House Armed Services Committee hearing on UFOs, April 5, 1966

6O45
Dr. HYNEK. Well, sir, scientists have a somewhat different way
of working. They gather data quietly without fanfare, without the
press looking over their shoulder. They may work for several years.
The CHAIMAN. What would you suggest that, I do, Doctor, as
chairman of this committee?
Dr. HYNEK. You are In a totally different, category, sir.
The CIAM RMAN. Thank you.
Since this thing began in Michigan, we have two members of the
Michigan delegation, and I am going to start off with Mr. Nedzi and
ask him if he has any questions.
Mr. NEDZr. Mr. (ThamirMn, you are very kind. I don't have any
questions directly pertainhig to Michigan, although I lave recent.-
1y been advised "my district is bout 1,50 Mileq from the sightings.
The sightings are moving eastward toward my district. [Laughter.]
One question, Doctor, as to these statistics. Are they statistics
only from the United States, the investigatimns mawde I)y you and the
Air Force?
Dr. HYNEK. Yes, sir. The Air Force would have no jurisdiction
over cases in other countries. But there are, I understand, reports
from other countries, also.
Mr. NDZT. Is any effort made to cordintvte information with
some of the sightings thnt are made abroad?
Dr. HYNK. No, sir. Up to now we have made no concerted -effort
to do this.
Mr. NEDZI. Do youthink it might be a good idea to-do it?
Dr. HYNEK. WellI I think we should attend to the situation here
in the United States firs.t. Then, if our efforts are successful and if
we strike scientific. paydirt aid'find something of vahle, then perhftps
the other stop you suggest wold be advisable.
Mr. NEDZT. Do you know whether any studies are going on over-
Seas, with respect to UFO's?
Dr. HYvNE. I know of no formal studies. Actually, the rest of the
world seems to be guided by, and shows a tremendous respect for, the
U.S. Air Force, and they teel, I understand, that the Air Force has
done a fine job.
Mr. NEDzr. Perhaps the question should be directed tWt Air Force,
but. it seemed to me there should be some kind of exchange of ideas
among the scientists who might be interested in it in other countries
where these sightings have taken place. It. might contribute toward
an expos of the problem.
Let me clarify for the record, I do not believe in flying saucers, but
I think it is important to have some kind of evidence that can be pre-
sented to the people so that they don't let the thing get more out of
hand than I think it already is.
Secretaq BROWN. That is what we have been trying to do, Mr.
Nedzi. I do not think we have any ideas of a scientific nature to
exchange with anyone else yet, nor do they have such infotnfitibn to
exchange with us, and the difficulty in going to an international pro-
gram is that it won't broaden our knowledge of basic data very much.
On the other hand, it may degrade the qu lity of the data, because we
have a harden-ough-time getting detMils in this coifitry. A few well-
authenticated but unexpi ained cases are worth muci more. than a