THE Airman

Magazine Overview

Title: THE Airman
Issue: JANUARY 1961
Volume: MOMALVI 25
Publisher: THE AIR FORCE
Document Type: Magazine Issue

The Air Force's Official Position on Flying Saucers

This issue of "The Airman" presents the U.S. Air Force's comprehensive stance on the phenomenon of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), framed within the context of national defense. General Thomas D. White is cited, indicating that the Air Force's investigation and analysis of UFOs are directly tied to its responsibility for the defense of the United States. The prompt reporting and rapid identification of these objects are crucial for the four phases of air defense: detection, identification, interception, and destruction.

Statistics on UFO Sightings

The magazine provides statistics on the number of objects sighted and reported to the USAF over a 13-year period, from 1947 to 1960. The total number of reported sightings is 6,523. The data reveals peak years for reported sightings in 1952 (1,501 sightings) and 1957 (1,178 sightings). The article notes that the 1952 peak was influenced by the famous Washington sightings, which triggered a rash of reports. The 1957 peak is linked to the launch of Sputnik I in October of that year, with 701 sightings occurring in the last four months of the year.

Addressing Common Charges and Allegations

The article directly addresses several allegations and charges frequently made against the Air Force regarding UFOs:

1. Charge 1: A Secret document from September 23, 1947, from the Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center concluded that flying saucers were real.
* Air Force Response: There is no official Air Force report or document stating that flying saucers are real. While many possibilities might have been considered in the early stages of the UFO program, such a conclusion or document is non-existent.

2. Charge 2: A 1948 Top Secret document concluded that the unidentified objects were interplanetary spaceships.
* Air Force Response: There has never been an official Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center estimate stating that UFOs were interplanetary spaceships. Again, any consideration of this category was likely part of exploring all possibilities, but no such document exists.

3. Charge 3: A Secret Air Force intelligence analysis of UFO maneuvers concludes that the objects are interplanetary.
* Air Force Response: This charge is also false; no such report or intelligence analysis exists.

4. Charge 4: A Secret report by a panel of top scientists in January 1953 urged the Air Force to quadruple its UFO project and release all UFO information, including Secret Air Force conclusions.
* Air Force Response: On January 14-16, 1953, a scientific advisory panel was convened at the Air Force's request to consider the UFO program. The panel's recommendations, as reported in this charge, are erroneous. The declassified conclusions were that UFOs posed no direct physical threat, were not foreign developments capable of hostile acts, and did not represent unknown phenomena requiring a revision of scientific concepts. However, the panel did conclude that UFOs could pose a threat to national security if not de-emphasized, as sightings could affect defense communications and induce national hysteria through skillful propaganda, potentially screening planned hostile actions. The panel recommended immediate steps to strip UFOs of their mystery, reassure the public about the lack of evidence of inimical forces, and train personnel to reject false indications.

The Air Force's Approach to UFO Investigation

The article emphasizes that the Air Force's approach is one of responsible investigation. It acknowledges that natural phenomena, such as bright fireballs or meteors, are often mistaken for flying saucers. The investigation of reported sightings is conducted thoroughly and scientifically, considering all possibilities. The resources of the Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center are made available for analysis and evaluation. The public is kept informed through periodic releases via established news channels.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Professor of Astrophysics at Northwestern University and Associate Director of the Astrophysical Observatory for the Smithsonian Institution, is identified as the chief scientific consultant to the Air Force on UFOs. He presided over a committee meeting in February 1959 that discussed the Air Force's philosophy and policy regarding the UFO program. Recommendations from this meeting included continuing a positive approach, conducting thorough and scientific investigations, making the full resources of the Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center available, and keeping the public informed.

The Air Force's official position is that it cannot compete with science-fiction writers in satisfying the public's desire to believe in spaceships. The Air Force believes its investigation program is adequate, thorough, and honest. It addresses the mistaken belief that it has not sought outside expertise or is withholding information. The article notes that the UFO subject supports over a hundred organizations, many of which publish news releases and magazines, and they expect the Air Force to provide them with material. The Air Force cannot provide individual attention but uses press releases to ensure impartiality.

National Security and UFOs

The article stresses that the Air Force has a tremendous task in defending the country against known weapon systems. Diverting resources to an enlarged UFO investigation program, for which there is no tangible scientific evidence of extraterrestrial spacecraft, would seriously jeopardize national security against proven threats. The Air Force does not deny that unknown objects have been seen by responsible people, but it questions the interpretation of these sightings. The investigations over the past 13 years have consistently led to the conclusion that the objects were not spacecraft and did not constitute a threat.

The article concludes by stating that if space travel is accomplished or if spaceships from other worlds are discovered, official government announcements would be made. It clarifies that current "flying saucers" are actually aircraft operating within the atmosphere and are not spaceships.

Examples of Misidentification

An illustration shows a B-36 type aircraft in sunlight being mistaken for a cigar-shaped mystery object. Another image depicts an aircraft in a tight turn in rainy, misty weather appearing as a flying saucer to spectators.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the Air Force's diligent and scientific approach to investigating UFO sightings, contrasted with public speculation and sensationalism. The editorial stance is one of reasoned skepticism, prioritizing national security and evidence-based conclusions over unsubstantiated claims of extraterrestrial visitation. The magazine aims to inform the public about the official Air Force position, emphasizing that while UFOs are taken seriously as potential defense matters, the evidence does not support the conclusion that they are alien spacecraft.