Notiziario UFO - 1969 No 2

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Italian magazine "NOTIZIARIO" (Issue 2, 1969), published by "centro unico nazionale per lo studio del fenomeni ritenuti di natura extraterrestre," focuses on the analysis of UFO phenomena and the information control policies of the United States Air Force (USAF).

Anatomy of a Farce: The "Conspiracy of Silence" Continues

The lead article, "Anatomy of a Farce: The 'Conspiracy of Silence' Continues," examines the USAF's approach to UFOs. It features a letter dated January 26, 1953, from Albert M. Chop of the USAF Office of Public Information to Henry Holt & Company. In this letter, Chop acknowledges a proposed book by Major Donald E. Keyhoe on "flying saucers." He states that the Air Force recognizes Keyhoe as a responsible reporter and that information from Air Technical Intelligence records had been made available to him. The letter also notes that the Air Force, through "Project Bluebook," was aware of Keyhoe's conclusion that "Flying Saucers" might be interplanetary and that the Air Force had never denied this possibility. However, it suggests that if controlled maneuvers were confirmed, the interplanetary explanation would be the most logical.

This section also references a 1954 Italian translation of Keyhoe's book, titled "LA VERITA' SUI DISCHI VOLANTI" (The Truth About Flying Saucers), published by Fratelli Bocca. The article posits that the USAF's policy regarding UFOs shifted significantly, leading to what is termed the "flying saucer conspiracy" or "cospirazione" against "flying saucers" by the late 1950s. The CUN (Centro Unico Nazionale) intends to address this topic with documentation, especially in light of the Condon Committee's findings.

Operations & Instructions: UFOs - A Serious Business

This section details the USAF's official stance and procedures regarding Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), referencing Air Force Regulation N. 200-2. It emphasizes that UFOs are a serious matter of competence for the USAF, requiring identification to determine if they pose a threat to US defense or contribute to technical/scientific knowledge. The regulation outlines the responsibility of the USAF to explain UFO phenomena to the American public. It anticipates an increase in UFO phenomena due to public awareness and potential apprehension.

The regulation mandates a methodical and qualified information service. Key responsibilities include: assigning a specific officer as the UFO point of contact, ensuring this officer has investigative experience and possibly scientific/technical background, granting them authority to obtain specialist assistance, and equipping them with necessary tools like binoculars, cameras, Geiger counters, and magnifying glasses.

An order issued by the Inspector General of the USAF on December 24, 1959, directed all USAF base commanders to treat UFO problems with utmost attention, adhering to Air Force Regulation 200-2. This order underscored the importance placed on unidentified flying objects.

Air Force Regulation 200-2: Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO)

This part of the magazine reproduces sections of the USAF's Air Force Regulation No. 200-2, dated September 14, 1969 (though referencing earlier versions). The regulation establishes responsibility and procedures for reporting UFO information and evidence, and for releasing pertinent information to the public.

Key sections covered include:

• Section A - General Provisions: Background information, definitions, objectives, responsibilities, and rules for reporting UFO information.
• Section B - Public Relations, Information, Contacts, and Releases: Guidelines for maintaining public relations, disseminating information, exceptions, and handling contacts.
• Section C - Preparing and Submitting Reports: General information on reporting methods, submission locations, report format, negative or inapplicable data, comments from the preparing officer, classification, and reporting physical evidence.

Crucially, the regulation defines UFOs and distinguishes them from known objects like aircraft, birds, or balloons. It also outlines procedures for reporting "Unidentified Aircraft," which are determined to be aircraft but whose type, purpose, origin, and destination are unknown. These are the responsibility of Air Defense Command and should not be reported as UFOs under this regulation. The regulation also covers aircraft flares, jet exhausts, and condensation trails as known phenomena not to be classified as UFOs.

Exceptions to Information Release (Paragraph 9)

Paragraph 9, titled "Exceptions," is highlighted as particularly significant. It states that local inquiries resulting from UFO sightings near an Air Force base may only be answered if the sighting has been positively identified as a familiar or known object. If a sighting is unexplainable or difficult to identify due to insufficient information or inconsistencies, the only statement to be released is that the sighting is under investigation. If the investigation is complete, the results may be submitted to the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) for review. This policy is interpreted by some as the "conspiracy of silence" that the USAF has allegedly maintained.

JANAP 146(D) - CIRVIS Reports

The magazine also introduces Joint-Army-Navy-Air-Publication 146 (JANAP 146), which governs the transmission of CIRVIS (Communication Instructions for Reporting Vital Intelligence Sightings) reports. These reports cover sightings made from air or ground, and MERINT reports for sea observations. The regulation details what information is to be reported and when, including hostile or unidentified aircraft, missiles, submarines, surface vessels, and unusual activities that may indicate a threat.

Section III of JANAP 146 addresses security, noting that CIRVIS transmissions are subject to US and Canadian communications acts. Unauthorized transmission or disclosure of such reports can lead to prosecution, as the information affects national defense. The purpose is to emphasize that such information should only be handled through official channels.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are government secrecy, information control, and the official handling of UFO phenomena. The magazine appears critical of the USAF's policies, suggesting a deliberate effort to conceal or downplay unexplained sightings, thereby contributing to a "conspiracy of silence." The editorial stance is one of investigative journalism, aiming to uncover and present documentation related to UFOs and the official responses to them, particularly in contrast to the more open approach of earlier periods like the Project Blue Book era under Edward J. Ruppelt.

This issue of the magazine, dated April 6, 1966, focuses on the MERINT Radiotelegraph Procedure and related US government regulations concerning Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). The cover prominently displays "MERINT RADIOTELEGRAPH PROCEDURE" and "UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS," with a graphic illustration of a naval reporting system.

MERINT Radiotelegraph Procedure

The article introduces the MERINT (Military Event Reporting and Intelligence Transmission) procedure, alongside the CIRVIS (Communication Instructions and Reporting Vital Information System) procedure, as mandated by JANAP 146. These procedures are designed for reporting anything that could be considered a threat to the United States and Canada. The MERINT procedure is detailed with a graphic representation from the United States Navy Department, outlining what to report, to whom, and how. It specifies reporting hostile or unidentified aircraft, missiles, flying objects, submarines, and surface vessels, as well as any unusual activity indicating a potential attack.

Legal Ramifications and National Defense

The document emphasizes that transmissions of MERINT reports are subject to the Communications Act of 1934 (US) and the Canadian Radio Act of 1938. Unauthorized transmission or disclosure of these reports, which contain information affecting the National Defense of the United States and Canada, can lead to prosecution under Title 18 of the US Code, Chapter 37, or the Canadian Official Secrets Act of 1939. The article highlights that UFO sightings fall under the category of information concerning National Defense, suggesting a potential "conspiracy of silence" in the US regarding UFOs.

Shift in Air Force Policy and the Condon Report

The issue discusses a significant shift in US policy regarding UFO investigations, particularly in 1966. It mentions the "Lavoro 55" (Work 55) debate by the House Committee on Armed Services and the USAF's decision to entrust a scientific investigation to the University of Colorado. This led to the replacement of "Air Force Regulation 200-2" with "Air Force Regulation 80-17" on September 19, 1966. This new regulation established the Air Force program for investigating and analyzing UFOs, with objectives including determining if UFOs pose a threat to the US and utilizing scientific data from reports.

Air Force Regulation 80-17 implicitly acknowledged that UFOs could be detected by radar and that such reports were to be safeguarded as classified material. The article notes that the investigations were to be conducted independently and without restrictions, with the University of Colorado enlisting assistance from other institutions.

However, the article also presents a critical perspective, referencing an article by John G. Fuller in LOOK magazine that denounced the University of Colorado's study as a "failed maneuver" possibly influenced by USAF funding, intended to legitimize a "policy of silence." Dr. A. Hynek, a consultant to the USAF, is quoted as stating that the Condon Report was too limited in scope and that its conclusions were insufficient, suggesting that investigations should continue by private citizens with genuine interest.

The article then delves into the "Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects," commonly known as the "Condon Report." It describes the report's methodology, which focused on investigating cases, but notes that the study largely dismissed older, more sensational cases in favor of recent ones, potentially ignoring significant evidence. The report's definition of a UFO is presented, which admits the reality of UFOs regardless of whether the object was real, psychological, or a distorted visual impression.

Specific Incidents and Evidence

Air Force Regulation 80-17, Paragraph 12, addresses the reporting of physical evidence, including radar data. It mandates the submission of radarscope photographs and their classification. The article also mentions a specific incident involving mysterious objects sighted at high speeds over Los Angeles, detected by pilots and radar.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are government procedures for handling UFO reports (MERINT, CIRVIS), the legal framework surrounding national defense information, the evolving official stance on UFO investigations (from denial to investigation), and the critical examination of scientific studies like the Condon Report. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards official explanations and a belief that a "conspiracy of silence" may be in effect, while acknowledging the need for scientific investigation.

This issue of PARIS-PRESSE, dated June 18, 1952, with a cover date of July 12-13, 1957, focuses on UFO phenomena. The main headline, 'Des "soucoupes volantes" dans le ciel de Paris' (Flying Saucers in the Paris Sky), introduces an article detailing multiple witness accounts of unusual aerial objects over the Paris region. The issue also critically examines the findings of the Condon Report, a significant USAF-sponsored investigation into UFOs, and discusses allegations of a 'conspiracy of silence' surrounding the topic.

'Soucoupes Volantes' in the Paris Sky

The article details a series of sightings in the Paris region on June 12, 1952. A control tower at the Bourget aerodrome reported a luminous, round object with a red-orange color, larger than Venus, observed for nearly an hour by a witness, M. Jean-Paul N. This witness, an industrialist, described the object as a large, silver, rectangular body with rounded corners, moving in jerky, non-standard accelerations. Another witness, an ex-aviator, heard a jet engine sound at the same time. The object was also observed by a pilot from the F.B.E.F.M. airline, who described it as a red ball moving towards the southwest. The object reportedly performed a 'dead leaf' fall before disappearing.

Further accounts include a report from the Orly airport control tower about a round object, described as a 'flying disc,' appearing in the southwest after a period of immobility. It was seen to scintillate and move rapidly, changing direction. The object was estimated to be 25-30 meters in diameter and traveled at high speeds.

UFOs in Savona, Italy

Another section reports on mysterious flying objects sighted over Savona, Italy, on July 7, 1966. For three hours, from 10 AM to 1 PM, round objects resembling 'flying discs' flew in formation between Savona and Finale Ligure. Witnesses estimated their diameter at 25-30 meters and their altitude at 8000 meters. Some objects broke formation, hovered, and then moved rapidly towards France. Experts ruled out conventional aircraft or weather balloons due to their formation and flight patterns.

Analysis of the Condon Report and USAF Investigations

The issue presents a critical perspective on the USAF's handling of UFO investigations, particularly referencing the "Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects" (the Condon Report). The article questions the report's methodology and conclusions, suggesting a bias towards dismissing evidence. It highlights that the USAF is responsible only for investigating sightings within the United States, refusing to analyze reports from foreign countries, as evidenced by a letter from Lt. Colonel David L. Stiles of the USAF to an Italian official.

The authors express skepticism about the Condon Report's claim that no scientific knowledge has been gained from UFO studies over the past 21 years. They argue that the report, despite its extensive nature and funding, has not definitively resolved the UFO phenomenon and has instead contributed to an 'atmosphere of opinion' unfavorable to its existence.

Photographic Evidence and Allegations of Cover-up

The article discusses the photographic evidence of UFOs, specifically mentioning the McMinnville photographs taken in 1950 by Paul Trent. It notes that the Condon Report found these photos consistent with an extraordinary object being observed by witnesses. A comparison is made with a similar UFO filmed in Rouen, France, in 1954, suggesting the improbability of a hoax. The authors suggest that the USAF's 'ostrich policy' is due to complex military, psycho-social, and political factors, and that a 'conspiracy of silence' is operating not only in the West but globally.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence of UFO sightings across different countries (France, Italy, USA), the official investigations into these phenomena (particularly the Condon Report and USAF's Project Blue Book), and the skepticism surrounding these investigations, with allegations of a cover-up or a tendency to minimize findings. The editorial stance is critical of official explanations and supportive of the ongoing investigation into UFOs, emphasizing the need for continued, documented analysis of facts. The publication appears to align with organizations like NICAP and CUN, which advocate for a more open and thorough examination of UFO evidence.