Condon Report: The Nine

Chicago News Service correspondent, Donald Zochart published a syndicated article in the late 1960's "Condon Report on UFO's Noting Convincing Many"   The article outlined the nine instances where the report and the statement issued by Condon. The much noted "conclusions" made by Dr. Condon, lead scientist of the famous University of Colorado research into the topic of UFO's, was issued and made public far in advance of the massive document still to be published. As a result, what his "conclusions" said carried the day, as far as most newscasters, scientists and the public thought.

Yet not all agreed, even as the project was closing down, one scientist had ready a manuscript he sent to publication informing just where the Condon report had gone off track.

The purpose of the Condon Report (In Condon's own words) was: "The Condon Committee was the informal name of the University of Colorado UFO Project. This group was funded by the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1968 at the University of Colorado to study UAPs under the direction of physicist Edward Condon. The result of its work, formally titled Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects, and known as the Condon Report, appeared in 1968.  This study examined files from the Air Force's Project Blue Book, National Investigations Committee On Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO), and investigating sightings reported during the project." The final report was over 1400 pages and was written in an often stilted academic style. It contains often needless repetitions that created a cumbersome 1500+ page document and hardcover book (900+ pages in paperback) and greatly selected and truncated editions beyond that.

It is notable the number of scientists who did come down on the side asserting it was a subject deserving more study. The Wikipedia entry on the "Condon Committee" has some excellent citations and overview. 

The total effort was plagued by several factors. There was the sensed feeling by many that this was yet another in a long line of attempts to get the Air Force out of the "flying saucer" business and on to serious work. Many felt it was large shell game which continued to manipulate the public's "right to know." Still others - a large majority - accepted the much briefer conclusion issued by Condon without bothering to deeply study the work itself. 

Copy of the Condon Report: The Full Condon Report.pdf - Google Drive