Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO)

Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.

public, pertaining to the public relations, interest, and informational aspects of the subject. (See paragraph 9.) This office will forward correspondence and queries which are purely technical and scientific to ATIC for information on which to base a reply.

8. Releasing Information. All information or releases concerning UFO's, regardless of origin or nature, will be released to the public or unofficial persons or organizations by the Office of Information Services, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. This includes replies to correspondence (except congressional inquiries) submitted direct to ATIC, and other Air Force activities by private individuals requesting comments or results or analysis and investigations of sightings.

9. Exceptions. In response to local inquiries resulting from any UFO reported in the vicinity of an Air Force base, information regarding a sighting may be released to the press or the general public by the commander of the Air Force base concerned only if it has been positively identified as a familiar or known object. Care should be exercised not to reveal any classified aspects of the sighting or names of persons making reports. (See paragraph 18.) If the sighting is unexplainable or difficult to identify, because of insufficient information or inconsistencies, the only statement to be released is the fact that the sighting is being investigated and information regarding it will be released at a later date. If investigative action has been completed, the fact that the results of the investigation will be submitted to the ATIC for review and analysis may be released. Further inquiries should be referred to the local Office of Information Services.

10. Release by Non-Air Force Sources. If newsmen, writers, publishers, or private individuals desire to release unofficial information concerning a UFO sighting, every effort will be made to assure that the statements, theories, opinions, and allegations of these individuals or groups will not be associated with or represented as being official information.

11. Contacts. Private individuals or organizations requesting Air Force interviews, briefings, lectures, or private discussions on UFO's will be referred to the Office of Information Services, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. Air Force personnel, other than those of the Office of Information Services, will not contact private individuals on UFO cases nor will they discuss their operations and functions with unauthorized persons unless so directed, and then only on a "need-to-know" basis.

SECTION C—PREPARING AND SUBMITTING REPORTS

## 12. General Information:

a. Paragraphs 2 and 5 will be used as an aid and guidance to screenings, investigations, and reportings. The format will be as outlined in paragraph 15. Activities initially receiving reports of aerial objects and phenomena will screen the information to determine if the report concerns a valid UFO within the definition of paragraph 2c. Those reports not within that definition will not be considered for further action under the provisions of this regulation.

b. To assist activities and personnel responsible for handling, screening, and processing initial, incoming UFO information, the general sources and types of reports are given here:

(1) Generally, initial UFO reports are received from three sources:

(a) Civilian (airline, private and professional pilots, tower operators, technical personnel, casual observers, and the public in general), by correspondence, telephone, or personal interview;

(b) Military units and personnel (pilots, observers, radar operators, aircraft control and warning units, etc.), by telephone, electrical message, or personal interview;

(c) Quasi-military units (Ground Observer Corps (GOC) posts, observers, and filter centers), usually by telephone.

(2) Generally, UFO reports received from civilian sources are of two types:

(a) Those referring strictly to an observed UFO, containing either detailed or meager information;

(b) Those referring only in part to an observed UFO, but primarily requesting information on some aspect of the UFO program.

c. Reports considered to fall primarily in a public relations or information service category (see paragraphs 4d, 7, 8, 9 and b(2) above) should be referred to the Office of Information Services. UFO data sufficient for investigation and/or analysis may be extracted before referral to that office.

13. Methods for Transmitting Reports. Coupled with any necessary screenings and investigations that must be performed preparatory to reporting, all information on UFO's will be reported promptly. Reports under 3 days from