NICAP

The National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena, commonly known as NICAP, was a private American organization dedicated to the investigation of unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Founded in 1956 by Thomas W. Chamberlin and later led by figures such as Donald Keyhoe, NICAP aimed to study UFO sightings and gather evidence, believing that many sightings represented advanced technology or phenomena not understood by conventional science.

NICAP distinguished itself from some other UFO groups by employing a more systematic approach to data collection and analysis. It encouraged witnesses to report their sightings and gathered reports from various sources, including military personnel and pilots. The organization frequently lobbied the U.S. government to conduct more thorough investigations into UFOs, often suggesting a potential national security implication.

Throughout its existence, NICAP produced numerous reports and published articles in its journal, "The UFO Investigator." The group faced internal disagreements and external skepticism, and its membership and influence fluctuated over time. While NICAP ceased active operations in the late 1980s, its archives and the historical record of its activities remain a significant part of the UFO research landscape. It played a notable role in popularizing the UFO phenomenon and advocating for official government attention to the subject during the Cold War era.