Flying saucers are actually meteors, and the Air Force would show their disdain for flying saucer reports (and the discussion of flying saucers) by putting out messages like the following in 1954.
This is part of the conditioning we have all experienced where we are challenged to doubt the things we have seen.
Enter: The “Flying Saucer” Season
Air Force officials pointed out a few days ago that the “Flying Saucer Season” is now approaching. The meteor showers which are easily seen in the heavens in the summer, especially in July and August, always bring about a flurry of reports of “Flying Saucer” sightings.
Air Force officials say reports from citizens claiming to have seen “Flying Saucers” have fallen off heavily since 1952. They believe better public education about flying machines, and better scientific investigations, have reduced the reports.
It is reported that so far in 1954, 87 sightings have been reported. Over 1700 such sightings were reported in 1952 alone. By 1953, the number had dropped to something over 400, and if the current rate continues, the number of sightings this year will drop to around 200.
Air Force officials admit they cannot explain some ten per cent of the sightings and deny that they are disinterested in such reports. On the contrary, Air Force officials say the air services appreciates reports [but will publicly dismiss such reports] about unidentified flying objects and welcomes such “information.” [Notice how “information” is written with quotes around it, suggesting that the information is not true “information.”]
In case you see a “Flying Saucer” or any strange object in the sky and wish to report it to the Air Force, the proper contact is: Air Technical Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio.
Source: The Nome nugget. (Nome, Alaska), 30 June 1954.
