UNCLASSIFIED
U. S. AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS, AIR MATERIEL COMMAND
ENGINEERING DIVISION
MEMORANDUM REPORT ON
No. of pages - 1
MCREXD9/PAT/maf
26 April 1949
SUBJECT: Psychological Analysis of Reports of Unidentified Aerial Objects
SECTION: Aero Medical Laboratory
SERIAL NO.: MCREXD-694-15D
Expenditure Order No. 694-38
A. PURPOSE:
1. At the request of the Technical Intelligence Division, Intelligence Department, AMC, an analysis has been made, from a psychological point of view, of 212 investigations of persons reporting sightings of unidentified aerial objects.
B. FACTUAL DATA:
2. A report of this analysis is attached as Appendix A.
C. CONCLUSIONS:
3. It is concluded by the writer that there are sufficient psychological explanations for the reports of unidentified flying objects to provide plausible explanations for reports not otherwise explainable. These errors in identifying real stimuli result chiefly from inability to estimate speed, distance and size.
D. RECOMMENDATIONS:
4. Test the ability of pilots to estimate the course of a small lighted balloon while doing aerobatics with it at night. It is suggested that several pilots try to fly pursuit curves and collision courses on such targets at night and report accurately their sensations. It would be desirable, but probably impossible, to keep them from knowing the nature of the light source.
5. In all future reports of unidentified objects specify the location of object with reference to polar coordinates (direction and degrees above the horizon) rather than asking individuals to estimate distance. If possible, obtain an estimate of size in terms of the visual angle subtended by the object.
6. In all future investigations determine the angular position of the sun with respect to the unidentified object and the observer.
DOWNGRADED AT 12 YEAR INTERVALS; NOT AUTOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED. DOD DIR 5200.10
UNCLASSIFIED