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

of crew dcbriefings. Yet the most diligent efforts by project
jnvestigators failed to disclose the existence of any record.
4. Emphasis ol2..-.0:r.: rent .~:'E~E~:
Such experiences convinced proj ect investigators that field
investigation should concentrate on current UFO reports. A properly
equipped investigator might obtain accurate descriptive information
about an unidentified object if he arrived on the scene shortly
after a sighting, or during a sustained 0r repetitive sighting.
Early in the study a fcw field tr.i.ps had already been made to check
current '-ighting reports, but the inve"tigators had not been adE'quately
equipped to gather quantitative data. In some interesting cases,
the project had depended upcn the reports of members of ci viI ian
UFO organizations who j!'.ve·,tigate UFO reports in their localities. In
some instances thei r fincLngs supplemented information from official
Air Force investigation,
While tLe cooperat-Lon of private groups was helpful, objective
evaluation of the sigh!ing required obtaining as much first-hand
information as possib'e, This could be done only when sustained or
repetitivr sighting situations occurred, Tn the case of isolated
sightings, the project sought to send an investigator to the location
as soon as possibl(', since the possibility of gathering meaningf'.ll
data decreased rapidly with time, particLlarly when residual physical
evidence I"CiS reported, For this reason, it was essential that the pro-
jC(~t receive imlllE'djat(~ Ilotjficc;tion of any sjgnificant sightilig,
Reports of apparently ~lgnificant sightings usually reached
us days or \\ccks aftl'r the ('wnt. Notificat i on through oEfi ci al
channels \\'a5 inadequate because lIlany sightings reported to nCl~s
mC'clia appan'ntly wen' not re]1ortC'd to the Ai r Force. Al though
Air Force Regulation 80-17A (Appendix B s ti pul atcr: t\18t I\i r Force
bases were to submit all UFO r0ports to the project, few reports
83
of creh' debriefing". Yet the most diligent efforts by project
i nvesti gators fai led to dis close the existence of any record.
4. emphasis ol2.....0t_x.: rcnt .~:.l.:~~~:
Such experiences convinced project investigators that field
investigation should concentrate on current UFO reports. A properly
equipped investigator might obtain accurate descriptive information
about an unidentified object if he arrived on the scene shortly
after a sighting, or during a sustained or repetitive sight.ing.
Early in the 5 tudy a felV fi e 1d tn ps had already been made to check
current ~ighting reports, but the invc5tigators had not been advquately
equipped to gather quantitative data. In some i.nteresting cases,
the project had depended U]lell the reports of members of civilian
UFO organizations who investigate UFO reports in their localities. In
some instances thei r fincLngs supplemented inforrJutioTl from official
Air Force investigation.
While tLe cooperat'Lon of private groups was helpful, objective
evaluation of the sigll"iing required obtaining as much first-hand
information as possib't'. This could be done only when sustained or
repetitivr sighting situations occurred. Tn the case of isolated
sightings, the project sought to send an investigator to the location
as soon as possiblc'. since the possibility of gathering meaningf~l
data dpcreased rapidly with time, particLlarly when residual physical
evidence "",5 reported. For this reason. it was essential that the pro-
jC(~t rcciCi ve imm(;'diat" noti fic'as inadequate because lIJany -;ightings Tl'porteu to news
nJedifl appart'ntl~' Ioil'n' not Tl'jlOTtC'd to the Ai r Force'. Al though
Air Force RegulatiulJ 80-171\ (I\ppendix B stipulate,: t 11IJt Air Force
bases were to submit all UFU r0ports to the project, few reports
83