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. 80 …August 3, 1958; Rome Italy. Luminous UFO observed passing overhead as city lights failed; one report…
  • p. 84 …Above 45,000 ft. Section VII G, V September 17, 1954 Rome, Italy Italian Air Force…
  • p. 103 …after level flight 9-17-54; Nr Rome, Italy top-like 3600-6000 ft. (radar track…
  • p. 105 …cit.,ppg.40-42 10-28-54; Rome,Italy X Ibid.,p.59 11-4-54…
  • p. 127 …Ambassador to Italy, was among dozens of witnesses to a UFO phenomenon over Rome, October 28…
  • p. 137 …Shiny, round object buzzed radio tower; transmitter failed to operate properly. VIII September 17, 1954--Rome…
  • p. 152 …9-17-54 Nr Rome, Italy Disc-like UFO flew along Italian coast, tracked by radar…
Walter Harmon, Aviation Ed., The Springfield (Mass.) Republican:

“In our estimation, NICAP has proved its point. The Air Force should lift its veil of secrecy, make public its investigations and stop trying to kid the people.”

Charles H. Ball, Aviation Ed., Boston Traveler:

“... certainly must be the most comprehensive study yet on the subject... a provocative presentation... an impressive selection [of cases]...”

Harv Morgan, KYW Radio, Cleveland, Ohio:

“A monumental study... extremely well-documented.”

Chicago Daily News service:

“The report is a rather remarkable document.”

Senator Paul H. Douglas, Illinois:

“I am encouraged to see the concentrated efforts of NICAP to have all of the facts about UFOs brought out to the public. I will certainly offer my contribution of time and effort to get to the bottom of these reports.”

Senator Harrison A. Williams, Jr., New Jersey:

“The ‘UFO Evidence’ Report is indeed an impressive document and should be given the most careful consideration.”

Congressman Louis C. Wyman, N. H.:

“I strongly favor a public hearing on UFOs and am most interested in the booklet ‘UFO Evidence.’”

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.