[blank] — December 1959

- .cPOS!!D T.i.JJSF....::R TO s;.FOI USAF Historical Archives ASI(ASHAF-A ) Maxwell AFB, Ala 36112 SUfiJ I Cl: AIR l ECHNICAL INTELLIG NCE CENl ER UNITED SlATES AIR FORCE WRIGHTPAlTERSON AIR FORCE BAS Transfer of USAF Aerial Phcnorl'iona Proeram AFCII- 4 (d/Gen Dou(lher) 1 . In keeping with a policy of prod~cinc the maxul'iw~ of aerospace in tell igenc e with a min imwn expenditure of funds and utilization of man- power , AFCit~-4E in December 1959, recorr. .... ended the transfer of the Aerial Phenomena Proeraffi to Ai r Research and Developrr.cnt CorrJI'iand. It was pointed out a t that time that after 12 years of experience TIC has yet to uncove r any positive evidence that l.JFO' s constitute a threat to national security. It was further pointed out that the fu proeram' s only potential value to the United States Air Force was due t o its scientific anti/or technical aspects. ARDC, after reviewinf the program, declined the t ransfer indicating that the data avaLlabln was not quali- tative and therefore of limited scientific value. It is my opinion that the data available is limited qualitatively only because of the v olwne of UFu trafic required to be handled by this oreanization. In an effort to continue meetillfl the USAF oblig-ations to this pr ogr ar. and also to disassociate it wi t h intelli~ence, it is s~ggested that the Aeria] Phenomena Program be trc.nsferred to SAFui. The attached tiraft of a letter t o General Vlalsh clearly indicates the benefits whicn might te deriv ed from such a trat.sfer. If you concur with these t of the attac~d lette r suggestions, it is recor~r.ended be authenticated and for~ardec to AFCit\. Draft of ltr to Gen alsh Subject: Transfer o f UFO MEMORANDUM TO MAJOR GENERAL DOUGHER 1. M y comments on the transfer p ropose d in C o l o n e l Evans' memorandum of 31 March 1960 are as follows. 2. I have tried during the last t e n years of close association with thi s rogram to get i t out of ATIC for most of the reasons given in C o l o n e l ans' letter and its attach ment. Howe ve r I I have s o me additional a. This program has a high p sychol ogical warfare potential (an examp l e being the H. G. Wells "War of t he World" put on as a radio show by Orso n Wells some years ago). Defense against this is not a funct i o n o f intelligence . not agre e that, as s tated in paragraph 4e, "lo s s o f p restige to UFO program" is a disadva ntage. In fac t I I h ave been t ryi ng to bring this about totally . 3. Major Tacke r o f SAFOI is about to publish a book on UFO. This woul d sure l y d e s troy the claim of object! vity w hich the Air Force ha s made. 4. This transfer w ould certainly ease the 4X3 p e rsonnel probl em. 5 o If a transfer of personne l is invol ved in t his matter, I recommend t ha t Major R. J. Friend or Captain G eorge T. Gregor y g o with the program; that is, if the y are awaiting reassignment or if they c a n be s pared. A better alternativ e might be to have either of thes e officers name d ATIC representativ e in an advisory capacity only and upon call. A much bette r alternative, and the one I recommend I w ould be for Dr. J. Allen Hyn e k to b e etaine d by SAFOI as t h e scientific advisor o n this subjec t . A. FRANCIS ARCIER ltr 31 Mar 6 0 , subj Transfer o f USAF Aerial Phenomena Program AEROSPACE TECHNICAL INTELLIGENC ENT R UNITED STATES AIR FORC HT-PAT1 ERSON AIR FORC: BASE ATTN OF: AFCIN -4 sueJECT: Transfer of USAF Aerial Phenomena Program ro: AFCIN (Major General Walsh) During December 1959, a study was c onducted by AFCIN-4E, ATIC, recommending the transfer of the Aerial Phenomena Program t o the Air Research and Development Conunand. It vas pointed out that 12 years experience with the UFO program had failed to reveal any threat to national security, and that any value from the program would be derived from exploitation of its scientific and technical aspects. After review of the program, ARDC declined the transfer indicating the data available was not qualitative and therefore was of limited scientific value. It is the opinion of ATIC that the data available is limited qualitatively only because of the volume of UFO traffic required to be handled by this organization. If the cases which give indication of possessing scientific and/or technical value were to be exploited fully, it is believed that they would be of benefit to the USAF. It was further pointed out in the study, and by ARDC, that the great majority of these cases are valuable to the Air Force only as statistics and a s they relate to the public relations aspects of the program. The Air Force must continue its responsibility for operation of this project ; however, ln view of the fact that this program, for the most part, deals with public relations it is suggested that it be transferred to SAFOI . AFOI is presently responsible for the public relations portion of the program and thi s transfer would only entail expansion of the branch within SAFOI responsible for this function. This program could operate without the loss of its possible military and s cientific value i f conducted as follows: a . The reports will b7 regulation be forwarded to SAFOI for initial evaluation and storage. An officer with a technic~l back- ground, and preferably with intelligence experience, will be assigned to that branch of SAFOI charged with this responsibility and will conduct thi s initial evaluation. b . Those reports which reach SAFOI which give indication of having possible intelligence value or scientific and technical possibilities will be forwarded to AFCIN and/or ARDC f or further evaluation and/or exploitation c . The conduct of the program in the field (investigations) will still be the responsibility of the Air Force bases. At the bases it will still be preferably the intelligence function whic h will be responsible for these investigations. 3. The advantages of this transfer are: a . SAFOI is familiar with the Aerial Phenomena Program. Reports will be evaluated public relations. nuuediately at the office responsi- c . The reports which show promise of additional value, either from an i ntelligence and/or scientific viewpoint, will be forwarded to specializing agencies for further exploitation. Under this method of operation the number of reports which agencies such as ATIC and ARDC ar e requi red to handle would be cut to a minimum, allowing for more man - hours per report and consequently better analysls and d. The program will lose some of the aura of mystery which surrounds it due to its association with intelligence. ATIC will be free to apply man-hours, previously applied to the UFO project, to other programs more beneficial to the Air Force . f . ATIC prestige will lose the damaging effects which can be attributed to its association with a program so much in the public 4. There are certain disadvantages associated with this change, the magnitude of which will decrease as the agencies concerned become familiar with the new method of operation: a . The requirement f or the office handling this program t o estab- ish the necessary security measures for handling classified intelligence b . It will be the responsibility of one individual not directly concerned with intelligence to determine which reports are of possible intelligenc e value. Possibility of delay of reports with intelligence value getting into proper channels and the resulting delay of evaluati on and dissemina - tion of intelligence information. d . The nec essity for familiarizing sub-units of the Air Force with a new met h od of operating the Aerial Phenomena Program . 5. It has been pointed out that there would possibly be a lag in intelligence information finding it way into the proper channels. it should be inxmediately obvious that reports which originate from intelligence sources would remain primarily in intelligence channels with information copies of these reports, when deemed necessary due to their relation with the Aerial Phenomena Program, forwarded to the office in SAFOI which handles the project. The pro- gram should suffer little from being severed from an organization with a scientific and technical capability . The office within SAFOI responsible for this program could request the services of any agency with the government complex, which has a scientific and/or technical capability, for assistance in the evaluation of these reports. 6. The officer presently conducting the program for ATIC is available for transfer along with the project. This officer is capable of per- f orming the function spelled out in paragraph 2a of this document. 7. Dr. J . Allen Hynek, Astrophysicist and Director of the Observatory Northwestern University should be retained as the scientific con- sultant to this program. Dr. Hynek's experience with the aerial phenomena program spans the entire 12 years that the Air Force has conducted this program, and this experience would be invaluable to any future Air Force efforts in this area. 8 . I t is believed that this method of operating the Aerial Phenomena ould be the most beneficial to the USAF. The long range aims are to eliminate this costly program completely as an Air Force responsibility. The first step, however, is to eliminate the most unproductive aspects of this program (i. e . hoax and garden variety UFO reports) as a responsibility of intelligence. 9. If :you concur with the recozmnendations of this letter, it is suggested that the necessary steps be taken to effect the transfer of the Aerial Phenomena Program to SAFOI. Draft of ltr to M/ Gen Luehman ~anter of USAF Aerial Phenomena Program AFCIB (MaJor General Valah) 1. ~ing December 1959, e etudy vae conducted by AFCIR-4E, ATIC, rec n41ng tbe tranter ot the Aerial Phenomena Program t o the Air aesearch and Develo~nt C n4. It vaa pointed out that 12 ;teara experience Yi th the UJ'O program had failed to reveal any tbreat to national ecuri ty, an4 any value rrom the program 'OUJ~Cl be 4er1Ye4 troa exploitation of ita acientitic and technical aaptct. After ot the program, ARJlC declined the tranafer 1D41cattns tbe data aYailable not qualitative and therefore ot llited cientitic value. It ia the opinion ot ATIC that tbe data anilable ia l tee! 1tat1Yely only becauae of the YOlu.e at UFO traffic required to be handled by th18 organization. It tbe cae which give indication ot poaaeaaing acientific an4/or technical value were to be exploited tully it is believed that the;y would be of beneti t to the USAF It vaa further pointed out in the study, and by ARDC, that the great or1 ty of theae caaea are Yaluable to the Air Force only aa atatiatica and aa they relate to the public relatione aapecta of the program. The Air force must continue ite reeponeibility tor operation ot thie project; ver, in Yiev of the fact that thia program, for the moat part, deale vith public relations it ia ausgeatec! that 1 t be transferred to SAFOI SAFOI ie preaently responsible for the public relatione portion of the program and thia tranater would only entail expaneion of the branch within SAlOl reaponaible tor thia function. 2 . This program could operate without the losa of its possibl e military and scientific value if conducted aa follava: a. The reports vill by regulation be :forwarded to SAFOI tor initial evaluation and storage. An officer vith a technical back- ground, and preferabl y vith intelligence experience, v ill be assigned to that branch of SAFOI char ged with this responsibility and will conduct t his initial evaluation. b . Those reports vhich reach SAFOI which give indication of havin~ possible intelligence value or scientific and technical posaibilities vill be forwarded to AFCIN and/or ARDC for further evaluation and/or exploitation c. The conduct of the progr in the field ( innetiptione) vill atill be tbe reaponalblllt7 ot the Alr Force baaea. At t.be baaea it v1ll etlll be preterabl7 tbe 1Dtell1aence function which will be reaponaible tor 1D.eatlgat1ona. ot thia tranafer are: a. SAlOl 1a tu111ar with the Aerial ona Program. b. leporta will be enluate4 iJIIIIe41ately at the ottice reepona1- ble tor public relationa. c. Tbe report which ahov prolliae ot adc1it1 l nlue, either troa an 1atell1pnce or acientU'ic int, will be :torvar4e4 to apec1al1z1q lea for further exploitation. UDCler tbia t.hod ot operation tbe n~r of report which agenciea auch A!tC are required to voulc! be cut to a 111n1um, all tor .are .an-hour per report and conaequently better ie and naluat1on. 4. '1'be progr 111 loae a of tbe aura ot myatery which aurrOUDcta it clue to ita aeeoc1ation with intelligence. e. ATIC v1ll be tree to apply -hours previously applied to the UFO proJect to other -programs more beneficial to the Air Force. t. ATIC prestige will loae the ing ett'ecta which can be attributed to ita aaaociation vith a program eo much in the public 4 . There are certain disadvantages aaaociated vi th thia change ftmgnitude ot which will 4eereaee aa the agencies concerned become familiar with the thod of operation: a. The requireMnt tor the lisb the neceaaary eecurity ottice handling this program to eatab- ures for handling claeeified 1ntell1~nce b . It v1ll be the reaponaibility of one individ,l not directly concerned with intelligence to determine which report are ot possible intelligence value. c. Poaaibility of delay ot' reports vith intelligence value getting into proper channela and tbe reaulting delay of evaluation and disaemina- tion ot intelligence int tion. d. The necessity for familiarizing sub-units of the Air Force w'i.th a nev thod ot operating the Aerial Phenomena Program 5. It baa been pointed out that there vould poaa1bly b a lag in 1Dtel.l1pnce tnt oration t1n41ns 1 t way into the proper c le. , it ahoull be t...41ately obYioua t report which originate tr 1ntell1pnce aourcea voul4 re1n pri-.rily 1n intellisence cbarmela with intortion copiea ot tbeae reporta, when cteect neeeaaar,-4ue to their relation vith the Aerial Phenon Progr , to tbe office in IAI'OI ch tbe proJect. The pro- ahoul4 autter little from being ae.wrea from an org,anizat1on with a ac1ent1t1c aDC1 technical capab111 ty. 'hae office vi thin IAFOI reapoaa1ble tor th1a prosram could requeat the aerYicee of any agency vith tbe rn.ent coJaplex, which baa a ac1ent1fic anct/or technical capabili t7 tor aaaiatance in the enluation of theae reports. 6. ~ officer preaently conducting the program tor ATIC is aYailable tar tranater alona v1 th the proJect. Thia officer ia capable of per- the tunction apelle4 out 1n ph 2a of thia doc t . 7. Dr. J. Allen Bynet, Aatrophraiciat and Director ot the Obaervatory at or atern UD1.-ra1ty ahoul4 be retained aa tbe ec1ent1t1c con- aultant to tb1a prograa. Dr. B)'llek' experience vith the aerial pbeno.na prograa apana entire 12 years that the .Air Force bas con4uctec1 tbia pr , aN! thia experience would be inTaluable to any tuture Air Force ettorta in thia area. 8 . It ia belieYed that this tbo4 of operating the Aerial Phenomena Pr vould be the moat be netic 1al to the USAF. The long range aims are to el nate this coatly progr completely aa an Air lorce reapona1b111ty. The tirat atep, 1a to eliminate the most unproductive aspects of thia program ( i . e . hoax and garden variety UFO reports) as a reeponaibility of intelligence. 9. It you concur with the recoDDendatione ot this letter, it is anggeatect tbat the neceaaary atepa be taken to effect the transfer of the Aerial Phen Program to SAFOI. Draft of ltr to M/Gen Lueh.man DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WASHINGTON 2.5. D . C . ATrN OF: AFCIN (Major General Walsh) SUBJECT: Transfer of USAF Aerial Phenomena. Program TO: SAFOI (Major General A. H. Luehman) 1 . In the fall of 1947, the USAF took official notice of reports of unidentified flying objects. Responsibility for the UFO project was assigned to the intelligence community. 2. The project, as established, was to determine if UFO's were hostile, had any possible scientific value, and to determine the nature of each of these objects. After 12 years and more than 8oOO reports, the Air Force has not discovered any evidence which would indicate that UFO's are inimical or pose a security threat in any way. 3. In the absence of evidence t o indicate a possible security threat the scientific and public relations aspects of the program gained stature. It becomes obvious that with these new objectives the program's assignment to intelligence is no longer practical. Experience during the same 12 years has indicated that the pro- gram is more a public relations program than anything else. The few reports that may have intelligence and/or scientific and technical value have a tendency to beco~ lost in the volume of UFO traffic . In an effort to overcome this shortc oming, it is my opinion that the aerial phenomena project should be assigned 4. To prevent the l oss of valuable i nformation; intelligence, scientific, and/or technical, it is suggested that an individual with a technical and intelligence background be assigned to the branch of SAFOI which becomes responsible for the program. All reports which have indication of value in the intelligence and/or scientific areas would be routed to the appropriate agency for exploitation. The officer presently conducting the program for ATIC is available for transfer along with the project. This officer is capable of performing the function spelled out in this paragraph. 5. It is suggested that Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Astrophysicist and Director of the Observatory at Northwestern University, be retained as the scientific consultant to the program. Dr. Hynek has perfor111ed in this capacity for ATIC since 1947, and his experience and "know how" would be invaluable to Air Force efforts i n con- ducting the aerial phenomena program. 6 . With your concurrence, I propose to initiate t he a ction to transfer the aerial phenomena program to SAFOI. ATT~ o F: AFCIN-4E/Col Evans/lf IR TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE CEN-, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WRIGHTPAT ERSON AIR FORCE BAS sut<J cr: Transfer of UFO 29 April 196o TO: AFCIN-4E2 Colonel Shoop Attached correspondence has been returned by e ~dt~, and is being forwarded to your office for information u ~citp1iance. The space authorization for the cler k stenogra group will now remain there. her 'in that Colonel, USAF Memo ~r AFCIN-4 Mr. Arcier 0 2/ Draft of Ltr to Gen Walsh A OF: .AFCilf (Jor General Walsh) SUBJECT: Tr nster of USAF .Aerial :Pbenontena Program '1'0: RAFOl (Major General A. H. Lue ) 1 . In the fall ot 19~7, the uSAF t ook official notice of reports of u~ident1t1ed flying objects. Reaponsibility for the UFO project vas aaaignea to the int