What Else Were They Doing? : Ultra Secrets, Hyper Fears, and UFO's

Sometimes in the process of research truths appear that bring deep sadness, anger, or mystification.  Finding, again, the evidence of the reality of a real-life horror in the Church Committee investigations of the CIA's MKULTRA project. Following the trial to learn of the two programs before that: Project Bluebird (which some records indicate goes back to 1949) and Project Artichoke in 1952. All designed to test the limits and potentials for mind control through drugs, hypnosis, and behavior modification of the forcible kind.   Following that twisted route it is clear how Alice must have felt tumbling down the rabbit hole.

Stumbling across a Project Blue Book file that lists a task of forwarding some reports to the people in the "psychological warfare" offices.  Of finding a mysterious extra objective tied to such studies. 

Learning that Jacques Vallee in one of his later works recounts a man who claimed knowledge of the CIA conducting abductions in Latin America disguised as "Alien Beings" as part of that same broad scale program. 

Given the early, early dates of these activities, the 1951 development of a Psychological Strategy Board for warfare applications, and the events of the entire UFO picture, it raises questions. Some of those "contactee" individuals were they two edged swords to advance the knowledge sought and debunk the issue of possible extraterrestrial or all too top-secret terrestrial craft development?  Some of those abductees were they part of that broader picture as well?  

In the early seventies, as lawmakers, and others, began to sniff that something might have run amuck in the government, the head of the CIA at the time ordered all records related to those projects destroyed. Investigators had to build their case using witness testimony and then later 20,000 pages of material related to the topic were uncovered in a FOIA request. What else might have been destroyed?

EXPERIMENTAL CRAFT: IF PEOPLE WERE SEEING SECRETS - WHAT WERE THEY?

 EXPERIMENTAL CRAFT 

The claim by researchers is that as many as “one half of all UFO reports in the late 1950’s and 1960’s were the “U-2”, “A-12” or the “SR-71.”  They may be right, up to a point.

The “given” of all UFO reports has been that some are likely misidentified common objects (either natural or man-made).  Some, at the time of their sighting, were unrecognized and were a concern to the government. Their performance, maneuverability and other features could not be matched by current technology. Some, were known to the government (or parts thereof), but passed off as natural or misidentified common objects due to high levels of security imposed.  Note, also, that the time span encompasses a developing rocket, satellite program, early manned orbital projects, and space exploration. All in competition with a Cold War opponent in the form of the U.S.S.R.

Before 1950

Flying Flapjack, formally the name was Vaught  XF5U , was project of the U.S. Navy.  It first flew 1943 but was cancelled 17 March 1947 because the military was switching from propellers to jet powered craft. Structurally it was well built but massive, 32 feet wing tip to wing tip and weighing 16, 722 lbs. Its top speed was only 462 mph and its ceiling was 34, 500 ft. with a low range.  Only a few were actually made and most tested were in the area of Connecticut.  Its design was as the nickname suggested, flat, somewhat round with propellers. 

When the first “flying saucer” reports started coming in from around the county (mostly in May and June) this was a craft many suggested as a possibility. It had appeared in magazine and newspaper articles so “John Q. Public” was aware of the craft and the concept. 

In fact very quickly in the post “crazy” days of the Arnold, Pacific Northwest, and Roswell events, military spokesman competed for both claims of new impressing soon-to-be-released aircraft designs and rhetoric that boiled down to “saucers are bunk!”  

BELL X-1 Jet was first flown in January 1946. The first manned supersonic flight occurred on 14 October 1947, less than a month after the U.S. Air Force had been created as a separate service.  The airplane was drop launched from the bomb bay of a B-29 and reached Mach 1.06 (700 mph).  This was XS-1 flight number 50 indicating numerous previous versions or test runs. 

1950’s – 1960’s

The files of Project Blue Book, and a look at news pieces, interviews, and commentary of the 1956 to 1963 period as increasingly secretive (new restrictions via AFR 200-2), a removal of access to files, a return to files being stamped “secret” when previously many were “classified” or “restricted.”  A new aggressive and often antagonistic attitude to civilian research groups (“flying saucer hobbyists” as AF Spokesman Tasker said and also the “science fiction writers” referring to those who held to a ETH of the origin of many of the reported UFO’s).

So – what were some of those potential ‘top secret’ or highly secret project craft that might have been viewed, reported, and then dismissed with one of the favorite labels (“insufficient data”, “air craft”, “balloons”, “astro” or others) DURING SPECIFIC TIME PERIODS/

The U2 aircraft had its first flight in August of 1955. It was noted for its ability to fly very high (50,000-90,000 feet) but at only about 500 mph. Its profile from the side had a slightly staggered double dome appearance with one end toward the tail merging into a long slant. That gave the profile a slight art deco line. Used primarily for high altitude spy missions and reconnaissance the aircraft was so finely constructed and enduring that they are still flying today.

The A1-12 from Lockheed operated from 1962 (first flight) until 1968. The craft, “archangel class” was part of Project Oxcart and the CIA in conjunction with “Skunkworks.”  Flying at Mach 2 (2212 mph) at 95, 144 ft. ceiling, the aircraft, if seen, would have been noted for its altitude but also its rapid speed probably moving in a straight line course in most instances.

Next, most probably, would be the prototypes and actual finished project known as the “SR-71” or “Blackbird.” This craft, or an earlier version, had a first flight date of around Dec. 22 1964 amd functioned until 1999. Some sources state it did not go into widespread operation until 1966. Most agree, however, that only 32 of the planes were built. The aircraft, designed to be fast, silent, and unseen could reach Mach 6 (4,5667 mph) and fly at 80,000 ft. (that may not have been its ceiling). Head on sketches indicate a bell shaped or slightly round triangle center body with two large lights/housings (one to each side) with an antenna like protrusion leaned back toward the center. Looking straight on someone would most likely see three very bright lights and three legs that might disappear in the bright lights on the ground or the air. Another sketch shows an object looking like a center triangle with one large light on either side. In the air the side one vision might seem a fat diamond shape. Looking straight up the main configuration would appear a dark triangle, possible with one projection (holding those lights) on each side. In the sky a witness might have seen a dark triangle moving very high and very fast. On the ground, three lights, the center one a bit larger, that seemed to hover above the ground (due to the legs being hidden from view or concealed by light shining downward from those lights. When this craft took off the noise was recorded at 17 decibels it would be like a whisper (most jets rate a 100+ rating on the decibel chart. See the Yale chart at https://ehs.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/decibel-level-chart.pdf) .  

BELL XV-3 was a hovering craft that made its first flight Aug. 11, 1955 and went into out of production Aug. 31. 1966 due to an ongoing instability issue.  It could land and take off like a helicopter and fly like a plane. It early efforts achieved 32,000 feet and topped off at 450 mph. But later versions were stuck at 15,000 and less than 200 mph.  Its profile, however, remained easily identifiable as a helicopter from all directions.

Another helicopter workhorse was the HUGHES OH-6 Cayuse that had its first flight 27 Feb 1963 and its last in 1966. In 1964 ALL fixed wing aircraft were transferred to the USAF. The ARMY transitioned to rotor-wing aircraft (helicopters, etc.). In early April 1966 one OH-6 flew from California to Florida demonstrating its long haul capabilities. 

Another potential aircraft sighted might have been the F-11 Aardvark. A massive wing spread of 63 feet head-on would have revealed a large rounded bottom triangle in the center with wings spreading thin and far out to achieve that breath and a single narrow shaft at the back over the crown of the triangle. This was a craft that easily reached Mach 2.5 and had ceiling 66,000 ft. It first flew on 21 Dec. 1964 and was retired in 1998.

The YF-12, a Lockheed design had its first flight in 1963, achieved Mach 3.35 (2,275 mph) and had a ceiling of 90,000 ft. The one the ground, head on profile was similar to the SR-71 with a wing span of 55 feet. In the air the outline could be a square with a triangle on top (house like).

The F-117, “Nighthawk” or possibly ‘Boomerang” apparently was flown (or a prototype) as early as June 1981 and Oct. 1983. The records indicate it was in service from 1983 until April 22, 2008. Head on profiles of the craft give an almost shallow turtle shell appearance with thin wings tops and two thin tail fins like antennae. Seen from the ground had a sleek bird, with wings fanned back, appearance that no doubt gave it the “Nighthawk” nickname.

A McConnell-Douglas and Boeing Aircraft design was responsible for the YF-118g, “Bird of Prey” that flew from 1996 to 1999. From below it had a sharp, pointed nose, wide shoulders and tapered body with two wing projections that gave it the appearance of a pointed and armless turtle. 

Author William Knell in his work “UFO Guy” recounts a story about the record-breaking test pilot Chuck Yeager. Allegedly, while testing the Bell X-plane (Bell X-1 jet flying) he was paced by a “UFO”. The new craft was going about 700 mph, was 30-40 feet wide, moved close and frankly frightened the seasoned pilot. It vanished shortly thereafter.  After a flight he would normally be debriefed by the test team people but on this occasion there were only two civilian men with the look of “Air Force Security.” They did not introduce themselves but told him not to tell about what he had seen. It was a “new experimental craft.” At which time, Yaeger demanded, “Then why am I flying this pile of crap?” He stomped out certain of one thing, whatever it was he saw it did not belong to the Air Force.”  It is unclear how much truth is in this story, there are some questions (such as how to tell AF Security if they were civilians) and the fact that the answer was limited to the “Air Force” may hint that it was one of the other agencies at work designing new and top secret craft (DID, CIA, etc.).  The date is unclear but it is known the BELL X-1 was first test flown in January of 1946.

Proving a UFO requires that the craft seen exhibit some non-normal characteristics in the technology and maneuvers. Many of the alleged "Airship" sightings of the 1890's are not technologically impossible for their time period; they exhibit in shape, actions, and movements perfectly logical extensions of the experiments into airships, dirigible, powered balloon, and aircraft of the day. Further, their appearance was advertised by numerous articles around the globe citing the research being done along those very lines. So, likely several inventors, a good PR job and some willing tall tale tellers combined to create the great airship mystery. 

What will stand out in a true UFO sighting will likely be :

- Maneuvers beyond current potential actions (High speed (High G) turns), reversals at speed, etc.)

- Speeds or altitudes beyond current potential achievements

- Other aspects that indicate this object is not "one of ours": tracked high speed transits from place A to place B, massive and possibly controlled electrical interference. 

When exploring the Unidentified Flying Object topic, it is important to be able to classify reports within time periods to known possible explanations. This was hampered for most of the years of the Air Force Projects (SIGN, GRUDGE and BLUE BOOK) but conflicting interests that hampered true scientific study and understanding of the phenomena being reported. 

Scientific study requires sharing ideas and information. Discussing and reviewing methods, test results, and challenging conclusions. It involves the creative and imaginative energy found in pure research. Science has often been the captive of agendas of control and conflict.

In the early stages, the sharply dipping temperature between the one time allies – USA and USSR – meant that tensions and fears of a “communist plot” using mysterious new craft was afoot clamped secrecy onto the whole topic. To maintain control and fight “spies” reports were ridiculed and the people seeing things were shamed and insulted as a means of getting rid of the stories. 

As the end of the 1950’s emerge, new secrets and new agendas are at work creating what Eisenhower called the military-industrial complex. A symbiotic relationship where the fear and paranoia of some fueled and directed the spending and actions of others. 

Today, the real coin of the global realms is not gold or silver but information. Secrets are therefore both hoarded and sought in ways unimagined a century ago.  

The quest of the UFO searchers is one of truth. It has always been that. Since the first things whizzed through the skies all people have ever asked was a simple, “What is that?”

So much time and effort could have been saved had governments merely informed their people that they were testing some new designs, they were using balloons to conduct some tests, or yes, we do not know what that was but we have gathered a large and global community of thinkers to make it a priority to learn more than we know now.  This, they should have said, is a matter of global importance, and we should work together instead of fighting one another. 

Maybe if they had done that, we would be using those hover cars and visiting resorts on the moon by this time. 

Dr. Menzel's UFO Report (1963)

 The document is labeled "UFO SIGHTING BY DHM, September 8, 1963:

"From a jet plane flying at an altitude of about 30,000 feet over eastern Kansas, September 8 1963, I saw a remarkable and realistic UFO, quite unlike any that I had previously noted. I was seated on the northern side of the plane The time was around noon, local time, and the sun was shining very brightly at that altitude. I suddenly became aware of a bright object, broken in two by a  horizontal dark line. It closely resembled the Saturn shaped saucers frequently reported. It seemed to be pacing our plane at a distance of several miles and at an appreciably lower altitude, I almost immediately recognized it for what it later proved to be though its physical appearance was certainly very different. It was indeed a jet plane, the silver body brilliantly illuminated. There was no trace of wings.

The double line was a reflection effect between the double windows and I was actually seeing two reflections, themselves very bright, separated by a region in between that seemed dark by comparison. It did give the effect of a single Saturn -shaped ship following along. While I was trying to conform this by detection of the plane itself, to my amazement a second similar apparition came flying by at an enormous speed in the opposite direction. It was, of course, a jet and the relative speeds of the plan were about a mle in three seconds. Another jet, of course.  The saucer shaped illusion continued for at least ten minutes. And then, with gradual changing illumination or something, the brightness of the reflection must have concentrated rather sharply toward our plane, diminished and I could then see the form of the plane itself.  You will recall these windows are truly double with a considerable air spacing between them. This gives rise to the multiple effect. I could not help but think of the Chesapeake Bay Case in this connection and again keep wondering if you could not build up a reflection from outside in some such fashion by repeated reflection between the double windows. I do not know, however, whether there are actual double windows in the DC4 and if the spacing of them would give rise to such reflections."

---1963 09 9733827 EasternKansas.

One of the astounding things in this narrative is that this is a man, it is suspected, who left his impression on many, many case files by the presence of acerbic, sometimes slightly sarcastic, and imperative commands concerning the quality of witness statements, data collection, what was not asked, etc. The impression was those heavy, black, and sternly made notes and comments is of a man with little tolerance or patience and who did not suffer fools gladly. His multiple "??!!!" are very different from the notes left by others identified by name or initials. This individual NEVER left any sign of who he was.

If that man was this man, Donald H. Menzel, he had been involved with the "project" for many years, mostly in the shadows.  Had he been reading his own report I would expect those heavy, impatient, "!!!" because there is no mention of the type of plane he was in at the time, no clear indication about where he was over "eastern Kansas", there is no indication of which direction the plane was flying. Both of those details would have a lot to say about the quality of his sighting, the quality of his suggested explanation, and that seriously limits the ability to verify what other planes were in the air at the time to support his claims. 

In 1963, Menzel published his second book on the topic of "flying saucers" - a term he used as both label and laugh line - with Lyle G. Boyd. The book, THE WORLD OF FLYING SAUCERS (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1963) can be found in gallery format and photocopies in more than a dozen Project Blue Book files. It, literally, appears to have been the "bible" for assigning solutions to cases and probably contributed greatly to the shifting of cases from the "Unknown" columns into the "probable". He was, however, very selective in stories he presented, how much he presented, and how he formed the narrative about the people, the events, and the explanations. 

According to his 1963 book preface several things stand out:

"At a conference with Air Force officials in Washington in April 1952, He [Menzel} presented his idea that planetary mirages, sundogs, reflections and other atmospheric, and optical phenomena probably accounted for a large percentage of the mysterious UFO's.  This suggestion met with strong skepticism from some of the conferees who at that time were sympathetic to the interplanetary hypothesis."  I wonder if this was one of the planning meetings with the AF, CIA about the "study" then being planned, i.e., The Batelle Institute study (the results would not be published until 1955).

THE SKY IS FALLING!: No, really, what?: Satellites, Moondust, and UFO's in 1960

In 1960 there are some interesting cases in Project Blue Book. It was a busy time as the space race kicked into high gear. When December 31 rolled around that year the U.S. had launched 31 earth satellites (9 of 16 were still in orbit and transmitting as of December) and 2 deep space probes.  Those were the successful efforts.

1960 was also a year where launches, one after another, failed to achieve orbit or otherwise fizzled out. 

A project had emerged to collect the debris falling from the skies (theirs, ours) and it was called "MOONDUST."  

Two examples are found. One in a 28 Sept 1960 file in Project Blue Book for a round, grapefruit to basketball sized object that was first blue to blue-white and then orange that moved west in the area SW of Wichita Falls, Texas. In that file is a telex type page "Moon dust sighted by lcl police to have landed in fiel 10 miles SW of Sheppard AFB TX, search will begin at daybreak." At that time a Major Cooper, Provost Marshall called ATIC to report that the incident was getting out of hand and requested aid in the investigation. It was requested that the 1127th investigate this sighting in accord with provisions of Par#6c of AFR 200-2 DYD of 14 Sept. 29.

A "specimen" collected by one witness (of many) was determined to be a probable spider web.  This may have been what was called "angel hair" in the period and was promoted in Donald H. Menzel's 1963 book on the topic of UFO's.

Oddly, in this year of so many things going up into orbit, the fact so many are labeled as "reentry" sightings is interesting, especially when the names and dates they provided seem to be incorrect. 

16 September 1960 , Ramey AFb Puerto Rico had civilian and military witnesses to what was first labeled a possible, rare, "slow meteor" but was then labeled a probable "reentry of 1960 Episilon vehicle, part of which reentered during Sept. and Oct. 1960."  "Epsilon" was Sputnik 4, also known as Epsilon 1 or Korable Sputnik 1) that had been sent up by the USSR to begin the process of launching out into space. The vehicle contained a television system and a self-sustaining biological cabin with a man like dummy along with scientific instruments. It had only 4 days of flight and part of it fell to earth 5 September 1960 and was recovered at Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Also, on September 16, 1960 a pilot flying near Salina in north central Kansas reported seeing a flash of silver, multicolored. He thought it looked odd , unlike anything he had seen in some 14 years of flying but was ready to assume it was some meteor or maybe space debris burning up. The Air Force being handed one of their favorite explanations, instead choose to be strangely forthcoming and labeled it a probable sighting of the reentry of "KAPPA (Discoverer XVI/Discoverer 16) that had, they said, reentered that date.  The problem, as seen in an earlier entry on this case, was that #16 failed at launch and the dates are all wrong for the others). 

Other intriguing cases of that time are:

-the 15 September 1960, Tulsa, Ok at 1900 local time, for 5 minutes of a "U" shaped, oblong object, silver in color that moved, turned and changed directions. When first seen the object was about 25 degrees above the horizon moving North. Then, it turned around, and headed South. Then it turned around again and headed back N. It appeared softly glowing, had no wings, and left no contrails.  The case is one that was investigated by "other" individuals (the forms are different and the technique is different. The interviewing individual made one of the most sexist and derogatory reports found in the files of PBB.  The conclusion was that even though "the fact witness lives near an airport does not mean they can't misidentify a high-flying a/c." It was apparent there was something being hidden because people who live near to bases and airports have a better than average awareness of the variety possible in aircraft. The fact that this one did not act normal was what led to the report. 

-17 September 1960 (the day after the Salina, KS event) there was a "military" report from Kirksville AFB Missouri. For 27 minutes the radar tracked two groups of objects (one group with 8-12 objects and a second one with 6-8 objects). The objects came in high at 95,000 feet and then dipped to 23,000 and were lost. Later another group was picked up and those 6-8 were at 100,000 feet but were soon lost to weather. They radar was blamed, and the case was labeled "possible weather conditions affecting radar returns."  These might have been F-104's - at the time one new incarnations was the hot new thing being developed - and soon they would be deployed to Taiwan. As one source said, they would just set people down and let them watch the radar screen and be awed by what they saw. 

- September 20 was an almost repeat of what had occurred on the 17th with three groups this time. This too was noted as "probable weather conditions." Given it was at an Air Force Base, one has to wonder if there were "visitors" at the time who might have been given a preview of the potential of a new craft. 

-23 September 1960 at Bitberg AFB, Germany at 0119z came a report with the source noted as "MOONDUST", a satellite re-entry. Reported was one object moving SW to NE. A luminous streak, like a shooting star, colors red and yellow, left a trail. Appeared suddenly and was red in color then changed to yellow, disappeared briefly and reappeared much larger than a meteor.  The conclusion was that the object "conforms to satellite re-entry, descent and duration, color and breaking up.  1960 LAMDA II Rocket body, re-entered this date. "Based on general description evaluation as satellite re-entry." This was another USSR launch experiement and carried living organisms, including small mammals: "Sputnik 5 was launched on 19 August 1960 at 8:38 UT from Baikonur Cosmodrome into a roughly 306 x 340 km (190 x 211 mile) altitude orbit with a period of 90.7 minutes and an inclination of 64.7 degrees. The cabin re-entered the atmosphere after 17 orbits on 20 August 1960. Recovery was successful. The Sputnik 5 rocket body (1960 Lambda 2) re-entered on 23 September 1960."NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details

-the 24 Sept 1960 report at Coos Bay, OR of a large green and yellow parachute falling with a cylindrical or rectangle box. The object falling with the chute was 9-10 feet long. The area was heavily wooded. The fall was observed via a 30x set of binoculars and place estimated to be 8 miles southeast of Coos Bay, OR. A helicopter overflew the area on the 25-26 but had negative results. The conclusion was " observation of known object - parachute."

- the 27 Sept 1960, Aurora, CO. Six objects seen for about 30 second. Round, red or maroon objects, size of a pea. Had a "V" formation that then split apart into a straight line. Faded slowly into the south. 

-the 30th of September 1960, Kansas City, Missouri. A round, luminous object the size of a baseball to a basketball, had the appearance of a bright star (this apparently means its color and brightness). Objected reported from Wichita and Topeka in Kansas, Kansas City , Missouri and Omaha, Nebraska. No one knew the source of any high altitude weather balloons moving on a NE course. A local weatherman was one witness. Source of balloon, if it was that, they were unable to confirm as none of the launches matched.

WHAT DID THEY SEE IN WICHITA, KANSAS IN NOVEMBER 1960?

As part of some ongoing research related to a book I am doing related to Kansas, the following emerged.  People often researchers clipping they found in their deceased relatives files or something similar.  There was no notice of source for this one - just a date Nov. 5, 1960 and the title: "Lighted UFO Parked Near Wichita All Night".

Apparently the object with its three lights was observed about 7:20 p.m. on Thursday and last seen at 4:00 a.m. on Friday. Witnesses included officers from the Sheriff's department and local citizens. All are named. Sheriff Patrol Lt. Hollis Nichols approached the strange lights within a quarter mile about 4:00 a.m. Friday morning. There were three lights that winked at just north of 37th North west of Andover Rd. 

Witnesses agreed that the object had made a very fast and direct descent from the northwest to the place where it remained stationary from Thursday night through early Friday morning. Various witnesses reported that the "lights" appeared to be hovering, stationary, about ten feet off the ground in a field at the location.

Edgar Roslaugh, 1519 Lulu Street and Mrs. George Enlala 1733 E. 24th North observed the object about 7:30 Thursday night and thought an airplane was crashing because of the speed and brightness of the object.

Witness Ernest Feeler, 2206 N. MacArthur Rd. said he too thought it was crashing but then observed three lights in a field; 1 blue, one very vivid purple in the middle, and one a bright yellow. The lights were ten feet apart, about ten feet above the ground and not moving.

The Mystery of the Meteor That Made A "Z" In The Sky

Speeding across the skies covering some 800 miles of area - from Key West to St. Simon's Island, Georgia - a large, very bright and oddly careening object blazed a trail.  At first it was labeled a meteor, another massive display of nature's variety and beauty.  On nearby McDill Field, however, some pilots and trained observers in the 307s Bomber Group were noting a lot of other things about the odd aerial show put on that night of June 5 at 19:45 hours some 20 miles northwest of Tampa.

Odd things like, since when did meteors make sharp turns so that their white trail or vapor trail would look like a "2" or a "Z"?  After that odd object disappeared, that trail was left in the sky for some 30 minutes.

The quality of the eyewitnesses - all ten of them at the Air Field -  was top level. They observed the object making that sharply defined zig-zag movement for some 8 minutes, they noted the high rate of speed (what one thought might be above the speed of sound.

The Norton, Kansas meteorite of 1948 was caught on film giving a "corkscrew" look to its trail through the skies. It is ragged and broad. So, a meteor leaving a less than straight course trail is not totally unknown. A search of various pictorial databases failed to reveal anyone having caught a sharp "Z" making meteor but it might be out there - somewhere.

For comparison, the Tampa Morning Tribune in 1949 printed a photograph of the sharp 'zig-zag' of the object seen by hundreds of people on June 5, 1949. Notice the sharp turns. On this page from the Project Blue Book file someone has dutifully noted : "Meteors don't make sharp turns!" The trail, remember, was reported to hang around for some 30 minutes.

All told the file leaves more questions than it provides answers.  The time of the photograph would speak much to the theory of the meteor (was it taken shortly after it zipped by while the shape was still clear? Was this what it looked like after 30 minutes?).  Wind currents can reshape many vaporous shapes  into odd forms depending on wind direction, speeds, etc.  As this link shows, trails can vary but the length it is visible is usually short.

Still, the evidence for labeling it a meteor is sparse and questionable. What else might it have been? A crashed experimental craft? A run-away missile that flew over heavily populated areas of the country? Since some Blue Book cases do involve such episodes it is not beyond the realm of possibility despite the pressing need to ask some one, okay,  "who's asinine idea was it to test a missile over populated areas?" I, however, digress.

One thing is sure ---- this was not a weather balloon.

Ball Lightning: A Favored Theory in UFO Investigations

It was a focal point in explanations of the Nov.2, 1957 Levelland, Texas UFO reports and the October 24, 1968 Minot AFB, North Dakota case, as well as some sprinkled here and there in other cases.

Noted debunker, Philip Klass, wrote an early article suggesting plasma ball lighting could explain UFO's and other paranormal claims. He became a favorite correspondent of some at Project Blue Book, Dr. Donald H. Menzel in his book "The World of Flying Saucers" staunchly defends the ball lighting/pinched lightening/ plasma theories, especially as related to Levelland. The Minot file contain a mention of a Mr. Goff at "TDPA" suggesting  (in memo dated 1 Nov. 1968) that "ionized air plasma similar to ball lightning" could account for the "radar blips, loss of transmission, and some of the visual sightings."

It is interesting to note that into the 21st century the topic of ball lightning, although gaining some footholds in science, is still not fully accepted by many scientists. The problem is the phenomena, if real, is so rare it makes investigating it difficult and replicating it ( a foundation of the scientific method) next to impossible.  Some are beginning to create in labs a form of such but the end result often fails to reflect witness accounts of ball lightning seen outside the labs.

Further, what research that has been accomplished seems to dismiss this phenomena as being responsible for all the UFO accounts that have been laid at its feet. (so to speak).  The Maser-Soliton Theory of Ball Lightning appears to suggest strongly that ball lightning is harmless inside airplanes, submarines and even homes, that such lightening ends with an often violent and damaging explosion.  Since such lightening is often alleged to have been responsible for turning off engines, interfering with radios, cutting off EMF transmissions, and never resulting in violent and damaging explosions it would appear to rule this out. Unless some plane crashes, automobile accidents and a submarine sinking have been the result of an unmentioned ball lightning encounter.


Read more here.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/periodically-i-hear-stori/

1947 Hoax - File Mentions "Mogul"

The FBI snagged this one first and then forwarded it to the OSI who kicked over to Army Air Intelligence.  They identified the bits and pieces as mundane enough materials of earthly origin.  It was the notation 'Mogul' in handwriting that drew attention.

A closer examination of the file for this find from Hackensack, New Jersey revealed that someone had gone through it at a later date. The notation of 'Mogul' appears to be from that later date. I found myself wondering if the notation was from the time when the Project Mogul was declassified. Or was it just before the Air Force released their 'final answer' in "Roswell: Fact vs Fiction" report from the early 1990's.

Project Mogul only ran from 1947 to 1949 before its work was taken up by Skyhook and Moby Dick High Altitude balloons. 

THE AIRSHIP FLAP: EARLY UFO'S OR STEPS IN BALLOON FLIGHT?

Copy drawn from an 1897 illustration

In 1896 and 1897 newspapers were reporting sightings of a strange and mysterious airship.  The story apparently began in April 1896 and spread back east and the last of the mystery airship stories appeared in November of 1897.

Two camps emerged concerning these stories. One said they were pure hoax and the creative work of bored newswriters competing in some vast tall tale competition.  A journalist whopper contest. 

The other point to the sightings as early day UFO's predating the more modern tales of Roswell , the '50's , and beyond.

Most believe that there were no airships of the dirigible style that early.  Although records are not often clear or witnesses consistent, it is obvious the descriptions go beyond the balloon-and-basket style familiar since the Civil War in the United States.

Yet, looking at news stories from just before this 'flap' indicate there was a lot of talk of airships, air flight, and inventors working on designs or promoting development.

In 1890 a story appeared, "An Airship That Can Fly" (Washington Post 7/18/1890, pg.1) that told the story of a Professor Campbell who tested an airship with propellers and fly it in  New York for some short distance in and around Brooklyn.

In 1891 a story, "The Mount Carmel Airship" (Washington Post, 1/16/1891. pg. 1) referred to a Mount Carmel, Ill enterprise sending an airship to the Chicago exposition.  It was described as having a buoyancy chamber 24 feet long and 6 and 1/2 fee in diameter, with propellers and rudder bringing it to 30 feet in length.  The inventor had contracted with James A. Fanning for a 12 week exhibition for $100,000.  It would fly aound the exhibition and carry 2 passengers.  This long, thin profile fits the cigar shaped craft reported in many of the sightings.

Apparently, there were entrepreneurs busy with inventors attempting to create a brave new aerial travel world.  Some may have been scammers and con men but some... Out of Burlington, Iowa came a story in July of 1891, "Collapse of an Airship Enterprise" (Washington Post, 7/19/1891, pg.3).  The company had contracted to build "Dennington Airships" and had opened 2 months prior with "$10,000,000" but were now dissolving due to a lack of stock investors. 

Although a mysterious man from Maine was cited in a San Francisco news story as being the source of the mystery crafts, most discounted it then and since.  After seeing the articles, as shown and others, maybe it was not too much off base.  It was apparent from the stories before, and the rapid development after the 'flap,' that someone had been working on developing the motorized airship, with lights, and ability to carry more than 2 passengers over a great distance.

Images of early developments in 'airships' or controlled balloons prior to the 1890's and the Great Flap:

As early 1911 this obvious prototype for the dirigible concept:

--------
http://www.unmuseum.org/airship.htm
http://stagescreamkc.com/2012/01/13/the-sightings/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_airship
http://thehollowearthinsider.com/go-deeper/Site_-_N_ew/Airsip1.html
http://thehollowearthinsider.com/go-deeper/Site_-_N_ew/Airship2.html
http://thehollowearthinsider.com/go-deeper/Site_-_N_ew/Airship3.html
http://www.texashillcountry.com/Stories/TheGreatAirshipMystery.htm
http://secretsofdellschau.yuku.com/topic/23/The-NotSoMysterious-Airships-Of-189697#.UVOgGBc3uuI

Would We Really Panic?

For long decades the belief has been - supported by sociologists and psychologists - that the public reaction to news that, "Yes, Virginia, UFO's are real..." would be unadulterated panic, hysteria, and fear.

Childhood is filled with the potentially frightful, terrors and horrors imagined in the dark, and great big unexplained things that seem to tower over us. Yet, we are taken, step-by-step into an awareness of understanding the reality that surrounds us, adapting to its strangeness, overcoming fears and frights with great success.

In scanning old newspapers, documents, and statements of people who claimed to have seen extraordinary things in the skies they occasionally say they were frightened, awe-struck, dazzled, curious, and confused. I have yet to find any report of people who ran off in screams and terror. The blood may have pumped a little faster as their hearts galloped but not to the degree the newspapers and the military/government seemed to want them to experience.

In reading the 1963 work "The World of Flying Saucers" by Project Blue Book consultant Donald H. Menzel and co-author Lyle G. Boyd, the terms pop up so often they seem to jump off the page. These events caused "panic", made people "hysterical," and caused them to run around in a constant state of "anxiety" and " fear".  Then reading some of the military press releases and newspaper editorials the same terms keep popping out. 

Yes, the people viewing the event might be excited but that is not being hysterical. They might be frightened by a momentary unknown but that is not being in a panic.

Fortified by movie images of people running in terror from alien attacks - from War of the Worlds and The day the Earth Stood Still to modern films such as Independence Day, the stereotype of first contact derives from wartime and military models.  Anyone being attacked could expect to respond in terror, to panic, and to become hysterical - but no one in the sightings (with one or two exceptions) ever felt they were in danger of being attacked.

Recent articles discussing the 'soft disclosure' presumed by the release of some information from the military and releases by various international governments, have also used the terms of panic, hysteria and terror (see https://www.independent.com/2019/08/20/ufos-in-santa-barbara-%E2%80%95-do-you-believe/).

Anthropological arguments stemming from the meeting of unevenly matched civilizations may contain some truth but can we also learn from those experiences to prepare people for accepting the reality of a off world life form, for accepting that this should not challenge the basics of spiritual beliefs or challenge the role of religion in human life (since no religion has identified that such things are impossible in their cosmology) and finally, accepting that a strong peaceful and diplomatic relationship based on safeguarding human culture's best aspects be in place.

As the governments and military continue to operate 'in loco parentis', saving us from ourselves, firmly believing we have not the intelligence or ability to enlarge our understanding of the universe (or multi-verses) they merely compound problems and hinder the productive development and maturity of our human species.

The dramatic scene in A Few Good Men where the character of the commanding officer played by Jack Nicholson responds to the demand that the truth with: "You can't handle the truth!"

It has been over fifty years since the Summer of '47 saw so many unexplained burst into the skies of the Earth. I think we are old enough to handle the truth...

Early Statistical Analysis of UFO Sightings

In late 1952 the Air Force, and others, put together a report that addressed assessment of the success of the current witness form, tabulation of results of MANY reports from 1947-1952 (at the time of the reports writing it was noted 1947 cases had not been turned over for analysis).

The results are interesting:
Most sightings (69.5%) occurred through open space or binoculars (12.6%) when skies were clear (74.8%), had scattered clouds (16.2), no wind (51.8%) or only a slight breeze (34.6%). Environment was dry (81%) and warm (52.6%) or cool (17.7%). Most sightings lasted 1 second to 10 seconds (25.6%), over ten minutes (19.1%), 11 seconds to 30 seconds (15.5%) or 2 minutes to 5 minutes (12.5%).
Witnesses had a certainty level of these facts ranging from certain (49.4%) to fairly certain (40.8%),
Witnesses stated the objects seen looked solid a majority of the time (78.5%).

Witnesses reported the objects viewed changed direction (39.6%), speed (14.9%), color (11.9%) and flickered (17.7%). Conversely a majority  said object did bit change direction (54.5%), a majority said the object did not change size (75.1%), a majority (79.3) said object did not change color. As for giving off some light 72,3% said yes while only 22.3% said no.

Light and Sound responses indicated 89.9% said the object observed made no sound.

As to the color objects observed the most common were silver, pink, orange, green, grey, yellow, white-bluish-white, green-blue, dark, red, unclassified, no response.   White (Blue-white) was reported most (24.2%), followed by silver (16.2%),yellow (14.9%) and orange (13.0%).

When responding to the question of how many objects a witness had seen the responses were based on the 30.9% who replied they had seen more than one object.  Most witnesses seeing more than one say 2 (38.5%), 3 (19.2%) or 5 (17.6%).   Most objects observed did not move behind anything (64.9%) and most did not move in front of something (76.8%).

Gauging size would be a consistent issue because developers of the examination form did not adopt standardized frames of reference. It is assumed from some statements throughout the Project Blue Book reports that the standard reference had an implied "when held at arm's length" aspect.  Astronomers such as Dr. J. Allen Hynek pointed out the handy tool of the field: a dime held at arms length generally covers the moon in the sky and provides some visual comparison data.  The problem was that investigators sometimes refused to accept the size estimations, even from well trained and qualified witnesses.

Size comparisons ranged from pea (19.1%), baseball (12.5%), basketball (13.7%), bike wheel (7.7%), dirigible (6.6 %) large aircraft (4.2%) and an auto (2.5%). Certainty levels for this section ranged from certain (47.6%) to fairly certain (35.1%).

Height above the earth was most often a Don't Know (28.2%), 10,000 feet plus (25.8%) and 1001 to 5000 feet (17.9%).

When the object - whatever it was- left the viewing field it usually did so Suddenly (52.8%) and next just gradually (40.1%).

Finally, for the people reporting these odd occurrences the majority (91.6%) had never seen such a thing before and but had one or more people with them at the time of the sighting.
most (75.6%) were not alone

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.