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

Ch,lpt cr S
Optical ClUJ RaJaI' i\Il<Jlyscs of FiclJ Ca~cs
Gordon V. Thayer
I. Int l~oJuction
In Chapters 4 and 5 of Section VI unusual utmospheric conditions
causing anomalous propagation of elGctromagnetic waves are described.
III the present c.hapter an analysis is made of SOl11e of the most puzzling
UFO phenomf-n('. Most of them involve combined radar and visual contact.,.
All 31 combined radar-visual sighting~, two visual-only, and two radar-
only cases in the project files are analyzed in an effort to determine
whethe-r or not anomalous modes of pt'opagation could account for the
Jetails of such sights. Since both visual and radar slghtings are ana-
lyzed below, readers whose fami~larlty with atmospheric propa.gation of
light and radio waves is limited are urged to read Chapte~ 4 and S~
Section VI, b~fore reading what follows in the present chapter.
In evaluating UFO phenomena it is seldom possible to arrive at an
incontrovertible c0nclusion; rath~r, it is necessary to introduce ad-
miss ible hypotheses ard then attempt to determine the probabi Ii ty
of their correctness through the study of generally inadequate data.
In the case uf the anomalou~ rropa~ation hypothesis, extreme examples
of anomalous propagation imply extreme conditions in the stRte of the
atmo5pher~, and dat1 on these unusual at~o5phcric ~onditio'lS are either
scarce or non-existent. Meteorological measurements that may b~ on
record for 11 til11(' :Ind placl' appropriate to u particular U(O incident
\..-ill w,ually be only generally indicatlv~ of the prvpag,Hiol1 conditioJl::
thut existed during tht.' incident. The met00roJogical i.!lstrumentation
lJecc" .,ary to rCl.':ord the extremely sharp gradients of tempcr<lture of
humidi ty that are as soci atcu wi til strong part La 1 reflections of el ectro-
magnetic waves is either beyond the state of tIle art u1' so difficult to
173
Ll)1tical ClIlJ RaJ,n An:.llyscs of Field Cases
Gordon O. Thayer
I, Intl.'oductioll
In Chapters 4 and 5 of Section VI unusual atmospheric conditions
causing anomalolls propagation of electromagnetic waves are described,
In the present chapter <ill analysis is made of some of the most puzzling
UFO phcnomf'Tl('. ~fost of them involve combined rada.r and visual contact.,.
All 31 combined radar-visual sighting~, two visual-only, and two radar-
only cases in the project files are analyzed in an effort to determine
whcthl;"r or not anomalous !IIodes of propagation could account for the
details of such Sights. Since both visual and radar slghtings are ana-
lyzed below. readers who~e fami!lanc'j' with atmospheric.: propagation ()f
light and radio waves is limited are urged to read Chapte~ 4 and 5,
Section VI, b~fore reading what follows in th~ present chapter.
In evaluating UFO phenomena it is seldom po~sible to arrive at an
incontrovertible conclusion; rather, it is necessary to introduce ad-
miss ible hypoth!::ses ar.:! then (lttempt Lo determine the probabi 1i ty
of their correctness through the study of generally inadequate duts.
In the case uf the anomalou~ rropa~ation hypothesis, extreme examples
of anomalous propagation imply extreme crmditi.ons in the stRte of the
atmosphere, and da'. on these unusual Ki~osphcric ~onditions are either
5carce or non-existent. Meteorological measurements that mny b~ on
record fa)' 11 timl' and placp approprjate to a particular t:j'O illdtlent
~ill u5ually be only generally indicative of the prupagation conditiop~
thut existed Juring tht:.' j nddent. Th(' metl:orolog i cal !.llsirumenta tlon
Ill'CC" .,ary to l'ccord tIl(' extremely sharp gradients of temperature of
humidi ty tha.t are associatco wi th strong part ial reflections of electro-
magnetic waves is either beyond the state of the art ur so difficult to
173