FACT SHEETUSAF Fact Sheet 95-03
Unidentified Flying Objects and Air ForceProject Blue Book
From 1947 to 1969, the Air Force investigated Unidentified Flying Objects under Project Blue Book.The project, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, was terminated Dec. 17, 1969. Ofa total of 12,618 sightings reported to Project Blue Book, 701 remained "unidentified."
The decision to discontinue UFO investigations was based on an evaluation of a report prepared by theUniversity of Colorado entitled, "Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects;" a review of theUniversity of Colorado's report by the National Academy of Sciences; previous UFO studies and AirForce experience investigating UFO reports during the 1940s, '50s and '60s.
As a result of these investigations, studies and experience gained from investigating UFO reports since1948, the conclusions of Project Blue Book were: (1) no UFO reported, investigated and evaluated bythe Air Force was ever an indication of threat to our national security; (2) there was no evidencesubmitted to or discovered by the Air Force that sightings categorized as "unidentified" representedtechnological developments or principles beyond the range of modern scientific knowledge; and (3)there was no evidence that sightings categorized as "unidentified" were extraterrestrialvehicles.
With the termination of Project Blue Book, the Air Force regulation establishing and controlling theprogram for investigating and analyzing UFOs was rescinded. Documentation regarding the former BlueBook investigation was permanently transferred to the Modern Military Branch, National Archives andRecords Service, Eighth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20408, and isavailable for public review and analysis.
Since the termination of Project Blue Book, nothing has occurred that would support a resumption ofUFO investigations by the Air Force. Given the current environment of steadily decreasing defensebudgets, it is unlikely the Air Force would become involved in such a costly project in the foreseeablefuture.
There are a number of universities and professional scientific organizations that have considered UFOphenomena during periodic meetings and seminars. A list of private organizations interested in aerialphenomena may be found in Gale's Encyclopedia of Associations. Interest in and timely review of UFOreports by private groups ensures that sound evidence is not overlooked by the scientific community.Persons wishing to report UFO sightings should be advised to contact local law enforcement agencies.
Point of Contact
News media requiring Project Blue Book files should contact the National Archives Public AffairsOffice, (202)-501-5525. Public queries should be addressed to the Project Blue Book archivist at (202)501-5385. For queries not related to Project Blue Book, contact the National Archives receptionist at(202) 501-5400.
(Current as of June 1995)