the ~~&st 21 years bas repeatedly led Air Force officers to the conclusion
that none or the thinp seen, or thOught to have been seen, which pass
by the name or UFO reports • constituted any hazard or threat to national
security."
We 90'1cur w1 t h the .. pos·i ti on described 1n (a ). As to (b) , we round
no evidence in the R~port or other lit!!Sture to contradict the quoted
l!lta tement. ·
3. On future UFO sightinp. "The question :-emains u to what,
it anything, tbe federal government shOuld do about the UFO reports
it receives from the ,eneral public?" The Report found no basis tor
activity related to such sighting reports "in the expectation that they
are going to contriblte to the advance or science," blt the Department ot
Defense should handle these in its normal surveillance operations with-
out need tor such special units as Project Blue Book.
We concur in this recommendation.
4~. On further investiption. (4) shOuld the federal government
"set up a major new agency, as some have susrested tor the scientific ~
study or OFOs"'l The study round no basis ror recollllllendation or this
kind. (5) Would turtber extensive study ot UFO sightinas contribute
to science? "'ur general conclusion is that nothing has come from the
stuay or UFOs in the past 21 years that has added to scientific know-
ledge. The Report then notes that speo1t1c research topics may warrant
consideration: ( 6) "There are important areas or atmospheric optics,
including radio wave propagation, and ot atmospheric electricity in
which present knowledge is quite incomplete. These topics come to our
attention in connection with the interpretation or some UFO reports,
but they are also or fundamental scientific interest, and they are relevant
to practical problems related to the improvement or satety or military
and civilian flying. Research efforts are being carried out 1n these
areas by the Department or Defense, the Environmental Science Services
Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and
by universities and nonprofit research organizations suoh &l!l the National
Center tor Atmospheric Research, Whose work is sponsored by the National
Science Foundation."
The Report also observes (7) that OFO reports and beliefs are also
or interest to "the social scientist and the communications specialist."
In these areas parti~larly - i.e., (6) and (7) - the study suggests
{8) that "scientists with adequate training and credentials who do come
up with a clearly defined, specific proposal" should be supported, implying
that normal competitive procedures and assessments or proposals should
be followed ~el"e as is customary.
Attachment 2, PI 8