Documents / FOIA release
This is a copy of "The UFO Evidence," a report published in May 1964 by the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) in Washington, D.C. and edited by Richard H. Hall. The CIA released its copy in 2001. The report draws 746 sightings from more than 5,000 signed reports and argues that unexplained UFOs are real, artificial objects under intelligent control. It criticizes Air Force secrecy and calls for a Congressional inquiry into Project Blue Book and a larger scientific investigation.
“UFO Files”49 pages
# Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010001-0 December 24, 1959: Air Force Inspector General brief to Operations and Training Commands: "UFOs Serious Business." Stated that UFO investigators on base level "should be equipped with binoculars, camera, geiger counter, magnifying glass and have a source for containers in which to store samples." August 15, 1960: "Air Force Information Policy Letter; For Commanders," Vol. XIV, No. 12, issued by Office of Secretary of Air Force. Under title "AF Keeping Watchful Eye on Aerospace," stated, "There is a relationship between the Air Force's interest in space surveillance and its continuous surveillance of the atmosphere near Earth for unidentified flying objects--'UFOs.'" 1960-1961: Through its spokesman in the Pentagon, Lt. Col. Lawrence J. Tacker, the Air Force began answering critics of its UFO program publicly. Late in 1960, Col. Tacker's book Flying Saucers and the U.S. Air Force (Van Nostrand) was published, with a foreword by General Thomas D. White, Air Force Chief of Staff. Col. Tacker went on a public tour to publicize the book, appearing on radio and television, and giving lectures. Examples-about its UFO investigation, general and specific. The right-hand column contains NICAP rebuttals, comments, or other data refuting the Air Force statements. December 5, debate with NICAP Director on Dave Garroway's network television program. December 18, interview on Westinghouse network radio program, "Washington Viewpoint." March 17, 1961, lecture of Aero Club of Buffalo, N.Y. March 1961, article in Argosy magazine. Col. Tacker used the strongest language to date in denouncing critics of the UFO investigation. Their claims were "absolutely erroneous;" "a hoax;" "sensational theories;" the work of "amateur hobby groups." NICAP's evidence was "drivel," its claims "ridiculous" and it was making "senseless accusations." In April 1961, after being associated with the UFO project for over three years, Col. Tacker was shipped to Europe on "routine reassignment." June 1961: The outspoken new policy, if that is what it was, apparently backfired. Angered by Col. Tacker's attitude, NICAP members and other citizens deluged Congress with requests for an investigation of the Air Force project. Congressional hearings were contemplated [See Section XIII] but never came about. Instead, Air Force Congressional Liaison personnel briefed key Congressional committees in private. February 6, 1962: The Air Force issued the last "fact sheet" (No. 179-62) of the old style, then dropped that format. 1963-1964: In the past two years, packets of information--including some details of specific cases--have been substituted for the generalized "fact sheets." The unexplained cases for each year are briefly described. (In the new "fact sheets", the "unknown" category has been rendered meaningless by the inclusion of vague and incomplete cases. Formerly the term "unknown" was applied to the most detailed and inexplicable cases from the best observers. Now the distinction between "unknowns", and cases which lack detail or apparently have natural explanations, has been blurred.) ## SUMMARY 1947-1949: Serious investigation, conclusions UFOs real and interplanetary. 1950-1951: These conclusions challenged on basis of lack of proof; “explain-away” approach adopted by investigators. 1952-1953: After review of situation, new serious investigation started; evidence uncovered led many high-ranking officers to conclude UFOs were interplanetary. 1954 to date: Evidence again challenged as “proof,” this time by panel of scientists. Conflicting versions of whether expanded investigation was recommended (and adopted) to obtain more data. Public relations program adopted to assure public UFOs posed no danger, or threat to national security. ## C. Air Force Statements/NICAP Rebuttals Over the past ten years, the Air Force has had considerable correspondence with citizens unsatisfied by the official conclusions and attitudes about UFOs. The letters have reflected Air Force thinking and the philosophy of their investigation at various stages. The letters often have been more specific than the "fact sheets," but fewer people are aware of their contents. (Note the recurrence in these letters, and the detailed cases following, of certain types of answers given by the Air Force. These include counter-to fact, "shotgun," and "zig-zag" answers. "Shotgun" refers to a fusillade of explanations given for one UFO sighting, e.g., that it was either a balloon, an aircraft, or the planet Venus. "Zig-zag" answers are those in which the press is given a quick explanation for public consumption; this explanation is later quietly changed one or more times. These techniques result in a sort of patchwork explanation for a given case. If Venus cannot explain one aspect of a sighting, then perhaps a balloon or aircraft can.) ## "NOTHING WITHHELD" "The allegation that the Air Force is withholding vital UFO information has no merit whatsoever. The press release approach is considered censorship by some UFO organizations, because they do not receive individual attention from the Air Force, they contend that we are withholding vital information. The Air Force was compelled to adopt the press release approach because in the past when factual information was furnished to certain writers of UFO books, upon their individual request, our action was interpreted as granting approval and clearance for the books in which the information was used." (Maj. Gen. W. P. Fisher, USAF, Director of Legislative Liaison, to Senator Harry Flood Byrd, 1-20-59). "As stated in the material recently forwarded to you, limited resources preclude the distribution of case summaries to individuals and private organizations. Summaries of findings are published only when deemed necessary. (Maj. Maston M. Jacks, USAF, Public Information Division, Office of Information, to Charles R. Culbertson, 8-1-63). NICAP: These letters admit that specific information is not given out; only generalized summaries. Conflicting reasons given for this: "limited resources" or alleged "misuse" of the material. The use of public information is no concern of the Air Force. It is standard procedure in the Defense Department to stamp disclaimers on factual material stating DOD is not responsible for "factual accuracy or opinion" in the use of the material. "No reports of unidentified flying objects have been withheld. . As Director of this Committee [NICAP], Major Donald E. Keyhoe, Marine Corps, Retired, has already received all the information in the hands of the United States Air Force. . . " (Maj. Gen. Joe W. Kelly, USAF, Director of Legislative Liaison, to Rep. Peter Frelinghuysen, 9-12-57). Asked to provide data on specific cases which had not been furnished to NICAP, General Kelly replied: "I assure you the Air Force never intended to turn over 'official use only' files to your organization." (11-15-57) NICAP: This has been standard practice; public announcements that UFO information is not classified, but refusal to provide specific information when requested. "The Department of the Air Force does not 'edit' or 'splice' film submitted by private citizens. When the Department receives such a film, it does make the necessary studies, analyses, and duplication of the film. When this work has been completed, it has been the consistent practice of the Department to return the film to the person who submitted it." (Major Lawrence J. Tacker, USAF, Executive Officer, Public Information Division, Office of Information Services, to Eli Photographs which the owners allege were either edited, spliced, or not returned to them by the Air Force [See Section VIII; Photographs]: Aug. 15, 1950, Great Falls, Montana. Nick Mariana: Reported best frames of color movie film missing when returned by Air Force. July 2, 1952, nr Tremonton, Utah. D. C. Newhouse: Reported frames of movie film showing a single UFO moving away over the horizon, missing when film returned by Air Force. July 29, 1952, Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010001-0
FOIA release, from the cia-readingroom collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. The text was read from the page images by an OCR model; expect the odd misread word. 186 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.