|
AF. |
Air Force. |
|
AFB. |
Air Force Base. |
|
ATIC. |
Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB,
Dayton, Ohio. Home of the Project Blue Book UFO Investigation. |
|
Blip. |
Spot on radar scope indicating presence of an aircraft or other
object. Also called return" or "target." |
|
CAA. |
Civil Aeronautics Administration; now Federal Aviation Agency
(FAA). |
|
CIA. |
Central Intelligence Agency. |
|
CIRVIS. |
Communications Instructions for Reporting Vital Intelligence
Sightings; intelligence network detailed in order by the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, JANAP-146 (see below). |
|
Contactee. |
Person who claims to have contacted a "space man;" usually
involving alleged intelligent communication. |
|
E-M case. |
Electro-magnetic case; see Appendix E. |
|
Fact sheet. |
In the context of unidentified flying objects, refers to
periodical Air Force publications by that name giving
statistical summaries of recent UFO sightings. |
|
Fireball. |
Very bright meteor. |
|
Flap. |
Originally an Air Force term indicating general confusion; now
connotes periods in which large numbers of UFOs are reported in
a short period of time. |
|
Foo-Fighter. |
Name given to unidentified flying objects which paced allied and
enemy planes in World War II. |
|
Fortean. |
Adjective implying odd or unusual happenings, such as the events
chronicled by Charles Fort. |
|
GCI. |
Ground Control Intercept (radar). |
|
GOC. |
Ground Observer Corps; plane spotters formerly linked with radar
networks for air defense. |
|
Intercept(ion). |
Flying term for attempt to overtake or head off unidentified
aircraft or object. |
|
JANAP. |
Joint Army-Navy-Air Force Publication; specifically JANAP-146
out-lining secret transmission of UFO and other reports of
objects considered to be a potential threat to the country. |
|
Mother ship. |
A carrier aircraft which launches and receives on board smaller
aircraft or missiles in flight. |
|
PIO. |
Public Information Officer. |
|
RAF. |
Royal Air Force (Great Britain.) |
|
Scramble. |
Rapid take-off of fighter aircraft to attempt interception of
unidentified aircraft or object. |
|
Skyhook. |
Large plastic research balloon, translucent, generally teardrop
shaped. |
|
Temperature inversion. |
Common weather phenomenon in which a layer of heated air lies
below a layer of cooler air, sometimes forming a lens which
bends light rays from the ground or air, making the original
light source appear to be in a different position. |
|
Theodolite. |
A telescopic instrument for measuring horizontal and vertical
angles. |
|
UFO. |
Unidentified Flying Object. |
|
UFOlogy. |
The study of unidentified flying objects. |
|
Unknown. |
The Air Force term for UFOs which could not be explained in
conventional terms after thorough investigation. |