*AFR200-2
*This regulation supersedes AFR 200-2, 26 August
1953, including change 200-2a, 2 November 1953.
Department of the Air Force
Washington, 12 August 1954
Intelligence
Unidentified Flying Objects reporting (short
title: UFOB)
1. Purpose and Scope. This regulation establishes
procedures for reporting information and evidence pertaining to unidentified flying
objects and sets forth the responsibility of Air Force activities in this regard. It
applies to all Air Force activities.
2. Definitions:
a. Unidentified flying objects (UFOB)- Relates to
any airborne object which by performance, aerodynamic characteristics, or unusual features
does not conform to any presently known aircraft or missile type, or which cannot be
positively identified as a familiar object.
b. Familiar objects-- include balloons,
astronomical bodies, birds and so forth.
3. Objectives. Air Force interest in unidentified
flying objects is two-fold. First as a possible threat to the security of the United
States and its forces, and secondly, to determine technical aspects involved.
4. Responsibility:
a. Reporting. commanders of the Air Force
activities will report all information and evidence that may come to their attention,
including that received from adjacent commands of the other services and from civilians.
b. Investigation. Air Defense Command will
conduct all field investigations within the Z1, to determine the identity of any UFOB. [Z1
(zone of the interior) includes continental area of the United States.]
c. Analysis. The Air Technical Intelligence
Center (ATTIC), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, will analyse and evaluate: All
information and evidence reported within the Z1 after the Air Defense Command has
exhausted all efforts to identify the UFOB; and all information and evidence collected in
oversea areas.
d. Co-operation. All activities will co-operate
with Air Defense Command representatives to insure the economical and prompt success of an
investigation, including the furnishing of air and ground transportation, when feasible.
5. Z1 Collection.
a. All Air Force activities are authorised to
conduct such preliminary investigation as may be required for reporting purposes; however,
investigations should not be carried beyond this point, unless such action is requested by
the 4602d AISS.
6. Reporting. All information relating to UFOB`s
will be reported promptly.
a. (1) Electrical Reports. All electrical reports
will be multiple addressed to:
(2) Commander, Air Defense Command, ENT Air Force
Base Colorado Springs, Colorado.
b. Nearest Air Division (Defense). (for Z1 only).
c. Commander, Air Technical Intelligence Center,
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
d. Director of Intelligence, Headquarters USAF,
Washington D.C.
e. Report Format. Reports will include the
following numbered items:
(1) Description of the object(s):
(a) Shape.
(b) size compared to a known object (use one of
the following terms: head of a pin, pea, dime, nickel, quarter, half dollar, baseball
grapefruit, or basketball) held in hand at arms length.
(c) color.
(d) number.
(e) formation, if more than one.
(f) any discernible features or detail.
(g) trail, tail, or exhaust, including size of
same compared to size of object(s).
(h) sound. If heard, describe sound.
(i) other pertinent or unusual features.
(2) Description of course of object s):
(a) what first called the attention of
observer(s) to the object(s).
(b) angle of elevation and azimuth of the
object(s) upon disappearance.
(d) description of flight path and manoeuvres of
object(s).
(e) manner of disappearance of object(s).
(f) length of time in sight.
(3) Manner of observation:
(a) use one or any combination of the following
items : ground visual, ground-electronic, air-electronic. (if electronic specify type of
radar).
(b) statement as to optical aids (telescopes,
binoculars, and so forth) used and description thereof.
(c) if the sighting is made while airborne, give
type aircraft identification number, altitude, heading, speed, and home station.
(4) Time and date of sighting.
(a) Zulu time date group of sighting.
(b) light conditions (use one of the following
terms): night-day-dawn-dusk
(5) Locations of observer(s): exact latitude and
longitude of each observer, or Georef position, or position with reference to a known
landmark.
(6) Identifying information of all observer(s) :
(a) civilian-- name, age, mailing address,
occupation.
(b) military-- name, grade, organisation, duty,
and estimate of reliability.
(7) Weather and winds aloft conditions at time
and place of sighting.
(a) observer(s) account of weather conditions.
(b) report from nearest AWS or U.S. Weather
Bureau office, of wind direction and velocity in degrees and knots at surface, 6,000,
10,000, 16,000, 20,000, 30,000, 50,000 and 80,000 feet if available.
(c) ceiling.
(d) visibility.
(e) amount of cloud cover.
(f) thunderstorm's in the area and quadrant in
which located.
(8) Any other unusual activity or condition,
meteorological, astronomical, or otherwise, which might account for the sighting.
(9) Interception or identification action taken
(such action maybe taken whenever feasible, complying with existing air defense
directives).
(10) Location of any air traffic in the area at
the time of the sighting.
(11) position title and comments of the preparing
officer, including his preliminary analysis of the possible cause of the sighting.
(12) existence of physical evidence such as
materials and photographs.
7. Evidence. the existence of physical evidence,
(photographs or material) will be promptly reported.
a. photographic:
(1) Visual. the negative and two prints will be
forwarded; all original film, including wherever possible both prints and negatives, will
be titled or otherwise properly identified as to place, time, and date of the incident(see
"intelligence collection instructions "(ICI), June 1954 ).
(2) Radar. Two copies of each print will be
forwarded. Prints of radarscope photography will be titled in accordance with AFR 95-7 and
forwarded in compliance with AFR 95-6.
b. material. suspected or actual items of
material witch come into possession of any Air Force echelon will be safe guarded in such
manner as to prevent any defacing or alteration which might reduce its value for
intelligence examination and analysis.
8. Release of facts. Headquarters USAF will
release summaries of evaluated data, which will inform the public on this subject. In
representatives on UFOB`s when the subject is positively identified as a familiar object
(see paragraph 2b ),except that the following type of data warrants protection and should
not be revealed: Names of principles intercept and investigation procedures, and
classified radar data. For those objects which are not explainable, only the fact that
ATIC will analyse the data is worthy of release, due to the many unknowns involved.
BY THE ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
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