Project SIGN

Project SIGN was a top-secret initiative launched by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1947, following the widely publicized incidents of UFO sightings, such as the Roswell incident in New Mexico. The project aimed to scientifically study, investigate, and determine the origin of these unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and their potential implications on national security. Conducted between 1947 and 1949, Project SIGN was the first of several projects designed to address UFO phenomena, succeeded by Project GRUDGE and Project BLUE BOOK. It was headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and was led by a team of military personnel, scientists, and experts in various fields.

The primary objective of Project SIGN was to collect, analyze, and evaluate data from UFO sightings to determine if they were of extraterrestrial origin, foreign aircraft, or natural phenomena. The project’s investigators compiled and scrutinized hundreds of reports, conducted interviews, and examined physical evidence. A significant aspect of the project involved examining the scientific principles behind the observed phenomena, such as propulsion systems, flight characteristics, and the potential for advanced technology.

While the project did not reach a definitive conclusion about the origin of UFOs, it did result in three notable findings:

1. The “Estimate of the Situation”: In 1948, Project SIGN investigators produced a top-secret document called the “Estimate of the Situation,” which concluded that some UFOs were likely extraterrestrial in origin. This document was eventually rejected by the Air Force’s top brass, who deemed the conclusions speculative and lacking sufficient evidence. However, the existence of this document has fueled ongoing interest in the subject, as it suggests that at least some members of the project believed in the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation. This fact is supported by the work of researcher and author Michael Swords, who, in his book “UFOs and Government: A Historical Inquiry,” cites interviews and memos revealing the existence of the “Estimate of the Situation” (Source: Swords, Michael, and Kean, Leslie. “UFOs and Government: A Historical Inquiry.” Anomalist Books, 2012).
2. The “Green Fireball” Phenomenon: In late 1948 and early 1949, Project SIGN investigated a series of UFO sightings in the southwestern United States, characterized by mysterious green fireballs streaking across the sky. Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, a meteor expert from the University of New Mexico, was consulted during the investigation. LaPaz concluded that the green fireballs did not behave like conventional meteors and suggested that they could be artificial in nature (Source: Ruppelt, Edward J. “The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects.” Doubleday, 1956).
3. Increased Public Awareness and Media Coverage: Project SIGN significantly increased public awareness and media coverage of UFO phenomena. Newspapers of the time, such as the “New York Times,” reported on UFO sightings and the military’s attempts to investigate and explain them. For example, on January 31,1949, the New York Times published an article titled “Flying Saucers Puzzle the Air Force” that detailed the various investigations carried out under Project SIGN and the subsequent efforts to determine the nature of the reported sightings (Source: New York Times, “Flying Saucers Puzzle the Air Force,” January 31, 1949).

Despite the extensive research and investigation carried out by Project SIGN, its findings and conclusions have been the subject of criticism and skepticism, especially from those who view the project as a government cover-up. Some claim that the project was merely a smokescreen to conceal the truth about extraterrestrial contact and that the military secretly possesses alien technology recovered from UFO crash sites.

Project SIGN was an early, groundbreaking effort by the United States Air Force to investigate and understand the UFO phenomena. The project remains an essential historical milestone in the study of UFOs and a testament to the enduring human curiosity about the mysteries of the universe.