In July 1968, a research assistant to the University of Colorado UFO study, Herbert Strentz, queried Quintanilla regarding the nature of the Blue Book investigations: “We collect data. It’s a misnomer to think we investigate.” Because this was contrary to Air Force chief of staff, Gen. Thomas D. White’s statement that “all unidentified flying object sightings are investigated in meticulous detail by Air Force personnel and qualified scientific consultants,” Quintanilla was asked to clarify his statement: “We are more or less a collection agency… . We contact everybody we can with regards to trying to identify the stimulus which caused the observer to report a UFO sighting, however, this is not really investigating, this is checking details. We do use scientific disciplines to evaluate the information, however, this is an after the fact evaluation. We have only subjective statements made by the witnesses to work with … but we are not empowered to check the individuals background…Collection is part of the investigative process and we accept the data as fact, however, we seldom really complete the cycle… . You don’t really do much investigating when you check out satellite observations, astronomical observations, moving lights, weather balloons, etc.”  In addition: “We have certain characteristics for sightings…characteristics for astronomical reports, aircraft, balloons. If any of these (UFO reports) have characteristics that fall into such categories, the plausible answer is that it (the UFO) was that. … Sometimes there is a thin line in classifying a UFO, but if it falls in the category, it’s in the category. You can quibble… . But I cut them off when I think we’ve got the answer.” Herbert J. Strentz, “A Survey of Press Coverage of Unidentified Flying Objects, 1947- 1966” (Ph.D. diss., Northwestern University, 1970), 216-217; 224. In addition, see: Quintanilla's unpublished manuscript entitled, “UFO's: An Air Force Dilemma.”