DISCLOSURE / FILE
The 12 August 1954 edition of Air Force Regulation 200-2, the standing USAF rule that governed how every Air Force activity reported unidentified flying objects and restricted public release of UFO information.
The 12 August 1954 edition of Air Force Regulation 200-2, the standing USAF rule that governed how every Air Force activity reported unidentified flying objects and restricted public release of UFO information.
AFR 200-2 (12 August 1954) superseded the 26 August 1953 edition and its Change A, and set the Air Force-wide procedure for reporting unidentified flying objects. It assigned investigative responsibility to the 4602d Air Intelligence Service Squadron (AISS), working with the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The regulation forbade release of UFO information to the public except in cases positively identified as familiar objects. It is the single most cited primary source for the claim that the early USAF UFO program operated under an information-restriction policy.
Extracted text · Page 1
Page 1 · queued for OCR
AULHUNLYE biotant wis os REC'D. ak September 195) 71 IK (i AIRFORCE; REGULATION NO, 200-25), anooe os “Unidentified d Flying Objects Reporting (Short Title: UFOB) DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR “FOR CE WASHINGTON, 12. AUSUSE, 1984 V4 = p sion by LOGE ‘ “Ht Guidance ~ fT Collection: .:2.-22 aber » Reporting Evidence a oi St, Release of Fucts ais iL. Puipoes and Scope. This Regulation es- tablishes procedures for, reporting information and. evic ence. pertaining to, unidentified «flying objects and, sets. forth: the, responsibility of, Air Force activities ‘in this regard. It applies to all Air Force. activities. - .»2s,Definitions: - 10'a! Unidentified! Flying 'Objesta (UFOB)— Relates to any airborne object: which by perform- ance,’ aerodynamic characteristics, or unusual features does not conform to any presently known _aircraftcor missile type, or.-which cannot be positively identified as‘a familiar object. 1b.) Familiar Objects—Include* balloons, as- tronomical bodies, birds, and so forth. . 3. Objectives. Air Force, interest, in, unidenti- fied. fiying objects is twofold:: First as a possible threat to the security of the United. States and | its forces, and secondly, to’ determine hake aspects, involved. ‘a. Air Defense.: To date, the fly: sd eta reported have imposed, no. threat, to the’security of the. United States and its Possessions. How- ever, the, possibility that new air,vehicles, hostile aircraft or missiles may first be regarded as flying objects by the initial obseryer is real. This re- quires that sightings be-reported rapidly and as completely as information | ;permits. b. Technical; Analysis thusifar has failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for a num- ber. of; sightings: reported..;, The Air Force will continuesto collect and analyze, reports until all sightings can be patiataotenily explained, bearing in,mind that: 7 (1) ‘To measure * Tcieaifie advances, the ,-»¢Air-Force must’ be informed on experi- » Ming, entation and development of new (2) The possibility exists that an air ve- hicle of revolutionary,, configuration “may be developed. (3). The reporting of all/pertinent. factors will have a direct bearing: on the: eSUC- cess of the technical analy Fle: Ir 4. Responsibility: Mian : a. Reporting. Comman defs. of: ‘Ae Force activities will report all info lation and evidence that may come ‘to their_attention, including that received from adjace commands of the’ other services and from_civilians. A MOTE iGo b. Investigation. Air Defense’ Command will conduct’ all field investigations; within fhe ZI, to ) determine the identity of any, UFOB. . Analysis, | The Air Technical Intelligence Cater (ATIC) ,> Wright-Patterson:Air\ Force “Base, Ohio, will analyze’ and: evaluate: All in- formation and ‘evidence reported within ‘the ‘ZI after the Air Defense Command has’ exhausted all efforts to identify the UFOB; and all informa- tion and evidence collected in oversea’ areas. :: d. Cooperation. All activities will cooperate with Air Defense Command representatives to insure the economical and prompt success of an investigation, including the furnishing of air and ground transportation, when feasible. 5. Guidance. The thoroughness and ae of a report or investigation into.incidents of un- identified flying objects are limited only by the resourcefulness and imagination of ‘the ‘person responsible for preparing the report. Guidance set:forth below is based on experience and oS been found ‘helpful in evaluating incidents: ' a. Theodolite measurcments of changes of azimuth and elevation and angular size. esi yehicl @Seeunspee rset nselse netbeans _b... Interception, identification, or, air. search *This' Regulation supersedes AFR 200-2; 26 August 1953, including Change 200-2A, 2 November’ 1953, 8902590, 2 fun
Page 2 · queued for OCR
— 57 action. ‘These actions may’ be taken if appro- la and within the scope of existing air defense ations.” SiC. Contact with local nmate control: and warning (ACEW).1 sunits, ground observation corps (aoc), “posts and’. filter centers ‘pilots ‘and’crews’ of.aircraft aloft. a at, the time and.place of sighting whenever feasible, and any other persons or or- "ganizations which may have factual data bearing on the UFOB or may be able to offer corroborat- ing ‘evidence,’ electronic or otherwise. of»weather’ balloons.released in the area, since ~ these often are responsible for sightings; and any unusual meteorological activity which may have a ‘bearing on the UFOB. ee. Consultation with astronomers in the area determine whether any astronomical body or jenomenon would ‘ account for or have a bearing on“ the’ observatio ty Contact with manta and civilian tower operators, air operations offices,;and-so forth; to determine whether the sighting. could be the result of misidentification of known aircraft. 12 Contact. “with persons who, might., shave knowledge of experimental aircraft. of unusual configuration, rocket and guided, missile firings, and 80 forth, in the area. 6. vat Collection: The Air Defense: Command as. direct interest’ in’ the ‘facts pertaining’ to 'OB’s: reported’ within the ZI and has, in the 46024 ‘Air'Intelligence Service Squadron (AISS); “the capability, :to; investigate: these reports. ‘The 4602d"AISS is composed of specialists trained for field ‘collection ‘and: investigation of matters of : ‘intelligence interest’ which occur within the * ZI This squadron is highly mobile and deployed ~ ‘ throughout} the ZI’ as follows: Flights are at- ior to. ne defense divisions, detachments are attached” to ‘each, of the defense forces, and the squadron headquarters’ is. located at ‘Peterson Field,Colorado, ‘adjacent to Headquarters, Air ir Force SRP there- enon the oe ‘Defense Command’ as outlined porting eee alia in- 1a ot “be carried -beyond this ction, is ; fecuested. by. the d. Consultation with military or civilian ~ esther forecasters to obtain data on: Tracks . submitted—additional data is required’ which ean be developed more economically by the nearest Air Force activity, such as: narrative statements, sketches, marked maps, charts, and so forth. Under such circumstances, appropriate -;,commanders will be contacted by the 4602d AISS. ec, Direct communication between echelons of the 4602d AISS and Air Force activities. is ‘authorized. 7. Reporting. All information’ relating to UFOB’s will be reported promptly. The method (electrical or written) and. priority of dispatch will be selected in accordance with the apparent intelligence value of the information. In most instances, reports will be made by clectrical means: Information over 24 hours old will.be given a “deferred” precedence, Reports over 3 days old will be made by written report prepared on AF Form 112, Air Intelligence Information Report, and AF Form 112a, Supplement to AF Form 112, ; a. Addressees: (1) Electrical Reports, ‘ All‘electrical“re- ports will be multiple addressed to: (a) Commander, Air. Defense -.Com- mand, Ent Air Torce ‘Base, Colo- rado Springs, Colorado. a (b) Nearest Air Division (Defense). (For ZI only.) ) (c).Commander, Air Technical Intelli- gence Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,, Ohio. (d) Director of Intelligence, Headquar- ters USAF; Washington 25, D. C. (2) Written Reports: (a) Within the ZI, reports will be ibs mitted direct ‘to the Air Defense Command. Air Defense Command will reproduce the report and \dis- tribute it to interested ZI intelli- ‘genee agencies. The original report together with notation of the dis- tribution effected then will be for- warded to the Director of Intelli- « gence, Headquarters USAF, Wash- ' ington 25, D.:C: »(b) Outside the ZI; reports will be: sub- mitted direct to Director of Intelli-. gence, Headquarters USAF, Wash- ington’ 25, D.°C.*as: prescribed in “Intelligence Collection “Instruc- tions” (ICI), June 1954. b, Short Title: ““UFOB” will appear at the beginning of the text of electrical messages and in the subject of written reports. ... Negative Data. The. word “negative”
Page 4 · queued for OCR
jo ei (see) Intelligence: Collection ‘Instruc- : ions”, (ICI);, B June 1954). r of! dial ] beititled in‘ accord- come into ‘possession of any Air Fore ill 'be*safeguarded in such man- _ner, as to-prevent | any, defacing” or altcration e ‘might reduce “its value ifor ‘intelligence examination and? analysis. 9°. Unuaebs SU ro GW A Santa ‘OFFICIAL; ’ asyimel oni ttivoloy «bss _ SKME.THIEBAUD + (Colonel; USAF * \¥ f i <8; Xi Repebuale Ic ONT, Depa ent, of, the, Navy 200 Goa) Department of; the, Any 10 ees et aay satin no": ray pad 2800 ‘Boisog Ghia). oH Sait nos aldtaasy ror (agrees yest tes Seek reyy iRutiod tant A 9, Release of Facts, Headquarters USAF-will release’summaries of evaluated data) which will inform the public on this subject. In response to local inquiries, it-is permissible to inform news. media ‘representatives on. UFOB’s : when «the object is positively identified as a familiar object (see paragraph 2b), except that. the following type of data warrants protection and should not be revealed::Names'of principles;‘intercept and investigation procedures, and..classified radar data. For those, objects,,.which® are not. ex- plainable, only the fact that ATIC will analyze the data. is worthly of, release, dus to the many unknowns. involved.., N. F. TWINING Chief of Staff, United States Air Force Wr o. 5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFrice: Inte
Concatenated page-by-page transcript. Born-digital pages came through pdf.js; scanned pages were transcribed by Claude vision OCR. Pages marked unreadable failed multiple OCR retries (heavy redaction, microfilm artifacts, or blank separators) and are kept in place for audit.
AULHUNLYE biotant wis os REC'D. ak September 195) 71 IK (i AIRFORCE; REGULATION NO, 200-25), anooe os “Unidentified d Flying Objects Reporting (Short Title: UFOB) DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR “FOR CE WASHINGTON, 12. AUSUSE, 1984 V4 = p sion by LOGE ‘ “Ht Guidance ~ fT Collection: .:2.-22 aber » Reporting Evidence a oi St, Release of Fucts ais iL. Puipoes and Scope. This Regulation es- tablishes procedures for, reporting information and. evic ence. pertaining to, unidentified «flying objects and, sets. forth: the, responsibility of, Air Force activities ‘in this regard. It applies to all Air Force. activities. - .»2s,Definitions: - 10'a! Unidentified! Flying 'Objesta (UFOB)— Relates to any airborne object: which by perform- ance,’ aerodynamic characteristics, or unusual features does not conform to any presently known _aircraftcor missile type, or.-which cannot be positively identified as‘a familiar object. 1b.) Familiar Objects—Include* balloons, as- tronomical bodies, birds, and so forth. . 3. Objectives. Air Force, interest, in, unidenti- fied. fiying objects is twofold:: First as a possible threat to the security of the United. States and | its forces, and secondly, to’ determine hake aspects, involved. ‘a. Air Defense.: To date, the fly: sd eta reported have imposed, no. threat, to the’security of the. United States and its Possessions. How- ever, the, possibility that new air,vehicles, hostile aircraft or missiles may first be regarded as flying objects by the initial obseryer is real. This re- quires that sightings be-reported rapidly and as completely as information | ;permits. b. Technical; Analysis thusifar has failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for a num- ber. of; sightings: reported..;, The Air Force will continuesto collect and analyze, reports until all sightings can be patiataotenily explained, bearing in,mind that: 7 (1) ‘To measure * Tcieaifie advances, the ,-»¢Air-Force must’ be informed on experi- » Ming, entation and development of new (2) The possibility exists that an air ve- hicle of revolutionary,, configuration “may be developed. (3). The reporting of all/pertinent. factors will have a direct bearing: on the: eSUC- cess of the technical analy Fle: Ir 4. Responsibility: Mian : a. Reporting. Comman defs. of: ‘Ae Force activities will report all info lation and evidence that may come ‘to their_attention, including that received from adjace commands of the’ other services and from_civilians. A MOTE iGo b. Investigation. Air Defense’ Command will conduct’ all field investigations; within fhe ZI, to ) determine the identity of any, UFOB. . Analysis, | The Air Technical Intelligence Cater (ATIC) ,> Wright-Patterson:Air\ Force “Base, Ohio, will analyze’ and: evaluate: All in- formation and ‘evidence reported within ‘the ‘ZI after the Air Defense Command has’ exhausted all efforts to identify the UFOB; and all informa- tion and evidence collected in oversea’ areas. :: d. Cooperation. All activities will cooperate with Air Defense Command representatives to insure the economical and prompt success of an investigation, including the furnishing of air and ground transportation, when feasible. 5. Guidance. The thoroughness and ae of a report or investigation into.incidents of un- identified flying objects are limited only by the resourcefulness and imagination of ‘the ‘person responsible for preparing the report. Guidance set:forth below is based on experience and oS been found ‘helpful in evaluating incidents: ' a. Theodolite measurcments of changes of azimuth and elevation and angular size. esi yehicl @Seeunspee rset nselse netbeans _b... Interception, identification, or, air. search *This' Regulation supersedes AFR 200-2; 26 August 1953, including Change 200-2A, 2 November’ 1953, 8902590, 2 fun
— 57 action. ‘These actions may’ be taken if appro- la and within the scope of existing air defense ations.” SiC. Contact with local nmate control: and warning (ACEW).1 sunits, ground observation corps (aoc), “posts and’. filter centers ‘pilots ‘and’crews’ of.aircraft aloft. a at, the time and.place of sighting whenever feasible, and any other persons or or- "ganizations which may have factual data bearing on the UFOB or may be able to offer corroborat- ing ‘evidence,’ electronic or otherwise. of»weather’ balloons.released in the area, since ~ these often are responsible for sightings; and any unusual meteorological activity which may have a ‘bearing on the UFOB. ee. Consultation with astronomers in the area determine whether any astronomical body or jenomenon would ‘ account for or have a bearing on“ the’ observatio ty Contact with manta and civilian tower operators, air operations offices,;and-so forth; to determine whether the sighting. could be the result of misidentification of known aircraft. 12 Contact. “with persons who, might., shave knowledge of experimental aircraft. of unusual configuration, rocket and guided, missile firings, and 80 forth, in the area. 6. vat Collection: The Air Defense: Command as. direct interest’ in’ the ‘facts pertaining’ to 'OB’s: reported’ within the ZI and has, in the 46024 ‘Air'Intelligence Service Squadron (AISS); “the capability, :to; investigate: these reports. ‘The 4602d"AISS is composed of specialists trained for field ‘collection ‘and: investigation of matters of : ‘intelligence interest’ which occur within the * ZI This squadron is highly mobile and deployed ~ ‘ throughout} the ZI’ as follows: Flights are at- ior to. ne defense divisions, detachments are attached” to ‘each, of the defense forces, and the squadron headquarters’ is. located at ‘Peterson Field,Colorado, ‘adjacent to Headquarters, Air ir Force SRP there- enon the oe ‘Defense Command’ as outlined porting eee alia in- 1a ot “be carried -beyond this ction, is ; fecuested. by. the d. Consultation with military or civilian ~ esther forecasters to obtain data on: Tracks . submitted—additional data is required’ which ean be developed more economically by the nearest Air Force activity, such as: narrative statements, sketches, marked maps, charts, and so forth. Under such circumstances, appropriate -;,commanders will be contacted by the 4602d AISS. ec, Direct communication between echelons of the 4602d AISS and Air Force activities. is ‘authorized. 7. Reporting. All information’ relating to UFOB’s will be reported promptly. The method (electrical or written) and. priority of dispatch will be selected in accordance with the apparent intelligence value of the information. In most instances, reports will be made by clectrical means: Information over 24 hours old will.be given a “deferred” precedence, Reports over 3 days old will be made by written report prepared on AF Form 112, Air Intelligence Information Report, and AF Form 112a, Supplement to AF Form 112, ; a. Addressees: (1) Electrical Reports, ‘ All‘electrical“re- ports will be multiple addressed to: (a) Commander, Air. Defense -.Com- mand, Ent Air Torce ‘Base, Colo- rado Springs, Colorado. a (b) Nearest Air Division (Defense). (For ZI only.) ) (c).Commander, Air Technical Intelli- gence Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,, Ohio. (d) Director of Intelligence, Headquar- ters USAF; Washington 25, D. C. (2) Written Reports: (a) Within the ZI, reports will be ibs mitted direct ‘to the Air Defense Command. Air Defense Command will reproduce the report and \dis- tribute it to interested ZI intelli- ‘genee agencies. The original report together with notation of the dis- tribution effected then will be for- warded to the Director of Intelli- « gence, Headquarters USAF, Wash- ' ington 25, D.:C: »(b) Outside the ZI; reports will be: sub- mitted direct to Director of Intelli-. gence, Headquarters USAF, Wash- ington’ 25, D.°C.*as: prescribed in “Intelligence Collection “Instruc- tions” (ICI), June 1954. b, Short Title: ““UFOB” will appear at the beginning of the text of electrical messages and in the subject of written reports. ... Negative Data. The. word “negative”
in wreply.'to any numbered: item” of the? ‘report
. format ‘will indicate that. all-logical: leads were
developed” without’ success. The “phrase! “not,
applicable” (N/A) will indicate that the question
does not apply to the sighting being investigated,
d. Report Format. Reports will include the
following numbered items:. : 2
(1) Deseription of the, object(s): :
(a) Shape. i
(b) Size’ compared to a known ‘object
{use one of the following. terms:
| Head of a’ pin, pea, dime, nickel,
quarter, half dollar, silver! ‘dollar,
baseball, grapefruit, or basketball)
held in the -hand at about arms.
length. ~ * ree
{c) Color. -
(d) ‘Number.
(e) Formation, if more than one.
(f) Any discernible features or details.
(g) ‘Tail, trail, or exhaust, including
size ‘of same compared to ‘size of
object (s).
(h) Sound. If heard, describe sound.»
(i) Other pertinent or unusual features.
(2). Description of course of-object(s) : -
(a): What first called the attention’ of-
observer(s) to the object(s)? -
2°(b) Angle. of elevation and asimuth of
“=the object(s): when first. observed.
¢) Angle of elevation and azimuth of -
- cobject(s) upon disappearance. =
) Description of - flight - am
- maneuvers of object(s)
) Use one ‘or. any. -combinatio of, the
‘following items: © Ground-visual,~”
ground-electronic, air-electronic,
(If clectronic, . specify type of
radar.) 3
“Statement: as.to. optical aids. (teles :
“scopes, « binoculars, and 80, forth
~ used and description’ thereof. ~
borne, give type aircraft, identifi-
“cation number, es “heading, — A
“<(a)*Zulu time-date” group, 0
(b) “Light: conditions | (use: i)
- following * terms), aight
. dawn, dusk.»
olf the sighting. is made sith air
AFR 200-2
1-8).
“ (5) Locations of observer (s). Exact lati-
tude and longitude of each observer, ‘ ;
or Georef position, or position with :
reference to 4 known landmark. ;
(6) Identifying information’ ‘of all athe
server(s)?
(a) Civilian—Name, ‘age, mailing ad-
dress, occupation.
(b) , Military—Name, grade, orgsniza-
tion, duty, and estimate of reli-
ability.
(7). Weather and>winds-aloft. conditions
at time and: place; of sightings:
(a) Observer(s) account of .weather
conditions,
(b) Report from nearest AWS or U.S.
Weather Bureau Office - of; wind -
direction and velocity. in degrees”
and knots at surface, 6,000’, 10,000",
16,000’, 20,000’,'*30,000’, » 50,000’,
and 80,000’, if available. 4
{c)}: Ceiling.
(d) Visibility.
{e) Amount of cloud cover,
(f) Thunderstorms in area and quad-
rant in which located.
(8) Any other unusual activity or condi-
tion, meteorological, astronomical, or
otherwise, which might account ‘for
the sighting.
(9) Interception or identification” action
taken (such action may be. taken’ :
whenever feasible, complying with *-
existing air defense directives).
(10} Location of any air traffic in the area *
at time of sighting.
(11) Position title and. comments of the
preparing officer, including his pre-
liminary analysis of the possible cause
of the sighting (s). :
(12) Existence of physical evidence, such
as materials and photographs.
e. Security, Reports should be unclassified
‘unless. inclusion of data required by d above
necessitates a higher classification.
8. Evidence. The existence of physical evi-
dence (photographs or materiel) will be promptly
— reported.
a. Photographic:
(1) Visual, The negative and two prints
will be forwarded, all original film,
including wherever possible both
prints and negatives, will be titled or
otherwise properly identified as to
place, time, and date of the incident
“3jo ei (see) Intelligence: Collection ‘Instruc- : ions”, (ICI);, B June 1954). r of! dial ] beititled in‘ accord- come into ‘possession of any Air Fore ill 'be*safeguarded in such man- _ner, as to-prevent | any, defacing” or altcration e ‘might reduce “its value ifor ‘intelligence examination and? analysis. 9°. Unuaebs SU ro GW A Santa ‘OFFICIAL; ’ asyimel oni ttivoloy «bss _ SKME.THIEBAUD + (Colonel; USAF * \¥ f i <8; Xi Repebuale Ic ONT, Depa ent, of, the, Navy 200 Goa) Department of; the, Any 10 ees et aay satin no": ray pad 2800 ‘Boisog Ghia). oH Sait nos aldtaasy ror (agrees yest tes Seek reyy iRutiod tant A 9, Release of Facts, Headquarters USAF-will release’summaries of evaluated data) which will inform the public on this subject. In response to local inquiries, it-is permissible to inform news. media ‘representatives on. UFOB’s : when «the object is positively identified as a familiar object (see paragraph 2b), except that. the following type of data warrants protection and should not be revealed::Names'of principles;‘intercept and investigation procedures, and..classified radar data. For those, objects,,.which® are not. ex- plainable, only the fact that ATIC will analyze the data. is worthly of, release, dus to the many unknowns. involved.., N. F. TWINING Chief of Staff, United States Air Force Wr o. 5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFrice: Inte