◆ SpookStack

Source of Reports The majority of reports of serial phonomona have come from civilians. About 8 percent come from civil airlines pilots, while approximately 25 percent aro reported by military peraonnol. Reports have been received also from hignly qualified scientists, Although primary eignificance is attached to repor.e from — qualifiod oboervers, there is no intention to discredit untrained observes. Tne Air Force has received many reports of unnsual imigos on radar acopos. Tt is fairly well cotabliahed that some of thesc images are ground objects reflected from a layor of warm air above the carth (a temporature inversion). Temporature inversion reflections can givo a return on a radar scope that is as sharp as that received from an aircraft, Spoed ranges of these returns are reportedly from zero to fantastic specds. The “objectea" aleo appear to move in oll directions, Such radar sightings have resulted in hundreds of fruitiess intercept efforts, One eciontific theory holds that light can be similarly reflected from a layer of warm eir abovo the earth and, if proven to be correct, this could account for somo visual sightings. Bearing out the theory of tomperaturo inversion reflection is an incident which necurrea in January 1951 near Oakridgc, Tenncsasco. Two Air Force aircraft attempted to intercept an unidentified “objoct" and actuclly established a radar "lock” on the object. Their altitude at the time was 7,000 fect, The unidentificc object, according to their radar, cppoared to be at an clevation of ton to 25 degrees. Three posses were made in an attempt to close on the objoct. In cach instance the pilots reported thet their radar led them first upward and then down toward o apecific point on the ground. fonizod clouda are bolieved to bo the cause of some unidontifiod radar returns, Thundcrstorm activity ia idontifiable by radar, and radar is used for the purpose of avoiding thunderstorms, In addition, radar has picked up many objects first reported ao "unidentified phenomena" which were later identified es aircraft, birds, balloons, ice formations in the air, or othor mown aerial objocts or manifostations. = = = Policy Regarding Attemptod Intorception No or rders } ave been issued by the Air Defense Commaand to ite fightor units with alr defense of the Unitod States, and its mission is to attack anything airborne which 409 kmown or appoare to be hoctile, Thio should not bo intorproted te moon that our pliote will firo haphasardly on anything that flies.