Documents / FOIA release

The National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (Nicap)

Central Intelligence Agency · 2001-03-12 · 186 pages · text by OCR

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.

  • p. 2 …Former Air Force Headquarters Monitor of AF Project Blue Book UFO investigation, prepared analyses of UFO…
  • p. 4 …We are also indebted to Isabel Davis, New York City, whose extensive files on UFOs were…
  • p. 8 …the amount and kind of UFO information in the files, and whether all significant non-security…
  • p. 11 …Harris pointed out that the UFO at one time "passed below the horizon in front of…
  • p. 16 …New York UFO group of which DuBarry is president. 9. Report on file at NICAP. 10…
  • p. 17 …b) UFOs which evaded or otherwise reacted to human devices. (All reports on file at NICAP…
  • p. 22 …CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010001-0 ## GEOMETRICAL FORMATION CASES (All reports on file at NICAP) Date Location Witnesses Number…
  • p. 24 …Finally the UFOs were seen on the radarscope to merge with a gigantic blip (radar target…
  • p. 25 …of the Utah Film Tracking UFOs," p. 2. (Copy on file at NICAP.) 9. Flying, July…
  • p. 26 …FORCE UFO SIGHTINGS UFO Sightings by U. S. Air Force Personnel (All Reports on File at…
  • p. 30 # Approved For Release 2001/04/02 Bomber Paced by UFO (Capt. Alvah M. Reida, during his…
  • p. 34 …I collected a few names of individuals present, as I intended to report the UFO to…
  • p. 37 …Florida Two enlisted men (names on file) Star-like UFO slowed, joined by second at high…
  • p. 38 …Report on file at NICAP 3. Report on file at NICAP 4. Keyhoe, Donald E., Flying…
  • p. 46 …United Press reported the incident (newswire copy on file at NICAP): FLYING SAUCER OR A WEATHER…
  • p. 47 …An Air National Guard pilot, flying an F-51 Mustang fighter, was trailed by a UFO…
  • p. 50 …witnessed the UFO was a full colonel of Air Force Intelligence, who filed a report along…
  • p. 53 …Report on file at NICAP. 14. United Press; May 23, 1951. 15. Report on file at…
  • p. 55 …this an open question). ## UFO Sightings by Scientists (All Reports on File at NICAP) Date & Location…
  • p. 61 …Maney, was among seven witnesses to a UFO sighted in Defiance, Ohio, May 20, 1962. Prof…
  • p. 65 …As they watched, the UFO, appearing as a fiery-looking, glowing sphere, passed from horizon to…
  • p. 66 …The disc-shaped, elliptical and other main types of UFOs observed by pilots and scientists have…
  • p. 69 …CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010001-0 (Names and addresses of other witnesses on file at NICAP.) A somewhat similar…
  • p. 71 …Elton Highland, observed a spherical UFO about 9:45 a.m. The UFO, resembling a silver…
  • p. 77 …Teletype report and letter on file at NICAP 2. Reports obtained by Cleveland and Akron UFO…
  • p. 90 …At other times, the station tracked UFOs making similar maneuvers. Sgt. Kelly had also tracked UFOs…
  • p. 93 …Baker, Jr., Douglas Aircraft Corporation, on file at NICAP. Air Force explanation that UFOs were reflections…
  • p. 100 …Roepke also filed a detailed report with NICAP on behalf of the Subcommittee. In consultation with…
  • p. 110 …Paragraph 11 restricts Air Force personnel from publicly discussing UFOs: "Air Force personnel, other than those…
  • p. 112 …Air Force Inspector General brief to Operations and Training Commands: "UFOs Serious Business." Stated that UFO…
  • p. 118 …file at this facility and is all the information contained in this record concerning UFO sighted…
  • p. 119 …The RCAF has no record of such an incident, although a flight plan allegedly was filed…
  • p. 120 …Peter Killian, American Airlines pilot, was one of several pilots who reported observing three UFOs above…
  • p. 121 …Ryan and all other documentation, on file at NICAP. COPY American Airlines, Inc. Flight 139 - February…
  • p. 126 …Dozens of very active UFO organizations exist in England, many publishing bulletins. The largest and most…
  • p. 130 …Copy of statement on file at NICAP 3. Report on file at NICAP 4. Windsor Daily…
  • p. 131 …Letter on file at NICAP 49. Report on file at NICAP 50. Report on file at…
  • p. 135 …Samford, UFOs explained away as weather phenomena. (Transcript on file at NICAP.) July 29, 1952--Miami…
  • p. 141 …round UFO hover and maneuver slowly. Los Angeles NICAP Subcommittee investigation report on file. February 14…
  • p. 143 …September 28 -- Police from seven counties reported seeing UFOs between 2:30 and 3:30 a…
  • p. 144 …A brilliant shaft of light from the UFO illuminated a hilltop. Suddenly the UFO blacked out…
  • p. 159 …library files, by a NICAP member traveling around the country, uncovered 125 separate UFO reports for…
  • p. 161 …then Air Force spokesman on UFOs. Taped statement on file at NICAP). The dramatic visual sightings…
  • p. 162 …USAF Capt., others saw two silvery cigar-shaped UFOs headed SW across city. 1 9:30…
  • p. 165 …letter on file at NICAP) Anything reported to the Air Force as a UFO is included…
  • p. 174 …The new Space Committee Chairman opposed UFO hearings. Then, in answer to letters about UFOs, the…
  • p. 176 …Tenn.) - March 30, 1961 "Uncertainty over UFOs certainly exists and I think it is wise to…
  • p. 181 …UFO? On April 14, 1959 the Nunn-Baker camera site The atmosphere of ridicule surrounding the…
  • p. 182 …On the contrary, we have been criticized by other UFO groups for our often voiced skepticism…
## Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010001-0

In September, NICAP published an issue of the UFO Investigator (membership publication) containing an outline and preview of this report. Copies were sent to all Members of Congress. Sample reactions:

Congressman W. R. Poage (D. Tex.) - September 22, 1962 "I have long been disturbed by these UFOs. I would be very much interested in seeing the accumulation of facts which you have assembled. . ."

Congressman E. C. Gathings (D. Ark.) - September 24, 1962 "I shall be interested in seeing a copy of the report your Committee is preparing for Congressional distribution. . ."

Congressman F. Edward Hebert (D. La.) - September 24, 1962 "I shall certainly appreciate receiving a copy of your report when it becomes available. . ."

Congressman Thomas N. Downing (D. Va.) - September 24, 1962 "Thank you for writing to enclose a copy of the "UFO Investigator", and to also bring to my attention your plans to submit a report on your Committee's five-year investigation of Unidentified Flying Objects. I very much appreciate your thoughtfulness. . ."

Congressman Charles Raper Jonas (R. N.C.) - September 25, 1962 "If you care to send me the 128-page report on your five-year investigation, I will be glad to have it. . ."

Senator Jacob K. Javits (R. N.Y.) - October 25, 1962

"I appreciate your views regarding the aerial phenomena. As you know, the Department of Defense and NASA have repeatedly denied the existence of such objects."

Congressman John E. Moss (D. Calif.) - Chairman, Government Information Subcommittee - December 19, 1962

"The Subcommittee has no authority to go into the over-all question of unidentified flying objects, but other Congressional committees may well look into it."

Congressman Richard H. Poff (R. Va.) - December 31, 1962 "I am not satisfied that the Air Force has disclosed all the information which it has assembled, and I am hopeful that the Armed Forces Committee (of which I am not a member) will see fit to conduct an appropriate investigation. . ."

## 1963

Senator Milward L. Simpson (R. Wyo.) - January 8, 1962

"I have not yet been able to determine that any Congressional Committee plans to hold hearings on the UFO problem, but something may develop after the 88th Congress convenes. I do know that the Senate Armed Services Committee plans early hearings on the entire defense posture and it is possible that the question of unidentified flying objects will be brought up during this investigation. . ."

Senator Gaylord Nelson (D. Wis.) - January 14, 1963

"I share your belief that there should be no unnecessary secrecy surrounding the matter [of UFOs] and will do what I can to see to it that relevant facts are brought out and made available to the public."

Congressman John F. Shelley (D. Calif.) - January 28, 1963 "I share the concern of my colleagues in Congress about the gravity of the UFO problem. . .my genuine desire to see positive action taken to lessen the danger caused by UFOs to air travel and our national security."

Senator William Proxmire (D. Wis.) - January 31, 1963

"The NICAP report [outline] is a fine document which does much to substantiate the allegation made. You probably noted my remarks that 'The very fact that so many inexplicable incidents have occurred is reason enough for a thorough investigation.' I am going to contact the Department of Defense on this matter..."

Congressman Clark MacGregor (R. Minn.) - May 28, 1963 "I would certainly agree with Senator Keating that more information should be available to the public. I would favor Congressional hearings [on UFOs] which, of course, would require action by the Congressional majority leadership. . ."

Senator Birch Bayh (D. Ind.) - May 29, 1963

"I too am interested in these aerial phenomena. Some people tend to discount UFOs, but I feel that any such unknown objects bear investigation. . ."

Senator Vance Hartke (D. Ind.) - June 5, 1963

"I agree. . .that a full explanation of the 'Flying Saucers' seems due. . ."

Senator Kenneth B. Keating (R. N.Y.) - June 28, 1963

"I want to assure you that as a high officer in the military myself, I am not overawed or overimpressed by some of the conclusions reached by Air Force officers. As you know, I have no hesitancy in taking issue with other government agencies as to the dangers facing our country. . . I am sorry that there seems to be nothing which I can add to the UFO situation at the present time."

Congressman Glenn Cunningham (R. Nebr.) - August 8, 1963 "I think it quite possible that the Air Force is withholding information about at least a certain number of these [sightings] because I have found that the military services in the past have sometimes acted in a secretive way in other matters when there was really no justification for it. . ."

Senator Len B. Jordan (R. Idaho) - August 16, 1963

"Since you are a member of NICAP, I would welcome any information you might provide me which would improve my knowledge of this very mysterious phenomenon. . ."

Cases discussed

About this file

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.