Condon Report Released: Recommends End of Air Force UFO Investigations
On January 9, 1969, the Condon Report was publicly released. It concluded that nothing of scientific value had come from UFO studies and recommended ending Air Force investigations. The National Academy of Sciences endorsed the conclusions. However, 30 percent (35 of 117) of the preselected cases remained unexplainable.
Background
The Colorado UFO Project released its final report (a.k.a. the Condon Report) to the Secretary of the Air Force for review by the National Academy of Sciences.
Condon's Conclusions
Edward Condon concluded that nothing of scientific value would come from further UFO investigations. He dismissed witnesses as 'charlatans' preying on 'gullible people.' He suggested a 'National Magic Agency' to study 'spiritualism, ESP, psychokinesis, and dowsing.'
The 30% Problem
Curiously, of the Committee's 117 preselected cases, 35 (30 percent) were left unresolved. Science News concluded: 'it is unacceptable to simply ignore substantial numbers of unexplained observations and to close the book about them on the basis of premature conclusions.'
CIA Disengagement
No news accounts, information reports, or correspondence to, from, or within the Agency were filed in 1969. In the 2017 release of files to the CIA website, not a single entry was dated 1969. The CIA 'wiped its hands of the whole affair when the Condon Report offered the opportunity.'
Significance
The Condon Report provided the justification for closing Project Blue Book, despite 30% of its own cases remaining unexplained.