The Ufo Controversy In America

/ ... THE BATTLE OVER UFOS . • • • 7896-97: Airship sightings throughout the country-the work of an unknown American inventor, or the product of an alien tech­ nology? World War II: The "foo-fighters" spotted dur· ing air battles-were they static electricity, enemy secret weapons, or extraterrestrial observers? J950s: The age of the contactees-sane, re· sponsible sky watchers, or irrational people suffering from the delusion that they have been chosen by the "space brothers"? J960s: The Condon Report vs. the UFO or­ ganizations-who's telling the truth? J970s: The scientists join the fray-but which ones have the right theory? Unidentified Flying Objects have been with us long time. Scientists have developed their own pet theories about UFOs. Many people have seen or claimed to see them. And even the Air Force and Congress have investigated the phenomena. Now Professor Jacobs puts all the facts together in one book, revealing the gov­ ernment cover-ups, the work of leading sci­ entists, the activities of the national UFO organizations, and actual cases of UFO sight­ ings, contactee reports, and trace evidence found. Here is the complete truth about a THE UFO CONTROVERSY IN AMERICA "A publishing landmark . . a book which you should own and which should be in every library in the land."-Fate Magazine • To the Memory of My Mother NAL BOOKS ARB ALSO AVAll.ABLB AT DISCOUNTS IN BULK QUANTITY FOR FOR DETAILS, INDUSTRIAL WRITE TO OR SALES-PROMOTIONAL PREMIUM MARKETING 1301 AVENUE OF 1001!). NEW AMERICAN LffiRARY, INC., ICAS, NEW YORK, NEW YORK CoPYRIGIIT © 1975 BY USB, DIVISION, THE AMER• INDIANA UNIVERSTIY PREss All rights reserved. No pa rt of this book may be reproduced or ut ilized in any form or by any means, electronic or me chanical , including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. The Association of American University Presses' Resolution on Permi ssions constitutes the only exception to this prohibition. For information address Indiana University Press, B lo omin g ton, Indiana 47401. Library of Congress Catalos Card Number: 74-11886 This is a n authorized reprint of a ha rdc over edition published by Indiana Univer sity Press. The hardcover edition was pub­ lished simultaneously in Ca na d a by Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited, Don Mills, Ontario. the (/) I!IIGNET TBA.DEMABK BEG. U.S. PAT. OFF. AND I'OBElGN BEGISTBRED TRADEMARK-MAROA BEGIBTBADA !UDOBO EN OHIOAGO, U.S.A. SIGNET, SIGNET CLASSICS, MENTOR, PLUM E AND OOUNTKilll MERIDIAN BOOKS are published by The New American Library, Inc., 1301 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New Yor� FIRST SIGNET PRINTING, SEPTEMBER, 1976 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 10019 L Contents Foreword vii Acknowledgments XV Some Words of Explanation 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. The Mystery Airship: Preliminaries to the Controversy The Modern Era Begins: Attempts to Reduce the Mystery The 1952 Wave: Efforts to Meet the Crisis The Robertson Panel and Its Effects on Air Force UFO Policy Contactees, Clubs, and Confusion 1954 to 1958: Continued Skirmishes and