Documents / Hearing transcript
This is the printed transcript of an April 5, 1966 hearing of the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services on unidentified flying objects. Air Force Secretary Harold Brown testified that 9,501 of 10,147 sightings from 1947 through 1965 had been identified and that no threat or extraterrestrial evidence had been found. The record includes the Scientific Advisory Board ad hoc committee report recommending university studies and the Air Force's marsh gas explanation for the Dexter and Hillsdale, Michigan sightings. Members also questioned J. Allen Hynek and Maj. Hector Quintanilla about the Exeter, New Hampshire case.
“Fuller”4 pages
6042 The UFO sighted by Norman Muscarello was identical to the UFO sighted later by Muscarello Bertrand, and Hunt. Norman observed the UFO at close range during his initial sighting. There is no question in my mind that the same or similar object was involved in both of these particular sightings. The number of pulsating lights, the yawing motion, the same location, etc., make this so very apparent. Since I did not interview the "unnamed women" I am not certain of the details of their sighting but according to Officer Bertrand, the object they described was very similar to the UFO they sighted later. I might add that another witness, a male motorist, also sighted a similar object. He tried to phone the police from a pay station at nearby Hampton, N.H., but was cut off. Later he reported the incident to U.S. Air Force authorities at Pease AFB. The chances are astronomical that six people, entirely independent of each other, should report the identical description of a UFO within the span of several hours in the same general area. I am aware of the many UFO sight- ings in New Hampshire especially in September. It may be more than coincidence that many of these sightings were near powerlines. Although I do not agree completely with the way Washington is handling the UFO problem I am sympathetic with the official attitude. I have enough faith in the Government to realize that although official releases on UFO's would indicate that UFO's present no problem regarding national security and that the U.S. Air Force treats the subject lightly, the converse is true, that is, that a full-scale military and scientific research program is being carried out on UFO's because they are a threat to our national security. It is because of this belief that I will continue to send the better UFO reports our subcommittee in- vestigates to Project Bluebook and will continue to urge the public to report all uro sightings to the nearest Air Force base at my lectures, personal con- tacts, etc. I might add that I encourage reporting such UFO's to NICAP con- currently with any report to the U.S. Air Force. It is heartening to see that the U.S. Air Force regards the UFO sighted by Officers Bertrand and Hunt as an unknown. I am sure this will help a little in reducing the ridicule they experienced because of the U.S. Air Force initial explanation of their sightings. I feel certain that if it were not for the fact that their sighting is being carried nationally in the pages of Saturday Review, Look, etc.; and if they had not personally complained publicly and to your office, that their sighting would have been lumped into the same category as the UFO Muscarello and the other sighted. However, my rambling on will not make a bit of difference to present official policy and in a real sense I am wasting your time in even replying as I'm sure your office is very busy but I felt that I would express my feelings on the subject at hand just for the record. Thanks RO much again. I look forward to the time that Government policy will become more relaxed on the UFO subject and in the meantime will continue my meager research and efforts in this field for NICAP and the U.S. Air Force. Sincerely, RAYMOND E. FOWLER, Chairman, NICAP Massachusetts Subcommittee. Mr.BATES. In reference to the so-called sighting in New Hampshire, Doctor, you are familiar with that case? Dr. HYNEK. Yes, sir; I am familiar with the case. Mr. BATES. You have examined it? Dr. HYNEK. No, I have not been there to examine it. Much of my information is based upon the rather excellent account that Mr. John Fuller has given of it in Look magazine. I cannot vouch for the authenticity of his statements, but I have talked with Mr. Fuller, and he apparently has tried to do a very thorough job in talking with people in New Hampshire. Mr. BATES. Are you familiar with Mr. Raymond E. Fowler? Dr. HYNEK. I have had some correspondence with him, but I have never met him. Mr. BATES. Is this Portsmouth case one of the 5 percent that have not been identified, or within the 95 percent on which you have reached a decision?
Hearing transcript, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 88 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.