PHOTO ANALYSIS OF UFO PHOTOGRAPHY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B00752A000300100005-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 26, 2013
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: February 17, 1967
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved forRelease2013/09/18 : CIA-RDP79B00752A000300100005-0
II!
tr,Jii? 1 l
ludA rura automatic
downgruMng and
tiecloe'siticalion
TID-45/67
17 February 1967
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, National Photographic Interpretation Center
SUBJECT: Photo Analysis of UFO Photography
1. This memorandum is in response to Project Number 66120-7,
submitted by Deputy Director, NPIC, requesting
that TID/NPIC perform a photo analysis of photographs imaging an
alleged UFO (i.e. unidentified flying object).
2. The photography for this project was supplied by the Aerial
Phenomena Office of FTD (TDET/UF0), located at Wright-Patterson AFB,
Dayton, Ohio. The photographic package included three photo enlarge-
ments of the UFO (attachments 1, 2 and 3) and one photo enlargement
of a helicopter (attachment 4). The latter was supposedly taken at
approximately the same time and from approximately the same camera
station as were the UFO photographs. The image quality of these
four prints were less than optimum and were considered poor for
mensural and photo analysis. These four enlarged photographs were
copies reproduced from a second generation negative and attachments
1 and 2 were supposedly printed full format with an appPoximate
4"x6" image format. Attachments 3 and 4 are assumed not to be
full format and were not used in this photo analysis because of
this factor. The original photography was taken with a Polaroid
Swinger having an approximate 2"x3" image format. These original
prints were not available for the photo analysis. This latter
single factor greatly hampered the analysis and prevented any
hopes of establishing meaningful answers.
3. Also included in the photographic package were five photo-
graphs of the alleged exposure station and surrounding vicinity.
These photographs (attachment 5) were taken With a Polaroid Swinger
by Major R.W. Nyls of the USAF. He personally investigated the UFO
exposure station on the shore of Lake St. Clair, Michigan, and tried
to duplicate as closely as possible the exact position of the
original camera exposure stations, Major Nyls also provided exact
measurements of the area and objects imaged in the original UFO
SECRET
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP79B00752A000300100005-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP79B00752A000300100005-0
SECIiET
SUBJECT: Photo Analysis of UFO Photography
photographs (attachments 6, 7 and 8). These photographs along
with the measurement sketches and investigation report provided
a means of obtaining an approximate photographic scale. This
scale value was then used to obtain approximate dimensions of the
UFO. However, to do this the photo analyst had to first make
major assumptions. These assumptions were necessary in a photo
analysis of this type where insufficient data is available or in
doubt. If any of these assumptions are in error the obtained
dimensions are likewise in error.
4. The assumptions used in this photo analysis are as follows:
a. UFO was at a distance of 0.25 miles from camera
station when photographed (this information supplied by
Major Nyls in his investigation report).
b. The measurements supplied by Major Nyls are
correct as stated.
c. Photographs shown in attachment 1 and 2 are full
format.
d. UFO photographed was circular with plane of tail
section perpendicular to camera axis.
e. The distance between the camera station and the
object was large enough so that adjustments to the camera
focal length need not be considered.
5. Attachment 9 represents an artists rough conception of
the UFO along with the averaged dimension obtained from the mensural
analysis of the photograph shown in attachments 1 and 2. Again,
the user of this information must be cautioned that the dimensions
shown here are only approximations based on assumptions. The
quality of the photography, the crude estimation of the distance
from the camera station to thetrject, the lack of original prints
and precise camera data all tend to invalidate the answers. A
good example of how the dimensions could change is illustrated by
any change in the distance of the object from the camera station.
The dimensions will change in direct proportion as the ratio of any
new distance divided by the 0.25 mile distance that was used, i.e.
0.20 mile ? 0.25 mile = 0.80; therefore, causing the new values to
be 80% of the original values.
2
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP79B00752A000300100005-b
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP79B00752A000300100005-0
1111
SUBJECT: Photo Analysis of UFO Photography
6. In conclusion, it should be noted that all of the infor-
mation contained in this memorandum deals with quantitative or
dimensional information obtained from calculations based upon a
large number of assumptions. The qualitative or subjective analysis
of the imagery is not treated because of a lack of background
knowledge on UFO imagery. This office cannot shed any light on the
authenticity of this alleged UFO from this photo analysis. There
is no definite evidence that this photography is a hoax. On the
other hand, for one to assume that this Object is a UFO is
equally as dangerous. There are too many unanswered questions to
label the probable cause of this sighting as anything but unde-
terminable. For example the degraded image quality of the heli-
copter when compared with the UFO is suspect when considered that
the helicopter was closer to camera station when photographed.
Likewise, the crispness of the edge gradient of the black band
on the UFO is good considering the distance at which the object was
photographed. Also, the fact that the tail section of the UFO was
photographed in each case with the same cross section exposed casts
some suspicion on the authenticity of the UFO. However, each of
the above facts can be explained by various reasons and because of
these reasons the photo analysis of this UFO.photograph has resulted
in inconclusive answers.
Chief, Technical Intelligence Division
Distribution:
Orig. 4. 1 - NPIC/O/Dir
2 - NPIC/TID/PB
2 - NPIC/TID
SECRET
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP79B00752A000300100005-0