[BLANK] reported light formation observation — September 1959

Air Force program to investigate unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Our review of the USAF Aerial Phenomena Program, including the project carried out relating to phenomena reported, indicates that more than half of the program relates to phenomena of a non-scientific nature. The Air Force Regulation SR 200-2, "Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO)," dated 14 September 1959, requires the investigation and analysis of "unidentified flying objects" and establishes procedures to be followed in the conduct of such investigations. In compliance with the requirements of this regulation, it has been decided to intensify the program directed toward determining the scientific, technical, and operational characteristics of these reported objects. To accomplish this, it has been necessary to determine the extent of any threat to national security which these reported objects may represent. 200-2, subject, "Unidentified Flying Objects," dated 14 September 1959. On 16 July the USAF assumed responsibility for a program of investigation of unidentified flying objects over the United States. A further objective was to determine the nature of each of these reported objects. Since 1947 the Air Force, and more specifically the ATIC, has been responsible for a program designed to determine if unidentified flying objects were a national threat or had any scientific value. As of 2 July 1959, 12 years of investigating and analyzing every unidentified flying object which was brought to its attention, the Air Force has accumulated a total of 12,618 sightings from various sources (6m - 4m - from this vast experience with UFOs, the Air Force has failed to determine conclusively that the objects sighted represent interstellar or interplanetary alien beings from another world, nor has any real scientific and/or technical information of value been gathered. There are 30 private UFO organizations in the United States whose members exploit unidentified flying objects sightings for commercial, political, or publicity purposes. The program could be moved to the scientific community where effort could be expended more along the lines of answering the public interest rather than to providing data for intelligence.