addition to this photography system we proposed that a number of
sets of instruments be set out around the area. Each set would
contain instruments to measure nuclear radiation, any disturbances in
the earth's magnetic field, and the passage of a body that was giving
off heat. The instruments would continually be sending their
information to a central "UFO command post," which would also get
reports directly from the radars and the visual spotting stations.

This instrumentation plan would cost about $250,000 because we
planned to use as much surplus equipment as possible and tie it into
existing communications systems, where they already existed. After
the setup was established, it would cost about $25,000 a year to
operate. At first glance this seemed like a lot of money, but when we
figured out how much the UFO project had cost the Air Force in the
past and how much it would probably cost in the future, the price
didn't seem too bad--especially if we could solve the UFO problem
once and for all.

The powers-that-be at ATIC O.K.'d the plan in December and it went
to Washington, where it would have to be approved by General Samford
before it went to ADC and then back to the Pentagon for higher Air
Force official blessing. From all indications it looked as if we
would get the necessary blessings.

But the majority of the effort at Project Blue Book during the fall
of 1952 had gone toward collecting together all of the bits and
pieces of data that we had accumulated over the past year and a half.
We had sorted out the best of the "Unknowns" and made studies of
certain aspects of the UFO problem, so that when we could assemble a
panel of scientists to review the data we could give them the over-
all picture, not just a basketful of parts.

Everyone who knew about the proposed panel meeting was eager to get
started because everyone was interested in knowing what this panel
would have to say. Although the group of scientists wouldn't be
empowered to make the final decision, their recommendations were to
go to the President if they decided that the UFO's were real. And any
recommendations made by the group of names we planned to assemble
would carry a lot of weight.

In the Pentagon and at ATIC book was being made on what their
recommendations would be. When I put my money down, the odds were 5
to 3 in favor of the UFO.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The Radiation Story

The idea for gathering together a group of scientist