Documents / Official release

Department of the Air Force Committee to Review Project Bluebook, 1966-1967

U.S. Department of War · 1967-04-17 · 85 pages · text from the file's own layer

This U.S. Air Force file gathers records of the USAF Scientific Advisory Board Ad Hoc Committee to Review Project Blue Book, dated 1965 to 1969. It holds Major General LeBailly's 1965 request for a review, meeting records from Wright-Patterson AFB, and Secretary Harold Brown's approval of a university scientific study. There are also 1969 letters praising the Condon Report, a 1968 NICAP request for records, a 1967 attendee list for a meeting with Dr. James McDonald, and a copy of the 1953 Robertson Panel report.

From the source: Release of 2026-07-10 Incident: 4/17/67, Various. This file documents the 1966-1967 deliberations and recommendations of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Scientific Advisory Board’s Ad Hoc Committee to Review Project Blue Book. Project Blue Book was a 1952-1969 USAF program to investigate the nature and origin of unidentified flying objects (UFO). The Committee recommended that the USAF contract a scientific team composed of university-affiliated representatives to investigate selected UFO sightings. The USAF subsequently adopted the Committee’s recommendation.

.For Official U::a:i Onlv
Colonel Hippler pointed out that it will probably be September before
he gets the money to implement this plan. Dr. Orlsnsky pointed out
that because of the summer holiday, Colonel Hippler should make contact
with the Wliversities before the end of May.
t·5. Since we are dealing with an emotional phenomenon, there was some ,t
discussion about whether universities (i.e., their presidents) would be
willing to get involved with UFOs. Dr. O'Brien suggested that Dr. Stever;
as President of Carnegie Tech, might send letters to a fev selected
university presidents with whom. he is acquainted to get some idea of
their feelings on this matter. (ACTION: AFBSA). In this way we can
leam what a typical reaction might be and also some of the pitfalls
to avoid when contacting other universities.
6. 1here are still several unanswered questions or problem areas:
(a) Since the problem is 99fo public relations,it is essential that
the investigating teams have aom.e modicm ot skill 1n press relations.
It was stl"OJlgl)" suggested that a good solid PIO type (perhaps incognito)
be included on, the first few investigation. te811l8. 'Dlis caused quit~ a,
bit ot discussion and a final answer did not evolve. •
(b) The objective is to have impartial scientists from schools vith
good reputations that have never been involved with UFOs.
(c) Considerable thought must be given to how the contract or
contracts are to be written.
(d) In order to utilize their talents to the best advantage, it'was
proposed and accepted that Dr. J. Allen Hynek and Dr. Donald Menzel
form the nucleus of a Consultant-Advisor team to work with Hq Fl'D in
determining which sightings the university team should investigate.
(e} When teams are selected, it is strongly recommended that they
be brought together at sane certain location such as Hq F'1'D and given
a thorough briefing on what is expected of them. This briefing should
cover allot the intangibles and pitfalls that must be avoided in
order to give good Air Force public relations.
(f) Another que,ation that was not :tully resolved is how AFSC
shou1d get into the act. ihe Committee'• original thought was that
someone from the nearest AFSC base should work with the investigating
team. The Committee also recODDended that a member ot the OSI might
work with the university teaaa and giTe them the benetit ot their
investigating experience. It waa queationed whether thie would help
or hurt. the Air l'orce ettort. leither ot these questions were
tul.17 reaolve4.
2
Jtor Otticial Use Onl,.
NW 90306"
Docld:347148-41 Page 10

Cases discussed

About this file

Official release, from the pursue collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 85 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.