Field Equiptment

From TinWiki.org

Various books and UFO groups have made recommendations for equipment for field investigations of UFO reports, ranging from inexpensive necessities (such as a pen and paper) to far more expensive and exotic equipment (such as magnetic "UFO detectors").

1 UFO Investigator’s Field Kits
2 More advanced equipment
- 2.1 Magnetic Detectors
- 2.2 Radiation Detectors
3 References to discussions in books
4 External links
5 Relevant Discussion Threads on ATS

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UFO Investigator’s Field Kits

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David Coomer

In his book “The UFO Investigator's Guide” (1999), David Coomer advises the preparation of a panic bag to allow rapid response to a UFO report, noting in particular that, once the police or military have sealed off the area, you are unlikely to be able to gain access to carry out tests and analysis.

Items included (and discussed) in that chapter are:

(1) Notepad and pens
(2) Dictaphone/cassette recorder
(3) Torch
(4) Camera
(5) Video camera
(6) Tripod
(7) Binoculars/telescope
(8) Night vision scopes
(9) Watch
(10) Geiger counter/dosimeter
(11) Passive radar/UFO motion detectors
(12) Mobile telephone / CB handset
(13) Scanner
(14) ID Card
(15) Tape measure / pegs and string
(16) Sundries (with a list of items including a pocket knife, soil testing kits, resealable plastic bags etc)

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Condon

The Condon Report includes a "Field Kit Inventory List" as an appendix to the report.

That Appendix includes the following:
1. INSTRUMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS

a. Camera (diffraction grating, filters, operating instructions if necessary, and film)
b. Movie Camera
c. Binoculars
d. Geiger Counter
e. Flashlight
f. Compass
g. Magnifying Glass
h. Sample Containers
i. Tape Recorder (Tapes)
j. Tape Measure
k. Plaster Casting Material
l. Pocket Spectroscope
m. Geologist's Kit
n. String
o. Star Finder
p. Nautical Almanac
q. Elevation Indicator
r. Arc Indicator (Size)
s. Police Radiomonitor

2. PAPER

a. Notebook and Address Book (Contacts)
b. Identification Card
c. Copy of Contract
d. Orders
e. Letter of Authorization
f. Maps (of specific areas)
g. Road Atlas
h. Auto Sun-visor Identification Card
i. Sighting Report Forms/Interview Forms
j. Copies of 80-17A, 80-17
k. Tax Exempt Certificates

3. PERSONAL

a. Boots
b. Warm Clothing if necessary
c. Air Tickets (or others)
d. Money or Traveler's Checks
e. Credit Cards
f. Briefcase

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MUFON

MUFON's manual - Raymond Fowler discusses The Field Investigator's Kit in MUFON's Field Investigator's Manual - 4th Edition (1995) at pages 102 (in Chapter 4) of the MUFON looseleaf edition.

That chapter includes three lists of items, without discussion of their uses.

The relevant lists are of:

Necessary Equipment (identification card, questionnaire forms, investigator's manual, compass, camera, tape measure, flashlight, string, knife, and other items),

Desirable Equipment (tape recorder, colour chart, elevation indicator, arc indicator and other items), and

Optional equipment (Geiger counter, video camera, rangefinder, and other items).

The MUFON manual also includes several chapters discussing the use of various items of equipment in relation to specialised categories of UFO reports (e.g. Chapter 14, Radiation Survey of Landing Cases by Thomas P Deuley).

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BUFORA

In its manual “UFO Investigation” (1976), BUFORA includes a check list of items for a basic field kit, with a few words on the uses of each item and/or other comments.

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More advanced equipment

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Magnetic Detectors

In his book "The UFO Handbook" (1979), Allan Hendry devotes a chapter to "Magnetic Detectors". He notes that adverts for "UFO detectors" are common. While they vary in sophistication, "they all share one thing in common: the detection of strong magnetic fields".

Hendry refers to several cases in which compasses had reportedly been affected during UFO sightings, commenting that such effects are reported "in a relatively small number of cases in the UFO literature".

After discussing various "UFO detectors" and issues relating to them, he concluded "In practice, such detectors are either totally ineffective or are overly sensitive to the point of distraction, and are thus not useful as alarms".

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Radiation Detectors

In his book "The UFO Handbook" (1979), Allan Hendry devotes a chapter to "Radiation Detectors".

His analysis of relevant issues concluded as follows: "The measurement and interpretation of radioactivity at UFO sites are not as clear-cut or easy as one might think. Coupled with the relative rarity of CE II's that claim such findings, and the occurence of natural radioactive sources, this quality is not in itself an easy and unambiguous index of UFO characteristics".

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References to discussions in books

BUFORA in its “UFO Investigation” (1976) at para 3.D(4) (in Chapter 3) of the spiral bound first edition

David Coomer in his “The UFO Investigator's Guide” (1999) at page 21-27 (in Chapter 1, Equipment) of the Blandford softback edition

Raymond Fowler discusses “The Field Investigator's Kit” in “MUFON's Field Investigator's Manual” -4th Edition (1995) at page 102 (in Chapter 4) of the MUFON looseleaf edition.

Allan Hendry in his “The UFO Handbook” (1979) in Chapter 13 (Magnetic Detectors) at pages 186-190, and Chapter 19 (Radiation Detectors) at pages 237-240 of the Sphere softback edition.

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