History
of UFO's
This section of the website is dedicated to the history of ufology
in the traditional sense, that is, to the discussion of how we,
both individually and collectively, have responded to the phenomenon
in our studies and attitudes. It is, therefore, not a section aimed
at describing the phenomenon (see our section on the UFO Phenomenon
for that), but on explaining how formal organizations (such as the
Air Force), communities (such as academia), and individuals have
dealt with this mystery.
In this sense, we begin our coverage of UFO history with relatively
recent times: the period following World War Two. It is from this
period forward that the modern era of UFO sightings began, and thus
the reasonably well-documented history of their investigation by
governments and civilians.
The
best general UFO history is still Dr. David Jacob's The UFO Controversy
in America, (Indiana University, Bloomington, IN., 1975). Extremely
scholarly and well documented, this treatment of the subject has
stood the test of time and remains to this day the only true academic
history of the field.
We will not repeat or supplant Jacobs' history on this site; instead,
we will augment it with selections from articles of more recent
vintage than Jacobs' book. These articles, and other contributions,
have been chosen to elaborate upon critical moments in UFO history.
Although the website will cover more than the few "critical
moments" listed below, scholars of this field feel that three
exceptionally important eras have occurred which served to dominate
the direction that the field has taken. These three critical moments
are:
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1.
The UFO wave of the summer of 1947 and the consequent US Air
Force investigation of the disks (Project Sign) and their "Estimate
of the Situation" (i.e. what they felt that the phenomenon
was). |
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2.
The UFO wave of the summer of 1952 and the "display"
over Washington, DC, and the consequent concern of President
Truman and the CIA, which culminated in the Top Secret Robertson
Panel to set national policy toward UFOs. |
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3.
The UFO wave of the mid-1960s and Dr. Allen Hynek's famous "swamp
gas" explanation gaff, which led to the USAF-sponsored
UFO investigation at the University of Colorado (the Condon
Project), which influences academic views on this subject to
this day. |
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Each of these
eras is elaborated in selections that you can investigate below,
along with material to illustrate other elements of UFO history.
Audio clips
of interest:
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·
Major Donald Keyhoe, who founded the civilian UFO research organization
NICAP
· Dr. James McDonald
· Dr. J. Allen Hynek
· Robert Low, Colorado Project Asst. Administrator |
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