Air Force Regulation No. 200-2: Intelligence (Unidentified Flying Objects Reporting)

Air Force Regulation 200-2, issued on August 26, 1953, establishes the official procedures for the reporting and analysis of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) within the United States Air Force. The regulation defines UFOs as any airborne object that cannot be identified as a familiar object or known aircraft type. The Air Force's interest in these phenomena is twofold: first, to assess potential threats to national security, and second, to determine the technical aspects of the objects. The Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is designated as the primary agency responsible for the analysis of all collected evidence. The regulation mandates that commanders of all Air Force activities are responsible for collecting and reporting information on UFO sightings. It provides detailed guidance on the types of data to be collected, including physical descriptions, flight paths, meteorological conditions, and the use of optical aids. The document also outlines specific reporting formats, requiring the use of AF Form 112 for written reports, and specifies the addressees for both electrical and written reports, including the Air Defense Command and the Director of Intelligence. Furthermore, it provides instructions for the handling of physical evidence, such as film or materiel, and dictates that inquiries regarding sightings should be referred to the activity's public information officer. A subsequent change, AFR 200-2A, dated November 2, 1953, updated the reporting procedures to include the use of a 12-section format for initial reports and clarified the use of the term 'negative' when investigative leads are exhausted.