Brief Chronology of UFO History
1944
Non-aggressive "Foo-fighters" reported buzzing and flying formation
with Allied combat airplanes in European and Pacific Theaters of War.
Suggestions that they were Axis air weapons were found unconvincing.
1946
Of 1500+ "ghost rockets" reported from Sweden and neighboring
countries, most flew slowly, quietly and level. Attempts to blame
Soviet rocket and missile tests from Peenemunde failed.
1947
First major American wave of "flying disc" sightings started
with formation of ovals seen weaving through the Cascade Mountains of Washington
State at 1700 mph by businessman/pilot Kenneth Arnold. Ground observers
reported seeing formations of discs at same time and place. More
than 1500 reports of daylight sightings in newspapers.
Official report of crashed flying disc recovered near Roswell,
New Mexico, quickly explained by Army Air Forces as weather balloon, despite
later witness descriptions of unusually light and strong materials.
First preliminary study by U. S. Army Air Forces Intelligence
of a dozen flying disc sightings concludes: "Something is really flying
around".
1948
Air National Guard fighter pilot Thomas Mantell dies during attempted
intercept of UFO over Kentucky.
U.S. Air Force establishes Project Sign as first long-term, official
UFO investigation.
Project Sign staff report on alien origin of UFOs is rejected
by USAF Chief Hoyt Vandenberg due to lack of physical evidence.
1949
Project Grudge replaces Project Sign.
Government conference on rash of large, brilliant green fireballs
leads to 1950's Project Twinkle, which allegedly failed to track and photograph
any.
True Magazine publication of Donald Keyhoe's article is first
in major magazine to claim UFOs are alien craft, and that the U.S. Government
is withholding confirming information.
1950
First UFO books published by investigative reporter Keyhoe (elaboration
of his magazine article) and Hollywood gossip columnist Frank Scully (poorly-supported
tale of crashed saucer and little men).
1952
Project Blue Book replaces Project Grudge.
Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO) becomes first long-term
private UFO association.
Second major American sighting wave centered on Washington, D.C.;
many radar/visual sightings quietly admitted by Air Force to be unexplained.
1953
CIA-sponsored Robertson Panel of scientists concludes UFOs are
probably all mistakes.
Harvard astronomer Donald Menzel becomes highly vocal spokesman
for those opposed to study of UFOs.
George Adamski emerges as leading "contactee", claiming to have
traveled to unknown worlds with benevolent spacemen.
1955
U.S. Air Force releases Project Blue Book Special Report #14,
the first of several major reports in which the negative summary is contradicted
by positive elements in the text.
1956
National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP)
becomes first private UFO group with a Washington office.
1957
Third American UFO wave highlighted by electrical interference
reports around Levelland, Texas. Air Force blames all the car stoppings
on an intense electrical storm, even though the night was clear.
1964
Report of landed UFO with nearby crew by Socorro, New Mexico,
policeman is first "Close Encounter of the 3rd Kind" to attract national
attention and the only one to be labeled "unexplained" by Project Blue
Book.
NICAP's "The UFO Evidence" is first scientifically-based study
of UFOs, analyzing 750 cases having high "strangeness" and "credibility"
ratings.
1966
Sighting of landed UFO in Dexter, Michigan, is explained by Project
Blue Book as "swamp gas", producing long-term public ridicule.
House Armed Services Committee hears USAF suggest university study of UFOs, which is accepted by University of Colorado, under Dr. E. U. Condon.
Story of "alien abduction" of New England couple published as
first convincing case of "face-to-face" meetings with aliens.
Phillip Klass, of Aviation Week magazine, proposes (then quietly withdraws) ball lightning as explanation for many UFO reports.
1967
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) establishes
UFO subcommittee.
Wesleyan University offers first credit course on UFOs.
Soviet TV announcement reveals short-lived non-governmental UFO
group.
1968
House Science & Astronautics Committee holds one-day UFO
symposium.
NICAP publishes series of once-classified Blue Book status reports,
proving unclassified UFO information had long been withheld from public.
1969
Final report of University of Colorado UFO study combines negative
summary with positive portions of text.
U.S. Air Force uses University of Colorado report as basis for
closing Project Blue Book.
Air Force scientist quantifies temperature inversions, concluding
that few, if any, UFO sightings are caused by mirages.
Annual meeting of American Association for the Advancement of
Science (AAAS) includes UFO session despite strenuous objections from Donald
Menzel.
Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) established by Walter Andrus to stress
field investigations.
1973
Last (so far) wide-spread American UFO wave highlighted by abduction
of two fishermen in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Center for UFO Studies established by disillusioned former USAF
consultant Dr. J. Allen Hynek.
1975
Project Blue Book case files made available to the public at
the National Archives, though names of all witnesses were censored.
1976
Amended Freedom of Information Act opens door to some previously
classified UFO documents, but to almost none classified Top Secret or higher.
Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
(CSICOP) formed to attack promoters of what it considers anti-science.
1978
First witnesses to 1947 Roswell crash are interviewed, including
ex-Intelligence officer Jesse Marcel who handled wreckage.
1979
Fund for UFO Research incorporated by Richard Hall, Tom Deuley,
Bruce Maccabee to provide funding for scientific research.
1983
Study of eight "alien abductees" by clinical psychologist is
published by Fund for UFO Research, revealing lack of mental problems that
might explain their stories.
1987
Publication of best-selling books by Whitley Streiber ("Communion")
and Budd Hopkins ("Intruders") ignites world-wide interest in "alien abductions".
Allegedly-official MJ-12 report describes recovery of crashed
alien craft at Roswell in 1947, but remains highly controversial.
1991
Poll by The Roper Organization suggests that as many as 4,000,000
adult Americans could be "alien abductees".
1992
Four-day conference on "alien abductions" held at Massachusetts
Institute of Technology includes chairmen of university psychology departments
and directors of mental health groups.
1993
UFO Research Coalition formed by MUFON, CUFOS and Fund for UFO
Research to manage joint programs.
1995
Air Force announces that wreckage recovered near Roswell in 1947
was not a weather balloon, but was from then-secret Project Mogul cluster
of weather balloons.
General Accounting Office investigation into Roswell crash concludes:
"The debate over what crashed at Roswell continues."
1997
U.S. Air Force attempt to discount reports of small bodies found
in conjunction with 1947 Roswell crash produces press backlash.
Rockefeller-sponsored conference of scientists nervously concludes
UFOs are worthy of study.
Central Intelligence Agency claims thousands of UFO reports were
caused by secret high-altitude spy planes, even though they couldn't be
seen from the ground.
1998
Uncensored microfilms of Project Blue Book case files found at
National Archives.
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