The Condon Committee (1966-1969)

In 1966, following Congressional pressure after the Michigan “swamp gas” controversy, the U.S. Air Force funded a scientific study of UFOs at the University of Colorado, led by physicist Edward U. Condon. Released in 1969, the “Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects” concluded that UFO research offered nothing of scientific value. Critics noted that approximately 30% of the cases studied remained unexplained, and internal documents revealed that Condon had prejudged the outcome. Nevertheless, the report provided the justification for closing Project Blue Book.

The Study

Formation

How it began:

• 1966 Congressional pressure
• Michigan swamp gas fallout
• Air Force needed cover
• Scientific study proposed
• University of Colorado selected

Dr. Edward Condon

The director:

• Distinguished physicist
• National Bureau of Standards former director
• Manhattan Project veteran
• Scientific reputation impeccable
• No UFO background

The Contract

Terms of the study:

• $500,000 Air Force funding
• Two-year project
• Scientific methodology
• Final report would be definitive
• University independence claimed

The Process

Staff

Who worked on it:

• Mix of scientists
• Some skeptics, some open-minded
• Internal conflicts
• Dr. David Saunders (fired)
• Dr. Norman Levine (fired)

Case Selection

What was studied:

• Historical cases reviewed
• New cases investigated
• Field investigations conducted
• Scientific analysis applied
• Multiple categories examined

Internal Tensions

The problems:

• Condon showed bias early
• “Low Trick” memo scandal
• Staff members fired
• Methodology questioned
• Objectivity doubted

The “Low Trick” Memo

The Document

August 1966 memo from Robert Low:

• Project coordinator
• Written before study began
• Discussed how to appear objective
• While reaching predetermined conclusion
• Scandal when leaked

Key Passage

What Low wrote:

• “The trick would be…”
• Appear objective
• Reach negative conclusion
• Give impression of thoroughness
• While actually debunking

Fallout

When it became public:

• Two scientists fired for leaking
• Dr. Saunders and Dr. Levine
• Credibility damaged
• Bias confirmed
• Study tainted from start

The Findings

Case Analysis

What the data showed:

• Approximately 30% unexplained
• Some cases highly significant
• Multiple-witness events
• Radar confirmations
• Physical evidence cases

The Conclusion

What Condon wrote:

• No scientific value in UFO study
• Nothing learned in 21 years
• Further study not warranted
• Resources better spent elsewhere
• Book closed on phenomenon

The Contradiction

The problem:

• 30% unexplained is significant
• Good cases dismissed
• Conclusion didn’t match data
• Summary contradicted body
• Scientists noticed

Scientific Response

AIAA Review

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics:

• Reviewed the report
• Found methodology flawed
• Conclusions not supported
• 30% unexplained noteworthy
• Recommended continued study

Dr. James McDonald

Atmospheric physicist’s critique:

• Called report scientifically inadequate
• Cherry-picked cases
• Ignored significant evidence
• Predetermined conclusion
• Scientifically dishonest

Dr. J. Allen Hynek

Blue Book consultant’s view:

• Disappointed in report
• Not the study promised
• Cases warranted better analysis
• Opportunity squandered
• Science not served

The Report’s Impact

On Project Blue Book

Immediate effect:

• Gave Air Force cover
• Blue Book closed December 1969
• Official investigation ended
• Case files archived
• Era concluded

On UFO Research

Broader consequences:

• Mainstream science backed away
• Federal funding dried up
• Academic career risk
• Stigma intensified
• Private research continued

On Public Perception

Mixed results:

• Some accepted conclusion
• Many remained skeptical
• Controversy well-publicized
• “Low Trick” memo remembered
• Trust not established

Key Cases Studied

RB-47 Encounter

One of the best:

• 1957 case fully analyzed
• Remained unexplained
• Multiple sensors
• Credible witnesses
• Case dismissed anyway

McMinnville Photos

Classic 1950 case:

• Analyzed by William Hartmann
• Found no evidence of hoax
• Photos appeared genuine
• Still unexplained
• Noted in report

Cases Ignored

What wasn’t studied:

• Many significant cases skipped
• Selection seemed biased
• Strongest cases avoided
• Pattern critics noticed
• Methodology questioned

Legacy

The Condon Paradox

The contradiction:

• Report says no scientific value
• Report contains unexplained cases
• Summary contradicts findings
• Conclusion political, not scientific
• Data tells different story

Influence on Policy

What it accomplished:

• Ended Air Force involvement
• Closed Blue Book
• Stopped federal funding
• Removed official interest
• Achieved its purpose

Scientific Community

Long-term effect:

• UFOs became taboo
• Career poison
• Serious study discouraged
• Private researchers only
• Lasted decades

The Question

1966 to 1969. University of Colorado.

The Air Force needs a way out. Too much Congressional heat. Too much public attention. Too many questions about swamp gas and scrambled jets and unexplained radar tracks.

So they fund a study. A real scientific study. At a respected university. Led by a distinguished physicist.

Dr. Edward Condon. National reputation. Impeccable credentials. The perfect man to give UFOs the scientific treatment.

Except the game is fixed from the start.

Before the study even begins, Robert Low writes his memo. The trick, he explains, is to appear objective while reaching the conclusion everyone needs. Make it look scientific. Make the UFO problem go away.

And it works.

Two years later, Condon delivers his report. UFO research is worthless. Nothing to see here. Twenty-one years of sightings and scrambles and unexplained radar tracks, and it all means nothing.

Except for one problem.

Thirty percent of the cases they studied couldn’t be explained.

Three in ten. After scientific analysis. By Condon’s own team.

But the summary says there’s nothing there. The conclusion contradicts the data. The report recommends ending all research on a phenomenon it couldn’t explain a third of the time.

The AIAA protests. Dr. McDonald protests. Dr. Hynek protests.

It doesn’t matter.

Project Blue Book closes in December 1969. The files go to the archives. The Air Force is out of the UFO business.

Mission accomplished.

The Condon Committee.

Not a search for truth.

A way to stop looking.

And it worked.

For a while.