Project Blue Book

Summary

Project Blue Book was the Air Force's long-running public UFO investigation program. It collected reports, evaluated sightings, and maintained case files that later became central to public understanding of government UFO records.

Origin

Created as the successor to Project Grudge during a period of renewed public, press, and military attention to UFO reports.

Scope

Logged and evaluated sighting reports, coordinated with field units and consultants, and categorized outcomes as identified or unexplained.

Key personnel

Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt, Maj. Hector Quintanilla, Dr. J. Allen Hynek, and Air Force project staff.

Termination

Ended in 1969 after the Air Force accepted conclusions associated with the University of Colorado study.

Current status

Closed historical USAF program and the central reference point for this archive's Cold War UFO case files.