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

tilt.' cOllunittel'l~ l'vnluatioll of the cxpcct;Jtion that significant in-
formation I:ould be obtained through field invcstij:ation. This
expectation was judged on the bas is of the apparent re liabi 1i ty of
the source and the nature of the reported event If the event had
been observed independently by different groups of people, was reported
to differ markedly from known or expected phenomena; and particularly
if the Gighting was a continuing event or one that haJ recurred
frequently, field investigation was undertaken. Special attention
was given to events in which physical evidence, such as alleged
landing marks. res idues; or mcasurab Ie alterations iTt properties
of objects in the environment. might be discovered and studied.
{). Investigation Carabi-Ii ty and Phi los oplly
By Nay 1967 teams of project investigators were available at
;d.l times fo::' field investigations and \'/ere geared to reach a sighting
l()(~ation anywhere in the United States within 24 hours from receipt
of the initial report. Eq'lipment carried varied according to ex··
petted requirements. A standalJ field ki t enabled the team to take
35illm photographs ar:d 8mm motion pictures, check the spectrum of
a light source, measure radioactivity, check magnetic characteristics;
cullect samples, measure distances and angles; and t.:> tape record
interview~ and sounds (sec in..rentory list, Appendix K). Special
equipment, such as an ul trasonic detector (Casv .'I~ and two-way radio
quipment. was utilized in some instances. An all-sky camera Wl\S
installed and used f("If '.me series of field investigations (Case .~.).
Tn this case, thl' iilv.~stigator establislll'd a base of operations at
a Ioeat ion from whi eh UFO reports we're generat"d, pub lie! zed hi s
pr~s"t1('(>J and had an aide ,,'ho received telephone csl1s and relayed
UFO rc.>ports immelli ate 1;' to him in hi s tel('phone-cquipp~d automohi 1e.
He surveyed t)w an'a in this manner for several weeks.
In some investigations, a single investigator was deemed suf-
ficient, but most inve~tigating teams consisted of n physical
86
tilt' conunittec'<; l'vnluatioll of the expectation that significant in-
formation I:ould Iw obt(ljnt'd through field invcstil:ation. This
expectation was judgl'J Gn the basis of the apparent reliability of
the source and the nature of the reported event If the event had
been observed independently by different groups of people, was reported
to differ markedly from known or expected phenomena, and particularly
if the !::ighting was a continuing event or one that had recurred
frequently. field investigation was undertaken. Special attention
I~as given to events in which physical evidence', such as alleged
landing marKs, residues, 0r measurable alterations iTl properties
of objects in the environment, might be discovered an,[ studied.
6. lnvcstigation Capability and Philosophy
By ~Iay 1967 teams of project investigators were available at
all times fo:::- field investigations and \~ere geareli to reach a sighting
l()(~a.tion anywhere in the United States within 24 hour!' from receipt
of the initial report. Eqllipment carried varied according to ex-·
pected requirements. A standald field ki t enabled the team to take
35:l1m photographs ar,.:] Smm motion pictures, check the spectrum of
a light source, measure radioactivity. check magnetic characteristics,
cullect samples, measure distances and angles, and t.) tape record
interview~ and sounds (sec inJcl1tory list, Appendix K). Special
equipment, slIch as an ul trasonic detector (Cas<., .'11) and two-way radio
(?quipment, was utilized in some instanccs. An all-sky camera WAS
installed and uSl'd f'lf '.lIle l:'€rie:; of fielu investigations (Case.! ').
Tn this case, thl' il\v,~:;tigator establishl'U a base of operations at
a location from which IJro reports were gencratpd, puhlicizpd his
pr~5",n('('J and hud an aide \~ho received telephone calls and relaycd
UFO reports imm~diately to him in his telephone-equipped automobile.
/Ie surveyed the a1"o:'a in this manner for several weeks.
In somc invc5tigations, a single investigator Was deemed suf-
ficient. but most inve~tigating teams consisted of a physical
66