Jump to content

Page:Robertson panel report.pdf/16

From Wikisource
This page needs to be proofread.

Approved For Release 2001/08/07-CIA0RDP81R00560R000100030027-0

S E C R E T
Security Information

k. Hand "jitter" frequencies (obtainable from early part of Tremonton film) were not removed from the plots of the "single pass plots" at the end of the film.

The Panel believed strongly that the data available on this sighting was sufficient for positive identification if further data is obtained by photographing polyethylane "pillow" balloons released near the site under similar weather conditions, checking bird flight and relfection characteristics with competent ornithologists and calculating apparent "G" forces acting upon objects from their apparent tracks.

It was concluded that the results of such tests would probably lead to creditable explanations of value in an educational or training program. However, the Panel noted that the cost in technical manpower effort required to follow up and explain every one of the thousand or more reports received through channels each year (1,900 in 1952) could not be justified. It was felt that there will always be sightsings, for which complete data is lacking, that can only be explained with disproportionate effort and with a long time delay, if at all. The long delay in explaining a sighting tends to eliminate any intelligence value. The educational or training program should have as a major purpose the elimination of popular feeling that every sighting, no matter how poor the data, must be explained in detail. Attention should be directed to the requirement among scientists that a new phenomena, to be accepted, must be completely and convincingly documented. In other words, the burden of proof is on the sighter not the explainer.

S E C R E T
Security Information

-16-
Approved For Release 2001/08/07-CIA0RDP81R00560R000100030027-0