In fear of threat to national security, the United States Air Force conducted investigations on thousands of UFO sightings that took place over the course of two decades.
Photograph of UFOs in “V” formation in Salem, Massachusetts by Shell R. Alpert, 1952, via Library of Congress, Washington DC
The United States Air Force was responsible for handling Project Blue Book, which investigated thousands of UFO sightings that were reported across the nation. The project took place over the course of two decades and attempted to identify flying saucer-like objects that were becoming increasingly common. Government officials were concerned that these objects were a threat to national security, especially due to heightened tensions from the Cold War. Controversy over UFO sightings and government involvement caused a public stir due to the lack of transparency initially provided by officials throughout the investigation.
The Creation of Project Blue Book
Photograph of a UFO sighting from a report in Riverside, California, 1951, via National Archives, Records of Headquarters US Air Force
Increased sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) in the 1940s led the American government to launch a series of investigations to determine what the mysterious flying objects were. Project Sign was initiated by Air Force General Nathan Twining, the head of the Air Technical Service Command. The purpose of Project Sign, also known as Project Saucer, was to collect and evaluate all information and data relating to UFO sightings. With tensions of the Cold War rising in the late 1940s, there was concern between government officials about whether UFOs were a national security concern.
Read More – Project Blue Book: The US Air Force’s Investigation of UFOs
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