Says Science is "Delinquent" on Research Into Reports
WASHINGTON, Oct 20 (AP) — An Arizona scientist urged today a radical change
in the investigation of
unidentified flying objects to determine if some may come from other worlds.
Dr. James E. McDonald said in an interview that science had been delinquent in dismissing so-called "flying saucers" with too few attempts to find physical or psychological explanations.
Dr. McDonald is professor of meteorology at the University of Arizona and senior physicist at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics there.
He said that 18 years of administrative foul-up
by the Air Force, which is charged with investigating aerial
phenomena, and deliberate Government "debunking" of U.F.O. sightings had frightened away scientists and left
needless confusion in the public's mind.
While any attempt to explain saucers as extraterrestrial visitors seems absurd
, that explanation also seems to be the
least unsatisfactory hypothesis
for at least somme sightings, Dr. McDonald said.
I believe this is a problem of the first order of scientific importance
, Dr McDonald said. It has been
neglected and misrepresented and it is crying for high-caliber attention
.
The tall, sandy-haired researcher holds degrees in physics, chemistry and meterorology. For about 12 years he has interviewed anyone in the Tucson area who reported having seen unusual objects in the sky.
I have never had more than puzzlement until this spring
, he said. Then a rash of sightings across the
country and Congressional attention to the question increased his own interest.
Since then he has spent most of his time telephoning, traveling and otherwise looking into U.F.O.'s.
It was announced on Oct. 6 that the University of Colorado at Boulder had been selected by the Air Force to conduct independent investigations into reports of unidentified flying objects. Dr. Edward U. Condon will direct the scientific phases of the work.
Because he believes the Air Force has mishandled its role, treating the saucer reports at very low level of
scientific competence
, he sees a need for concurrent investigation by outfits that have no vested
interest
— the National Science Foundation or more sensibly, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
.
While his investigations have convinced him there is no attempt to cover up a super-super-secret, he says he found evidence in Air Force document that the Central Intelligence Agency in 1953 asked the Air Force to "debunk" saucer reports because they were clogging vital military reporting channels and demanding too much time of investigators.
The C.I.A. reiterated today a statement it made earlier this month after Dr. McDonald discussed his views with Arizona newsmen.
It said the agency has helped analyze sighting reports of unidentified
flying objects in the early nineteen-fifties to help determine if some objects might have originated from
overseas
.
The Air Force at that time concluded that it had no evidence that the sighted objects were hostile, were the "artifacts" of a foreign power, or were extraterrestrial in origin.
Presently, the subject of U.F.O. is a responsibility of the Air Force and we have absolutely no interest either
in building up or debunking any information regarding, or views on, U.F.O.'s
the agency's statement concluded.