Staff Study: UFO Program (December 1958)

This staff study, dated December 16, 1958, outlines significant deficiencies in the Air Force's UFO investigative program as mandated by AFR 200-2. The author, Major General Charles B. Dougher, argues that the program has suffered from complacency and a lack of resources, leaving the Air Force in a defensive position against well-equipped private UFO organizations like NICAP. The document notes that there are 49 such organizations in the Zone of Interior, many of which actively seek to discredit the Air Force's findings. The study highlights that investigations conducted by local Air Force installations are often inadequate, frequently performed by personnel without proper training or equipment. In contrast, private investigators often arrive on the scene with geiger counters and magnetometers, creating an impression of superior competence. To address these issues, the study proposes several corrective actions: the creation of a volunteer force of 18-20 trained investigators within the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC), the development of 'flyaway kits' containing basic investigative equipment, and the implementation of a project nicknamed 'Horse Fly' to facilitate rapid transport of investigators using CRT aircraft. The document also stresses the need for a new SOP addendum to AFR 200-2 to guide base-level investigators. The study includes a detailed 'Basis of Estimate' for the costs of this volunteer force, projecting an annual cost of $5,000.00. The document concludes that these measures are essential to make the Air Force's position defensible and to ensure that the military can provide accurate, scientific evaluations of UFO sightings. The study is supported by several enclosures, including draft messages to major commands and a list of UFO organizations. The document also includes a memorandum for the record from a meeting held on December 16, 1958, confirming the feasibility of the proposed volunteer force. The overall tone is one of urgency, emphasizing that the Air Force must regain control of the narrative and the investigative process to maintain public trust and national security interests.