Documents / Report
This is the final report of the Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects, conducted by the University of Colorado under Air Force contract F44620-67-C-0035, with Edward U. Condon as scientific director and Daniel S. Gillmor as editor. It was submitted to the National Academy of Sciences on 15 November 1968 for review. The report includes field studies, photographic and radar analyses, case studies, historical chapters and appendices such as the Robertson Panel report and the Twining letter.
Stanford Re.:-l';ll·ch Ill~titllt(' to I1wkc ;j geJleral study of the functioning
~lf radar :-;ystcll1~ 1'1'0111 the point of view of the relation of their indica-
t i('ln~ to UFOs. The study which was carr'i ed out rcsul ted in the produc-
tion of Section VI Chapter 5, by Dr. Roy 11. Blackmer, Jr. and his
associates. R. J. Allen, R. T. H. Collis, C. Herold and R. 1. Presnell.
Studies of sped fi c UFO radar reports and their ll~ter;)Tetation are
presented in Secti on I I I. Chapter 5 by Gordon Thayer. Thaye)~ is a
radio propagation specialist on the staff of the Environmental Science
Services Administration ill Boulder. In his chapter, Thayer presents a
d~tailed analysis of some 35 cases, some of which arc visual, others
radMr, and some ar~ both. Both optical and radar phenomena are treated
together because of the similarity in the wave propagation problems
involved.
In his summary (',f resul ts he says: " , . . there was no case where
the meteoro.ogical data available tended to negate the anomalous pro-
pagation hypothesis. "However, Thayer points out that adequate
meteorological data for a thorough interpretation is often lacking so
that a great deal more observational material of this kind would be
ne2Jed in order to deal with a larger proportion of all of the reported
UFO radar cases.
In view of the importance of radar to the safe operation of all
aircraft, it is essential that further research be done leading to the
most preciSe knowledge p~ssjb1c of anomalous propagation of radar signals,
Ilowcver, It is felt that this can best be Jone by a direct attack on
th£' problem ibelf rath"r than by detailed field investigation of UFO
cases.
is. \'isua)_ nhs(,j'v"tiol' ~aJ_~.--E2'-.J:~S. i\ostronaub.
The popular UFO litl'ratul'c makes occasi.onal reference. to UFO~ seen
by the tJ.~. a~;tronaut5 .tn the SPilCC program ~)pcrated by thv National
"c"onauties and Space I\Jt1li.llL~lration. We do not know of similar reports
'.1,v Soviet 115trona.'ts but ~.hc)' may well havc seen similar things.
In flights conducted hetwcen 12 April 1961 and 15 N()v(~l1lJ:;er D66,
5H
Stanford R(·.:"t'~lrc·h IIl:c:titute to l1ltlkc a geJll'ral study of the functirlnLng
"f l·ad.11' "y:c:tclIls frol11 the point of vi.ew of the relation of their indica-
tion!' to UFOs. The stutly which wa~ carried out resulted in the produc-
tion of Section VI Chapter S, by Dr. Hoy II. Blackmer, Jr. and his
assoClates, R. J. Allen, R. T. H. Collis, C. Herold and R. 1. Presnell.
Studies of specifi c UFO radar reports and their lI~tor?retation are
presented inSect i on I II, Chapter 5 by Gordon Thayer. Thaye): is a
radio propagiltion specialist on the staff of the Environmental Science
Services Administration ill Boulder. In his charter, Thayer presents a
d~tailed analysis of some 35 cases, some of which arc visual, others
radMr, and some are both. Both optical and radar phenomena are treated
together because of the similarity in the wave propagation problems
involved.
In his summary (',f TL'sults he says: " ... there was no case where
the meteoro.ogicol data available tended to negate the anomalous pro-
pagation hypothesis. " However, Thuye T' po i IIts out that adequate
meteorological data for a thorough interpretation is often lacking 50
that a great deal more observational material of this kind would be
De~Jed in erder to deal with a larger proportion of all of the reported
UFO radar cases.
In view of the importance of radar to the safe operation of all
aircraft, it is essential that further re~earch be done leading to the
most precise knowledge p~ssible of anomalous propagation of radar ~ignals,
Ilowever, It is felt that this can best be Jone by a dircct attack on
th .. problem [bell rHth~'r than by detailcd ficJJ investigation of UFO
cases.
1:; . \' j S tI a}__ nb 5 ~..i..<.:!.:.. 2~~'\ J_~_l?LJ.!':_ S. II" t 1'011 aut ~\_
The popular UFO 1 i tc-ratul'C makes occasi.onal refercnce to UFO~ scen
by the U.~. astronauts .tll the spilce program clPCl'Htcd by till' National
,\cronautks and SpHCC fld11l.illi~Lration. We do not know of similar reports
'.1.1' Soviet astrl1na.·ts hut ·.110)' may well have seell similar things.
In flights conducted hetwec'l\ 12 April 1~)61 and 15 NOH'lllter 1:166.
5H Report, from the classic collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. 1497 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.