The National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (Nicap)

# SECTION VI

# SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS

One of the many current myths about UFOs is that no trained observers have reported them. Often this argument is used by skeptics to imply that UFO reports result only from careless observations. This attitude is reflected in a question often posed in newspaper articles: "If UFOs are real, why haven't astronomers seen them?" The answer is that they have, on many occasions.

The ridicule evoked by the reporting of a UFO sighting definitely has taken its toll among professional scientists and engineers who value their reputations. A significant number of scientists have told NICAP privately that it would be professional suicide for them to discuss the subject openly among their colleagues. Nevertheless, a number of good UFO reports by scientific observers are on record.

Another myth is that only amateurs and pseudo-scientists consider UFOs worth further investigation. One scientist who took early notice of UFO reports was Dr. Anthony O. Mirarchi, chemist employed by the Air Force in its geophysical laboratory. In 1951 Dr. Urner Liddel, a Navy scientist, insisted all UFOs were Skyhook balloons. Dr. Mirarchi challenged this conclusion and urged a full investigation of UFOs which, he said, could be foreign experiments of some kind. Dr. Mirarchi rejected the idea that UFOs were only misidentified conventional phenomena and said he had recommended a "considerable appropriation" to investigate them. After studying Air Force reports, he said UFOs appeared

to have "maneuvered motion" and their vertical and horizontal motions could not be reconciled with natural phenomena. [1.]

A former German rocket scientist, Dr. Walther Riedel, headed the now defunct Civilian Saucer Investigation of Los Angeles, which attained national prominence in 1952 after being publicized in Life and Time. Dr. Riedel stated his opinion that UFOs were of extraterrestrial origin. [2.] (Some of the cases gathered by CSI are incorporated in this report).

Three world-famous scientists have expressed similar views: Prof. Hermann Oberth, whose pioneering studies paved the way for space travel, has stated his complete conviction that UFOs are piloted by super-intelligent beings from another planet. [3.] Admiral Delmer S. Fahrney, U.S.N. (Ret.), "father of guided missiles," and former NICAP Board Member, in a 1957 press conference stated that there was an urgent need to know the facts about the apparently controlled objects reported to be entering our atmosphere. His statement received wide coverage in the world press.

Dr. Carl Jung, famous Swiss psychologist, shortly before his death in 1961, sent a personal communication to the NICAP Director. In it he stated he had come to the opinion that UFOs did appear to be space ships. [4.] (Previously he had been embroiled in international publicity, accidentally misquoted as believing UFOs were real when he still considered this an open question).

## UFO Sightings by Scientists

(All Reports on File at NICAP)

Date & Location	Name	Field	Description
7-10-47;S. New Mexico	"top astronomer"	Astronomy	Elliptical object which hovered, wobbled, ascended suddenly. [Section II.]
Summer 1948;Easton, Penna.	Carl A. Mitchell	Physics	Three luminescent greenish discs one second apart, passed across sky from N to S and over horizon.
8-49;Las Cruces, N.M.	Clyde W. Tombaugh	Astronomy	Circular pattern of rectangular lights, keeping fixed interval.
5-20-50;Flagstaff, Arizona	Seymour L. Hess	Meteorology,Astronomy	Disc or sphere in apparent"powered" flight. [Section I.]
6-12-50;California	John Zimmerman	Geology	Silvery discs looping around aircraft, disrupting its vapor trail.
10-3-50;Pomona, California	J. D. Laudermilk	Geochemistry	Disc moving with wobbling motion passed behind mountain peak; minimum speed computed to be 720 mph.
8-3-51;near Pinckney, Mich.	Walter N. Webb	Astronomy	Bright glowing light moving in undulating path.
1952;London, Ont., Canada	W. Gordon Graham	Astronomy	UFO"like a smoke ring, elliptical in shape, and having two bright pinpoints of light along its main axis;" sailed overhead from W to E. [5.]
7-27-52;Ann Arbor, Mich.	Dr. Charles H. Otis	Biology	Formation of rocket-like objects leaving constant length trails.
8-5-52;Baltimore, Md.	Dr. James C. Bartlett, Jr.	Astronomy*	During daylight observation of Venus, saw a flight of two discs diameter about 30 minutes of arc; passed overhead to S, turned E. Then two more discs with dome-like protrusions in center.
1-30-53;near Yuma, Arizona	Wells Alan Webb	Chemistry	Gyrating light which ascended steeply.
5-5-53;near Yuma, Arizona	Wells Alan Webb	Chemistry	Silvery disc, turned sharply; observed through Polaroid glasses, dark circular bands around object became visible.

*Technically an amateur astronomer; member Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, frequent contributor to scientific journals.