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Official reports, hearing transcripts, case files and releases: the paper behind the cases. 2,872 documents, 2,610 mirrored with their text, 53,529 pages indexed, so a search reads inside them and lands on the page.

New in the library The PURSUE files The Department of War's UAP release, mirrored in full: the videos, recordings and images, each beside its case file.

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“hoax”

Documents 176 Scans in the stories 86

Documents matching “hoax”176 records · page 2

Project Blue Book case file (combined PDF) Document

US Air Force, hosted by NICAP· 40 pages · Cited by the stories · 1 story
- p. 7 …Heflin's character been checked into, to determine if a hoax is likely? Thank you for the information. Sincerely yours…
- p. 23 …From all appearances he is not attempting to perpetrate a hoax. Based on knowledge of Mr Heflin's testimony to…
- p. 24 …Instead of being insulted or arguing or acting as though he had been caught in a hoax, Mr Heflin politely…
- 1 more page mentions it
Untitled (to Julius Stratton from H Marshall Chadwell FOIA release

Central Intelligence Agency· 1953-01-02· 8 pages · CIA reading room · 1 story
- p. 7 …Hysteria, hallucinations, hoaxes, etc. (Psychological) B. Misidentifications of conventional objects: 1. Aircraft, missiles, searchlight reflections, etc. (man-made, controlled) .2…
Flying Saucers FOIA release

Central Intelligence Agency· 2001-03-12· 11 pages · CIA reading room · 11 stories
- p. 4 …Hallucination and hoax 3. Misinterpretation of known objects This satisfied much of the public but not certain sensational writers. The…
Unidentified flying objects: hearing before the Committee on Armed Forces of the House of Representatives, Eighty-ninth Congress, second session, April 5, 1966 ... Hearing transcript

U.S. House Committee on Armed Services· 1966-04-05· 88 pages · Cited by the stories · 3 stories
- p. 13 …SIGHTINGS Meteors Stars and planets Other Total OTHER CASES Hoaxes, hallucinations, unreliable reports and psychological causes__ Missiles and rockets Reflections…
- p. 14 …CASES Meteors Stars and planets Other Total OTHER CATEGORY Hoaxes, hallucinations, unreliable re- ports, and psychological causes Missiles and rockets…
- p. 80 …ought to examine these particular things and determine whether they are hoaxes or not. If anything is disturbing the Amen-
- 3 more pages mention it
FBI file: UFO, UFO Part 04 FOIA release

Federal Bureau of Investigation· 77 pages · FBI Vault · 4 stories
- p. 15 …These specimens, therefore, are considered as part of a hoax that could be per- petrated by most anyone seeking publicity…
- p. 18 …It was classified as a hoax in view of the apparent discrepancy between information developed from Mrs. Ehedon and information…
- p. 42 …This was subsequently revealed as a hoax, following investigation by the army and FHL. Urtie described the size as about…
aaro historical record report volume 1 2024 Report

The Black Vault· 64 pages · Cited by the stories · 2 stories
- p. 15 …by either misinterpretation of known objects, hysteria, hallucination, or hoax.10 It also recommended continued military intelligence control over the…
- p. 19 …kites, false radar indications, fireworks, flares, and some confirmed hoaxes.36 Secretary of the Air Force Robert C. Seamans, Jr…
- p. 40 …based on a 2021 Gallup poll.129 Aside from hoaxes and forgeries, misinformation and disinformation is more prevalent and easier…
- 1 more page mentions it
Historical Record Report Volume 1 March 8 2024 Report

Office of the Secretary of Defense· 63 pages · OSD reading room · 2 stories
- p. 14 …by either misinterpretation of known objects, hysteria, hallucination, or hoax.10 It also recommended continued military intelligence control over the…
- p. 18 …kites, false radar indications, fireworks, flares, and some confirmed hoaxes.36 Secretary of the Air Force Robert C. Seamans, Jr…
- p. 39 …based on a 2021 Gallup poll.129 Aside from hoaxes and forgeries, misinformation and disinformation is more prevalent and easier…
- 1 more page mentions it
AARO Historical Record Report Volume 1 Report

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office· 2024-03· 63 pages · Cited by the stories · 4 stories
- p. 14 …by either misinterpretation of known objects, hysteria, hallucination, or hoax.10 It also recommended continued military intelligence control over the…
- p. 18 …kites, false radar indications, fireworks, flares, and some confirmed hoaxes.36 Secretary of the Air Force Robert C. Seamans, Jr…
- p. 39 …based on a 2021 Gallup poll.129 Aside from hoaxes and forgeries, misinformation and disinformation is more prevalent and easier…
- 1 more page mentions it
Report on the Historical Record of U.S. Government Involvement with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, Volume I Report

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office· 2024-03-08· 63 pages · AARO · 4 stories
- p. 14 …by either misinterpretation of known objects, hysteria, hallucination, or hoax.10 It also recommended continued military intelligence control over the…
- p. 18 …kites, false radar indications, fireworks, flares, and some confirmed hoaxes.36 Secretary of the Air Force Robert C. Seamans, Jr…
- p. 39 …based on a 2021 Gallup poll.129 Aside from hoaxes and forgeries, misinformation and disinformation is more prevalent and easier…
- 1 more page mentions it
Office of the Secretary of Defense: 05_AARO_Historical_Record_Report Official release

Department of Defense. Office of the Secretary of Defense.· 2023· 63 pages · National Archives · 2 stories
- p. 14 …by either misinterpretation of known objects, hysteria, hallucination, or hoax.10 It also recommended continued military intelligence control over the…
- p. 18 …kites, false radar indications, fireworks, flares, and some confirmed hoaxes.36 Secretary of the Air Force Robert C. Seamans, Jr…
- p. 39 …based on a 2021 Gallup poll.129 Aside from hoaxes and forgeries, misinformation and disinformation is more prevalent and easier…
- 1 more page mentions it
FBI file: UFO, UFO Part 05 FOIA release

Federal Bureau of Investigation· 74 pages · FBI Vault · 6 stories
- p. 18 …whatever to the story and it was an entire hoax. The Seattle Post Intelligencer stated that in view of the…
- p. 19 …should not come as the entire story was a hoax. The following information was obtained from Tacoma, Washington, It was…
The Air Force Stand on Flying Saucers- as Stated by CIA, in a Briefing on 22 August 1952 (with Attachments, Flying Saucers, Dated 520819 and 520814) FOIA release

Central Intelligence Agency· 1952-08-22· 29 pages · CIA reading room · 11 stories
- p. 4 …Hallucination and hoax 3. Disinterpretation of known objects This satisfied much of the public but not certain sensational writers. The…
- p. 24 …Hallucination and hoax 3. Misinterpretation of known objects This satisfied much of the public but not certain sensational writers. The…
xxxxxxxxxxxxx; JOHN JOSEPH MACCARTHY, JR. & HIS MILITARY/CIA CAREER & HIS INVOLVEMENT W/PROJECT "CHERRY" FOIA release

Central Intelligence Agency· 2006-06-05· 10 pages · CIA reading room · 3 stories
- p. 4 …Klass suggested that by publishing this article, the FBI had given its endorsement to a hoax (that UFOs are extraterrestrial…
- p. 6 …with anger and accusatory remarks, labeling each case a hoax without providing any evidence thereof. During a commercial break, the…
Scientists Debate the Question of UFO's FOIA release

Central Intelligence Agency· 2003-10-16· 8 pages · CIA reading room · 9 stories
- p. 3 …There are hoaxes; there are misinterpreted phenomena; there are all these things, of course. But there are not advanced test…
- p. 7 …There were many similar events recorded through history. ## Many Hoaxes Then there are hundreds and thousands, perhaps, of hoaxes, like…
UFO Photos FOIA release

Central Intelligence Agency· 2013-06-24· 40 pages · CIA reading room · 7 stories
- p. 11 …an telescopes and astronomy are not the type to hoaxes? Was this a case of misinterpretation of phenomena? Is it…
- p. 21 …During the investigation, Dahl's wife consistently urged him to admit that the entire affair was a hoax, and it…
Black Vault compilation, pp. 91-93 Document

The Black Vault· 134 pages · Cited by the stories · 2 stories
- p. 6 …planets, the sun and the moon), weather conditions and hoaxes. As indicated, only 701 reported sightings remain unexplained. On December…
- p. 23 …planets, the sun, and the moon>, weather conditions, and hoaxes. As indicated, only 701 reported sightings remain unexplained • • . On December…
- p. 29 …planets, the sun and the moon), weather conditions and hoaxes. As indicated only 701 reported si~~tings remain unexplained. Attachment…
- 5 more pages mention it
Socorro Blue Book documents, pages 1 to 25 Document

NICAP· 25 pages · Cited by the stories · 1 story
- p. 8 …Two of the reports were determined to be hoaxes.
- p. 10 …Information obtained during this investigation revealed that the sighting was legitimate and there was no indication that a hoax was…
UFO Consensus FOIA release

Central Intelligence Agency· 2001-03-12· 7 pages · CIA reading room · 5 stories
- p. 3 …explanations for uFO's as ball lightning (plasma), hallucinations, hoaxes and misinterpretations of natural phenomena. He concluded that "only abysmally…
- p. 5 …He told how he tracked the case down and concluded that it was very likely a hoax. . . . My feelings about…
Project Blue Book desk file, Socorro (217 pages) Document

The Black Vault (Rob Mercer collection)· 217 pages · Cited by the stories · 1 story
- p. 192 The hoax ~hesia 1~, of course , one that suggests itselt immediately • . It is Quintanilla's and mr opinion that both…
- p. 204 …Or did they? Menzel 's· idea that the speedetft was a deliberate decoy, who signaled to the hoaxes by walkie…
- p. 205 …LaPaz's feeling that had it been a hoax, , it surely would have leaked by now. He ~ld me of…
- 9 more pages mention it
FBI file: UFO, UFO Part 02 FOIA release

Federal Bureau of Investigation· 79 pages · FBI Vault · 4 stories
- p. 12 …In my opinion, this is just another hoax story, since a photograph of Father BRASKY with the saw indicates no…
- p. 20 …there's something to it," he said, "and we're not dismissing the possibility that it's all a hoax."
Ufos--What Are They? FOIA release

Central Intelligence Agency· 2013-06-24· 8 pages · CIA reading room · 5 stories

UFOs--WHAT ARE THEY? (F.Yu. Zigel') Source: Smena (Change), No 7, February 1967, pages 27-29 (Prefatory…
65 HS1-834228961 62-HQ-83894 Section 007 Official release

Federal Bureau of Investigation· 205 pages · PURSUE release (war.gov) · 2 stories
- p. 71 …mild fonn of byateria, meteorologioal phenomena, 11~ aberrations, or hoaxes. There r emained, hov~er , a number of unexplo.inad…
- p. 72 …erroneously reported, known electronic and meteorological phenomena, light aberrations, hoaxes, and other lmown natural occurrences or man-made objects. The…
- p. 75 …ucers were apparmons, t said, all attrihutahle either to a failure to recognize conventional ohjelt~, to hoaxes, or ro a…
FBI file 62-HQ-83894, section 7 Document

Department of War· 205 pages · Cited by the stories · 3 stories
- p. 71 …mild fonn of byateria, meteorologioal phenomena, 11~ aberrations, or hoaxes. There r emained, hov~er , a number of unexplo.inad…
- p. 72 …erroneously reported, known electronic and meteorological phenomena, light aberrations, hoaxes, and other lmown natural occurrences or man-made objects. The…
- p. 75 …ucers were apparmons, t said, all attrihutahle either to a failure to recognize conventional ohjelt~, to hoaxes, or ro a…
FBI file: Kenneth Arnold Document

Internet Archive (FBI)· 24 pages · Cited by the stories · 2 stories
- p. 3 …whatever to the story and it was an entire hoax. VOGEL stated that in view of the enraged condition of…
- p. 4 …should not come as the entire story was a hoax. The following information was obtained from PAUL LANTZ, 4513 South…
nas re1 FOIA release

Office of the Secretary of Defense· 8 pages · OSD reading room · 1 story
- p. 3 …cases could be classified in such categories as pranks, hoaxes, naive interpretations, and various types of misinterpretations. A few events…
FBI file 62-HQ-83894 Flying Discs, section 3 Document

Department of War· 2026-05-08· 190 pages · Cited by the stories · 4 stories
- p. 37 …whatever to the story and it was an entire hoax. VOGEL stated that in view of the enraged condition of…
- p. 38 …should not come as the entire story was a hoax. The following information was obtained from PAU~TZ, 4513 South…
- p. 162 …project and that in all probability it was j ust a hoax. flu~ Fo.-ce.. RECOMMENDATION: the Technical Ia.boratory ·-
- 1 more page mentions it
65 HS1-834228961 62-HQ-83894 Section 003 Official release

Federal Bureau of Investigation· 190 pages · PURSUE release (war.gov) · 4 stories
- p. 37 …whatever to the story and it was an entire hoax. VOGEL stated that in view of the enraged condition of…
- p. 38 …should not come as the entire story was a hoax. The following information was obtained from PAU~TZ, 4513 South…
- p. 162 …project and that in all probability it was j ust a hoax. flu~ Fo.-ce.. RECOMMENDATION: the Technical Ia.boratory ·-
- 1 more page mentions it
Review of the University of Colorado Report on Unidentified Flying Objects by a Panel of the National Academy of Sciences Report

DTIC via Internet Archive· 1969-01-08· 11 pages · Cited by the stories · 0 stories
- p. 5 …cases cu d ib lssified in such -categories as - -~ pr nksý, hoaxes., nav itrptations,.and various typs of is -interpretatiobns…
FLYING SAUCERS memo Memo

CIA Reading Room· 36 pages · Cited by the stories · 1 story
- p. 17 …or IIB(2) above, 2% have been exposed as hoaxes and the remaining 20% have not been explained primarily because…
- p. 20 …Hallucination and hoax 3. Misinterpretation of known objects This satisfied much of the public but not certain sensational writers. The…
Meetings of OSI Advisory Group on Unidentified Flying Objects, 14-17 January 1953 FOIA release

Central Intelligence Agency· 2001-06-05· 19 pages · CIA reading room · 4 stories
- p. 18 …Hysteria, hallucinations, hoaxes etc. (Psychological) B. Misidentifications of conventional objects: 1. Aircraft, missiles, searchlight reflections, etc. (man-made, controlled) 2…
[02/20/1998 - 08/08/2000]: 24194021-20060474F-002-001-2023 Official release

· 28 pages · National Archives · 1 story
- p. 24 …people steadfastly maintain the film is actually a hoax within a hoax. ("Has anyone actually seen any of the so…
Behavior Whatever Happened to UFO's? FOIA release

Central Intelligence Agency· 2001-03-12· 9 pages · CIA reading room · 1 story
- p. 3 …It is interesting that, contrary to public opinion, the estimated percentage of "hoaxes" is likewise small
- p. 7 …At first they thought the card was a hoax, but investigation proved that the young woman's body had been…
James E. McDonald statement, Symposium on UFOs, House Committee on Science and Astronautics Document

Princeton (kirkmcd archive)· 1968-07-29· 55 pages · Cited by the stories · 8 stories
- p. 25 …The question that arises almost immediately is that of a practical joke, a hoax. However, the resources required to fabricate…
- p. 43 …Many hoax photos have been brought forth. A UFO photo can be sold; this attracts hoax and fraud to an…
- p. 54 …Flying Saucers Hoax or Reality?, New York, Belmont Books, 157 pp. • 21. Young, M., 1967; USOs Top Secret, New York…
- 3 more pages mention it
assort1 FOIA release

Office of the Secretary of Defense· 40 pages · OSD reading room · 2 stories
- p. 37 …144 235 203 138 85 123 2167 OTHER CASES Hoaxes, Hallucinations, Unreliable Reports and Psychological Causes 15 6 18 16…
- p. 38 …MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC TOTAL Hoaxes, Hallucinations, Unreliable Reports and Psychological Causes 5 3 4 1…
[01/08/1999 - 12/15/2000]: 24194018-20060474F-001-019-2023 Official release

· 64 pages · National Archives · 0 stories
- p. 6 …Photograph carried by daily El Espectador of an UFO turned out to be a hoax. 16. 21 Video report: Private…
FBI UFO file, part 2 Document

The Black Vault· 80 pages · Cited by the stories · 5 stories
- p. 13 …gr any Ar;ent concerninr, h~s fin~, )Q j my opin1.on,>this b just another hoax story, since…
- p. 57 …j that much U Q.Ol all of the atory into the hoax, column by David; : Locally, Haten KennedY of…
Project Blue Book Socorro file Document

Internet Archive· 168 pages · Cited by the stories · 1 story
- p. 97 The hoax hypothesis is, of course, one that suggests itself immediately. It is Quintanilla's and my opinion that both…
- p. 110 …Or did they? Menzel's idea that the speeded was a deliberate decoy, who signaled to the hoaxes by walkie…
- p. 111 …He told me of an elaborate hoax that was played on one of the geologists at Ohio State University when…
- 13 more pages mention it
Assorted NMCC documents Document

NICAP· 40 pages · Cited by the stories · 2 stories
- p. 37 …144 235 203 136 65 123 2167 OTHER CASES Hoaxes, Hallucinations, Unreliable Reports and Psychological Causes 15 6 18 16…
- p. 38 …MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC TOTAL Hoaxes, Hallucinations, Unreliable Reports and Psychological Causes 5 3 4 1…
Project Blue Book Socorro file (direct PDF) Document

Wikimedia Commons (USAF Project Blue Book)· 168 pages · Cited by the stories · 1 story
- p. 97 The hoax hypothesis is, of course, one that suggests itself immediately. It is Quintanilla's and my opinion that both…
- p. 110 …Or did they? Menzel's idea that the speeded was a deliberate decoy, who signaled to the hoaxes by walkie…
- p. 111 …He told me of an elaborate hoax that was played on one of the geologists at Ohio State University when…
- 13 more pages mention it
FBI file: UFO, UFO Part 07 FOIA release

Federal Bureau of Investigation· 84 pages · FBI Vault · 0 stories
- p. 35 …LOCAL RADIO NEWSCAST QUOTES CHIEF OF POLICE, ALICE, TEXAS AS STATING FLYING DISC A HOAX. OSI, KELLY AFB AND HOUSTON…
- p. 38 …RESIDENT AGENT CORPUS CHRISTI STATES THAT LOCAL RADIO REPORTS THIS DISCOVERY TO BE A HOAX. FURTHER INQUIRY BEING MADE AND…
65 HS1-834228961 62-HQ-83894 Section 002 Official release

Federal Bureau of Investigation· 194 pages · PURSUE release (war.gov) · 1 story
- p. 28 …IT WOULD ALSO APFEAR 'L'H.AT DAHL AND CHRISMAN DID nar ID!IT THE HOAX TO THE ARMY I…
- p. 148 …THE ENTIRE STORY WAS A HOAX . SMITH STATES THAT HE TOLD HIS COi'PLETE STORY TO MAJOi' S'\NDERS OF…
FBI file: National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), Part 03 FOIA release

Federal Bureau of Investigation· 28 pages · FBI Vault · 0 stories
- p. 8 …Our group also investigate UFOs sightings of true sighting in a scientific fashion, the hoax we expose along with the…
F-2004-01956 Appeal FOIA release

Central Intelligence Agency· 2006-06-05· 10 pages · CIA reading room · 2 stories
- p. 6 …with anger and accusatory remarks, labeling each case a hoax without providing any evidence thereof. During a commercial break, the…
F-2004-01956 Appeal FOIA release

Central Intelligence Agency· 2006-06-05· 10 pages · CIA reading room · 2 stories
- p. 6 …with anger and accusatory remarks, labeling each case a hoax without providing any evidence thereof. During a commercial break, the…
65 HS1-834228961 62-HQ-83894 Section 001 Official release

Federal Bureau of Investigation· 185 pages · PURSUE release (war.gov) · 1 story
- p. 53 …he aid, "and we're not dismissingIIthe possibility that it's all a hoax."
- p. 94 …11 7 HEMPSTEAD, A.C . , G-2, F;1>-ject w definitely a hoax. and under no circumstances could have…
- p. 119 …PLEASE BE ADVISED THA~ ~ DAHL DID NOT ADMIT TO SMI TH THAT HI S STORY WAS A HOAX BUT ONLY…
- 1 more page mentions it
FBI file 62-HQ-83894, section 1 Document

Department of War· 185 pages · Cited by the stories · 2 stories
- p. 53 …he aid, "and we're not dismissingIIthe possibility that it's all a hoax."
- p. 94 …11 7 HEMPSTEAD, A.C . , G-2, F;1>-ject w definitely a hoax. and under no circumstances could have…
- p. 119 …PLEASE BE ADVISED THA~ ~ DAHL DID NOT ADMIT TO SMI TH THAT HI S STORY WAS A HOAX BUT ONLY…
- 1 more page mentions it
FBI file: National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), Part 01 FOIA release

Federal Bureau of Investigation· 25 pages · FBI Vault · 0 stories
- p. 7 …In addition, NICAP will hold public hearings on claims of contacts with spacemen—to expose hoaxes and also to ferret…
US Army-Flying-Saucer-Study_1949 Report

U.S. Department of War· 25 pages · PURSUE release (war.gov) · 0 stories
- p. 11 …Only two reported incidents were determined to have been hoax. To date there has been no tangible evidence which would…
Air Intelligence Report No. 100-203-79 Report

USAF Directorate of Intelligence via NICAP· 19 pages · Cited by the stories · 7 stories
- p. 18 …Among those incidents positively explained, three were hoaxes, two were from unreliable witnesses. In the remaining 13 eliminated incidents, objects…
Flying Saucers Again: Do You Believe in Them? FOIA release

Central Intelligence Agency· 2001-03-12· 10 pages · CIA reading room · 6 stories
- p. 2 …marsh gas—or as illusions, delusions, hallucinations, psychic aberrations, hoaxes, publicity stunts, gags, pranks, etc. Three: I noted that the…