J. Allen Hynek was an astronomer who was a member of Project Sign, Project Grudge, and Project Blue Book. He was also a professor of physics at Ohio State University. He was initially a skeptic of unidentified flying objects, but later funded private investigations into UFO research.
Biography[]
In 1969, Hynek accompanied Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Milford to a secret briefing at the White House with President Richard Nixon. This meeting was arranged to discuss the findings of the Condon Committee, which concluded that research into UFOs was fruitless and recommended that the government cease funding such research. Hynek criticized this report, believing it was one-sided and that Edward Condon did not fully understand the research. Nixon interrupted Hynek to launch into an angry tirade of personal attacks on Condon before throwing the report. He thanked Hynek for his attendance and dismissed him from the meeting. Hynek waited outside for Milford, who told Hynek that he and Nixon discussed fishing.[1]
Hynek served as a scientific advisor for the 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind and made a brief appearance in the film.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
J. Allen Hynek (May 1, 1910 – April 27, 1986) was an American scientist best remembered for his UFO research.
