AIR FORCE MANUAL 55-11 (AFM 55-11) - 20 MAY 1968 (part 3 of 3)

AFM 55-11 20 MAY 1968

COMMUNICATIONS INSTRUCTIONS REPORTING

VITAL INTELLIGENCE SIGHTINGS (RCS L-HAF-V36)
(SHORT TITLE - CIRVIS)

I. PURPOSE	TO PROVIDE FOR THE PEACETIME REPORTING OF INTELLIGENCE SIGHTINGS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO THE SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. THIS REPORT OUTLINES AIR FORCE REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR DIRECTIVES CONTAINED IN JANAP 146, CANADIAN-UNITED STATES COMMUNICATIONS INSTRUCTIONS FOR REPORTING VITAL INTELLIGENCE SIGHTINGS.
II. SUBMITTED BY	ANY AIR FORCE PERSONNEL.
III. SUBMITTED TO	A. AIRBORNE REPORTS - ANY AVAILABLE UNITED STATES OR CANADIAN MILITARY OR CIVIL AIR/GROUND COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY. FACILITIES RECEIVING CIRVIS REPORTS WILL RAPIDLY PROCESS AND FORWARD THEM AS PRESCRIBED BY JANAP 146 DIRECTIVES.
	B. POST LANDING REPORTS - CINCNORAD, ENT AFB, COLORADO, OR HEADQUARTERS, NORTHERN NORAD REGION, NORTH BAY, ONTARIO. WHICHEVER IS THE MORE CONVENIENT.
IV. WHEN SUBMITTED	A. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER AN INTELLIGENCE SIGHTING REQUIRING A CIRVIS REPORT.
	B. PRIORITY CATEGORY-I
V. HOW SUBMITTED	A. CLASSIFICATION - NORMALLY UNCLASSIFIED BUT HANDLED AS INFORMATION FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY.
	B. METHOD OF TRANSMISSION - BY THE MOST RAPID MEANS AVAILABLE. AIRBORNE REPORTS WILL BE MADE USING THE SAME PROCEDURES AS THOSE NOW

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	ESTABLISHED AND IN USE BY PILOTS FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL. WHEN CONTACT BY PILOTS CANNOT BE ESTABLISHED WITH ANY GROUND COMMUNICATIONS STATION, MAXIMUM EFFORT SHALL BE MADE TO RELAY THE CIRVIS REPORTS VIA OTHER AIRCRAFT WITH WHICH COMMUNICATION IS POSSIBLE.
	C. PRECEDENCE OF TRANSMISSION -
	(1) AIRBORNE REPORTS -
	(A) TO AVOID DELAYS BY AIRCRAFT IN RENDERING A CIRVIS REPORT TO A GROUND FACILITY, THE WORD CIRVIS SPOKEN OR TRANSMITTED THREE (3) TIMES WILL BE EMPLOYED, PRECEDING THE CALL, TO CLEAR THE FREQUENCY(IES) OVER ALL OTHER COMMUNICATIONS, EXCEPT DISTRESS AND URGENCY, TO INSURE ITS EXPEDITIOUS HANDLING.
	(B) SHOULD INSTANCES OCCUR, WHEN USE OF THE ABOVE PROCEDURE FAILS TO CLEAR THE FREQUENCY(IES) OVER ALL OTHER COMMUNICATIONS IN PROGRESS, EXCEPT DISTRESS AND URGENCY CALLS, THE INTERNATIONAL URGENCY SIGNAL XXX TRANSMITTED THREE (3) TIMES OR PAN SPOKEN THREE (3) TIMES WILL BE EMPLOYED TO FACILITATE DISPOSITION OF THE MESSAGE TO THE RECEIVING FACILITY.
	(2) GROUND RELAY OF AIRBORNE REPORTS OR POST LANDING REPORTS -FLASH.
VI. SPECIFIC REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS	A. AIR FORCE PERSONNEL WILL REPORT BY RAPID COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES ALL UNIDENTIFIABLE, SUSPICIOUS, OR HOSTILE LAND, AEROSPACE, OR SEABORNE TRAFFIC WHICH - BECAUSE OF ITS NATURE, COURSE, OR ACTIONS - MUST BE CONSIDERED A THREAT TO THE SECURITY OF THE US OR CANADA. SUCH REPORTING

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	WILL SERVE TO EXTEND THE EARLY WARNING DEFENSE SYSTEM FOR THE US AND CANADA.
	B. THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF CIRVIS REPORTS WILL BE SUBMITTED -
	(1) THE INITIAL CIRVIS REPORT -ISSUED WHILE THE PILOT IS AIRBORNE, (OR, AS WARRANTED, UPON LANDING) OR BY THE LAND OBSERVER AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE. ADDITIONAL CIRVIS REPORTS WILL BE MADE IF SITUATION REQUIRES IT, AND EACH ONE SHOULD REFER TO THE INITIAL REPORT TO PERMIT IDENTIFICATION WITH THE ORIGINAL SIGHTING.
	(2) THE CIRVIS CANCELLATION REPORT - ISSUED BY THE OBSERVER IF A PREVIOUSLY REPORTED SIGHTING IS POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED AS FRIENDLY OR HAS BEEN ERRONEOUSLY REPORTED.
	(3) THE CIRVIS POST-LANDING REPORT - ISSUED BY THE PILOT WHEN HE LANDS, IF HE HAS MADE AN AIRBORNE REPORT. IT MUST CITE THE AIRBORNE REPORT(S) ISSUED. IF THE LANDING IS NOT MADE IN CANADIAN OR UNITED STATES TERRITORY THE REPORT SHOULD BE MADE TO THE NEAREST CANADIAN OR UNITED STATES MILITARY OR DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVE. POST-LANDING REPORTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO CINCNORAD, ENT AFB, COLORADO, OR HEADQUARTERS NORTHERN NORAD REGION, NORTH BAY, ONTARIO, WHICHEVER IS THE MORE CONVENIENT.
	(4) THE CIRVIS EVALUATION REPORT - SUBMITTED BY EACH ADDRESSEE OF THE ABOVE CIRVIS REPORTS. IT WILL INCLUDE NEGATIVE DR OTHER INFORMATION AS WARRANTED, AND WILL BE SUBMITTED PROMPTLY TO KEEP ALL MESSAGE ADDRESSEES FULLY INFORMED DURING THE EVALUATION PHASE. ALL

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	INVESTIGATIVE MEASURES AND EVALUATION PROCESSES INSTITUTED BY THE ADDRESSEE MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH EXISTING PROCEDURES, AND REPORTED ACCORDING TO JANAP 146. THIS WILL BE HQ USAF RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THE CSAF IS AN ADDRESSEE OF A CIRVIS REPORT.
	C. THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC SIGHTINGS WILL BE REPORTED
	(1) WHILE AIRBORNE AND FROM LANG BASED OBSERVERS.
	(A) HOSTILE OR UNIDENTIFIED SINGLE AIRCRAFT OR FORMATIONS OF AIRCRAFT WHICH APPEAR TO BE DIRECTED AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA OR THEIR FORCES.
	(B) MISSILES.
	(C) UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS.
	(D) HOSTILE OR UNIDENTIFIED SUBMARINES.
	(E) HOSTILE OR UNIDENTIFIED OR GROUPS OF MILITARY SURFACE VESSELS.
	(F) INDIVIDUAL SURFACE VESSELS, SUBMARINES, OR AIRCRAFT OF UNCONVENTIONAL DESIGN, OR ENGAGED IN SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY OR OBSERVED IN A LOCATION OR ON A COURSE WHICH MAY BE INTERPRETED AS CONSTITUTING A THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA OR THEIR FORCES.
	(G) ANY UNEXPLAINED OR UNUSUAL ACTIVITY WHICH MAY INDICATE A POSSIBLE ATTACK AGAINST OR THROUGH CANADA OR THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE PRESENCE OF ANY UNIDENTIFIED OR OTHER SUSPICIOUS GROUND PARTIES

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	IN THE POLAR REGION OR OTHER REMOTE OR SPARSELY POPULATED AREAS.
	(2) UPON LANDING.
	(A) REPORTS WHICH FOR ANY REASON COULD NOT BE TRANSMITTED WHILE AIRBORNE.
	(B) UNLISTED AIRFIELDS OR FACILITIES, WEATHER STATIONS, OR AIR NAVIGATION AIDS.
	(C) POST LANDING REPORTS (TO INCLUDE PHOTOGRAPHS OR FILM IF PICTURES WERE TAKEN)
	D. EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO SUBSTANTIATE VITAL INTELLIGENCE SIGHTINGS BY TAKING AS MANY PHOTOGRAPHS AS POSSIBLE. UNDEVELOPED FILM OR PRINTS AND NEGATIVES SHOULD BE FORWARDED WITH A BRIEF LETTER REPORT AND OTHER IDENTIFYING INFORMATION TO EITHER THE DIRECTOR OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY3 WASHINGTON, DC 20350 OR DIRECTOR OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE, CANADIAN FORCES HEADQUARTERS, OTTAWA 4, ONTARIO, AS APPROPRIATE. PHOTOS WILL BE PROCESSED AND ONE COPY OF EACH PRINT TOGETHER WITH A ROLL OF NEW FILM WILL BE RETURNED TO THE INDIVIDUAL.
	E. THE CIRVIS REPORT IS A NARRATIVE REPORT. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES ARE OUTLINED ON TABLE 1.
VII. REPORT IDENTIFICATION	CI
VIII REPORT CONTENT	A. AIRBORNE CIRVIS REPORTS WILL BE SIMILAR TO ROUTINE AIRCRAFT POSITION REPORTS TRANSMITTED BY EITHER RADIO-TELEPHONE OR RADIOTELEGRAPH. THE APPROPRIATE PROCEDURES TO BE EM-

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	PLOYED WILL BE THOSE APPLICABLE TO COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES UTILIZED. THE REPORTS SHOULD CONTAIN THE INFORMATION DETAILED BELOW, WHEN APPROPRIATE, AND IN THE ORDER LISTED.
	B. WHEN REPORTING IDENTIFIABLE OBJECTS
	(1) CIRVIS REPORT.
	(2) IDENTIFICATION OF REPORTING AIRCRAFT OR OBSERVER AS APPROPRIATE.
	(3) OBJECT SIGHTED. GIVE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SIGHTING WHICH SHOULD CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING ITEMS AS APPROPRIATE -
	(A) NUMBER IF AIRCRAFT, VESSELS, MISSILES, SUBMARINES, ETC.
	(B) CATEGORY OF OBJECT, GENERAL DESCRIPTION, E.G., SIZE, SHAPE, TYPE OF PROPULSION, ETC.
	(4) THE POSITION OF THE OBJECT. THIS CAN BE INDICATED BY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS
	(A) LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE.
	(B) OVER A RADIO FIX.
	(C) TRUE BEARING AND DISTANCE FROM A RADIO FIX.
	(D) OVER A WELL-KNOWN OR WELL-DEFINED GEOGRAPHIC POINT.
	(5) DATE AND TIME OF SIGHTING (GMT).
	(6) ALTITUDE OF OBJECT.
	(7) DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF OBJECT.
	(8) SPEED OF OBJECT.

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	(9) ANY OBSERVED IDENTIFICATION, INSIGNIA, OR OTHER SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION. EVERY REASONABLE EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE OBJECT SIGHTED.
	C. WHEN REPORTING UNIDENTIFIABLE OBJECTS
	(1) CIRVIS REPORT.
	(2) IDENTIFICATION OF REPORTING AIRCRAFT OR OBSERVER AS APPROPRIATE.
	(3) OBJECT SIGHTED. GIVE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE OBJECT WHICH SHOULD CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING ITEMS
	(A) SHAPE.
	(B) SIZE COMPARED TO A KNOWN OBJECT (USE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TERMS - HEAD OF A PIN,. PEA, DIME, NICKEL, QUARTER, HALF DOLLAR, SILVER DOLLAR, BASEBALL, GRAPEFRUIT, OR BASKETBALL) HELD IN THE HAND AT ABOUT ARM'S LENGTH.
	(C) COLOR.
	(D) NUMBER.
	(E) FORMATION, IF MORE THAN ONE.
	(F) ANY DISCERNIBLE FEATURES OR DETAILS.
	(G) TAIL, TRAIL, OR EXHAUST, INCLUDING SIZE OF SAME COMPARED TO SIZE OF OBJECT.
	(H) SOUND. IF HEARD, DESCRIBE SOUND.
	(I) OTHER PERTINENT OR UNUSUAL FEATURES.
	(4) DESCRIPTION OF COURSE OF OBJECT.

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	(A) WHAT FIRST CALLED THE ATTENTION OF OBSERVER(S) TO THE OBJECT
	(B) ANGLE OR ELEVATION AND AZIMUTH OF OBJECT WHEN FIRST OBSERVED.
	(C) ANGLE OR ELEVATION AND AZIMUTH OF OBJECT UPON DISAPPEARANCE.
	(D) DESCRIPTION OF FLIGHT PATH AND MANEUVERS OF OBJECT.
	(E) HOW DID THE OBJECT DISAPPEAR. (INSTANTANEOUSLY TO THE NORTH, ETC.).
	(F) HOW LONG WAS THE OBJECT VISIBLE+ (BE SPECIFIC, 5 MINUTES, 1 HOUR, ETC.).
	(5) MANNER OF OBSERVATION
	(A) USE ONE OR ANY COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS GROUND-VISUAL, GROUND-ELECTRONIC, AIR ELECTRONIC. (IF ELECTRONIC, SPECIFY TYPE OF RADAR.)
	(B) STATEMENT AS TO OPTICAL AIDS (TELESCOPES, BINOCULARS, ETC.) USED AND DESCRIPTION THEREOF.
	(C) IF THE SIGHTING IS MADE WHILE AIRBORNE, GIVE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT, IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, ALTITUDE, HEADING, SPEED, AND HOME STATION.
	(6) TIME AND DATE OF SIGHTING
	(A) ZULU TIME-DATE GROUP OF SIGHTING.
	(B) LIGHT CONDITIONS. (USE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TERMS NIGHT, DAY, DAWN, DUSK.)
	(7) LOCATION OF OBSERVER(S).

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	EXACT LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE OF EACH OBSERVER, AND/OR GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION. A POSITION WITH REFERENCE TO A KNOWN LANDMARK ALSO SHOULD BE GIVEN IN ELECTRICAL REPORTS, SUCH AS 2M1 N OF DEEVILLE, 3MI SW OF BLUE LAKE. TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS OR GARBLING OFTEN RESULT IN ELECTRICALLY TRANSMITTED MESSAGES, MAKING LOCATION PLOTS DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE.
	(8) WEATHER AND WINDS - ALOFT CONDITIONS AT TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTINGS
	(A) OBSERVER(S) ACCOUNT OF WEATHER CONDITIONS.
	(B) REPORT FROM NEAREST AWS OR U.S. WEATHER BUREAU OFFICE OF WIND DIRECTION AND VELOCITY IN DEGREES AND KNOTS AT SURFACE, 6,000', 10,000', 16,000', 20,000', 30,000', 50,000', AND 80,000' IF AVAILABLE.
	(C) CEILING.
	(D) VISIBILITY.
	(E) AMOUNT OF CLOUD COVER.
	(F) THUNDERSTORMS IN AREA AND QUADRANT IN WHICH LOCATED.
	(G) TEMPERATURE GRADIENT.
	(9) ANY OTHER UNUSUAL ACTIVITY OR CONDITION, METEOROLOGICAL, ASTRONOMICAL, OR OTHERWISE, WHICH MIGHT ACCOUNT FOR THE SIGHTING.
	(10) INTERCEPTION OR IDENTIFICATION ACTION TAKEN (SUCH ACTION MAY BE TAKEN WHENEVER FEASIBLE, COMPLYING WITH EXISTING AIR DEFENSE DIRECTIVES).

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	(11) LOCATION, APPROXIMATE ALTITUDE, AND GENERAL DIRECTION OF FLIGHT OF ANY AIR TRAFFIC OR BALLOON RELEASES IN THE AREA WHICH COULD POSSIBLY ACCOUNT FOR THE SIGHTING.
	(12) POSITION TITLE AND COMMENTS OF THE PREPARING OFFICER, INCLUDING HIS PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE SIGHTING(S).
	(13) EXISTENCE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, SUCH AS MATERIALS AND PHOTOGRAPHS.
IX. SAMPLE REPORTS	A. INITIAL CIRVIS REPORT.
	(1) EXAMPLE OF AN AIR-GROUND RADIOTELEPHONE TRANSMISSION
(AIRCRAFT)	CIRVIS CIRVIS CIRVIS - KINDLEY THIS IS AIR FORCE TWO FIVE NINE THREE SIX -CIRVIS REPORT - OVER
(AERONAUTICAL STATION)	AIR FORCE TWO FIVE NINE THREE SIX THIS IS KINDLEY - GO AHEAD
(AIRCRAFT)	FLASH - CIRVIS REPORT - AIR FORCE TWO FIVE NINE THREE SIX SIGHTED FORMATION OF SIX JET BOMBERS - CONFIGURATION IS SWEPT WING WITH EIGHT JET ENGINES -TWO HUNDRED MILES EAST OF BERMUDA ON THIRTEEN MAY AT ONE THREE FIVE ZERO ZULU - ALTITUDE THREE FIVE THOUSAND -HEADING TWO SEVEN ZERO DEGREES - NO MARKINGS OBSERVED - OVER
(AERONAUTICAL STATION)	KINDLEY - ROGER - OUT
	(2) EXAMPLE OF AN AIR-GROUND RADIOTELEGRAPH TRANSMISSION
(AIRCRAFT)	CIRVIS CIRVIS CIRVIS AFA3 DE A48207 K
(AERONAUTICAL STATION)	A48207 DE AFA3 K

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(AIRCRAFT)	Z - CIRVIS REPORT. A48207 SIGHTED… ETC -
(AERONAUTICAL STATION)	A48207 DE AFA3 R AR
	B. CIRVIS CANCELLATION REPORT.
	(1) EXAMPLE OF AN AIR-GROUND RADIOTELEPHONE TRANSMISSION
(AIRCRAFT)	CIRVIS CIRVIS CIRVIS - KINDLEY THIS IS AIR FORCE TWO FIVE NINE THREE SIX - CIRVIS REPORT - OVER
(AERONAUTICAL STATION)	AIR FORCE TWO FIVE NINE THREE SIX THIS IS KINDLEY - GO AHEAD
(AIRCRAFT)	FLASH - CANCEL CIRVIS REPORT OF ONE THREE FIVE ZERO ZULU BY AIR FORCE TWO FIVE NINE THREE SIX - SIX JET BOMBERS POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED AS AIR FORCE BRAVO FORTY SEVENS AT ONE FOUR FOUR SIX ZULU - OVER
(AERONAUTICAL STATION)	KINDLEY - ROGER - OUT
	(2) IN RADIOTELEGRAPH TRANSMISSION, THE SAME PROCEDURES WOULD APPLY AS PRESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH IXA(2).
	C. CIRVIS POST-LANDING REPORT. UNCLAS/JOPREP JIFFY/MAC/CIRVIS 01C/1315151 MAY 67
	REFERENCE - AIRBORNE CIRVIS REPORTS SUBMITTED BY AIR FORCE TWO FIVE NINE THREE SIX TO KINDLEY AIRWAYS AT 13 13501 MAY 67 AND 13 14351 MAY 67
	AIR FORCE TWO FIVE NINE THREE SIX RECOVERED AT KINDLEY AFB AT 14 15001 MAY 67. FIRST REFERENCED AIRBORNE CIRVIS REPORT REPORTED SIGHTING FORMATION OF SIX JET BOMBERS TWO HUNDRED MILES EAST OF BERMUDA HEADING TWO SEVEN ZERO DEGREES.

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	SECOND REFERENCED AIRBORNE CIRVIS REPORT CANCELLED FIRST CIRVIS REPORT WHEN JET BOMBERS POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED AS AIR FORCE BRAVO FIVE TWO’S ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY MILES WEST OF BERMUDA STILL ON WESTERLY HEADING.
X. DATA COLLECTION FORMAT	DD FORM 173, JOINT MESSAGE FORM. DD FORM 173-1, ABBREVIATED JOINT MESSAGE FORM AND/OR CONTINUATION SHEET.

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