Program · 1952 – 1969
Project Blue Book
Also known as Blue Book
Project Blue Book was the U.S. Air Force's study of unidentified flying objects from March 1952 to 17 December 1969, run from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, with the astronomer J. Allen Hynek as its scientific consultant throughout. It followed the earlier Projects Sign and Grudge.
In January 1953 the CIA convened the Robertson Panel, which reviewed Blue Book's case histories and films and concluded that UFOs posed no direct threat to national security. It recommended a public education and "debunking" effort through the mass media, even the Disney corporation, and that civilian UFO groups be monitored for subversive activities; the CIA's own 1997 history notes that the agency kept its sponsorship of the panel secret, which "would later cause the Agency major problems relating to its credibility". Air Force Regulation 200-2, issued that August, gave field investigations to the Air Defense Command's 4602d Air Intelligence Service Squadron and let the press be told only about sightings identified as familiar objects. By 1969 the Air Force stated that UFO reports which could affect national security were handled under JANAP 146 or AFM 55-11 and were not part of the Blue Book system.
Over its lifetime it collected 12,618 reports, of which 701 remained "unidentified". After the Condon Committee concluded that further study was unlikely to yield major discoveries, the Secretary of the Air Force closed the project, stating that no UFO had ever indicated a threat to national security, that there was no evidence of technology beyond contemporary knowledge, and no evidence that the unidentified sightings were extraterrestrial vehicles. Some of its records appear in the PURSUE releases.
Sources: war.gov/UFO · CIA history by Gerald K. Haines (1997) · AFR 200-2 (1954) · Bolender memo (1969) · Wikipedia
Facts and claims
- documented A 1952–1969 U.S. Air Force program to investigate the nature and origin of unidentified flying objects. Source: war.gov (archived)
- documented The CIA's 1997 history of its UFO role says: “Air Force BLUE BOOK investigators aware of the secret U-2 flights tried to explain away such sightings by linking them to natural phenomena such as ice crystals and temperature inversions. By checking with the Agency's U-2 Project Staff in Washington, BLUE BOOK investigators were able to attribute many UFO sightings to U-2 flights. They were careful, however, not to reveal the true cause of the sighting to the public.” Source: CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947–90 (Gerald K. Haines, Studies in Intelligence, 1997)
- documented In January 1953 the CIA-convened Robertson Panel reviewed Air Force UFO case histories and films; after “spending 12 hours studying the phenomena”, it declared that reasonable explanations could be suggested for most, if not all, sightings, including seagulls for the Tremonton film and two Air Force interceptors for the Great Falls film (CIA history, 1997). Source: CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947–90 (Gerald K. Haines, Studies in Intelligence, 1997)
- documented The panel recommended that the National Security Council “debunk UFO reports” and educate the public, using “the mass media, advertising, business clubs, schools, and even the Disney corporation”, and that private UFO groups such as the Civilian Flying Saucer Investigators and the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization “be monitored for subversive activities” (CIA history, 1997). Source: CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947–90 (Gerald K. Haines, Studies in Intelligence, 1997)
- documented Air Force Regulation 200-2, first issued on 26 August 1953 and revised in 1954, gave field investigations to the Air Defense Command's 4602d Air Intelligence Service Squadron and allowed the press to be told about a UFO only “when the object is positively identified as a familiar object”; for unexplained objects, “only the fact that ATIC will analyze the data” could be released. Source: doc-afr-200-2-1954.pdf
- documented The Air Force's own 1969 Bolender memo states that UFO reports “which could affect national security are made in accordance with JANAP 146 or Air Force Manual 55-11, and are not part of the Blue Book system”. Source: Bolender memo
- claimed Mark O'Connell, biographer of J. Allen Hynek, told Popular Mechanics in 2019 that once Blue Book proved unable to say whether UFOs were a threat, “its mission became one of ‘making the UFOs go away’”, and that “The worst sin one could commit on the Blue Book staff was to mark a case ‘unexplained.’” The article puts the number of cases some researchers consider unexplained at 3,000 to 5,000, against the Air Force's 701. Source: popularmechanics.com (archived)
- unverified According to the researcher Brad Sparks, as reported by Popular Mechanics, Blue Book went on receiving reports after its closure was announced on 17 December 1969 and was not shut down until 30 January 1970. Source: popularmechanics.com (archived)
Connected files
Books
- Conspiracy of Silence: From Roswell to Project Blue Book — What the Government Doesn't Want You to Know About UFOs (subject of)
- Forbidden Science: Journals 1957–1969 (subject of)
- The Hynek UFO Report (subject of)
- Project Blue Book Exposed (subject of)
- The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (subject of)
- The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry (subject of)
- UFOs and the National Security State: Chronology of a Cover-up, 1941–1973 (subject of)
- The World of Flying Saucers: A Scientific Examination of a Major Myth of the Space Age (subject of)
Claims
- Betty and Barney Hill were taken aboard a non-human craft in New Hampshire in September 1961 (disputes claim)
Concepts
- Government UFO disinformation (example of) — The CIA history says Blue Book investigators who knew of the U-2 flights “tried to explain away such sightings” as natural phenomena
Documents
- AARO Historical Record Report, Volume 1 (subject of)
- Air Force Regulation 200-2, Unidentified Flying Objects Reporting (12 August 1954) (governed by) — It set how UFO reports were collected, investigated and released while Blue Book ran
- Project Blue Book case files: Chorwon, Korea, May 1952 (case files)
- Project Blue Book case file: Haneda AFB, Japan, August 1952 (case files)
- Project Blue Book case file: KOREA, January 1952 (case files)
- Project Blue Book case file: Lincoln, New Hampshire, September 1961 (the Hill case) (case files)
- Project Blue Book case file: Minot AFB, North Dakota, October 1968 (case files)
- Project Blue Book case file: Mt. Rainier, Washington, June 1947 (Kenneth Arnold) (case files)
- Project Blue Book case file: Portland, Oregon, and the Northwest, July 1947 (incidents of 4 July) (case files)
- Project Blue Book case file: Socorro, New Mexico, April 1964 (Lonnie Zamora) (case files)
- Bolender memo (subject of)
- CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947–90 (Gerald K. Haines, Studies in Intelligence, 1997) (discussed in)
- Robertson Panel report (Durant Report): Report of Meetings of Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects (reviewed by) — The panel met on 14–18 January 1953 to review Air Force UFO cases and films
- Transcript of a presentation by Captain Edward J. Ruppelt, March 1952 (DOW-UAP-D154) (subject of)
- UFO Briefing Document: The Best Available Evidence (related to)
Events
- National Press Club panel on UFOs and aviation safety (reopening urged by) — Panellists asked the U.S. government to reopen the investigation that ended with Blue Book in 1969
Documentaries
- UFOs: Past, Present, and Future (subject of)
Hearings & briefings
- House Armed Services Committee hearing on Unidentified Flying Objects (examined at) — Blue Book's chief testified; the hearing led to the Condon study, later used to justify closing Blue Book
Incidents
- Kenneth Arnold sighting near Mount Rainier (investigated) — Blue Book's record card marks the conclusion “Other (MIRAGE)”
- Chorwon F-94 engagement (investigated) — The main record card marks the conclusion “Unknown”
- Edwards AFB Askania photographs (investigated) — Case 4715
- Gander Navy R5D encounter (investigated) — The Northeast Air Command report went to the Air Force's intelligence center
- Haneda AFB radar-visual sighting (investigated) — Blue Book's record card marks the conclusion “Unknown”
- Betty and Barney Hill abduction (investigated)
- Lakenheath–Bentwaters radar-visual incident (related to)
- Exercise Mainbrace sightings (incl. RAF Topcliffe) (discusses) — Blue Book's Edward Ruppelt said the sightings led the RAF to take UFOs seriously
- Minot B-52 radar and visual sightings (North Dakota, 1968) (investigated)
- Portland police and harbor patrol disk sightings (investigated) — The Blue Book file holds the reports and an analyst's evaluation
- Socorro landing (New Mexico, 1964) (investigated)
- Tremonton film (Utah, 1952) (investigated)
- United Air Lines Flight 105 sighting near Emmett, Idaho (investigated) — Blue Book's file summarises it as Incident No. 10, with the Air Materiel Command's opinion
- Wonsan–Sunchon B-29 sightings (investigated) — Blue Book's case file shows ATIC reached no conclusion
Organizations
- National Air and Space Intelligence Center (run by) — AARO and the CIA's 1952 records place Projects Sign, Grudge and Blue Book under ATIC, NASIC's forerunner
- Department of War (Department of Defense) (run by)
People
- Carroll H. Bolender (ending urged by) — His 1969 memo recommended ending Project Blue Book
- Edward J. Ruppelt (led by)
- Hector Quintanilla (led by)
- J. Allen Hynek (staff)
Places
- Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (based at) — Blue Book was run from Wright-Patterson from 1952 to 1969
Programs
- Project Grudge (succeeded)
Official records (PURSUE)
- CIA-UAP-015 — Project Blue Book Special Report No. 14 (Analysis of Reports of Unidentified Aerial Objects) (documented in) — The USAF Project Blue Book with a CIA “Official Record Copy” cover sheet
- CIA-UAP-019 — Australian Dept of Defense Scientific and Intel Aspects of the UFO Problem (reviewed by) — A 1971 Australian review of Project Blue Book
- DOW-UAP-D092 — Department of the Air Force Committee to Review Project Bluebook, 1966-1967 (reviewed by) — The Air Force Scientific Advisory Board's ad hoc committee review of Blue Book
- DOW-UAP-D096 — Correspondence Relating to Project Blue Book, 1955 (documented in) — Correspondence about Blue Book's research and findings
- DOW-UAP-D102 — Project Blue Book File on Tremonton Film, Utah, 1952 (documented in) — Blue Book's investigation of the 1952 Tremonton film
- DOW-UAP-D103 — Project Blue Book Photo File Relating to Tremonton Film, Utah, 1952 (documented in) — Blue Book's investigation of the 1952 Tremonton film
- DOW-UAP-D104 — Final Personnel Record for Newhouse, Delbert C., U.S. Navy, 1957 (documented in) — The Tremonton film became the subject of a Blue Book investigation
- DOW-UAP-D154 — Transcript of a Presentation by Captain Edward J. Ruppelt, 1952 (preceded by) — Previews methods such as diffraction-grating photography later used by Blue Book
- DOW-UAP-D168 — BAASS Project Management Plan, December 2008 (mentioned in)
- DOW-UAP-PR159 — Historical Film of Reported UFOs, Utah, 1952 (reviewed) — The film became one of the visual cases reviewed by Project Blue Book
- DOW-UAP-PR160 — Presentation by Captain Edward J. Ruppelt, 1952 (preceded by) — Previews methods such as diffraction-grating photography later used by Blue Book
Videos
- Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt's presentation on the Air Force UFO investigation, 26 March 1952 (PURSUE audio, DOW-UAP-PR160) (subject of)
- CBS Reports: “UFO: Friend, Foe or Fantasy?” (Walter Cronkite, 10 May 1966) (subject of)
- April 5th House Armed Services Hearing on UFOs (1966 news footage) (discussed in)
- UFO Cover-Up?: Live! (1988 television special) (discussed in)
- Col. Philip J. Corso: The Day After Roswell lecture “at the Ranch” (22 February 1998) (discussed in)
- Citizen Hearing 2013: History & Background, Part 2 (discussed in)
- Citizen Hearing 2013: Nuclear Tampering, Part 1 (discussed in)
- Citizen Hearing 2013: Nuclear Tampering, Part 2 (discussed in)
- Citizen Hearing 2013: Opening statements (Mitchell, Hellyer) (discussed in)
- Citizen Hearing 2013: Rendlesham Forest Encounter, Part 1 (discussed in)
- Citizen Hearing 2013: The Truth Embargo (discussed in)
- Rick Doty with George Knapp, part 2: MJ-12, the FBI and UFO cover stories for secret aircraft (Mystery Wire, 2019 interview) (discussed in)
- Rick Doty with George Knapp, part 3: a real phenomenon and a family of agents (Mystery Wire, 2019 interview) (discussed in)
- Congressional hearings on military reports of Unexplained Aerial Phenomena (UAP) - May 17th, 2022 (discussed in)
- The Sol Forum #1: Hal Puthoff, Jacques Vallée and Larry Lemke (discussed in)
- UAP & National Security: Mellon, Gallaudet, von Rennenkampff & McConnell at Disclosure Forum 2026 (discussed in)
- Hynek and Air Force Secretary Harold Brown at a press conference (1966 news footage) (subject of)
- The Biblical Truth of UFOs & Angels (Ft. Karl Nell & Diana Pasulka) (discussed in)
- “This UFO Shut Down 10 Nukes!” - Air Force Officer Robert Salas (discussed in)
Mentioned in this file
- PURSUE — Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (Program)
- Central Intelligence Agency (Organization)
Mentioned in videos
- UFO Cover-Up?: Live! (1988 television special)
- Col. Philip J. Corso: The Day After Roswell lecture “at the Ranch” (22 February 1998)
- Citizen Hearing 2013: A Global Phenomenon, Part 1
- Citizen Hearing 2013: A Global Phenomenon, Part 2
- Citizen Hearing 2013: History & Background, Part 2
- Citizen Hearing 2013: Nuclear Tampering, Part 1
- Citizen Hearing 2013: Opening statements (Mitchell, Hellyer)
- Citizen Hearing 2013: Roswell, Part 1
- Citizen Hearing 2013: The Truth Embargo
- Lakenheath/ Bentwaters UFO Incident 1956 - Dr. David Clarke
- Disclosure Project press conference, National Press Club (May 9, 2001), full event
- “This UFO Shut Down 10 Nukes!” - Air Force Officer Robert Salas
- Meet the nuclear missile guard abducted by aliens: Richard Barth (American Alchemy, 2026)
- National Press Club - November 12th, 2007. UFO Close Encounters
Mentioned in documents and records
- Anatomy of a Phenomenon: UFOs in Space
- Flying Saucers and Science: A Scientist Investigates the Mysteries of UFOs
- The Flying Saucers Are Real
- Unidentified: The UFO Phenomenon — How World Governments Have Conspired to Conceal Humanity's Biggest Secret
- UFO's: A Scientific Debate
- UFOs: A Scientist Explains What We Know (And Don't Know)
- The U.S. government's official UAP investigations have found no verifiable evidence of extraterrestrial or non-human technology
- Hearing transcript: Unidentified Flying Objects — House Armed Services Committee (April 5, 1966)
- The 1947 flying disc wave
- Project Sign
More programs
- All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office
- Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program
- Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program
- Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force
- Project Magnet
- Legacy program