From The Files of Project Bluebook 7

All Things Strange

The seventh in the series! There are so many great cases hidden away in the dusty old file of Project Bluebook. Let's have a look at some!

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Project Blue Book was a United States Air Force (USAF) program that aimed to investigate and analyze reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and determine if they posed any potential threat to national security. The project was active from 1952 to 1969 and is one of the most well-known and controversial UFO research programs in history.

Key aspects of Project Blue Book include:

1. Background: Project Blue Book was established in 1952, replacing an earlier UFO study called Project Sign. The primary motivation behind its creation was to address the growing number of UFO sightings and public interest in the phenomenon. The USAF wanted to determine whether these sightings had any basis in reality and whether they could be attributed to foreign adversaries or other threats.

2. Investigation and Reporting: Under the leadership of various military personnel and scientists, Project Blue Book investigated thousands of UFO reports during its existence. Reports came from both civilian and military sources. The team analyzed photographs, witness testimonies, and other evidence related to UFO sightings.

3. Classification of Cases: Project Blue Book classified UFO cases into three categories:

   • Identified (I): These cases were explained as ordinary phenomena, such as weather balloons, aircraft, astronomical events, or hoaxes.
   • Unidentified (U): These cases remained unexplained after thorough investigation. They constituted a small percentage of all reported UFO sightings.
   • Insufficient Information (II): Cases for which there was insufficient data to make a determination.

4. Public Relations: Project Blue Book maintained a public relations aspect to manage the public's interest in UFOs. It tried to downplay the significance of many UFO sightings, often attributing them to misidentifications or natural phenomena.

5. Conclusions: Over the years, Project Blue Book investigated thousands of UFO cases, but the majority of them were categorized as Identified. While a significant number of cases remained Unidentified, the program's final conclusion, as stated in the Condon Report (1968), was that UFOs did not pose a threat to national security and did not warrant further systematic study.

6. Closure: In December 1969, the USAF officially announced the termination of Project Blue Book, citing the conclusions of the Condon Report and the high costs associated with maintaining the program. The closure marked the end of the U.S. government's official involvement in UFO investigations, though interest in the topic persisted in both the public and private sectors.

Project Blue Book remains a subject of fascination and controversy among UFO enthusiasts, skeptics, and researchers, with ongoing debates about the government's handling of UFO reports and the true nature of the unexplained cases investigated during its existence.