The National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (Nicap)

# SECTION VIII

SPECIAL EVIDENCE

AFR 200-2 18-19

INTELLIGENCE

Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO)

19. Reporting Physical Evidence. Report promptly the existence of physical evidence (photographic or material). All physical evidence forwarded to the ATIC should be marked for the attention of AFCIN-4E4g.

a. Photographic:

(1) Still Photographs. Forward the negative and two prints. Title the prints and the negatives or indicate the

(5) Radar. Forward two copies of each still-camera photographic print. Title radarscope photographic prints in accordance with AFR 95-7. Classify radarscope photographs in accordance with section XII, AFR 205-1, 1 April 1959.

There are three basic types of UFO reports:

(1) UFOs detected by the unaided human senses.

(2) UFOs detected by instruments, but not by human senses.

(3) UFOs detected by the human senses, substantiated by instruments.

Of these, the cases of UFOs being detected by the senses and confirmed by instrument generally are considered the most significant. Examples would include UFOs observed visually, which apparently caused electro-magnetic interference at the same time; simultaneous radar-visual sightings; UFOs reliably observed and also photographed. The cases in this section generally involve detection of a UFO by more than one of the human senses, or by the human senses substantiated by some instrument.

The human organism itself is a rudimentary scientific instrument. When a person not only sees something, but also experiences physiological effects of it, an extra dimension is added to the observation. If the effects are objectively verifiable by other persons, so much the better. If a UFO is reliably observed, and also leaves physical markings or traces, this adds an objective factor to the report.

Another way of analyzing UFO sightings is to consider what they affect. A sighting may affect only the human senses; it may also affect machines or instruments (causing electro-magnetic interference in an automobile, leaving an image on film, or showing up on radar); or it may affect nature (leaving physical markings or substances on the ground). The strongest cases would be ones involving several of these aspects.

## ELECTRO-MAGNETIC (E-M) EFFECTS

In June 1960 NICAP published a booklet listing and analyzing reported cases in which electrical circuits were disrupted in the presence of UFOs. [1.] This phenomenon was first widely reported during the widespread sightings of November 1957 [See Section XII], but subsequent research uncovered additional cases which occurred before and after the 1957 cases. The E-M report, concluding that the evidence was "sufficient to warrant a more thorough investigation of UFOs, and an attempt to learn more about the E-M phenomenon through deliberate instrumentation for that purpose," was circulated to several hundred interested parties, including scientists and members of Congress.

The E-M Report was a study of 81 main cases, plus 9 borderline cases which had some characteristics in common with the main cases. It was suggested that there were no doubt other similar experiences, either buried in the literature somewhere or unreported due to poor news coverage of UFO sightings at times. In the intervening 3-1/2 years, an additional 39 cases have been discovered. Thirty-two of these had occurred before the June 1960 publication date of the E-M Report; seven have occurred since. Where sufficient information was available to justify their inclusion, the newly discovered cases have been added to the original chronology. The combined listing of cases is reproduced below.

The recent discovery that electrical circuits were upset by upper atmosphere atomic tests during 1961-62 leads to interesting speculation, and makes a definite scientific experiment feasible, concerning the manner in which UFOs could affect electrical circuits. These points are discussed following the chronology of E-M cases.

## Chronology of E-M Cases

The cases listed here represent reports in which a distinct UFO, either a plainly visible object or light source (not merely diffuse or intermittent flashes of light), was observed at the same time and place that a definite electro-magnetic effect (E-M) such as a car-stalling occurred. Cases added since publication of the June 1960 report are denoted by a plus sign $ ^{+} $ . (Sources appear under Note 2 at the end of the section).

1. August 28, 1945; near Iwo Jima, C-46 had engine trouble, lost altitude, as three UFOs were observed from plane. [2.]

2. June 24, 1947; Cascade Mts., Oregon, compass needle waved wildly as UFO passed overhead.

3. Fall 1949; New Mexico, music on car radioblanked out by static as UFO passed low over car.

(+)4. September 1950; Korea, Navy planes on mission approached by two large discs, radar jammed, radio transmitter blocked by buzzing noise each time new frequency tried.

(+)5. March 26, 1952; Long Beach, Calif. Two yellowish discs passed by slowly; "as they passed the radio was agitated twice."

6. January 9, 1952; Kerrville, Texas. Odd "roaring" interference on radio as UFO circled town.

(+)7. September 29, 1953; Easton, Pa., Television picture "began going up and down real fast," as UFO emitting white vapor passed overhead.

8. January 29, 1954; near Santa Ana, Calif., car radio quit and motor missed as UFO passed low over car.

9. June 21, 1954; Ridgeway, Ontario, Canada, Car motor quit as UFO crossed highway ahead of car.