Project Blue Book Exposed (2020) - full transcript

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- For 22 years,
starting officially in 1948,

the United States Air
Force was responsible

for investigating reports of
unidentified flying objects.

The United States Air
Force was responsible

That investigation began with
a serious high-priority status

to search for answers.

About a year later,
those involved created

to search for answers.

An estimate of the situation.

That was an
intelligence analysis

of the events that
had taken place.



The conclusion was
that the flying saucers

were interplanetary craft.

The Air Force Chief of Staff,
General Hoyt S. Vandenberg,

were interplanetary craft.

Rejected the analysis and
nearly everyone involved

in its creation found
themselves reassigned.

Rejected the analysis and
nearly everyone involved

The UFO project, then known
as Sign, fell into disarray.

After a series of officers
had been put in charge

and the name changed first
to Grudge, then Blue Book,

investigations
became a priority.

They didn't last very long

and eventually Blue
Book became little more

than a public
relations operation



designed to convince the public

that the Air Force
was doing its job,

that there was no threat
to national security,

and that there was nothing to
the tales of flying saucers.

That there was no threat
to national security,

During the Second World War,
they were called foo fighters,

and in 1946 as they
flew over Scandinavia,

they were known
as ghost rockets.

It wasn't until Boise, Idaho
businessman Kenneth Arnold

saw them near Mount
Rainier, Washington,

that they became flying saucers.

Saw them near Mount
Rainier, Washington,

Although the official
investigation

wouldn't be launched
for another six months,

the Arnold sighting
was the first one

to receive major coverage
in the United States.

Army Air Forces
investigations working

out of the Fourth Air
Force Headquarters

became deeply involved
in the Arnold sighting.

Out of the Fourth Air
Force Headquarters

Arnold made his sighting
of these strange objects

flying one behind the
other at about 9,500 feet

at a speed he estimated to be
more than 1,500 miles an hour.

Flying one behind the
other at about 9,500 feet

This was something that
clearly wasn't made

in secret projects hidden in
the mountains of New Mexico

This was something that
clearly wasn't made

and it wasn't something that
was made by the Soviet Union

as they began to press
for world domination.

This was something strange
that had no ready explanation

other than it was strange and
almost impossible to believe.

This was something strange
that had no ready explanation

When Arnold landed
later in the afternoon

on June 24th in
Yakima, Washington,

When Arnold landed
later in the afternoon

he told the assembled
reporters what he had seen.

In the course of
describing the objects,

he said they moved with a motion

like that of saucers
skipping across the water.

He said they moved with a motion

The shape, however,
according to drawings

that Arnold completed
for the Army,

showed objects that were
keel-shaped with a blunt nose.

In later drawings,
Arnold had elaborated,

showing objects that
were crescent-shaped

In later drawings,
Arnold had elaborated,

with a scalloped trailing edge

and even a clear canopy
over the cockpit.

With a scalloped trailing edge

Later, Arnold would
provide the military

with a written
description of the events

in a document that was
originally classified

but that has long
since been released.

Arnold wrote...

But that has long
since been released.

- On June 24th,
I'd finished my work.

At about two o'clock,

I took off for Chehalis
Washington Airport

with the intention of going
to Yakima, Washington.

I flew directly
toward Mount Rainier

after reaching an altitude
of about 9,500 feet

I flew directly
toward Mount Rainier

which is the
approximate elevation

of the high plateau from
which Mount Rainier rises.

Which is the
approximate elevation

There was a DC-4 to the
left and to the rear of me

approximately 15
miles' distance,

and I should judge a
14,000 foot elevation.

Approximately 15
miles' distance,

I hadn't flown more than
two or three minutes

on my course when a bright
flash reflected on my airplane.

It startled me as I
thought I was too close

on my course when a bright
flash reflected on my airplane.

To some other aircraft.

I looked every place in the sky

and couldn't find where the
reflection had come from

I looked every place in the sky

until I looked to the left
and the north of Mount Rainier

where I observed a chain of
nine peculiar-looking aircraft

flying from north to the south

at approximately
9,500 foot elevation

and going seemingly in
a definite direction

of about 170 degrees.

And going seemingly in
a definite direction

They, the objects,

were approaching Mount
Rainier very rapidly

They, the objects,

and I merely assumed
they were jet planes.

Anyhow, I discovered that this

was where the
reflection had come from

as two or three of them
every few seconds would dip

or change their course
slightly just enough

for the sun to strike
them at an angle

that reflected
brightly on my plane.

For the sun to strike
them at an angle

I thought it was very peculiar
that I couldn't their tails

but assumed they were
some type of jet plane.

I thought it was very peculiar
that I couldn't their tails

I was determined to
clock their speed

as I had two definite points
I could clock them by.

I was determined to
clock their speed

I watched these objects
with great interest

as I had never before
observed airplanes

flying so close to
the mountaintops.

I would estimate their elevation
could've varied 1,000 feet

one way or another, up or down.

I would estimate their elevation
could've varied 1,000 feet

They flew like many times I
have observed geese to fly

in a rather diagonal
chain-like line

as if they were linked together.

Their speed at the time did
not impress me particularly

as if they were linked together.

Because I knew that our Army
and Air Forces had planes

that went very fast.

Because I knew that our Army
and Air Forces had planes

A number of newsmen
and experts suggested

that I might've been
seeing reflections

or even a mirage.

This I know to be
absolutely false

as I observed these objects
not only through the glass

This I know to be
absolutely false

of my airplane, but turned
my airplane sideways

where I could open my
window and observe them

with a completely
unobstructed view.

Where I could open my
window and observe them

When these objects were
flying approximately straight

and level, they were
just a black thin line,

and when they flipped
was the only time

I could get a judgment
as to their size.

And when they flipped
was the only time

- Arnold's sightings didn't gain

front-page status immediately.

Stories about it appeared in
newspapers a day or two later,

usually on page eight or
nine, and then with a comment

about strange objects
in fast flight.

It was, at that time,
the story of an oddity.

Arnold claimed later that
he thought he had seen

It was, at that time,
the story of an oddity.

Some sort of new jet aircraft
and he was a little concerned

about breaking the
security around it.

Some sort of new jet aircraft
and he was a little concerned

In the Project Blue
Book files is a note

about the Arnold case

which labeled it as
incident number 37.

About the Arnold case

The Air Force officers who
reviewed the case wrote,

"The report cannot bear even
superficial examination,

"therefore, must be disregarded.

"There are strong
indications that this report

"and its attendant publicity
is largely responsible

"There are strong
indications that this report

"for subsequent reports."

Note content with a
negative note in the file.

The unidentified
officer also wrote,

"It is to be noted that
the observer has profited

"from his story by selling
it to 'FATE Magazine'."

"It is to be noted that
the observer has profited

Here for the first time
were two accusations

that would be made
about many UFO cases,

that is, the witnesses
were in it for the money

and a suggestion that UFO
reports were the result

that is, the witnesses
were in it for the money

of the snowball effect.

It seems to suggest that
Arnold invented his tale

with an eye to writing a
story about it for "FATE".

There is no evidence
to support this

and Arnold had not
written any articles

There is no evidence
to support this

for any magazines
prior to this sighting.

The editors of "FATE", and
Ray Palmer specifically,

who would become
one of the first

and most vocal proponents
of the flying saucers,

induced Arnold into writing
about what he had seen.

The point then
becomes irrelevant.

The article doesn't seem to
have been a motive for Arnold

but more of a
serendipitous reward

for seeing and reporting the
objects in the first place.

But more of a
serendipitous reward

It seems that those
investigating the flying saucers

didn't see a link between his
sighting and photographs taken

on July 7th, 1947,
in Phoenix, Arizona.

Didn't see a link between his
sighting and photographs taken

William A. Rhodes, a
self-employed scientist

living in Phoenix,
claimed he had taken

what might be considered
the first good photographs

living in Phoenix,
claimed he had taken

of one of the flying saucers.

Initially puzzled by the case,

the military did take
the report seriously.

Initially puzzled by the case,

The investigation
that included the FBI,

whose agent asked not to be
identified as an FBI agent,

accompanied the Army
Air Force's officer

whose agent asked not to be
identified as an FBI agent,

to interview Rhodes.

Rhodes would first
tell reporters

and then various
government investigators,

Rhodes would first
tell reporters

including those from the FBI

and the Army's Counter
Intelligence Corps

that he had been on
his way to his workshop

at the rear of his house when
he heard a distinctive whoosh

that he had been on
his way to his workshop

that he believed to be from a
P-80 Shooting Star fighter jet

which was the fastest airplane
at that particular moment.

That he believed to be from a
P-80 Shooting Star fighter jet

Overhead he saw something
that didn't have the shape

of a conventional aircraft.

He hurried to his lab, grabbed
his camera from his workbench

and hurried outside to a
small mound in his backyard.

He hurried to his lab, grabbed
his camera from his workbench

Rhodes sighted along
the side of his camera

and it took the
first photograph.

He estimated that the object
was circling in the east.

He advanced the film
and then hesitated,

He estimated that the object
was circling in the east.

Thinking that he would wait
for the object to get closer.

Worried that it would disappear
without coming closer,

he snapped the second picture,
finished the film roll,

and his ability to
record the event further.

He snapped the second picture,
finished the film roll,

Rhodes' story, along with
the pictures, appeared

in the Phoenix newspaper "The
Arizona Republic" on July 9th.

Rhodes' story, along with
the pictures, appeared

In that article,
men long experienced

in aircraft recognition
studied both the print

and the negative from
which they were made

and declined to make a guess

on what the flying
object might be.

And declined to make a guess

Rhodes said that the object
appeared to be elliptical

in shape and to have a
diameter of 20 to 30 feet.

Rhodes said that the object
appeared to be elliptical

It appeared to be at
5,000 feet when first seen

and was traveling
according to Rhodes

at 400 to 600 miles per hour.

And was traveling
according to Rhodes

It was gray, which
tended to blend

with the gray overcast
background of the sky.

It was gray, which
tended to blend

The object had,
according to Rhodes

and a confidential report from
the Project Blue Book files,

what appeared to be a
cockpit canopy in the center

which extended toward the
back and beneath the object.

The cockpit did not
protrude from the surface

but was clearly visible
with the naked eye.

The cockpit did not
protrude from the surface

Then on August 29th,
according to a memorandum

from the office in
charge, George Fugate, Jr,

Then on August 29th,
according to a memorandum

a special agent of
the CIC and stationed

at Fourth Air
Force Headquarters,

interviewed Rhodes in person.

Fugate was accompanied
by Special Agent Brower

of the Phoenix FBI Office.

This interview is important
because of some of the confusion

about location of the
negatives and prints

of the photograph that
would develop later.

About location of the
negatives and prints

During the interview,
Rhodes again told the story,

suggesting that he
thought at first

it might have been the
Navy's Flying Flapjack

suggesting that he
thought at first

which had been featured
on the May 1947 cover

of "Mechanix Illustrated".

Which had been featured
on the May 1947 cover

He rejected the idea
because he saw no propellors

or landing gear, though
the overall shape

He rejected the idea
because he saw no propellors

of the craft matched
that of the Flapjack.

Later, research by
various investigators,

both military and civilian,
showed that the Navy built

Later, research by
various investigators,

two Flapjacks but
neither had flown

outside the Bridgeport,
Connecticut area.

The project was canceled in 1947

as the Navy moved to
jet-powered aircraft.

The project was canceled in 1947

While Rhodes was
being interviewed in
his home in Phoenix,

Arnold, because he
lived in the Northwest,

Lieutenant Frank Brown with
Captain William Davidson

took a B-25 and flew up
to Tacoma, Washington,

where Arnold was
investigating Maury Island.

Took a B-25 and flew up
to Tacoma, Washington,

They all got together
in Arnold's hotel room

late in the evening where
Arnold showed them the debris

that had been recovered
on Maury Island

that Dahl and Crisman
had given him.

That had been recovered
on Maury Island

Both Army officers, Brown
and Davidson, believed

that the material was nothing
more than smelter slag.

They were unimpressed but
both man respected Arnold.

They didn't tell
him they believed

They were unimpressed but
both man respected Arnold.

The Maury Island
tale to be a hoax.

All of this takes
us back to Rhodes.

According to Early, Arnold
asked the two officers

what Army intelligence
had learned

about UFOs in the days
after his sighting.

Davidson sat down and then
drew a picture of an object.

He told Arnold, "This
is a drawing of one

"of several photographs we
consider to be authentic."

He told Arnold, "This
is a drawing of one

Brown then added the information

that tied it to the
Rhodes photograph.

He said, "It came from Phoenix,
Arizona, the other day.

"We have prints of
it at Hamilton Field

"but the original negatives
were flown to Washington, D.C."

"We have prints of
it at Hamilton Field

It is clear that those
pictures were the ones

that Rhodes had taken

since there were no other
UFO photographs taken

in July, 1947, in
Phoenix, Arizona.

Since there were no other
UFO photographs taken

It's interesting that Brown
mentioned Hamilton Field

because Rhodes does
the same thing,

and Hamilton Field was part
of the Fourth Air Force

because Rhodes does
the same thing,

in 1947, and Rhodes had
communications with officers

at Fourth Air Force about
his photograph as well.

In 1947, and Rhodes had
communications with officers

In the end, the
Air Force decided

that Arnold had been
fooled by mirages created

as the wind whipped up the snow

at the highest levels
of the mountain.

Rhodes had created a hoax,
no real evidence of that,

but when they had no
other explanation,

Rhodes had created a hoax,
no real evidence of that,

they claimed the
sighting was a hoax.

What they couldn't
explain, and didn't try,

was how Rhodes could
photograph an object

that looked like that
reported by Arnold

was how Rhodes could
photograph an object

without having seen the
Arnold illustrations.

The belief at the beginning
of the official investigation

was that trained
military personnel

and law enforcement
officers made the best,

was that trained
military personnel

most credible witnesses.

Using this criteria, they
selected a number of reports

that seemed inexplicable to them

Using this criteria, they
selected a number of reports

and that seemed to suggest
that the observed craft

were beyond the
technical capability

of any nation on Earth.

Of any nation on Earth.

On July 4th, 1947, there
were a series of sightings

over several Northwest states

that Air Force officers labeled
as either insufficient data

over several Northwest states

for a scientific analysis
or as unidentified.

These involved police officers
and airline flight crews

as well as local civilians.

Many of the reports were
independent of one another

but can be linked by location,

time of day, and other factors.

Combined rather than separated,

time of day, and other factors.

They make a powerful statement

about the nature of
the flying saucers.

They make a powerful statement

Although the first reports
were made by civilians,

it was just a few
minutes after one p.m.

that police officer
Kenneth A. McDowell,

who was near the
Portland Police Station,

noticed that the pigeons began
fluttering as if frightened.

Overhead he saw five large
disks east of the city.

According to the report he
gave to military officers,

three disks were flying east

and two were headed
to the south.

All were flying at high speed

and two were headed
to the south.

And all appeared
to be oscillating.

McDowell alerted other police
officers in an all-car alert

and they immediately
broadcast the information

McDowell alerted other police
officers in an all-car alert

over the police radio.

Two other police
officers, Walter A. Lissy

and Robert Ellis, after
hearing the broadcast,

stopped near a park.

Overhead they saw three
disks moving at high speed.

Stopped near a park.

Neither heard any sound,

but both did see
flashes of brightness

Neither heard any sound,

that could've been
sunlight reflecting

from a metallic surface.

According to them, the
objects moved erratically

from a metallic surface.

And changed their
direction of flight.

They were in sight
for about 30 seconds.

Both men were veterans
of the Second World War

They were in sight
for about 30 seconds.

And both were civilian pilots,

which suggested they
had some experience

around aviation and
aviation assets.

Which suggested they
had some experience

Patrolman Earl Patterson,
after hearing the broadcast,

stopped to search
for any of the disks.

The broadcast had
suggested that the saucers

were coming out of the sun

which meant they were coming
from the direction of the sun.

At first, Patterson
noticed nothing,

but a few seconds later,

At first, Patterson
noticed nothing,

he saw one object
coming out the west

and heading towards
the southwest.

He saw one object
coming out the west

He said that the craft
seemed to be either aluminum

or eggshell white and didn't
flash or reflect the sun.

He said that the craft
seemed to be either aluminum

He also said that he didn't
think they were airplanes

like so many of the others.

Their flight path was
erratic, wobbling and weaving.

Patterson thought they
were radio-controlled

Their flight path was
erratic, wobbling and weaving.

Rather than having a
living pilot onboard.

On the far side of
the Columbia River

in nearby Vancouver, Washington,

On the far side of
the Columbia River

sheriff's deputies Sergeant
John Sullivan, Clarence McKay,

and Fred Krives also
heard the alert broadcast

and ran outside to
look for themselves.

And Fred Krives also
heard the alert broadcast

Over Portland three
to five miles away,

they saw 20 to 30 disks
that looked to them

like a flight of geese.

They heard a low humming sound

which might or might not have
been related to the objects.

They heard a low humming sound

Not long after that,
three Harvard patrolmen

who had also been monitoring
the police radio band

stepped outside, Captain
K.A. Prehn, A.T. Austad,

who had also been monitoring
the police radio band

and Patrolman K.C. Hoff,

saw three to six disks
traveling at high speed.

They couldn't get a
good count on the number

saw three to six disks
traveling at high speed.

Because of the bright
flashes surrounding them.

According to witnesses,

the objects looked like
huge chrome hubcaps

According to witnesses,

and oscillated as they flew.

Sometimes the witnesses
could see a full disk,

then a half-moon, and
then nothing at all.

They did see a plane
overhead as well,

then a half-moon, and
then nothing at all.

But all the witnesses said

that what they were
watching was not aircraft.

But all the witnesses said

This would cause Air Force
investigations to wonder

if aircraft might be a
plausible explanation

for the sightings, despite
the suggestion by the witness.

If aircraft might be a
plausible explanation

They thought that something
the plane's pilot did,

such as tossing shiny
disks from the cockpit,

might have caused the confusion.

And later in the day,
there was another report

might have caused the confusion.

With a similar claim.

The Air Force files
contained a report

that a former Air Corps
veteran said the object he saw

was unlike any plane
he had ever seen.

He thought it appeared
radio-controlled

because the disk
could change direction

at a 90-degree angle
without difficulty.

Because the disk
could change direction

Another witness suggested
that he had seen three objects

fly east across the
Willamette River.

The objects did not
appear to be very high

but they were
traveling very fast.

He said that they looked
like a metallic disk

but they were
traveling very fast.

Glinting in the sun.

He also said that
he and a neighbor

saw a single disk
later that afternoon.

He also said that
he and a neighbor

About four p.m., more
civilians reported more disks.

A woman called the
police telling them

she had watched a single object

A woman called the
police telling them

as shiny as a new
dime flipping around.

An unidentified
man called to say

as shiny as a new
dime flipping around.

That he had seen three disks,

one flying to the east
and the two heading north.

They were shining, shaped
like flattened saucers,

and were traveling
at high speed.

They were shining, shaped
like flattened saucers,

About an hour later, a man said

that he spotted two
white or silver objects

About an hour later, a man said

flying southeast over Portland.

Half an hour later, he
sighted a single disk

headed to the northeast.

Half an hour later, he
sighted a single disk

In Milwaukee, Oregon,
not far from Portland,

Sergeant Claude Cross
reported three objects

In Milwaukee, Oregon,
not far from Portland,

flying to the north.

All were disk-shaped, all
were moving at high speed.

But disks overhead weren't the
only things being reported.

There were objects falling
from the sky as well.

Near Eugene, Oregon, a
railroad cashier said

he saw silver
disks being dropped

out of a white plane
flying over the city.

He saw silver
disks being dropped

A man in Portland recovered
a large piece of paper

he had seen fall
from a great height.

A man in Portland recovered
a large piece of paper

According to reports, the time
that the paper fell coincided

with some of the
flying saucer sightings

which might explain
some of them.

With some of the
flying saucer sightings

The best of the sightings,
and the one that was labeled

as unidentified,
occurred about dusk

as a United Airlines flight
crew saw a single disk.

As unidentified,
occurred about dusk

Minutes later, they
spotted several others.

Captain E.J. Smith, the
captain of the flight,

explained it this way.

- As our flight
number 105 took off

from Boise, Idaho at
four p.m. Pacific time,

the tower joshingly warned us

to be on the lookout
for flying saucers.

My co-pilot, Ralph
Stevens, was in control

shortly after we
got into the air.

Suddenly, he switched
on the landing lights.

Shortly after we
got into the air.

He said he thought
he saw an aircraft

approaching us head-on.

I noticed the objects
then for the first time.

We saw four or five somethings.

I noticed the objects
then for the first time.

One was larger than the
rest, and for the most part,

kept off the right of the
other three or four similar

One was larger than the
rest, and for the most part,

but smaller objects.

Since we were flying northwest,
roughly into the sunset,

we saw whatever they were
in at least partial light.

We saw them clearly.

We saw whatever they were
in at least partial light.

We followed them in a
northwesterly direction

for about 45 miles.

We followed them in a
northwesterly direction

Then I called the attendant

at the Ontario,
Oregon radio tower,

giving an approximate location
and course for the objects.

The attendant acknowledged our
call, went outside to look,

giving an approximate location
and course for the objects.

But was unable to see anything
like what we'd described.

Finally the object disappeared
in a burst of speed.

We were unable to tell

whether they outsped
us or disintegrated.

We were unable to tell

We were never able to
catch them in our DC-3.

Our airspeed at the time
was 185 miles per hour.

Through the Boise air tower,
we radioed another United plane

to see if it had seen anything.

That plane flying
eastbound into the night

had not sighted them.

Because we were
following the objects

at roughly the same altitude,

we can't say anything
about their shape

at roughly the same altitude,

except they were thin and
were smooth on the bottom

and rough-appearing on the top.

Except they were thin and
were smooth on the bottom

- Smith called
the flight attendant,

Marty Morrow, to the cockpit
to, in Smith's words,

verify they were actually
seeing the disks.

He saw four or more disks,
three clustered together

and a fourth flying off
in the distance by itself.

He saw four or more disks,
three clustered together

The objects were in sight
for 10 to 15 minutes

which means that she was able
to get a good look at them.

The objects were in sight
for 10 to 15 minutes

Not everyone was convinced

that the sightings were of
unconventional aircraft.

Colonel G.R. Dodson,

a commander in the
Oregon National Guard,

told reporters that he had
made an inspection of the area

from the air but that he had
found nothing suspicious.

Told reporters that he had
made an inspection of the area

Solutions were offered by
some of the local residents.

One thought that the
sightings were the result

of cottonwood blossoms
drifting on the wind.

Another complained
about the news coverage,

believing it all to be a hoax.

Another complained
about the news coverage,

He said that he had seen
an airplane fly over

and about a minute later
he saw what he believed

He said that he had seen
an airplane fly over

to be bits of aluminum foil

that might have been
cigarette wrappers.

To be bits of aluminum foil

Air Force officers mentioned
that radar chaff had been seen

in the area but offered no
evidence to back up the claim.

The idea that a
private plane pilot

was dropping small silver disks
took on greater importance.

In the only news story that
might have been of importance,

the Oregon Journal noted
that the only known airplanes

In the only news story that
might have been of importance,

in the area at the
time of the reports

were 23 B-29 bombers
near Astoria.

In the area at the
time of the reports

A formation of that size
would've been difficult

to misidentify, not to
mention that the roar

A formation of that size
would've been difficult

that the engines
would've caused.

Dr. James McDonald, an
atmospheric scientist,

interviewed Smith, the
United Airlines captain,

about his sighting.

In a prepared statement
to United States

House of Representatives
Committee

on Science and
Astronomics' Symposium

of the Unidentified
Flying Objects

in July, 1968,
McDonald reported...

- Smith emphasized to me

that there were no cloud
phenomena to confuse them here

- Smith emphasized to me

and that they observed
these objects long enough

to be quite certain that they
were no conventional aircraft.

They appeared flat on the
bottom, rounded on the top,

to be quite certain that they
were no conventional aircraft.

He told me, and he added
that there seems to be

a perceptible roughness
of some sort on top,

though he could not
refine the description.

Almost immediately after they
lost sight of the first five,

though he could not
refine the description.

A second formation of four,

three in a line and a
fourth off to the side,

moved in ahead of
their position,

again traveling westward but
at a somewhat higher altitude

than the DC-3's 8,000 feet.

These passed quickly out of
sight to the west at speeds

which they felt were far
beyond then known speeds.

Smith emphasized that they
were never certain of sizes

which they felt were far
beyond then known speeds.

And distances but that they
had the general impression

that these disk-like craft
were appreciably larger

and distances but that they
had the general impression

than ordinary aircraft.

Smith emphasized that he
had not taken seriously

the previous week's
news accounts

Smith emphasized that he
had not taken seriously

that coined the since
persistent term flying saucer

but after seeing this total

of nine unconventional
high-speed wingless craft

but after seeing this total

on the evening of
July 4th, 1947,

he became much more
interested in the matter.

Nevertheless, in
talking with me,

he stressed that he
would not speculate

on their real nature or origin.

He stressed that he
would not speculate

- These
reports were investigated

by Army officers at the time,

though the reports seemed
to be fairly superficial.

That is, there were objects
seen high in the sky

though the reports seemed
to be fairly superficial.

For seconds or a minute or two.

As part of the Project
Grudge final report

for seconds or a minute or two.

Written in 1949, one
of the officers wrote,

"This investigation can offer
no definitive hypothesis

"but in passing, would like
to note the incidents occurred

"on the 4th of July and that
if relatively small pieces

"of aluminum foil
had been dropped

"on the 4th of July and that
if relatively small pieces

"from a plane over the area,

"then any one object
would be visible

"from a plane over the area,

"at a relatively short distance.

"Even moderate wind velocities
would give the illusion

"that fluttering gyrating
disks had gone by

"at great velocities.

"Various observers
would not, of course,

"in this case, have
seen the same objects."

"Various observers
would not, of course,

The officer also noted that
the above is not to be regarded

as a very likely explanation,
but only as a possibility.

The officer also noted that
the above is not to be regarded

The occurrence on these
incidents on July 4th

may have been more
than coincidence.

Some prankster might
have tossed such objects

may have been more
than coincidence.

Out of an airplane as part

of an Independence
Day celebration.

Out of an airplane as part

The thing that the
Air Force did here

was link the case
by date and location

but didn't think of them as a
continuation of one sighting.

Once a police officer had
alerted his fellow officers

to the object, they,
in different locations

and at different times,
went outside or looked up

and were able to spot them.

The descriptions are
of a similar type,

dish-shaped object flying
alone or in formations.

That they were
seeing the same thing

from different locations
suggested something

That they were
seeing the same thing

that was very high or
that there was more

than one formation.

That was very high or
that there was more

The thing to be remembered that
even if the police officers

in the one location were
fooled by something,

those officers observing it
from a different perspective

might have been
able to identify it

if there was a
terrestrial explanation.

Since that didn't
happen, it would seem

that there was something
very strange going on here.

Add to this the sighting by
Smith and his airline crew

which we can do because
they observed the craft

on the same day and in
the same general location.

We have a new
dimension to the case.

Smith's report was
labeled unidentified,

meaning that he and
his crew were able

to give a detailed description
of what they had seen.

Meaning that he and
his crew were able

We have to wonder if that
was because they were met

by reporters when he landed.

We have to wonder if that
was because they were met

Had his report not received
the attention it did

and had he not provided
the detail he did,

might it have ended up with
only a little information

and had he not provided
the detail he did,

and a label of insufficient
data for scientific analysis?

Army Air Force's investigation

which took the report
seriously in the summer of 1947

failed to find a
satisfactory explanation

for these sightings.

Failed to find a
satisfactory explanation

It should be remembered
that in this case,

there was nothing other
than witness testimony,

It should be remembered
that in this case,

witnesses who were
separated by distance

but who, in some
cases, had been warned

about the flying saucers
by the police radio

and who had claimed to have
seen basically the same thing.

About the flying saucers
by the police radio

These sightings are interesting

and we have to wonder what
more might have been learned

had a little more
effort been made

in the investigation of them.

Had a little more
effort been made

Although it has been said
there is a single case

in the Blue Book files
in which alien creatures

Although it has been said
there is a single case

were reported that
wasn't labeled

as some sort of
psychological program,

there are several good
cases hidden in there.

Skeptics, disbelievers,
and debunkers like to say

that there is no evidence

that alien creatures
have visited the planet.

They ignore, reject,
or are unaware

that the Blue Book files
do contain examples

of physical evidence
that has been recovered.

The best of those cases came
from Socorro, New Mexico,

on April 24th, 1964.

The best of those cases came
from Socorro, New Mexico,

Lonnie Zamora, then a
police officer in Socorro,

saw a landed object

and two small humanoids
standing near it.

Saw a landed object

According to Project Blue Book,
Zamora was chasing a speeder

when he heard a loud roar
and saw a flash of light

in the southwestern sky.

Fearing that a dynamite
shed on the edge of town

might have exploded,
Zamora broke off the chase

and headed in that direction.

Might have exploded,
Zamora broke off the chase

Captain Hector Quintanilla
added more detail to the story

as it was told by Zamora during
the official investigation.

Quintanilla later wrote...

- It was off the road
to the left in the arroyo,

Quintanilla later wrote...

And at first glance it looked
like a car turned over,

but when he drove closer it
appeared to be aluminum clay,

not chrome, and oval-shaped
like a football.

Zamora drove about 50
feet along the hill crest,

radioing back to the
sheriff's office,

"10-44," meaning
accident, "I'll be 10-6,"

meaning busy, out of the car,

"Checking a wreck down in
the arroyo," Zamora said.

From this point,
seated in the car,

he could not see the object
over the edge of the hill.

As he stopped the car, he was
still talking on the radio,

and while he was getting
out he dropped his mic.

He picked it up and put it back

and started down
towards the object.

He picked it up and put it back

Zamora then said, "As soon as
I saw flames and heard roar,

"ran away from object but did
turn, head towards object.

"Object was in shape.

"It was smooth, no
windows or doors.

"As roar started, it
was still on the ground.

"It was smooth, no
windows or doors.

- Quintanilla said,
"I was determined

"to solve the case, and
come hell or high water,

- Quintanilla said,
"I was determined

"I was going to find the
vehicle or the stimulus.

"I decided that it was
imperative for me to talk

"to the base commander at
Holloman Air Force Base.

"I wanted to interview the
base commander at length

"to the base commander at
Holloman Air Force Base.

"about special
activities from his base.

"I needed help to pull this off

"so I called Lieutenant
Colonel Maston Jacks at SAFOI.

"I needed help to pull this off

"I told him what I
wanted to do and he asks,

"'Do you think it
will do any good?'

"I replied, 'Goddammit
Maston, if there is an answer

"'to this case, it has to be
in some hanger at Holloman.'"

He went to work with his
position at the Pentagon

and the approval for
his visit came through.

Colonel Garman was the base
commander during his visit.

And the approval for
his visit came through.

"He was most
cooperative and told me

"that I could go anywhere
and visit any activity

"He was most
cooperative and told me

"which interested me.

"I went from one end of
the base to the other.

"I spent four days talking
to everybody I could

"and spent almost a whole day

"with the down-range controllers

"at the White Sands
Missile Range.

"I left Holloman dejected
and convinced that the answer

"to Zamora's experience
did not originate

"and terminate at this base.

"to Zamora's experience
did not originate

"On my way back to
Wright-Patterson,
I hit upon an idea.

"Why not a lunar
landing vehicle?

"I knew that some research had
been done at Wright-Patterson

"so as soon as I got back
I asked for some briefings.

"The briefings were
extremely informative,

"but the Lunar Landers
were not operational

"in April of 1964.

"but the Lunar Landers
were not operational

"I got the names of
the companies that
were doing research

"in this field and I
started writing letters.

"I got the names of
the companies that
were doing research

"The companies were
most cooperative,

"but their answers
were all negative.

"I labeled the case
unidentified and the UFO buffs

"and hobby clubs had
themselves a field day.

"According to them,
there was proof

"that our beloved
planet had been visited

"by an extraterrestrial vehicle.

"Although I labeled
the case unidentified,

"I've never been satisfied
with that classification."

"Although I labeled
the case unidentified,

It has been claimed
that the only case

involving occupants,
creatures associated

with a landed UFO that was
labeled as unidentified,

was that from
Socorro, New Mexico.

With a landed UFO that was
labeled as unidentified,

Although somewhat hidden in
the Project Blue Book files,

there is another that took
place almost two years later.

Hynek mentioned it in his
book, "The Hynek UFO Report",

but he doesn't give a location

and he dates it with
a newspaper clipping

from the "Dallas Times Herald".

And he dates it with
a newspaper clipping

Although Hynek suggests the case

is from the Wichita
Falls, Texas, area

and the witness, W.E. Laxson,
was a civilian employee

is from the Wichita
Falls, Texas, area

at Sheppard Air Force
Base in Wichita Falls,

the government files list
the case as Temple, Oklahoma.

At Sheppard Air Force
Base in Wichita Falls,

The newspaper clipping
cited by Hynek

is dated March 27th, 1966,

but the sighting occurred
on March 23rd, 1966.

With the misdirection from
Hynek probably as a result

but the sighting occurred
on March 23rd, 1966.

Of the classified nature of the
case when he wrote his book,

it took a while to
deduce the facts.

Of the classified nature of the
case when he wrote his book,

Hynek, using the
newspaper account,

said there was nothing
in it that varied

from what was in
the government file.

That file said, "Observer
W.E. Eddie Laxson

"was driving his car
along the highway

"at approximately 5:05 a.m.
on the 23rd of March, 1966,

"was driving his car
along the highway

"when he noticed
an object parked

"on the road in front of him.

"He stopped the car and got out

"so to get a better
view of the object.

"The object was so parked
that it blocked out a portion

"of the road curb sign.

"There were no sharp edges
noticed by the observer.

"of the road curb sign.

"The object had the appearance
of a conventional aircraft,

"a C-124, without
wings or motors.

"There was a Plexiglas
bubble on top

"similar to a B-26 canopy.

"There was a Plexiglas
bubble on top

"As the observer approached,

"he noticed a man wearing a
baseball cap enter the object

"by steps from the bottom.

"After the man
entered the object,

"it began to rise
from the pavement

"and headed on a
southeasterly direction

"at approximately
720 miles per hour.

"The object had
forward and aft lights

"that were very bright.

"The object had
forward and aft lights

"As the object rose
from the ground,

"a high-speed drill
type of sound was heard

"plus a sound like
that of a welding rod

"when an arc is struck.

"plus a sound like
that of a welding rod

"The object was 75 feet long,

"about eight feet from
the top to the bottom,

"and about 12 feet wide.

"There was some type of supports

"on the bottom of the object.

"After the object disappeared,

"the witness got
back into his car

"and drove approximately
15 miles down the highway.

"At this time, the
original witness stopped

"and drove approximately
15 miles down the highway.

"and talked with
another individual

"who had also stopped
along the roadway

"and talked with
another individual

"to watch some
lights over Red River

"which is approximately five
or six miles to the southeast.

"to watch some
lights over Red River

"Various organizations
were contacted

"around the Temple,
Oklahoma area

"for a possible experimental
or conventional aircraft.

"The observer stated that
he thought the object

"for a possible experimental
or conventional aircraft.

"was some type of Army or
Air Force research aircraft.

"All attempts at such an
explanation proved fruitless

"since there were no
aircraft in the area

"at the time of the sightings.

"Although there are
numerous helicopter

"and other experimentals
in the area,

"Although there are
numerous helicopter

"none could be put
in the area of Temple

"at approximately five o'clock
on the 23rd of March, 1966.

"none could be put
in the area of Temple

"Because of this factor,
the case is listed

"as unidentified
by the Air Force."

"Because of this factor,
the case is listed

The second witness who was not
interviewed by the Air Force

and who, according
to the government
file, did not fill out

their long and involved
form, was C.W. Anderson.

Anderson confirmed
for the newspaper

their long and involved
form, was C.W. Anderson.

That he had seen
the craft as well.

He told the reporter, "I
know that people will say

"that Laxson is durned crazy,
but that's what I say."

He told the reporter, "I
know that people will say

Anderson said that he thought

the object had been
following him down the road.

He had watched it in his rear
view mirror for several miles.

The problem for the Air Force

was that Anderson did
not complete their form.

He didn't see the pilot
or crewmen either.

Was that Anderson did
not complete their form.

The drawing of the object
made by Laxson resembled that

which Lonnie Zamora had made
of the craft he had saw,

which means it was
sort of egg-shaped.

It was certainly longer
and was lying on its side.

Which means it was
sort of egg-shaped.

Like Zamora, Laxson said that
he saw symbols on the object,

but unlike Zamora,
he recognized them.

Like Zamora, Laxson said that
he saw symbols on the object,

He told the reporter
that, "On the side,

"I made out T-L-A, with
the last two figures 38."

He told the reporter
that, "On the side,

In what might be described
as a fit of honesty,

the Air Force admitted they
had no solution for the case.

In what might be described
as a fit of honesty,

The description of the alien
was more human than humanoid

and he seemed to be dressed
in conventional clothing,

The description of the alien
was more human than humanoid

right to the mechanic's hat.

Investigations revealed
a second witness

and that might have
influenced the Air Force,

especially since the
men had never met

prior to the sighting.

Especially since the
men had never met

In the end, they labeled
the case as unidentified.

In a review of
government records,

another case, also labeled
as unidentified, was found.

In a review of
government records,

This one took place
in Pittsburg, Kansas.

The case is a single witness
and has gone nearly unreported

for more than 60 years.

The case is a single witness
and has gone nearly unreported

William Squires was
on his way to work

along Highway 160 about
eight miles from Pittsburg

when he sighted an unknown
object hovering over a field.

It was about 27 feet in
length at about 12 feet high.

When he sighted an unknown
object hovering over a field.

Squires thought it had the
appearance of an airfoil.

He said that he saw small
propellors around the perimeter.

Squires thought it had the
appearance of an airfoil.

They were about a
foot in diameter.

There were also a number
of windows in the craft

and through one of them,
Squires could see a man

who seemed to be
controlling the object.

He was facing forward to
the edge of the object.

The windows were
described as blue,

becoming darker as time passed.

The windows were
described as blue,

This seems to be
the type of sighting

the Air Force would
dismiss as psychological,

which would be a nice way
of saying that it was a hoax

the Air Force would
dismiss as psychological,

and there was something
wrong with the witness.

However, there was some
physical evidence left behind

according to the
government file.

However, there was some
physical evidence left behind

The object reported as
hovering over an open field

used for cattle grazing,

general area under the exact
location was pressed down

used for cattle grazing,

and formed a round
60-foot-diameter impression

with the grass in a
recognizable concentric pattern.

Loose grass lay on
top of the impression

as if drawn in by suction

when the object ascended
vertically at a high speed.

Vegetation and grass
approximately three

to four inches high.

Vegetation and grass
approximately three

Area was extremely
dry at present.

Grass showed where
Squires had walked in

to a fence and stopped.

L.V. Baxter and D. Whitener,
local employees of KOMA,

to a fence and stopped.

Went to the place of
the sighting, 11:35 CST,

with Squires and confirmed
his path to the fence

and the 60-foot-diameter
impression in the tall grass.

With Squires and confirmed
his path to the fence

Robert E. Greens
visited the site at 1600

on the 25th of August of 1952,

with source and reports that
the vegetation was laid down

on the 25th of August of 1952,

in concentric circles but with
the impression less distinct

than reported by
Whitener and Baxter.

In concentric circles but with
the impression less distinct

Green obtained grass
and soil samples

at the immediate area where
the impression was made

and also gathered
control samples

200 yards removed from the site.

He is sending some to the Air
Technical Intelligence Center,

airmail, special delivery.

He is sending some to the Air
Technical Intelligence Center,

What is strange about
this case is the fact

that there seemed to
be little interest

in the pilot of the craft.

Although there is another
point where he was discussed,

there's no real addition
to the information.

Clearly, based on
these descriptions,
that alien was human,

or human enough to be
indistinguishable from a human.

Squires did suggest that the
occupant seemed to be frenzied

or human enough to be
indistinguishable from a human.

In his activities
inside the craft.

Although this case is
essentially single-witness,

there was the physical
evidence left by the craft.

Others, Baxter, Whitener, and
Green, did see the impressions

there was the physical
evidence left by the craft.

In the ground left by the craft.

Eventually this sort of
evidence would become known

as a saucer nest, meaning simply

that the crushed vegetation
left by a UFO on the ground

had somewhat similar features
to other parts of the country

that the crushed vegetation
left by a UFO on the ground

and other parts of the world.

The ultimate description
would be of a crop circle.

And other parts of the world.

Here, rather than
an elaborate design,

it was a simple circle of
crushed or flattened grass.

Here, rather than
an elaborate design,

The soil samples taken by Green

were analyzed by the Air Force.

The soil samples taken by Green

In a short report of
a single paragraph,

the technician said they
had found no radiation,

burning, or stress of any kind.

In other words, there
was nothing to the sample

to distinguish those taken
from the landing area

or from those taken
200 yards away.

To distinguish those taken
from the landing area

There's one final
aspect to the case

that is mildly interesting.

In a couple of the letters
from the government files,

there is a notation that
reminds all of paragraph seven

In a couple of the letters
from the government files,

which is a paragraph
in the regulations

that requires unidentified
cases be classified.

Which is a paragraph
in the regulations

Those who have
information about the case

are not allowed to
discuss it with those

Those who have
information about the case

who do not have the
proper clearances.

J. Allen Hynek, writing
in "The Hynek UFO Report",

provides a glimpse
into the thinking

at Blue Book at the
time of this sighting.

He wrote, "My skepticism
was so great at that time

"that I was quite willing to
dismiss it as a hallucination."

He wrote, "My skepticism
was so great at that time

Even with that admitted
bias against the case

which never received
wide exposure,

there's another which
the witness said

that he had seen the pilot
of an unidentified craft

there's another which
the witness said

and that was left as
unidentified by the Air Force.

In their zeal to label cases,

and that was left as
unidentified by the Air Force.

This seems to be another
that they missed.

They could've easily
labeled it as psychological,

if not for the darned
landing traces.

They could've easily
labeled it as psychological,

Keeping with their
tradition of labeling cases

but not solving them, the
Air Force officers decided

that witnesses had
psychological problems

if they claimed to
have seen the beings

outside of their craft.

There's no need to investigate
if the witness is unreliable

or under the influence of
some kind of mental problem.

There's no need to investigate
if the witness is unreliable

In the Pittsburg, Kansas case,
there is the same problem.

Here was a case in which
the object interacted

with the environment.

True, it was a single witness,

with the environment.

But it left marks on the ground.

Rather than send in someone
to review it carefully,

the Air Force allowed samples
to be gathered by a civilian.

They may have provided
some guidance,

but it would seem that an
expert with the proper training

should have been sent if
the Air Force was serious

about investigating UFOs.

Should have been sent if
the Air Force was serious

There is another
aspect to this case

and that is that
a military officer

did gather some of the data.

Green was apparently
a second lieutenant

in the Army Reserve.

He is the man who
collected the samples.

In the Army Reserve.

But this is not to suggest

that his military
training had covered that,

but his membership in the
Reserve caused one problem.

The report he filed with
his chain of command

made its way eventually
to the Air Force,

but they delayed it.

Made its way eventually
to the Air Force,

Zamora seemed to
be a single witness

but there was physical
evidence left behind.

Here, the Air Force
responded quickly,

gathering evidence, and
analyzed the situation.

They found no answer
that satisfied them.

Gathering evidence, and
analyzed the situation.

There is the possibility that
there were two witnesses.

They appeared after the fact

but are not from
the Socorro area,

and their stories seem
to have been embellished

with facts from news reports.

In fact, in all the cases,

there was some physical
evidence to be examined.

The cases did not rest solely

on the testimony
of the witnesses.

The cases did not rest solely

If there wasn't some kind
of physical evidence,

there was another witness to
corroborate the sightings.

If there wasn't some kind
of physical evidence,

The Cisco Grove occupant
report is just one more example

of an opportunity
that was missed,

The Cisco Grove occupant
report is just one more example

or rather, one that seems
to have been missed.

There was some
corroborative testimony

from the other hunters.

There was some
corroborative testimony

There was the
damage to the arrows

and then there was the report

that the area had been cleaned.

And then there was the report

What we don't know
is who had been out

in the forest cleaning the areas

in which the witness claimed
to have seen the alien beings.

Just who could have done that?

In which the witness claimed
to have seen the alien beings.

There is evidence
that not all sightings

made it to Project Blue Book

There is evidence
that not all sightings

even though the regulations
seemed to require that.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek, who
was a scientific consultant

even though the regulations
seemed to require that.

To Project Blue
Book for many years,

often said that the really
good cases didn't make it

into the Blue Book files.

He suspected another
reporting system

but he couldn't prove
that there was one.

He suspected another
reporting system

Hints about this
other investigation

came from Brigadier
General Arthur Exon

Hints about this
other investigation

who was the base commander

at Wright-Patterson Air
Force Base in the mid 1960s.

Exon said that while
he was base commander,

he would periodically
receive telephone calls

which ordered him to
prepare an aircraft

for a mission outside the
local Wright-Patterson area.

Which ordered him to
prepare an aircraft

Exon himself described
this in May 19 of 1991

in a recorded interview.

He said, "I know that
while I was there,

"I had charge of all the
administrative airplanes

"and had to sign priority
airplanes to the members

"who would go out and
investigate reported sightings.

"I remember several out
in Wyoming and Montana

"and that area in the
'60s, '64 and '65.

"I knew there were
certain teams of people,

"they're representing
headquarters United
States Air Force

"as well as the
organizations there

"at Wright-pat, and so on.

"When a crew came back,
it was their own business.

"Nobody asked any questions."

"When a crew came back,
it was their own business.

He expanded on this, saying,

"The way this happened to me
is that I would get a call

"and say that the crew
or team was leaving.

"There was such and such a time
and they wanted an airplane

"and say that the crew
or team was leaving.

"and pilots to take X number
of people to wherever.

"They might be gone
two or three days

"or might be gone a week.

"They would come back and
that would be the end of it."

"or might be gone a week.

Asked about the overall control
of the teams, Exon said,

"I always thought they were
part of that unholy crew

"in Washington that started
keeping the lid on this thing."

"I always thought they were
part of that unholy crew

Everything said to
this point suggests

that the operation
was run from FTD,

the parent organization to
Blue Book at Wright-Patterson,

that the operation
was run from FTD,

but in an interview
conducted about a month later

on June the 18th of 1991, Exon
clarified what he had meant.

But in an interview
conducted about a month later

Asked if these teams of eight
to 15 people were stationed

at Wright-Patterson,
he said, "They were."

"They would come
from Washington, D.C.

"They'd ask for an
airplane tomorrow morning

"They would come
from Washington, D.C.

"and that would give the
guys a chance to get there,

"Wright-Patterson, by
commercial airline.

"Sometimes they'd be
gone for three days

"Wright-Patterson, by
commercial airline.

"and sometimes they'd
be gone for a week.

"I know they went to
Montana and Wyoming

"and the northwest
states a number of times

"in a year and a half.

"They went to Arizona
once or twice."

He also said, "Our contact
was a man, a telephone number.

"He'd call, he'd
set the airplane up.

"I just knew there was
an investigative team."

"He'd call, he'd
set the airplane up.

What all this boils
down to is an attempt

to cover the activity.

The team, whoever they were,
would fly into Dayton, Ohio,

on commercial air and then
drive out to the base.

If a reporter attempted
to trace the movements

on commercial air and then
drive out to the base.

Of the team after it
had been deployed,

the trail led back
to Wright-Patterson.

After that, it just disappeared.

The trail led back
to Wright-Patterson.

This team, or those
teams, was made up

of eight to 15
individuals at a time

when Project Blue
Book was composed

of two Air Force officers,
an NCO, and a secretary.

They were stationed
at Wright-Patterson

but these other teams were
assigned somewhere else

and there is no reason to assume

that all members of a team
were assigned at the same base.

They would come
together as needed.

That all members of a team
were assigned at the same base.

On October 20th, 1969,

Brigadier General C.H. Bolender
provided the documentation

to prove that there was
another investigation.

Brigadier General C.H. Bolender
provided the documentation

In paragraph four of his
memo, Bolender wrote,

"As early as 1953, the
Robertson Panel concluded

In paragraph four of his
memo, Bolender wrote,

"that the evidence presented
on unidentified flying objects

"shows no indication
that these phenomena

"constitute a direct physical
threat to national security.

"shows no indication
that these phenomena

"In spite of this finding,
the Air Force continued

"to maintain a special
reporting system.

"There is still,
however, no evidence

"that Project Blue Book reports

"have served any
intelligence function.

"that Project Blue Book reports

"Moreover, reports of
unidentified flying objects

"which could affect
national security are made

"in accordance with JANAP 146,

"the Joint Army, Navy,
Air Force Publication,

"or Air Force Manual 55-11,

"and are not part of
the Blue Book system."

"or Air Force Manual 55-11,

In other words, the
suspicions of Hynek and Exon

were confirmed by this document
from the government files.

This organization dealt with
matters of national security

and the sightings at Malmstrom

because of the missile shutdown

and it was a matter
of national security.

Because of the missile shutdown

Those sightings and the
information collected about them

would not be part of
the Blue Book system

and therefore would
not be in the files.

That they are missing is
the significant point.

And therefore would
not be in the files.

In the beginning, in
the summer of 1947,

the military was concerned
about the sightings

of flying saucers.

They didn't know what they were.

But the reports from
military pilots,

They didn't know what they were.

Civilian pilots, and police
officers concerned them.

They believed the
reports to be accurate

and thought they
represented an advancement

in technology by our
competitors in the world.

And thought they
represented an advancement

Alien visitation,
though discussed,

was not the top explanation.

Alien visitation,
though discussed,

When the official investigation,

known officially
as Project Sign,

the officers assigned
were motivated to
find an explanation.

Known officially
as Project Sign,

In July, 1948, they
produced a document

known as the estimate
of the situation.

According to Ed Ruppelt,

one-time chief of
Project Blue Book,

that situation
was flying saucers

one-time chief of
Project Blue Book,

and the conclusion was that
they were from another world.

The Air Force chief of staff,
General Hoyt S. Vandenberg,

rejected the estimate and
those who had been responsible

found themselves with new jobs.

The fire went out of
the investigation.

No longer did they worry
about the explanation.

They just worried about
providing solutions
for the cases.

No longer did they worry
about the explanation.

Sign eventually
evolved into Grudge

and then Project Blue Book.

Sign eventually
evolved into Grudge

For a brief period, Blue
Book was more interested

in the truth than
in explaining cases

For a brief period, Blue
Book was more interested

regardless of the facts.

An explanation of
the Blue Book files,

a reinvestigation of
many of the cases,

An explanation of
the Blue Book files,

reveals the flaws in them.

There are radar cases,
physical evidence cases,

photographic cases,
landing cases,

There are radar cases,
physical evidence cases,

and reports of
humanoid creatures

that have no solid
terrestrial explanations.

And reports of
humanoid creatures

The truth is that for
most of its existence,

Blue Book was a public
relations operation

designed to convince people

that there were no flying
saucers, no alien visitation,

designed to convince people

and finally, no reason
for continued research.

Blue Book ended in 1969

after the University of
Colorado accepted more

than a half million dollars
to investigate UFOs.

After the University of
Colorado accepted more

They must say something positive

about the Air Force
investigation,

They must say something positive

they must conclude
their investigation

the way the Air Force
wanted, and then must show

that there was no
national security threat.

The way the Air Force
wanted, and then must show

With these three goals
accomplished, the Air Force said

they were through
investigating flying saucers.

Like so much else, that
statement was also untrue.

They were through
investigating flying saucers.

- 10, nine,
ignition sequence start,

six, five, four, three,

two, one, zero.