Project Blue Book Closed in 1969 : Final Cases Say It All

The last case listed on an online database of Project Blue Book cases is for December 1969 and is classified as "INSUFFICIENT DATA."  This despite the fact the report is 22 pages in length.  The fact is that in that two word label the Air Force, the U.S. Government and others were like Pilate wiping their hands of all responsibility. "See," they are saying, " if we had straw we could make bricks. See, if we just had enough information we could explain it all away. See...not our fault."

The case from Roundlake, Illinois had a serious minded witness who observed the round to eggshape (on its side) object for 30 minutes, saw it move from NNE to E on a level plain before making a sharp upward movement. When it made that upward turn, it revealed another circular object matching the other moving in tandem with the first.

Two months before  n October 23, 1969 came a report from Vandalia, Ohio of an object described as a brown ball 8 feet in diameter with flashlight light . The abrupt conclusion was a balloon or garment bag balloon. They noted the observed was a twelve year old. The report was 12 pages long (an average report was 2-4 pages).

The secret to exploring the cases of Project Blue Book is to not accept at face value the conclusions o the top/first summary page.

Inside the actual words of the witnesses may be starkly at odds with the descriptions and summaries of that cover sheet. There may - and often was - selective editing of information and the selective ignoring of data.

Inside the Vandalia, Ohio report was a memo page showing that a lot of things were happening at the time the report was being explored: The Oklahoma Air Force Station reported  someplace (redacted information) had picked up UFO in radar at Wink, TX and followed it to Salt Flats, NM.

Note: from earlier reports it was categorically stated that weather balloons do not show up on radar.

The Flats was noted as being 95 miles from Wink, TX.  It was noted there had been a power outage at Tinker AFB, OKC; Nellis AFB reported a downed F-4 near Nevada Test Site. The ' object'  was tracked to NM at 2500 knots (pretty equivalent to a record breaking F-4 jet speed). At Salt Flat it STOPPED and was seen for 4 sweeps of the radar before it grew smaller and faded out.  Zuni, NMEX was noted as reporting a UFO - seen low to horizon surface with oscillating lights. UFO demonstrated ability to move in any direction slow or fast. Observed via binoculars. No aircraft in area.

Inside the report of the original Vandalia, Ohio sighting was a drawing showing a sharp elevation of object and a movement straight line straight up-straight line-straight down (box like shape) from point A to B.

It is sublime irony that these two cases close out the Project Blue Book (1952-1969) that replaced Project Grudge (1949-1952) and the earlier Project Sign (1948 -1949).  The intent of the Projects was to primarily collect data as to threat these unknowns represented and to observe information about the technology used for translation into military technology. Along the way the projects were used to covertly hide secret projects, experimental aircraft ,and other technology. The fallout was that to maintain the high levels of security and secrecy those demanded meant that everyone - civilian and military - were painted as fools.

Highly trained military, pilots, police officers, scientists, educated amateurs, and simply curious and intelligent people who trusted their government to hear their concerns and respond in respect were portrayed in negative ways.  To hear the AF version most of their airmen were ignorant of all things flying (be they natural objects such as meteors or manned craft or unmanned satellites) and were subject to seeing things at a dangerous rate. One wonders how we ever survived with such incompetents wearing the uniforms of our military, law enforcement, or teaching in our schools. A wide class of highly trained spotters had served to protect our shores and skies during WW2 by being able to identify EVERY aircraft by size, shape and sound. They were going to be used in the early days of rocketry as a whole new civilian force of Ground Observer Crops to search the skies  through OPERATION SKYWATCH. 

Skywatch functioned in WW2 and then later as a Cold War program (ending in 1958). This group was trained for speed and accuracy because they wanted to help their country. Their country, however saw them and thousands others as pawns to label as hallucinating, nervous, vision impaired and fantasy prone.

I challenge researchers to dig deeper in these files and not be content - as many others have been - to accept the summary conclusion of the cover sheet. Read the words of witnesses, examine their drawings, explore the content of memos, letters and other data found in the report file. Then, and only then, make a decision about the quality, validity and honesty of the work we call Project Blue Book.