Australian Dept of Defense Scientific and Intel Aspects of the UFO Problem

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evidence such as photographs, radar, physical evidence and data on size and shape is involved, every effort should be made to collect this evidence. Radio alerts to other military units should be made.

11.2.49 Project Sign officially becomes Project Grudge. According to Ruppelt, Sign personnel either volunteered to leave or were compelled to leave, after which they were replaced by personnel willing to ridicule the concept of UFO's. During 1949, Grudge personnel did not follow up reports.

8.49 Secret Technical Report No. 102 AC 49/15-100 "Unidentified Flying Objects - Project Grudge" of about 600 pages issued, with the conclusion that all reports were the result of misidentifications, mass hysteria and hoaxes even though they admit to 23% of the reports as being "unknown". The report was declassified 1 August 1952.

27.12.49 Department of Defense news release stated that the Air Force's flying saucer project had been terminated.

3.50 Publication of a report, previously cleared by the U.S. Army, describing the tracking of a UFO by an official team led by Commander McLoughlin at the White Sands (missile) proving ground. From the tracking data, it was concluded that the UFO required an extraterrestrial origin.

14.9.51 On learning that ATIC was not investigating UFO reports, the USAF Director of Intelligence (General Cabell) ordered Project Grudge to be revitalized. This was acted upon at once.

27.10.51 Project Grudge now headed by Capt. Ruppelt.

3.52 Project Grudge renamed Project Blue Book. By this stage the staff had built up to 10, all with Top Secret clearances. and a highly qualified research group of consultants provided expertise. As part of Project Stork, this research group (RAND is a possibility) started to transcribe data onto IBM cards for future analysis.

29.4.52 Air Force Letter 200-5 ordered all USAF units to wire UFO reports direct to ATIC with a copy to the Pentagon. Project Blue Book was permitted to contact any UZAF unit directly, allowing rapid investigation.

June-Aug.52 During 1948-51 the average monthly number of reports was 15 but during June, July and August of 1952, the average was 337 including 536 during July. The UFO's were not only seen in greater numbers, but there was a greater number of reliable witnesses. Several sensitive Atomic Energy Commission plants and defence units were subjected to close approaches. Defence communications were being overloaded and there were fears that U.S. reaction time against enemy action was being hindered.

19/26.7.52 Two series of radar-visual sightings over Washington National airport, the Capitol and White House electrified the nation. As a result of the upsurge of interest in scientific and military circles, the interplanetary hypothesis gained ground despite official efforts to explain away the sightings.

National Archives of Australia

NAA: A13693, 3092/2/000