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

Su!lSl't{\ll'nt ly it W:1S learllcu that 1II0st of the night--flying at
l::ISllL'\H~ lI1VLl.\'L'd tankers and I)-Sis III practice aerial refueding
oper<ltiDlls. Castle t\FB is a training center for mid-air refuelling
with 400 to SOO sorties launched from the bas~ each month, both day
ant! night. Flight schedules from the base, obtained later, showed
planes scheduled to be in the air at the times the UFOs were ob-
served. l~e planes carried large spotlights which were switched on
and off repeatedly. This accounted for the observed flare-ups and
disappear-reappear phenomenu. The apparent hovering was due to the
fact that part of the flight pattern was on a heading toward Coarse-
gold. Closings follOlved by separations wert: the actual refuelling
procedures. The absence of soun2 was a~counted for by distance, and
the color variation, orange to wllite, by variable haze scattering of
the light.
~laps obtained from Cast Ie AFB shm..' flight patterns for these
operations wholly consistent with the sightings. Descriptions of
lighting configurations of the tankers and bombers also were con-
sistent with this identification.
While these sightings were not particularly im!'n.~ssi'll;: iodi··
vidually, being essentially li~hts in the night sky, tho frequency
of reports was sustained at a high level for nearly a yoar. and the
observers had noted the UFOs occasionally since the fall of 19GO.
Observations were widespreaJ lind at tractcd much attcnU on. ';'he
phenomenon seemed strange to the observers, defying simple expla-
nation. Al though the s t imu Ius ~"as cOllvelltion.1 ai l'craft, the
f1ircraft behavior, lightiJl;:, and flight paths presented an uncon··
vcntional appcarance to wi tnes~(~~ who were not fami 1jar wi th 1n-
flight r~fuclling pradict.'.
Frior to the Colora,lo proj cd inve"tigat ion llone of the ob-
servers had driven to tIle airbuso while sightings were occurring
to check the lircraft '\ypothl.'sis. This was tru,! in pa.rt because
SUh~il'(jlJent ly It W;l, learlled that most of till' night--flying at
L:;I~L Iv .\II~ lIlVU_VL'd tankers :Illd II-S2s _In pra.cl icc aer.ial refuelling
operat 1l111S. Castle AFB is a training cellter for miu-uir refuelling
with ~oo to sao sorties launched from the bas~ each month, hoth day
and night. Flight schedules from the base, obtained later, showed
planes scheduled to be in the air at the times the UFOs were ob-
served. lbe planes carried large spotlights which we=e switched on
and off repeatedly. This accounted for the observed flare-ups and
disappear-reappear phenomena. The apparent hovering was due to the
fact that part of the flight pattern was on a hea.ding toward Coarse-
gold. Closings £ol101o/eo by separations wer~ the actual refuelling
procedures. Tho absence of soun2 was a~counted for by distance, and
the color variation, "runge to white, by variable haze scattering of
the light.
Haps obtained from Cast le AFB show flight patterns for these
operations wholly consistent with the sightings. Descriptions of
lighting configurations of the tankers and bombers also were con-
sistent with this identification.
While these sighti11gS were not particularly imI'ressi'lt.: indio.
vidually. being essentially lights in the night sky, the frequency
of reports was sustained at a high level for nearly a year. and the
observers had noted the UfOs occasionally since the fall of 19hO.
Observations were widesprcaJ and attracted much attention. The
phenomenon seemed strange tu the obscrvel's, defy:ing simple expla-
nation. Although the st.imlllus ~ .. as convel1tion.l aircraft, the
flircraft behavior, lightill;;, and flight paths presented an unCOil"
vcntional appC3r<lIlCt' tCl Wl tl1e~KeS who were not fami J jar wi til j n·
flight r~fuelli.ng pradict.'.
Prior to the Colora,10 projed illvc,;t igation 110ne of thl: ob-
servers had driven to the airbus\.'! while sighting;; were occurring
to check the tireraft '\ypothesis. This WHS tru.! in rart because