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Clarke, Arthur C (1950), Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, Volume 9, pages 261-267

Fermi Paradox

During a lunch at Los Alamos in the summer of 1950, Enrico Fermi reputedly asked colleagues “If there are extraterrestrials, where are they?”. (The precise quotation and date varies from source to source.)

(Commonly referred to as “the Fermi Paradox”).

"Destination Moon"

The movie “Destination Moon” (1950) was based on a novel by Robert Heinlein.

It was directed by Irving Pichel.

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 For references and further information, see separate entry in relation to Donald Keyhoe’s book “The Flying Saucers are Real” (1950).

"Battle of Los Angeles"

"Impact" Rating = 11

"Credibility" Rating = 14

"Expert" Rating = 7

"Strangeness" Rating = 5

This incident is Case 97 in Isaac Koi's "Top 100" article, since it was referred to in 28 of the books covered by that article.

Isaac Koi’s “ICES” Rating for this sighting = 5,390 (out of a potential score of 14*14*14*14 i.e. 38,416)

(1) “Impact” Rating of 11 (out of a potential score of 14), because it is Case 97 in Isaac Koi's "Top 100" article.

(2) “Credibility” Rating of 14 (out of a potential score of 14) because something clearly was seen by multiple witnesses. The debate regarding this incident has centered on what (if any) mundane explanation is available for these sightings.

(2) “Expert” Rating of 7 (out of a potential score of 14). It is given this neutral rating because (at the time of writing) it has not been included in any of the short lists of the best cases produced by various UFO researchers that have been compiled by Isaac Koi (see the “Best UFO Cases" article at PART 3: Existing lists by various individuals), but also is not commonly given by UFO researchers as an example of an incident that can be explained by hoax, misperception or other mundane cause.

(4)“Strangeness” Rating of 5 (out of a potential score of 14). The sighting has a relatively low strangeness rating since several researchers have put forward plausible mundane explanations for the sightings.

Sections below:

1. Web Resources

2. Book References

3. Other material

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 See separate entry in relation to Koi Alien Photo 4.

McMinnville photographs

"Impact" Rating = 14

"Credibility" Rating = 10

"Expert" Rating = 13

"Strangeness" Rating = 12

This incident is Case 17 in Isaac Koi's "Top 100" article, since it was referred to in 90 of the books covered by that article.

UFO skeptic Robert Sheaffer has written that “Many UFOlogists rate this case as the strongest photo case on record”.

This incident featured as the fourth best incident in a documentary produced by Paul Kimball entitled “Best Evidence: Top 10 UFO Cases”, purportedly based on the results of a survey conducted by Paul Kimball in 2005/2006 of “a select group of the world’s leading UFO researchers”.

These photographs have also featured in:

* a list of the “Top 10” UFO cases produced by James Carrion (in 2006),

* a list of five noteworthy cases produced by Richard Dolan (in his book “UFOs and the National Security State: Volume 1”)

* a list of the “Top 10” UFO cases produced by Stanton Friedman as part of a survey by the Fortean Times in 2007.

* a list of seven UFO cases produced by Brad Sparks (in 1999)

* a list of twenty UFO cases produced by Bruce Maccabee

* a list of the best four photographic UFO cases produced by Ronald Story

* a list by Paul Kimball of his own nominations for the top 10 cases.

Isaac Koi’s “ICES” Rating for this sighting = 21,840 (out of a potential score of 14*14*14*14 i.e. 38,416)

(1) “Impact” Rating of 14 (out of a potential score of 14), because it is Case 17 in Isaac Koi's "Top 100" article.

(2) “Credibility” Rating of 10 (out of a potential score of 14) because while many ufologists suggest that the Trents could not, or at least did not, hoax the images a few other researchers (notably Robert Sheaffer) have put forward some reasons for considering the photographs to have been hoaxed.

(2) “Expert” Rating of 13 (out of a potential score of 14). It is given this high rating because (at the time of writing) it has been included in quite a few of the short lists of the best cases produced by various UFO researchers that have been compiled by Isaac Koi (see the “Best UFO Cases" article at PART 3: Existing lists by various individuals).

(4)“Strangeness” Rating of 12 (out of a potential score of 14). The sighting has a relatively high strangeness rating since it would be very difficult to reconcile the images and accompanying witness evidence with a misperception or misidentification of a mundane stimulus. The key issue is one of the credibility of the eyewitnesses and photographs.

Sections below:

1. Web Resources

2. Book References

3. Other material

Great Falls film

"Impact" Rating = 13

"Credibility" Rating = 12

"Expert" Rating = 9

"Strangeness" Rating = 6

During August 1950, the Great Falls, Montana movie was taken by Nicholas Mariana, the manager of the Great Falls baseball team. Commonly referred to as “the Great Falls Film” or “the Montana Film”.

(The date of the sighting has been one of the many issues that has been the source of debate. 15 August and 5 August 1950 are both commonly suggested in various sources.)

This incident is Case 41 in Isaac Koi's "Top 100" article, since it was referred to in 58of the books covered by that article.

The Great Falls film was one of two motion pictures of UFO sightings considered by the Robertson Panel, organized by the CIA, in January 1953.

In his book “UFOs Explained” (1974), Philip J Klass referred to the Great Falls footage as “the most impressive and famous UFO movie”. In his book “Scientific Ufology” (1999), Kevin D Randle wrote that the Great Falls footage “would become one of the best, and, therefore most controversial pieces of physical evidence available”.

Isaac Koi’s “ICES” Rating for this sighting = 7,020 (out of a potential score of 14*14*14*14 i.e. 38,416)

(1) “Impact” Rating of 13 (out of a potential score of 14), because it is Case 41 in Isaac Koi's "Top 100" article.

(2) “Credibility” Rating of 10 (out of a potential score of 14) because the debate regarding this incident has centered on what was filmed, rather than whether the incident was a hoax - although there have been several persuasive suggestions that the eyewitness accounts included some significant embellishments.

(2) “Expert” Rating of 9 (out of a potential score of 14). It is given this above slightly above average rating because (at the time of writing) it has been included in a small number of the short lists of the best cases produced by various UFO researchers that have been compiled by Isaac Koi (see the “Best UFO Cases" article at PART 3: Existing lists by various individuals).

(4)“Strangeness” Rating of 6 (out of a potential score of 14). The sighting has a below average strangeness rating since there is relatively limited evidence to be explained as to the nature of the objects that was filmed. Several researchers have plausibly suggested that the objects that were filmed were merely aircraft.

Sections below:

1. Web Resources

2. Book References

3. Other material

JANAP 146(A)

JANAP 146 was first issued on 1 October 1948 without any reference to UFOs.

JANAP 146 was declassified on 12 December 1953.

English newspapers

On 8 October 1950, several Sunday newspapers in England began to publish extracts of various UFO books.

The Sunday Express began its serialisation of Gerald Heard’s “Is Another World Watching Us?”.

The Sunday Dispatch published extracts of Frank Scully’s “Behind the Flying Saucers” and Donald Keyhoe’s “Flying Saucers are Real”.