TO: MAJOR DONALD E. KEYHOE, USMC (Ret.): FOR HIS SINCERE AND TIRELESS EFFORTS IN ALERTING THE WORLD TO UFO PHENOMENA. AND ENCOURAGING A RATIONAL INQUIRY. The Brazilian Photograph Taken January 16, 1958, from the deck of the IGY research vessel Almirante Saldanha at Trindade Isle, Brazil, by marine photographer Almiro Barauna. Witnessed by several officers and men of the Brazilian Navy and Air Force. Published in the Brazilian paper Folha da Manho February 22, 1958, after analysis by the Naval Ministry, and release by the President of Brazil. THE CHALLENGE OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS PRESENTED IN A SERIES OF SEPARATE ARTICLES BY Charles A. Maney, Board Member And Richard Hall, Secretary THE NATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE ON AERIAL PHENOMENA "A new fact is battling strenuously for access to your ears. A new aspect of the universe is striving to reveal itself. But no fact is so simple that it is not harder to believe than to doubt at the first presentation" - Lucretius (96-55 B. C.) "The Nature of the Universe” WASHINGTON, D.C., 1961 Copyright 1961 by Richard Hall All Rights Reserved 1916-17th St., N. W. Washington 9, D. C. Manufactured in the United States of America ACKNOWLEDGMENT The authors are indebted to many of their colleagues in the field of UFO investigation for material, help, and advice. We particularly wish to thank: Lee R. Munsick, Fulcrum Productions, Morristown, N. J. Lex Mebane, Isabel Davis, and Ted Bloecher, Civilian Saucer Intelligence, New York City Major Donald E. Keyhoe, USMC (Ret.), Director of NICAP J. Escobar Faria, Sao Paulo, Brazil George Popowitch, UFO Research Committee, Akron, Ohio Mrs. Coral Lorenzen, Aerial Phenomena Research Organization, Tucson, Arizona In addition, we wish to thank the following people for permission to quote them or to reprint copyrighted material: Prof. Clyde Tombaugh Dr. Fred C. Fair Dr. Charles H. Otis Wells Alan Webb Walter N. Webb Dr. Seymour L. Hess Bulkey S. Griffin Flying Saucer Review (London) C. A. M. R. H. Front Pages TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword v Introduction vi Part I. The UFO Mystery Chapter 1 The Challenge 1 Chapter 2 Report to Congress 12 Chapter 3 Recent Sightings in The Pacific 21 Chapter 4 The Swedish "Ghost Rockets” 32 Part II. A Scientist Looks At UFOs Chapter 1 Scientist Finds Some Saucer Reports Still To Be Satisfactorily Explained 38 Chapter 2 Saucers and Science 45 Chapter 3 An Open Letter To Scientists 55 Chapter 4 The Phenomena Of Angel Hair 58 Chapter 5 UFO Fleets Over Washington D. C. 64 Chapter 6 A New Dimension in UFO Phenomena 70 Chapter 7 Scientific Aspects of UFO Research 76 Chapter 8 NICAP and The UFO Challenge 83 Chapter 9 An Evaluation Of Aime Michel's Straight Line Mystery 91 Chapter 10 The New UFO Policy Of The U. S. Air Force 100 Part III A Philosopher Looks At UFOs Chapter 1 On The Physical Realities Of UFOs 107 Chapter 2 The Semantics Of Flying Saucers 117 Chapter 3 Science and the Unexpected 124 Chapter 4 The Manipulators Of Fear 129 Chapter 5 UFOlogy—A Delineation 133 Chapter 6 The UFOs And Proof 136 Chapter 7 Pigeon-Holes of Science 141 Chapter 8 The Scientific Obligation 161 Chapter 9 Why the Air Force UFO Investigation Is Unscientific 167 Appendix A. Documents Cited In the Text 176 Appendix B. The Griffin Statement 182 Appendix C. Some Statements by Scientists and Pilots 183 Appendix D. Skyhook Balloons 185 Appendix E. Electro-Magnetic Report 186 Appendix F. NICAP Advisor and Subcommittee List 205 Glossary 207 Partial Index 208 FOREWORD The undersigned was requested to write a brief foreword. He has consented to do this for several reasons. He considers it his duty to aid in any reasonable way in the study of a subject for which his own long experience entitles him to express an opinion. Also that the subject of UFOs is one which should be studied scientifically, which it has not been due to suppression of pertinent data and also to subjecting reports of trained and reputable people to ridicule. Further to the certainty that, to date, we do not know what some of these phenomena are and what causes them. Also that it is even possible that they might eventually have serious effects upon our planet and its inhabitants, either for good or ill. In any case the fullest scientific study should be given them. Again reputable people, especially pilots, should be encouraged, not discouraged, to report all unusual phenomena in our atmosphere. The writer has no personal theory to advance or refute; his hope is that, in writing this foreword, he will encourage more observers to report and help dispel the official secrecy which so far has hampered proper study by qualified scientists. In this latter respect he can personally testify that his friend Dr. Lincoln LaPaz was unable to furnish him with information because it was classified, and that, on trying to get it from Washington, the attempt failed. And these data referred to certain fireballs, not UFOs. This indicates to what extent censorship of data can go. Charles P. Oliver President, American Meteor Society (Dr. Oliver is Emeritus Professor of Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania.) INTRODUCTION Accounts of phenomena popularly referred to as "flying saucers,” more dignifiedly labeled "unidentified flying objects" or UFOs, continue to persist in the world news. The reports of these strange phenomena of the skies have been attracting public attention for thirteen years and there is apparently no let-up in sight. Although within a given region on earth long lulls between sightings have been noted, during such local lulls, other parts of the world have witnessed extra concentrations of sightings. In spite of the persistent reports of their repeated occurrences there appears to be more popular confusion of thought in regard to these phenomena and less understanding of what they are today than when they were first observed and noted in the news. Actually it appears that the great majority of the general public, including the fraternity of scientists themselves, regard reports of UFOs as figments of the imagination, or distorted interpretations of natural phenomena. This book in a group of articles by two serious students of these phenomena represents an effort to arrive at the true facts of this subject. Each of the two authors presents his own version and his own interpretation of the phenomena independently of the other. However, it will be noted that their two interpretations have much in common, although arrived at separately. Those who thoughtfully read these articles will, of course, come to their own conclusions as to the nature of these reported phenomena. Everyone is deserving of respect for his own opinion, especially so if it is arrived at by serious effort in the evaluation of accessible information. Let it be said, however, that whether he be an average person or whether he even be a Nobel-prize-winning scientist, his opinion should be discounted on any subject outside of his particular interest if he has not taken the trouble to examine seriously and attempt to evaluate a considerable body of facts on that subject. To the authors of this book who have devoted much of their time over a number of years in the effort to discover the significance of these reported sightings, these UFOs constitute a real challenge. It is hoped that the contents of this book will awaken others also to accept this challenge and to cooperate in a great effort to solve this problem. If it appears that this planet earth is being visited by intelligence from outer space, then it is obvious that those who reside on this planet should not remain unconcerned about it, as is now the situation generally. If this book, composed in sincere effort to arrive at the truth, contributes in moderate measure to the awakening of men's minds to the acceptance of these new realities, it will have satisfactorily accomplished its main purpose. C. A. M. PART I: THE UFO MYSTERY Chapter 1 The Challenge "It is the majority opinion of the NICAP Board of Governors and Panel of Special Advisors that the unknown devices reported by reliable observers are intelligently controlled machines from outer space. Joining in this opinion are the following: Board Members Dr. Marcus Bach, Iowa State University The Rev. Albert Bailer, Greenfield, Massachusetts Mr. Frank Edwards, Mutual Broadcasting System Col. Robert B. Emerson, USAR, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Rear Adm. H. B. Knowles, USN (Ret.), Eliot, Maine Professor C. A. Maney, Defiance College, Ohio Special Advisors Norman Bean, WTVJ engineer, Miami, Florida Albert M. Chop, former AF information official on UFOs, Pacific Palisades, California A. L. Cochran, electronics engineer, Richardson, Texas Samuel Freeman, former AF Major, Bedminister, New Jersey Frank Halstead, astronomer, Duluth, Minnesota Dr. Leslie K. Kaeburn, biophysicist, Los Angeles, California Professor N. N. Kohanowski, geologist, Fargo, North Dakota Capt. R. B. McLaughlin, USN, missile expert Capt. W. B. Nash, Pan American Airways, Miami Beach, Florida Aeronautical experts agreeing with this conclusion include: (1) William P. Lear, aircraft and electronics development Hermann Oberth, famous rocket pioneer Capt. James Howard, British Overseas Airway Corporation Col. Jao Adil Oliviera, Brazilian Air Force Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding, Royal Air Force And hundreds of others with technical training. "Massive documented evidence confirms UFO reality, their tremendous speeds, intricate maneuvers, unique shapes (disc-and rocket types), and proves they are not earth-made." The above conclusion was communicated to the United States Congress in a confidential report by the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) dated June 21, 1960, urging that all the facts on UFOs be made public to forestall certain secrecy dangers outlined in the report.