Introduction. Page I iii Abstract. Explanation of nicap and its policies

SECTION XII

PATTERNS

(See also patterns of formations, Section II).

 A. PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Shape

The Air Force Project Grudge Report of December 1949 (Technical Report No. 102-AC-49/15-100) concluded, on the basis of intelligence reports of UFOs, that the objects were of three basic types:

          (1) "The most numerous reports indicate daytime observation of metallic disc-like objects roughly in diameter ten times their thickness."

          (2) Rocket-like objects.

          (3) "Sharply defined luminous objects" appearing as lights at night.

Thirteen years of UFO sightings have been added to the record since this evaluation was made. A statistical study of the cases listed in the chronology of this report [Section XI], covering a period of 22 years beginning with 1942, indicates that the above pattern is well-established.

Statistics Based on Cases in Section XI (1942-1963) Description Geometrical (disc, ellipse triangle...) Rocket-like or Cigar-shaped Light Source Other/None Radar (No visual)        Total Number of Cases: Number of cases 333   48 140   35   19 ------ 575 Percentage of Total 58.0%   8.3% 24.3%   6.1%   3.3%   [Between 1947 and 1952, the Air Force investigated 2199 cases; 46.9% were elliptical UFOs, 5.2% rocket-like. The study did not have a separate category for discs. See Project Blue Book Special Report No. 14, page 197, tables A140-A146]. The cases of geometrical objects break down as follows: Shape 1. Disc 2. Round (spheres or discs) 3. Oval/elliptical 4. Triangular        Total Geometrical   Number of Cases 149   96   77   11 ------ 333   Percentage of Total (575) 26% 17% 13%   2%     If we make the reasonable assumption that some of the UFOs in categories 2 and 3 were discs seen in perspective, the possible range of generally flat circular objects observed becomes: Number of Cases Percentage of Total Minimum 149   26% Maximum 322   56%

COMMONLY REPORTED UFO TYPES

UFOs observed in daylight rarely have shown any particular color. Common descriptions have been "silver" or "white". Occasionally some "glow" or ''shine" has been observed in daylight or twilight, appearing to be self-illumination rather than reflection. At night, UFOs have most often appeared as bright light sources, occasionally as silhouetted objects (sometimes with body lights). The color of the light sources or body lights have ranged across the spectrum, and sometimes UFOs have shown more than one color or changed color during the observation. (See part C of this section for color change study.)

Frequency of Reported Colors

Daylight or Nicap Air Force*

Silver or Metallic	88	15.3%	389	17.7%
White	81	14.1%	517	23.5%
Reflective (shiny)	34	5.9%	----	------
Gray	19	3.3%	5	0.2%
Silhouette (dark or black)	31	5.4%	57	2.6%
Night or twilight
Red	62	10.8%	179	8.1%
Orange	25	4.3%	221	10.1%
Yellow	28	4.9%	159	7.2%
Green	21	3.7%	144	6.5%
Blue	26	4.5%	93	4.2%
Purple	0	0.0%	5	0.2%

“Portholes”

An often observed feature of UFOs seen at relatively close range is markings, apertures, or lights on the body of the object. The appearance is that of "portholes" or "windows", as many of the witnesses have stated. In the sample of 50"porthole"cases charted here, the markings are of three general types:

(a) Circular; (b) Rectangular (or square); (c) Row of lights, [(d) Not specified.]