45 lines
2.1 KiB
Plaintext
45 lines
2.1 KiB
Plaintext
Reproduced below is the classic order from the Inspector General
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of the Air Force to all air base commanders in the continental United
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States on December 24, 1959
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Unidentified flying objects - sometimes treated lightly by the
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press and referred to as "flyiny saucers" - must be rapidly and acc-
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urately identified as serious USAF business in the ZI. As AFR 200-2
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points out, the Air Force concern with these sightings is threefold:
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First of all, is the object a threat to the defense of the US?
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Secondly, does it contribute to technical or scientific knowledge?
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And then there's the inherent USAF responsibility to explain to the
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American people through public-information media what is going on in
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their skies.
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The phenomenon or actual objects encompassing UFO's will tend to
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increase, with the public more aware of goings on in space but still
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inclined to some apprehenson. Techinical and defense considerations
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will continue to exist in this area.
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Published about three months ago, AFR 200-2 outlines necessary
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orderly qualifed reporting as well as public-information procedures.
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This is where the Base should stand today, with practices judged at
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least satisfactory by commander and inspector:
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-Reasponsibility for handling UFO's should rest with either intelli-
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gence, operations, the Provost Marshal or the Information Offices -
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in order of preference, dictated by limits of the base organisation;
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-A specific officer should be designated as responsible;
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-He should have experience in investigative techniques and also,
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if possible, scientific or technical background;
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-He should have authority to obtain the assistance of specialists
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on the base;
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-He should be equipped with binoculars, cameria, Geiger counter,
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magnifying glass and have a source for containers in which to
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store samples.
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What is required is that every UFO sighting be investigated and
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reported to the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson
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AFB and that explanation to the public be realistic and knowledgable.
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Normally that explanation will be made by the OSAF information Officer.
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