Project Blue Book documents on the Killian case, compiled by Dan Wilson

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

Donald Keyhoe, Director of NICAP, declared that the Air Force spokesman's statement appearing in the New York Herald Tribune was plainly meant to serve three purposes:

1. To offset the airline crew's reports.

2. To warn all airline pilots that they too would be officially ridiculed if they publicly reported UFO sightings.

3. To reduce the growing support of Capitol Hill for open UFO hearings.

In an interview with the Newark Star-Ledger (December 22, 1958) a group of more than fifty commercial airline pilots blasted Air Force procedures and conclusions concerning UFOs. Here in full is the article:

## Pilots ridicule AF secrecy on saucers

Another said he was certain in referring to the UFO secrecy afterwards is subject to a maximum of 10 years in many pilots "forget" to report tracking by Civil Aeronautics Authority radar men stationed in the country, as re- "If the whole UFO business is to be taken so lightly, as much valuable information is Friday, one of the pilots ex-pined "the Air Force can't afford to admit radar is cor- pressed themselves freely, they tree without also admitting its tree without also admitting its own attitude has been inro- nal in regard to unidentified withheld because in most in- rest from the beginning."

A group of more than 50 top commercial airline pilots all veterans of more than 15 years with major companies yesterday blasted as "border-lost as a result.

Although the pilots ex- pressed themselves freely, they asked that their names be withheld because in most in- stances employers had directed

One termed the Air Force them, at Air Force Insistance, policy "a lesson in lying. In to say nothing for publica trigue and the 'Big Brother' ion. attitude carried to the ulti The Star-Leiger has their

Each of the pilots has sighted at least one UFO, the majority several.

All have been interrogated by the Air Force and most expressed disgust and frustration at Air Force methods and conclusions.

The Star-Leiger has their names, however, and it was agreed that they could be released if and when the "strict silence" than is lifted.

This pilot also pointed to a In respect to the Joint Joint Chiefs of Staff order give thirfs order, none of the ing top radio priority to UFO pilots were asked to reveal reports anywhere in the world, details of any of their sight- and specifying that any pilot or questioned about them who falls to maintain absolute in any way.

This is no fun, especially after many hours of questioning sometimes all night long. You're tired. You've just come in from a gruelling flight, anxious to get home to the wife and kids. But you make your report anyhow and the Air Force tells you that the thing that paced your plane for 15 minutes was a mirage or a bolt of lighting. "Nots to that. Who needs it?"

"We are ordered to report all UFO sightings." one said. but when we do we are usually treated like incompetents and told to keep quiet.

One of the pilots was refused permission by his company to appear on a recent nationwide telecast.

Another was ordered to "cease and desist" after he'd appeared on two recent network telecasts with his company's expressed approval.

Since the appearance of the above article Mr Lester has informed this Committee that 400 more pilots have joined the list of the original 50.