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

Of the CUrl'ent cas(~s involving radar observations one n'-
maintld particularly puzzling after analysis of the information. since
anomalous propagation and other common l>xplanations apparently
could not account for the observation (see Section III, Chapter 5
and Case 21).
While the current cases investigated did not yield impressive
re'sidual evidence, even in the narrative content, to support aT.
hypothesis that an aliC'n vehicle was physically present, narrative::;
cf pas t events, such as the 19Ci6 inc ider;t at Beverly, Mass., (Case
0) , '''auld fit no Ot!ll'T C'xp 1allat i on i f th~ testj many of
lvitnesses is taken at full face value. The weight one should place
orl sudl anecdotal informatioll migtlt be determined through psychological
testing of witnesses; however, advice givcn us by psychologists at the
Universit:-· of Colorado ~l.?dical Center indicated that such testing
would be of que~tionable s!gnificancc if done as loeg '\:'; a year or
t',,·o after ,;/1e event. Since \\le had no such impressive cases among
morE' recent sightings, the opportunity for significant psychological
testing of wi tnesses in such cases \~as not presented. Depending
upon the wei ght gi ven to olJ anccdot al informatj on it permits one
to suppart any conclusion reg",rdil~g the nature of UFOs that the
individual I\ishes to dra\~.
I f UFO sighting reports are co be checked and studied, th is
shoulJ be done as soon as possible after the event, hefore witnesses'
5~f)!'ics bl'come crystalliz0d by retelling and discussion. Such
fidel investigation, undertaken on any scale for any purposlo, should
be done b/ trained investigators . [he Coarsegold incident described
above exemplifies the futility of an investigution which docs not
take into account subjectiv(' and pl'rccptual COliS idcra-::i OIlS , as well
as knOWledge of events occurring in and above the atmosphere. The
expcri(nce of seeing the planet Venus as a UFO that trips a "'!i~u'ctic
UFI)-detector, chases police CdTS at 7U mph, flies aI'Jay from aircraft,
challg('s "i u' and SI13pt1 ura..., ti cally, lands about ten mi. from a farmhouse,
and descends to .sao ft. abov8 a cur and lights up the inside of the
104
Of the current ca~':~, involving radllT ohservations olle rc-
mail1t~d particularly puzzling after analysis of the information. since
anomalous propagation and other common l'xplanations apparently
could not account for the observation (see Section III. 01apter 5
and Case 21).
While the current cases investigated did not yield impre'3sive
residual evidence, even in the narrative content, to slIpport aT.
hypotht'sis that an ;dj~n vehicle W(lS physically present, narrative::;
cf pa5t events, such as the l'1()(i incicier,t at Beverly, Mass., (Case
oJ. I,ould fit n0 other explanation if tl'.() test:imony of
h'itne!'ses is takE'tl at ft!II face value. The weight one should place
Qrt ,,;udl anecdotal information migflt be determined throu£h psychological
testing of ~itness~s; however, advice given us by psychologists at the
Uni veni t;>· of Colorado ~i,~di cal Center indicated that such test ing
"culd be of questionable s:gnificance if done as lo,g '"IS a year or
t'·,'o after .:ho event. Since Ne had no su(,;h iTr,presslve cases among
more recent sightings. the opportunity for significant psychological
tos t ing of Ni tnesses in such cases ,oJ as not presen ted. Depending
upon the weight given to old anccC:ktal information it permits one
to suppart any conclusion reg",rdi)~g the nature of UFOs that the
individual llishes to draw.
If UFO sighting reports are to be checked anu studied, this
shoulJ be done as soon as possible after the event, hefore witnesses'
s~0!'ies become crystallizc'd by retelling and lli~cussioll. Such
fiele! investigation, undertaken on anI' scale for any purposE, should
be done b/ trained invB<;tigators.lhe Coar~egold inciuent descrihed
above exemplifies the ~utility of an investigation which docs not
take iJ~to account !'ubjectivl' and pl'rct']1tual cOllsidcro.:ions, as wel1
as knowledge of events occurri.ng in and above the atmosphere. '!he
l'xpericnce of seeing the p!wwt Venus as a UFO that trips a ',':ignctic
UF,)-detector, chases police LaTS at 7() mph, flies away from 3i rcraft,
changes "izC' and ,Iwp<' drastically, lands about ten mi. from a farmhouse,
and uesccllds to ,SOO ft. abov(J a car and lights up the inside of the
104