LETTER TO DR. LLOYD V. BERKNER FRM(Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81R00560R000100080014-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 20, 2001
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: January 1, 1957
• Content Type: LETTER

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Dr. Lloyd V. Berner
President
Associated Universities, Incorporated
Boom
350 Fifth Avenue
New York 1,, New York
Dear Lloyd:
You will recall, in January i953: ve cronstituted a Scientific
STATINTL
yourself as Members. After its deliberation, the Panelreachud
conclusions and ae tvc recommendations which were i:nclucled as Tatwo,
b A
of the Mort. Very recently.. the Air Force boo roqr. ted that the
conclusions of this report be + elassiried so that they may be used in
the Press. A copy of the report is enclosed herewith for your infor ..ion.
I have discussed this matter vita Dr. Robertson, and Dr. Gouda t
who agree that the conclusion contained in paragraph 2 and the
recommendation eo utai red in paragr - he can be declassified. But, they,
as veil as this Agency, vin not agree to a decl,aaesification of the
cone1usion in 'caurafivw1h I nr #_hn ,.d.., ...a .s . :- -w 1 _.
e final. six
queried the Air Force as to whether the names of the Panel
x b
-
e
inforaaat .cn has a tendency at times to filter out, it sho d be recognized
-- an sue
that, if spproval is given for use of the name,, they msy well: becom e
r!rirrmrm Tr++Tr1..a _-
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 01
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3 be very = & a -preciate if you *oac lest me knov
possible iihat your reacti a- is to the Air Force
classification proposal; 'whether you agree with Dr. Robertson,
Dr. (oudamit and mwself on limiting any declassification; and ithetber you
would approve or disapprove the use of your n j, gram thAt
connection with the reel is withheld.
Very best
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C 0 P Y
NEWS RELEASE
PLEASE NOTE DATE
FACT SHEET
DEPARTMENT-OF DEFENSE
OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
Washington 25, D. C.
NOVEMBER 5, 1957.
NO. 1083-57
LI 5-6700 Ext. 75131
AIR FORCE'S 10 YEAR
STUDY OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
In response to queries as to results of previous investiga-
tion of Unidertified Flying Object reports, the Air Force said
today that after 10 years of investigation and evaluation of UFO's,
no evidence has been discovered to confirm the existence of so-
called "Flying Saucers".
Reporting, investigation, analysis and evaluation procedures
have improved considerably since the first sighting of a "flying
saucer" was made on 27 June 1947. The study and analysis of re-
ported sightings of UFO's is conducted by a selected scientific
group under the supervision of the Air Force.
Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Professor of Astrophysics and Astronomy
at Ohio State University, is the Chief Scientific Consultant to
the Air Force on the subject of Unidentified Flying Objects.
The selected, qualified scientists, engineers, and other
personnel involved in these analyses are completely objective
and open minded on the subject of "flying saucers". They apply
scientific methods of examination to all cases in reaching their
conclusions. The attempted identification of the phenomenon
observed is generally derived from human impressions and inter-
pretations and not from scientific devices or measurements. The
data in the sightings reported are almost invariably subjective
in nature. However, no report is considered unsuitable for study
and categorization and no lack of valid evidence of physical
matter in the case studies is assumed to be "prima facie"
evidence that so-called "flying saucers" or interplanetary
vehicles do not exist.
General categories of identification are balloons, aircraft,
astronomical, other, insufficient data and unknowns.
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 Appi yxtlii R4a ,0001IMII)Sdr1sID P81 0RO0OMQf8Q 114-9
every day. Theree are two general types of loons: weather
balloons and upper-air research balloons. Balloons will vary
from small types 4 feet in diameter to large types 200 feet in
diameter. The majority released at night carry running lights
which often contribute to weird or unusual appearances when
observed at night. This also holds true when observed near
dawn or sunset because of the effect of the slant rays of the
sun upon the balloon surfaces. The large balloons, if caught
in jet streams, may assume a near horizontal position when
partially inflated, and move with speeds of over 200 MPH.
Large types may be observed flattened on top. The effect of
the latter two conditions can be startling even to experienced
pilots.
Many modern aircraft, particularly swept and delta wing
types, under adverse weather and sighting conditions are reported
as unusual objects and "flying saucers". When observed at high
altitudes, reflecting sunlight off their surfaces, or when only
their jet exhausts are visible at night, aircraft can have
appearances ranging from disc to rocket in shape. Single jet
bombers having multi-jet pods under their swept-back wings have
been reported as UFOs or "saucers" in "V" formation. Vapor
trails will often appear to glow with fiery red or orange streaks
when reflecting sunlight. Afterburners are frequently reported
as UFOs.
The astronomical category includes bright stars, planets,
meteors, comets, and other celestial bodies. When observed
through haze, light fog, or moving clouds, the planets Venus,
Mars, and Jupiter have often been reported as unconventional,
moving objects. Attempts to observe astronomical bodies through
hand-held binoculars under adverse sky conditions has been a
source of many UFO reports.
The "other" category includes reflections, searchlights,
birds, kites, blimps, clouds, sun-dogs, spurious radar indica-
tions, hoaxes, firework displays, flares, fireballs, ice crystals,
bolides, etc., as examples: Large Canadian geese flying low over
a city at night, with street lights reflecting off their bodies;
searchlights playing on scattered clouds, appearing as moving
disc-like shapes.
The insufficient data category include all sightings where
essential or pertinent items of information are missing, making
it impossible to form a valid conclusion. These include
description of the size, shape or color of the object; direction
and altitude; exact time and location; wind weater conditions,
etc. This category is not used as a convenient way to get rid
of what might be referred to as "unknowns". However, if the data
received is insufficient or unrelated, the analysts must then
place that particular report in this category. The Air Force
needs complete information to reach a valid conclusion. Air
Force officials stressed the fact that an observer should send
a complete report of a bona fide sighting to the nearest Air
Force activity. There the report will be promptly forwarded
to the proper office for analysis and evaluation,
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 App r?s gnt ~ng con2s idered as qluAnkn0wn1,RAjnOa 00e0p1o Ot0 contains
all pertinent data necessary to normally suggest at least one
valid hypothesis on the cause or explanation of the sighting but
when the description of the object and its maneuvers cannot
be correlated with any known object or phenomenon. In its
Project Blue Book Special Report #14, released in October, 1955,
the Air Force showed that evaluated sightings in the "unknown"
category had been reduced to 3% at that time.
Previously "unknown" sightings had been 9% in 1953 and 1954
and in the previous years "flying saucer" sightings had run as
high as 20% "unknowns". Project Blue Book Special Report ##14,
covered "flying saucer" investigations from June 191+7 to May 1955.
Latest Air Force statistics show the number of unknowns has since
been reduced to less than 2%.
The following table presents the results of the evaluation
of all reports received by the Air Force from the time that
Project Blue Book, Special Report #11+ was completed through
June 1957. The table gives the percentage of all the reports
received by the Air Force during each time period.
1955 1956 1957
June thru January thru
December June
Balloons
Aircraft
Astronomical
Other (Hoax, search-
light, birds, etc)
Insufficient Information
Unknown
27.4% 26.0% 26.4%
29.3% 24.6% 28.8%
20.1%_ 26.3% 24.4%
12.3% 6.8% 6.4%
8.8% 14.1% 12.1%
2.1% 2.2% 1.9%
TOTAL NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS 273 778 250
Air Force conclusions for the ten years of UFO sightings
involving approximately 5,700 reports were: First, there is no
evidence that the "unknowns" were inimical or hostile; second,
there is no evidence that these "unknowns" were interplanetary
space ships; third, there is no evidence that these"unknowns"
represented technological developments or principles outside the
range of our present day scientific knowledge; fourth, there is
no evidence that these "unknowns" were a threat to the security
of the country; and finally there was no physical or material
evidence, not even a minute fragment, of a so-called "flying
The Air Force emphasized the belief that if more immediate
detailed objective observational data could have been obtained
on the "unknowns" these too would have been satisfactorily explained.
A critical examination of the reports revealed that a high
percentage of them were submitted by serious people, mystified
by what they had seen and motivated by patriotic responsibility.
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Reports of UFOs have aroused much interest on this subject
throughout the country and a number of civilian clubs, committees
and organizations have been formed to study or investigate air
phenomena. These private organizations are not governmental
agencies and do not reflect official opinion with respect to
their theories or beliefs based upon observed phenomena or
illusions.
No books, motion pictures, pamphlets, or other informational
material on the subject of unidentified flying objects have been
cleared, sponsored, or otherwise coordinated by the U. S. Air
Force, with the exception of the official press releases issued
by Headquarters, USAF, in Washington.
The Air Force, assigned the responsibility for the Air Defense
of the United States, will continue to investigate, through the
Air Defense Commend, all reports of unusual aerial objects over
the U. S. including objects that may become labeled Unidentified
Flying Objects. The services of qualified scientists and techni-
cians will continue to be utilized. to investigate and analyze
these reports, and periodic public statements will be made as
warranted.
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