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Whether you are a new member or a veteran of many investigations, you may have wondered if you have everything you need to conduct a proper UFO investigation. Each investigator should inventory his/her field bag at least once a year. If possible, the field bag should inventoried after each investigation. But what should be carried, and how important is it? Tools for the investigation can be split into three categories: must have items, useful to have items, and dream of having items.
Must Have Items
The must have items will help you get the background information, handwritten report, and gather any physical evidence of the sighting. Two of the most important items to carry are MUFON Identification Card and your MUFON Investigators Manual. By showing the card, the tone of the interview is set. The witness will know that you are a professional and that you are taking the interview seriously. By having your MUFON manual, you can reference any information needed. You can also reference the manual on page 39 to see the recommended items for your investigators bag. As for the bag, you can use anything that would easily contain the items and be transported to the investigation site. The must have items for getting a handwritten account and drawings by a witness are: Paper (plain and lined), pens (always carry plenty), sharpened pencils (lead and colored), erasers, markers, ruler and a clipboard or a three ring notebook. With a stapler, paper clips, file folders or large envelopes, you can put the items together without losing any valuable information. For the background information (i.e. direction of the sighting), you will need a compass, star finder, tape measure, Farmers Almanac, and a camera (disposable cameras work very well). To gather physical evidence or measure distances, you will need magnifying glass, string, tweezers, tape measure, knife, plastic bags (although it is preferred to have sterilized glass containers with a resealable top) and disposable polyethylene gloves. Two more useful must have items are area maps and a flashlight with batteries. As you can see by having these items, you save yourself embarrassment and an extra trip.
Useful Items
The gathering of evidence, determining the background information, and writing the report could be further enhanced by having some helpful unnecessary items. Rubber bands, Q-tips, tape, glue sticks, white out, post-it notes, scissors and a calculator are a few office supplies that might come in handy. Use a tape recorder to record the verbal account of the interview, this is very helpful when you are a slow note taker. Don't forget the blank tapes and batteries. It would be even better if you could video tape your interview. Again remember the batteries and extra tapes. Binoculars, flash for the camera, arc indicator, color charts, elevation indicator could be helpful in gathering background or report information. To gather physical evidence, you could use tent stakes, small diameter rope, garden trowel, shovel, small brush, 100’ steel tape, chalk lines, and Plaster of Paris to mark off an area to search and gather any evidence. Since you never know where you will end up, you might want to carry a first aid kit, any medications for allergies, insect repellent and a disposable rain coat. And for any emergencies, a small toolkit is always handy to keep in your vehicle.
Dream Items
When I studied the list in the MUFON Investigator’s Manual, I dreamed of owning the optional equipment, but I am not sure how I would use some of it. A laptop computer is not mentioned on the list, but I could see how it could be used during an interview with the new computer forms. The topographical maps and aerial maps are hard to find and may not cover the areas you need. A tripod for your camera or binoculars is probably the easiest item to get on this list, and is very handy during a night watch of the skies. The camera light meter and the camera with diffraction grating may be outdated because of toady's digital cameras. Digital cameras make it easier to transfer photos to the computer and the Internet. Police scanners, if legal, are a good source for leads, but can be time consuming by having to stay close by to listen. Now with the next few items, I don't know if it would be worth the expense: Geiger Counter, Pocket Spectroscope (I do know where to order a student version of this one), and a Scintillation Spectrometer. This next item almost sounds like a joke, Magnetometer UFO Radiometer. If anyone knows how to get one, please let me know. Like I said, these items could be really useful tools to have, but you should consider the cost versus usage.
Conclusion
Well, you now know what is in my investigator’s bag with the exception of video camera and dream list items. I don’t carry my bag with me all the time, but I do have it together so I could easily pick up and go. I also carry the heavy items to gather evidence with (shovel, tent stakes, etc.) separately, so I won’t break my back from the weight of it all. Look over your bag, make sure nothing has dried up or has been used up. Update your equipment whenever possible. One other quick note; remember to remove batteries from your equipment and store them separately. If batteries are left in equipment for long periods of time they can cause damage.
About the author: Mary Dee Janssen is a MUFON certified Field Investigator, and MUFON of Georgia's Deputy Director for the North West region of the state.
