Throughout, I took the opportunity to improve organization whenever possible, add new and relevant information, and always keep the reader’s best interest in mind.
—Richard M. Dolan Rochester, New York, 2001
Acknowledgments
While writing this book, I was fortunate to discuss this topic with hundreds of individuals who provided observations, insights, and invaluable support. I am grateful to all of them. In addition, several people took the time to read various parts of the book in progress. They, too, have my gratitude: Duane Abrams, Nancy Arrington, Sally Campbell, Jim DeFelice, Lisa Dolan, Dr. Juan Dura, Dr. Ted Farcasin, Joan Marg, Debra Scacciaferro, Marsha Schneider, Art Schneider, Annette Sullivan, Christopher Thomas, and William Sherwood. For the second edition of this book, several other attentive readers provided invaluable support and insight: Dr. Gary Alevi, Dr. Michael Altfeld, Don and Vicky Ecker, Joe Firmage, Leslie Kean, Dr. Hal Puthoff, Clifford Stone, Whitley and Anne Strieber.
There remain a few individuals who provided assistance and guidance of a special sort.
Christopher Rozzi, Rochester, New York’s premier used-book dealer, a man who hunted down crucial resources I could obtain nowhere else, and who provided his own substantial knowledge of the UFO phenomenon in many personal conversations, and as a reader.
Russell Targ, pioneering physicist and author, whose support was instrumental in enabling me to write a second edition of this book.
Frank DeMarco, my editor at Hampton Roads Publishing, a consummate reader’s advocate who combined a probing mind with a skillful editorial touch.
Dr. Edgar Mitchell, astronaut and interested reader, who was gracious and kind enough to lend his time to my book.
Dr. Stuart Campbell, mentor and friend, my first and best teacher in the discipline of history, and who, as in all matters, gave his critical eye and valuable insights.
Val Germann, UFO analyst extraordinaire, whose essays sparked my interest in this subject, and whose friendship, conversations, and services as a reader have been of great value to me.
Dr. Jacques Vallee, who was kind enough to write the Foreword to this second edition.
Richard T. Dolan, my father. Every child needs his father’s encouragement and support; I am fortunate to have received it my entire life, including during the course of this project.
Barbara Dolan-Rice, my mother. She is a constant inspiration, and her ever-practical nature provided some of the best insights of all of my readers, thus proving the adage: Always Listen to Your Mother.
Karyn Dolan, my wife and partner in everything I do. She survived it all: my consuming obsession with this project, the late hours, the many difficult days and weeks it demanded. Throughout, she supported, prodded, asked myriad questions, and listened beyond any reasonable expectation. She read carefully and with precision, never failing to offer thoughtful suggestions, all of which strengthened this book. It is an especially extraordinary accomplishment, considering that she gave birth not once, but twice, during the writing of this book.
Even the best insights from a legion of perceptive readers, however, cannot overcome all the limitations inherent in a work such as this, which are my responsibility alone.
Introduction
In formal logic, α contradiction is the signal of defeat; but in the evolution of real knowledge it marks the first step in progress toward victory.
It is a mistake to believe that a science consists in nothing but conclusively
proved propositions, and it is unjust to demand that it should.
It is a demand only made by those who feel a craving for authority in
some form and a need to replace the religious catechism by something
else, even if it be a scientific one.
There is a skeleton in every house.
THE PROBLEM OF UFOs
The UFO problem has involved military personnel around the world for more than fifty years, and is wrapped in secrecy. Over the years, enough pieces of the puzzle have emerged to give us a sense of what the picture looks like. I have tried to use these pieces to construct a clear, historical narrative, focusing on the national security dimensions.
