Declassified UFO / UAP Document
Investigation of Unidentified Flying Objects — Summary of Sightings 1960–1971
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AI-Generated Summary
This document outlines the RAAF's 1972 policy for investigating UFOs, stating that the primary goal is national security. It provides a detailed statistical breakdown and a chronological list of 595 sightings reported between 1960 and 1971, most of which were identified as natural or man-made phenomena.
This document is a comprehensive policy briefing and sighting summary issued by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Department of Air in August 1972. It outlines the RAAF's official policy regarding the investigation of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) in Australia and its Trust Territories. The primary objective of these investigations is to determine if any reported object poses a security threat to Australia. The document emphasizes that identifying the cause of a sighting is primarily for the benefit of the public. The RAAF streamlined its investigation process to allow the Department of Air to deal directly with local bases and units, thereby reducing administrative duplication. The document includes detailed instructions for officers on how to handle reports, including the use of a standard questionnaire (Annex E) and the distribution of sighting summaries to the public. It also provides a historical context, citing findings from the United Kingdom Air Ministry, the University of Colorado's 'Condon Report,' and the U.S. Air Force's 'Project Blue Book.' The RAAF reports that between January 1960 and December 1971, it received 595 UFO reports, with 93 percent deemed explainable by current scientific knowledge, 6 percent lacking sufficient data, and 1 percent attributed to unknown causes. The document concludes with a series of detailed tables summarizing individual sightings from 1960 through 1971, listing the date, a brief description, and the possible cause for each event. These causes range from astronomical phenomena and aircraft to satellites and meteorological balloons. The document also includes administrative correspondence from 1966 and 1967 regarding the policy and procedures for these investigations, as well as a list of organizations and state branches that the Department of Air approached to assist in the investigation process.
The main purposes of the investigation of any UFO is to establish whether or not the subject of the report poses a threat to the security of Australia.
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Official Assessment
The main purpose of the investigation of any UFO is to establish whether or not the subject of the report poses a threat to the security of Australia.
The RAAF assessed that 93 percent of reports between 1960 and 1971 were explainable by present scientific knowledge, 6 percent lacked sufficient information, and 1 percent were attributed to unknown causes.