James
Edward McDonald received his Ph.D. in physics from Iowa State University
in 1951, then worked there as an assistant professor in meteorology.
He was a research physicist in the University of Chicago's department
of meteorology (1953-54). In 1954 he joined the University of Arizona
faculty, first as an associate professor (1954-56), then as a full
professor in the department of meteorology (1956-71). McDonald was
also a senior physicist in the University's Institute of Atmospheric
Physics, and served as both associate director (1954-56) and scientific
director (1956-57). He also advised numerous federal agencies, including
the National Science Foundation, The Office of Naval Research, the
National Academy of Sciences, and the Environmental Science Service
Administration.
During the
mid-late 1960s, McDonald became intensively involved in UFO research,
interviewing hundreds of UFO witnesses and lecturing widely on the
subject to professional societies. His talks emphasized the need
for a serious scientific study, adding that he considered the best
reports to be evidence of extraterrestrial visitation. He also played
an important role in Congressional UFO hearings in 1968.
Privately,
McDonald analyzed all Project Blue Book case files, convincing him
that the Air Force had performed an entirely inadequate investigation,
which appeared to have been more concerned with internal politics
rather than real science. He also reviewed the cases of the Air
Force's sponsored University of Colorado UFO study, and concluded
that many of their explanations were not well founded either. McDonald
left no book but privately published many monographs based on his
lecture presentations.
James McDonald
assesses UFO history
Presentation
by Dr. James McDonald to the American Society of Newspaper Editors
on April 22, 1967." UFO's: GREATEST SCIENTIFIC
PROBLEM OF OUR TIMES?"
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James
Edward McDonald received his Ph.D. in physics from Iowa State University
in 1951, then worked there as an assistant professor in meteorology.
He was a research physicist in the University of Chicago's department
of meteorology (1953-54). In 1954 he joined the University of Arizona
faculty, first as an associate professor (1954-56), then as a full
professor in the department of meteorology (1956-71). McDonald was
also a senior physicist in the University's Institute of Atmospheric
Physics, and served as both associate director (1954-56) and scientific
director (1956-57). He also advised numerous federal agencies, including
the National Science Foundation, The Office of Naval Research, the
National Academy of Sciences, and the Environmental Science Service
Administration.