The United States Air Force Investigates

There were reports of strange lights in the skies in all World War II theaters of operations. These lights eventually became known as "Foo Fighters". While there were many theories attempting to explain the Foo Fighter phenomenon, no definitive explanation has ever gained wide acceptance. In short, the Foo Fighters remain a mystery.

1947 brought a huge surge in reports of unexplained aerial phenomena. USAAF General Nathan Twining requested the initiation of an official investigation because of deep concern about the source and mission of what had been dubbed "flying saucers". Twining's request  was quickly approved and Project Sign went to work on January 22nd, 1948, one week after the Air Force was officially separated from the US Army. Project Sign was headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

USAF Captain Edward Ruppelt wrote Project Sign's initial intelligence estimate in the late summer of 1948. Ruppelt coined the term "UFO", initially pronounced U-FOE. Ruppelt's report concluded that "flying saucer", or UFO sightings were of real craft, were not made by the US or Russians and were likely EXTRATERRESTRIAL IN ORIGIN.

The report was forwarded to the Pentagon and ordered destroyed by Air Force Chief of Staff General Hoyt Vandenberg. Vandenberg also quickly dismantled Project Sign.

Project Sign was replaced by Project Grudge in February, 1949. Grudge was given the mission to debunk all UFO reports. Captain Ruppelt described the brief life of Project Grudge as "The Dark Ages" of Air Force UFO investigation.

NEXT UP: Project Blue Book