Abstract This paper presents an analysis of the neutron yield and energy distribution of neutron source terms generated from the interaction of α-particles with 17,18O nuclei in fissile actinide compounds. When compared with measured data, the neutron yield and energy distribution data calculated for several isotopic configurations are used to validate the energy-dependent 17,18O(α,n) cross sections modeled by a set of resonance parameters based on the Reich-Moore approximation of the R-matrix theory. The present analysis shows the fundamental importance of the partial contribution of the (α,n) cross sections to each excited state in determining the shape and magnitude of the calculated neutron spectra as a function of the emerging neutrons.