Project Blue Book Final Report

Project Blue Book was the U.S. Air Force's systematic study of unidentified flying objects, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. It ran from March 1952 until the Secretary of the Air Force terminated it on December 17, 1969. The program investigated reports of UFO sightings and reached conclusions about what they represented.

What was Project Blue Book?

Project Blue Book was the Air Force's official program to investigate UFO reports. It was initially directed by Captain Edward J. Ruppelt. From 1947 to 1969, a total of 12,618 sightings were reported to the program. Of these, 701 remain classified as "Unidentified."

What did Project Blue Book conclude?

The program reached three main conclusions. First, no UFO reported, investigated, and evaluated by the Air Force was ever an indication of threat to national security. Second, no evidence indicated that "unidentified" sightings represented technological developments or principles beyond the range of modern scientific knowledge. Third, no evidence indicated that sightings categorized as "unidentified" were extraterrestrial vehicles.

Why was Project Blue Book terminated?

The Air Force based its decision to end the program on an evaluation of the "Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects," commonly known as the Condon Report, which was prepared by the University of Colorado and released in 1968. The National Academy of Sciences also reviewed the Condon Report. Secretary of the Air Force Robert C. Seamans, Jr., announced the termination, stating that "the continuation of Project Blue Book cannot be justified either on the ground of national security or in the interest of science."

Where are Project Blue Book's records now?

The declassified and redacted records have been housed at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., since 1976 and are available to the public.