Today in History: January 9, 1969 – Scientist assert there is no ‘UFO’ evidence

Today in History revisits the Thursday, January 9, 1969 edition of the Grand Forks Herald and highlights a story on University of Colorado scientists led by Dr. Edward U. Condon concluded that 21 years of UFO study yielded no scientific value. The $500,000 report found no evidence of extraterrestrial visitors or security threats, noting 90% of sightings were ordinary objects like balloons. It dismissed cover-up theories as “nonsense” and recommended ending Project Blue Book.

By BOB HORTON AP / Military Writer

WASHINGTON (AP story as published in the Grand Forks Herald on Jan. 9, 1969) — University of Colorado scientists reported formally today there is no evidence Unidentified Flying Objects are visitors from outer space and suggested dropping further investigations.

“Our general conclusion is that nothing has come from the study of UFO’s in the past 21 years that has added to scientific knowledge,” the scientists’ 1,485-page report said bluntly.

The $500,000, two-year study, conducted for an Air Force weary of the “flying saucer” headache, said “further extensive study of UFO’s probably cannot be justified” at this point in the interest of science.

The three-volume report went along with the Air Force’s long-held position that no evidence exists indicating that UFO’s pose a hazard to U.S. security. The service, however, had no comment on it.

The scientists, headed by Colorado’s Dr. Edward U. Condon, acknowledged their conclusions are bound to stir new controversy among flying saucer-believers as well as other dedicated scientists who want to keep an open mind on the matter.

Among the study’s major points:

— “No direct evidence whatever of a convincing nature now exists for the claim that any UFO’s represent spacecraft visiting earth from another civilization.”

— About 90 per cent of all UFO reports “prove to be quite plausibly related to ordinary objects” such as planes, satellites, balloons, street lights, beacons, clouds or other natural phenomena.

— Defense needs probably could be carried out “without the continuance” of the Air Force’s Project Blue Book which has investigated UFO reports since 1947, but this is a matter for the Pentagon to decide.

—Suggestions by some people that the government possesses extraterrestrial spacecraft and has their crews in secret captivity some are “fantastic nonsense.”

—Allegations the government has attempted an official cover-up of the flying saucer matter have “no factual basis whatever.”

—Some public school students are being “educationally harmed by absorbing unsound and erroneous” reading materials on UFO’s, and “we strongly recommend” teachers stop giving them credit for reading saucer books and articles.

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