Scientific Intelligence — General — Unidentified Flying Objects

This document, dated May 27, 1971, is a comprehensive intelligence assessment produced by the Joint Intelligence Organization (JIO) of the Australian Department of Defence. It examines the scientific and intelligence aspects of the Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) problem, primarily focusing on the history of United States government involvement and the implications for Australian policy. The document traces the evolution of US investigations from the early days of Project SIGN and Project GRUDGE to the establishment of Project BLUE BOOK. It highlights a significant shift in US policy following the 1953 Robertson Panel, which recommended that the government publicly 'debunk' UFO reports to reduce public alarm and protect national security, while simultaneously intensifying data collection. The assessment argues that the US government's public stance of dismissing UFOs as misidentifications or hoaxes was a facade designed to cover up a serious interest in advanced propulsion technologies, specifically gravity control and electromagnetic propulsion, which the US feared the USSR might develop first. The document includes detailed appendices providing a chronology of US and RAAF involvement with UFOs, as well as a list of cases involving 'weapon systems'—specifically devices that interfere with electrical circuits, induce paralysis, or emit heat rays. The author, O.H. Turner of the Nuclear Branch, expresses strong criticism of the RAAF's handling of UFO reports, noting that the RAAF lacks the scientific interest and competence to conduct proper investigations. He points out that the RAAF's identifications of sightings are often invalid and merely reflect the official US public line. The document concludes that Australia should not remain ignorant of the true situation. It suggests that the RAAF's current approach is inadequate and recommends that another government department, such as the Department of Supply, assume responsibility for the investigation and analysis of UFO reports. The author emphasizes that while the US government has officially terminated Project BLUE BOOK, the underlying mystery remains, and Australia should consider initiating a scientifically sound and intellectually honest program to investigate the phenomenon independently of the US and UK.