US: 450 Pilots Protest USAF UFO Debunking Policy
Around 450 airline pilots signed a petition against the U.S. Air Force's policy of dismissing UFO reports. Over 50 had personal sightings but faced threats of imprisonment under JANAP 146 for media disclosure.
Background
Background
In December 1958, around 450 airline pilots signed a petition criticising the official position of the US Air Force of systematically debunking UFO reports. One pilot described this as a lesson in deception and authoritarian conduct.
Participants and Threats
More than 50 signatories had themselves reported UFO encounters, but were dismissed by the Air Force as mistaken. They received warnings of up to 10 years' imprisonment under JANAP 146 if details reached the press.
Internal Conflicts
Major Friend applied unsuccessfully to move Project Blue Book from ATIC to the Air Research and Development Command, on the grounds that UFOs were a scientific subject. His team complained of time-consuming work without result; ARDC refused.
Significance
The episode points to tensions between pilots and the authorities, and shows both the pressure to keep silent and the internal debates about UFO investigation.