Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects (the Condon Report, complete, three volumes)

One to six UFOs had been sighted per week, sometimes several
du:-ing the same night. Aboat 85% of the sightings followed a recog-
ni zable pattern: Orange-whi te lights above the valley at night moved.
hovered, disappeal"ed and reappeared, and occasionally merged "'ith one
another. Other sightings were of varying nature, and some seemed
to \~arrant ,;~parate investigation. Most of the observations had been
made from a ranch 1,800 ft. above the valley floor. Sevt~ral others
often in radio communication with the ranch owner, had witnessed th~
same events, and the witnesses were of apparently high reliability.
'111e ranch owner, tor example, had a background of police and militar;
investigative experience.
After interviewing primary \d tnesscs lookitlg at photographs, and
listening to tape recordings of descriptions of previous si.ghtings,
the project field team joined the ranch owner and his wi fe in
night watches. At 10:30 p.P1. on the second night of ohservation,
a light appeared 10h' j Ii the southern sky travel 1 i ng W to E at
apprOXimately 1° of arc per second. After about 10 sec. more
lktail became visible. The source of chis light was identified as
a probable aircraft with conventional running lights and anti-
collision beacon.
At the same time, another light had appeared to the ellst 0 4:
the presumed aircraft, moving W to E at about the same rate. It
appeared ::is a dull or:mgc light, shO\~ing some variation in intensity
as it moved. No accurate estiw.tes of distance could he made.
Although this light was not manifestly on an aircraft, the possibility
that it was could qot lw ruled out. '1110 ranche\r, however, said
that l11is IIlas l'xact 1~' the sort of thing th{'y had heen observing
frt'qu{'ntly as UFOs. lie was t1isnppoint€'d that this one had not apre:trcd
as close' and bright ;IS on other occasiolls,
Aft{'r about 15 S{'C., thl' liFO seemed to f~icker and then' lo1sh.
Une to six UPOs had been sighted per week, sometimes several
du."'ing the same night. Abodt 85% of the sightings followed a recog-
nizable pattern: Orange-white lights above the valley at night moved.
hovered, disappeaI'ed anu reappeared, and occasionally merged I-lith one
another. Other sightings were of varying nature, and some seemed
to I,arrant ,;('parate investigation. Most of the observations had been
made from a ranch 1,800 ft. above the valley floor. Sevt~ral others
often in rad io cOlnmuni l:,lti 011 wi th the ranch owner, had wi tnessed th"
same events, and the witnesses were of apparently high reUability.
'111e ranch owner, tor eXample, had a background of police and military
investigative experience.
After interviel~ing primary witncsses, looki.lg at photographs, and
listening to tape recordings of descriptions of previous sightings,
the projt'ct field team joined the ranch owner and his wi fe in
nigh t watches. ,\t 10: 30 1'.1'1, on the second night of oh~ervation ,
a I igbt appeaT(,d lOll! j 11 the southern sky travelling W to E at
approximatel\' 10 of it rc: PC'T second. After Clbout 10 sec. more
det ai 1 b l' CallIe vis ible, The source of (h is light was idc!1titicd
a probable aircraft with conventional running lights and anti-
collision beacon.
At the same time, another light had :.lppcareu to the c,,-st 0"
the presumed aircraft, moving IV to E at about the same rate. It
as
appeared ::.IS a dull or::.lngl' light, 5hO\;iI~g some variation in intensity
as it moved. No accurate estiw.t8s of distance could he made.
/, It;hough this light was not mani fes t lyon an ai rcraft, the possi b iii ty
that it wns could qot 1)(' rllied out. '1110 ranche\r, ilo"lcvcr, said
that Ihis was l'xactl~' till' ;;Ol't of thillg~h('y had bE'C'lI observing
fTl'qtwntly a~ 11J'()s. lie was dj Srlfipoi nt('d that th is one had !lot apPc:!fcd
as clo~(' and bright ;is Dn otll<'T occasiolls,
Aft('T about 15 sec., thL' 111'11 seemed to f:.i d<:r and then tnish.