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Klass and Haines inquiries and FAA responses

FAA via National Archives / The Black Vault · 41 pages · text from the file's own layer

This FAA file, released through The Black Vault, collects correspondence and memos about the Japan Air Lines flight 1628 UFO report over Alaska on November 17, 1986. It includes Philip J. Klass's 1987 Skeptical Inquirer article, which attributes the sighting to Jupiter, Mars and moonlit ice clouds, and FAA Alaskan Region public affairs memos on the premature release of investigation material. It also contains Richard F. Haines's request for the case file and Paul Steucke's reply explaining the radar returns as uncorrelated targets.

Mr. Paul Steucke
Public Affairs Officer
FAA Alaskan Region
701 "C" St., Box 14
An chorage, Alaska 99513
Dear Paul Steucke:
PHILIP J . KLASS
'0' "" N "" ST SOUTHWEST
WASHINGTON. D . C 2002~
1202 > ee~ . 1"io1
Feb. 2 4, 19 8 7
Enclosed is my check for $15.85 for the JAL/UFO incident
materials indicated on the order form.
My compliments to you and those responsible for offering
such a full spectrum of data, including especially both the tape
recordings and transcript of same.
Having spent more than 20 years in the "strange land of
UFOria," I know all too well the harsh charges typically levelled
against the U.S. Government, the U.S. Air Force and and CIA of
trying to "cover-up the truth about UFOs"--a charge that I
consider to be demonstrably false.
By offering both a transcript (which is the most useful)
and a copy of the voice tapes to allow the "conspiracy-mongers"
to verify the accuracy of the transcript, you should spare
FAA and yourself such "coverup" criticism.
But don't be surprised if such charges are later made if
the hard-core "UFO-believers" are unable to find a ''smoking gun."
Cordially,
: '"'... /'

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