Ford Press Releases, UFO, 1966 (alternate URL)

Air Force Projeqt Blue Book files, as well as any other UFO information
in the possession of the Air Force, will be made available to the team.
Additionally, ~11 Air Force installations within the U.S. will assist the team
if requesteO.. The investigators will, however .• conduct their resea.rch
independently of and without direction from the Air Force.
The decision to enter into a research agreement for this work wan based
on a recornmend.ation of the Air Force Scientif:lc Advisory Board which completed
a. review of the resources, methods and findings of Proj~ct Blue Book earlier
this year. While complimenting the Air Force on the organization of Project
Blue Book, the Board recommended that the program be expanded to include
investigation of selected sightings by independent scientists.
Within the Department of Defense, the Air Force has the responsibility
of invest;lgating UFO reports. The Air Force has been investigat'1pg such reports
since 1948 under its role of air defense of the United states, an~the
university's research does not alter Project Blue Book responsibilities of
receiving, investigating and evaluating UFO reports.
END
(DOD Release No. 388-66, May 9, 1966, refers.)