◆ SpookStack

Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010001-0 SECTION III Air Force Observations Before the issuance of Air Force Regulation 200-2 in 1953 (see extracts), a large number of significant UFO sightings by active Air Force personnel were made public. During the early 1950’s, dozens of Intelligence Reports describing amazing UFO performances were released to the present NICAP Director. {1.] An article in LIFE, April 7, 1952, suggesting UFOs were interplanetary, represented the opinion of ‘‘several very high- ranking officers in the Pentagon,’”’ according to the former Air Force UFO project chief. [2.] After an early phase of official confusion and secrecy following the first publicized U.S. sightings in 1947, the Air Force was openly treating UFOs as a serious and important problem. As indicated in the following chart, UFOs have been sighted regularly at dozens of Air Force bases in the United States and in foreign locations. Since 1953, however, Air Force UFO reports have steadily diminished. The effect of AFR 200-2 (and other Air Force policies; see Section IX) has beento dry up this source of current information about UFOs. With Air Force fliers active all over the globe, it is easy toimagine the amount of information which has been lost to the public. In spite of the repressive effects of AFR 200-2 in recent years, a considerable number of good UFO sightings by Air Force witnesses has accumulated. These reports are a matter of public record. Others from unofficial and private sources have been obtained by NICAP. Within the Air Force there is a strong difference of opinion about the official policies toward UFOs. Many officers and airmen do not agree with them, and favor more public disclosure of UFO information. A number have supplied NICAP with infor- mation when this could be done without violating security. After NICAP was formed in 1956, Air Force officers (active 9. Exceptions. In response to local inquiries resulting from any UFO reported in the vicinity of an Air Force base, information regarding a sighting may be released to the press or the gen- eral public by the commander of the Air Force base concerned only if it has been positively identified as a familiar or known object. ~ 11. Contacts. Private individuals or organi- zations requesting Air Force interviews, brief- ings, lectures, or private discussions on UFO’s will be referred to the Office of Information Serv- ices, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. Air Force personnel, other than those of the Office of Information Services, will not contact private individuals on UFO cases nor will they diseuss their operations and functions with un- authorized persons unless so directed, and then only on a “need-to-know” basis. Air Force Regulation 200-2 Intelligence. Unidentified Flying Objects Reporting DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE WASHINGTON, 26 AUGUST 1953 periences to relate, others had general information about the UFO project. The visitors have included several former Project Blue Book (the UFO project) personnel and intelligence officers; a Master Navigator who had sighted several UFOs while on active duty; and a fighter pilot stillonactive duty. All expressed general agreement with NICAP’s goals, and offered encouragement and support. The reports from Air Force sources, many taken directly from Intelligence Reports, constitute good evidence that un- explained aerial objects are seen with regularity by observers who spend more time than the average person scanning the sky. and retired) began to visit the office. Some had personal ex- (This is also true of airline crews; see Section V), AIR FORCE UFO SIGHTINGS UFO Sightings by U. 8. Air Force Personnel (All Reports on File at NICAP. Cases shaded in gray are detailed following chart). Date & Location Witnesses Description 8-29-42 Michael Solomon, Control tower Two round reddish objects descended near Army (Air Corps) Flying Columbus, Miss. operator School, hovered, accelerated and sped away 3-44 B-17 pilot (conf. report certi- High-speed glowing green object lit cockpit, moved out of sight over Carlsbad, N.M. fied by Bluegrass NICAP Af- horizon. filiate) 8-10 Capt. Alvah Reida, B-29 pilot Pulsating spherical object paced bomber, maneuvered. Sumatra 11-44 Lt. Ed Schlueter, pilot, 415th Eight to ten orange ball-like objects in-line formation, sometimes France Night Fighter Squadron moving at high speed. [3.] 12-44 Maj. William D, Leet, B-17 pilot Bomber paced by amber-colored disc. Austria 1-45 415th Night Fighter Squadron Plane followed by three red and white lighted objects; UFOs followed Germany pilot plane's evasive maneuvers, (4.] Abt. 1-2-45 Lt. Donald Meiers, pilot Two UFO sightings reported; one object paced plane at 360 mph., France "then zoomed up into the sky." [5.] §-1-46 Capt. Jack Puckett, pilot Cigar-shaped UFO maneuvered near AF transport plane Florida 19 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010001-0