Project Blue Book Special Report No. 14 (Analysis of Reports of Unidentified Aerial Objects)

Text

This text came with the file. It may have mistakes. When the text and the image disagree, the image is right.

I
I
forgetting the subjectivity of the data at the time that conclusions are
drawn from the analysis. It must be emphasized, again and again, that any
conclusions contained in this report are based NOT on facts, but on what
I
many observers thought and estimated the true facts to be.
Altogether, the data for this study consisted of approximately 4, 000
I
reports of sightings of unidentified aerial objects. The majority were :re­
ceived through military channels or in the form of observer-completed
I
questionnaires; a few were accepted in the form of direct letters from un­
-questionably reliable sources. Sightings made between June, 1947, and
December, 1952, were considered for this study. Sightings alleged to have
I
occurred prior to 1947 were not considered, since they were not reported
to official sources until after public interest in "flying saucers" had been
stimulated by the popular press.
I
I
REDUCTION OF DA TA TO MECHANIZED COMPUTATION FORM
I
As received by the Air Technical Intelligence Center, the sighting
reports were not in a form suitable for even a quasi-scientific study. A
I
preliminary review of the data indicated the need for standardized interro­
gation procedures and supplemental forms for the reduction of currently
I
held and subsequently acquired data to a form amenable to scientific
appraisal.
I
The plan for reduction of the data to usable form consisted of a pro­
gram of development comprising four major steps: ( 1) a systematic listing
I
of the factors necessary to evaluate the observer and his report, and to
identify the unknown object observed; (2) a standard scheme for the trans­
fer of data to a mechanized computation system; (3) an orderly means of
I
relating the original data to_ all subsequent forms; and (4} a consistent pro­
cedure for the identification of the phenomenon described by the original
data.
I
I
Questionnaire
I
I
The first reports received by A TIC varied widely in completeness
and quality. Air Force Letter 200-5(2} and Air Force Form 112( 1) were
I
attempts to fix responsibility for and improve the quality of the reports of
sightings. To coordinate past efforts and to provide standardization for the
I
(1) A modified Air Force Form 112 lists pertinent questions to be answered in regard to an unidentified-object
sighting.
(2) Air Force Letter 200-5 places responsibility with the Air Force for the investigation, reporting, and
I
analysis of unidentified aerial objects. This letter is dated 29 April 1952.
I
4
I