nicap_congress

Frame 52

Congressional Record
Proceedings and Debates of the 86th Congress
Second Session (Vol.106 - Part 14)
August 29, 1960 to September 1, 1960
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington 1960

NICAP UFO Report
Extension of Remarks of Hon. Leonard G. Wolf of Iowa in the House of Representatives
Wednesday, August 31, 1960

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, under leave to extend my remarks, I include an urgent warning by Vice Adm. R.H. Hillenkoetter,
former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, that certain potential dangers are linked with unidentified flying objects -
UFO's. Admiral Hillenkoetter's request that Congress inform the public as to the facts is endorsed by more than 200 pilots,
rocket, aviation and radar experts, astronomers, military veterans, and other technically trained members of the National
Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena [NICAP]. Among them are Rear Adm. H.B. Knowles; Col. Joseph Bryan III, U.S. Air Force Reserve; Lt.Col. Jas. McAshan, USAFR; Lt.Col. Samuel Freeman, U.S. Army Reserve, Aviation; Mr. J.B. Hartranft, president, Aircraft Owners Pilots Association; Capt. R.B. McLaughlin, Nayy missile expert; Mr. Frank Rawlinson, physicist, National Aeronautical and Space Agency; Dr. Leslie Kaeburn, space consultant, University of Southern California; former Air Force Maj. William D. Leet, with three officially reported UFO encounters while an Air Force pilot; Frank Halstead, 25 years as curator, Darling Observatory; Rear Adm. D.S. Fahrney, former chief of the Navy missile program; Col. R.B. Emerson, U.S. Army Reserve, head of Emerson Testing Laboratories; Prof. Charles A. Maney, Astrophysicist, Defiance University; Capt. W.B. Nash, Pan American Airways.

The ''NICAP Report on Secrecy Dangers,'' with documented evidence on UFO's, was first submitted confidentially to me, and
to several other Members of Congres, includung Senator LYNDON JOHNSON. In a reply to NICAP, July 6, 1960, Senator JOHNSON stated that he had ordered the staff of the Senate Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee to keep close watch on UFO developments to report on any recent significant sightings and the Air Force investigations of such sightings.

Although I have not had time for a detailed study, I believe the conclusions of these experienced NICAP officials should be
given careful consideration. Certainly their sober evaluations should be completely disassociated from the obvious frauds and
delusions about UFO's which unfortunately have been publicized. The NICAP report is stated to be the result of a 3-year
investigntion - its conclusions based only on verifiecd visual, radar, and photographic evidence by trained, reputable
observers.

On August 20, 1960, NICAP sent me the following statement to be added to the original report:

There is a growing danger that UFO's may be mistaken for Soviet missiles or Jet aircraft, accidentally causing war.
Several Air Defense scrambles and alerts already have ocurred when defense radarmen mistook UFO formations for possible
enemy machines. NICAP agrees with this sober warning by Gen. L.M. Chassin, NATO coordinator of Allied Air Services:

''It is of first importance to confirm these objects ... the business of governments to take a hand, if only to avoid the
danger of global tragedy. If we persist in refusing recognize the existence of these UFO's we will end up, one fine day, by
mistaking them for the guided missiles of an enemy - and the worst will be upon us.''

Today, this danger may surpass the one cited in NICAP's report: That the U.S.S.R. might spread false rumors that the
UFO's are secret red devices which have mapped all the U.S. and allied targets and could be used as surprise-attack
weapons. (Some Americans already suspect hidden fear of UFO's as the reason to secrecy.)

We are sure you will agree it is imperative to end the risk of accidental war from defense forces' confusion over UFO's.
Defense personnel, not merely top-level groups, should be told that the UFO's are real and should be trained to
distinguish them - by their characteristic speeds and maneuvers - from conventional planes and missiles. This is
not in effect today.

Second, the American people must be convinced, by documented facts, that the UFO's could not be Soviet machines.

Certainly every member of Congress will agree that any such danger of accidental war - even if slight - must be averted in
every possible way. It is also important to prevent any unfounded fear that the UFO's are secret enemy devices.

After discussing the subject with colleagues, I am certain that there is real concern by many Members of Congress. Without
necessarily accepting all the conclusions of the NICAP Board of Governors and technical advisers, we are convinced that a
thorough study of the UFO problem should be made. Pending such action, I believe that publication of the NICAP report will help to reduce the dangers cited by Vice Admiral Hillenkoetter and the other NICAP officials.

For those members desiring to do so the previously mentioned convidential report can be obtained upon request at the National Investigation Committee on Aerial Phenomena, 1536 Connecticut Avenue NW., Washington, D.C.

Page ID (PID)	MISC-PBB2-52
Collection	Other Official Microfilm
Roll Description	Misc Blue Book Files Roll 2
Document Code	N/A