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- Reproduced below is the classic order from the Inspector General
- of the Air Force to all air base commanders in the continental United
- States on December 24, 1959
-
- Unidentified flying objects - sometimes treated lightly by the
- press and referred to as "flyiny saucers" - must be rapidly and acc-
- urately identified as serious USAF business in the ZI. As AFR 200-2
- points out, the Air Force concern with these sightings is threefold:
- First of all, is the object a threat to the defense of the US?
- Secondly, does it contribute to technical or scientific knowledge?
- And then there's the inherent USAF responsibility to explain to the
- American people through public-information media what is going on in
- their skies.
-
- The phenomenon or actual objects encompassing UFO's will tend to
- increase, with the public more aware of goings on in space but still
- inclined to some apprehenson. Techinical and defense considerations
- will continue to exist in this area.
-
- Published about three months ago, AFR 200-2 outlines necessary
- orderly qualifed reporting as well as public-information procedures.
- This is where the Base should stand today, with practices judged at
- least satisfactory by commander and inspector:
-
- -Reasponsibility for handling UFO's should rest with either intelli-
- gence, operations, the Provost Marshal or the Information Offices -
- in order of preference, dictated by limits of the base organisation;
-
- -A specific officer should be designated as responsible;
-
- -He should have experience in investigative techniques and also,
- if possible, scientific or technical background;
-
- -He should have authority to obtain the assistance of specialists
- on the base;
-
- -He should be equipped with binoculars, cameria, Geiger counter,
- magnifying glass and have a source for containers in which to
- store samples.
-
- What is required is that every UFO sighting be investigated and
- reported to the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson
- AFB and that explanation to the public be realistic and knowledgable.
- Normally that explanation will be made by the OSAF information Officer.