CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY MGM/UA HOME ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
Narrator: ON JULY 29, 1952 AT THE PENTAGON, A PRESS NFERENCE WAS HELD.
THIS IS THE ACTUAL OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THAT CONFERENCE.
AMONG THOSE PARTICIPATING WERE:
MAJOR GENERAL ROGER M. RAMEY, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, USAF;
COLONEL DONALD L. BOWER, TECHNICAL ANALYSIS DIVISION,
AIR TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER;
AND CAPTAIN EDWARD J. RUPPELT, AERIAL PHENOMENON BRANCH,
AIR TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER.
THIS IS MAJOR GENERAL JOHN A. SAMFORD,
DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE,
WHO CONDUCTED THE CONFERENCE.
WHY WAS THE CONFERENCE HELD
IT ALL BEGAN WITH AN INCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED IN 1947.
ON THE AFTERNOON OF JUNE 24 OF THAT YEAR,
KENNETH ARNOLD MADE THE FIRST REPORT ON FLYING SAUCERS.
ON THIS DAY, ARNOLD TOOK OFF FROM CHEHALIS, WASHINGTON,
AND FLEW TOWARD THE RAINIER PLATEAU AT AN ELEVATION BETWEEN 9,000 AND 10,000 FEET.
OVER MINERAL, WASHINGTON, HE OBSERVED A FORMATION
OF VERY BRIGHT OBJECTS TO THE NORTH.
HE RADIOED AHEAD THAT THEY APPEARED TO BE CLOSE TO THE MOUNTAINTOPS
AND TRAVELING AT TREMENDOUS SPEED.
WHEN ARNOLD CAME IN FOR A LANDING AT PENDLETON,
AIRPORT PERSONNEL AND THE LOCAL PRESS WERE WAITING FOR HIM.
ARNOLD COUNTED 9 OBJECTS IN ECHELON FORMATION.
HEBSERVED THAT THEY HAD NO TAILS AND DESCRIBED THEM AS SAUCER-SHAPED OBJECTS.
THE STORY WAS PICKED UP BY THE WIRE SERVICES.
HE SAW WHAT?
Narrator: IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS,
VIRTUALLY EVERY NEWSPAPER IN THE COUNTRY RAN THE STORY.
THE ARNOLD REPORT PRECIPITATED AN AVALANCHE OF SIGHTINGS
FROM CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES FROM EVERY SECTION OF THE COUNTRY.
THE COMMERCIAL ASPECTS OF THE SAUCER SITUATION WERE NOT OVERLOOKED.
ALERT BUSINESSMEN AND MANUFACTURERS CAME UP WITH ALL SORTS OF ODDITIES.
THE PRACTICAL JOKER MOVED IN.
HOMEMADE SAUCERS OF ALL KINDS AND DESCRIPTIONS
BEGAN TO TURN UP PROMISCUOUSLY.
WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF THE ORIGINAL SAUCER REPORT,
PRACTICALLY EVERYONE IN AMERICA WAS CONSCIOUS OF FLYING SAUCERS.
THIS MAN IN THE SAUCER-- CAN YOU DESCRIBE HIM?
WELL, SIR, HE WAS SMALL AND SKINNY.
HE HAD--HIS HEAD WAS POINTED, CAME TO A VERY SHARP POINT.
HE HAD LONG GREEN HAIR. HIS EYES WERE SORT OF PURPLISH-RED.
HE HAD LARGE EARS THAT PERFORMED LIKE AN ANTENNA.
HIS TEETH WERE PERFECT, BUT WAS, UH, SPREAD FAR APART.
AND I NOTICED, TOO, A JACKET OF SOME SORT OF SPUN GLASS
AND BRIGHT RED METALLIC SHOES.
YOU SAY THIS ALL TOOK PLACE IN A FEW SECONDS.
MR. NAGELSCHMIDT, CAN YOU TELL ME
WHAT COLOR TIE I'M WEARING?
I'M SORRY, SIR, I DIDN'T NOTICE.
YOU MEAN TO SAY YOU CAN REMEMBER EVERYTHING
ABOUT THIS MAN FROM THE SPACESHIP--
HIS HAIR, THE COLOR OF HIS EYES, THE CLOTHING HE WAS WEARING--
AND YET, AFTER ALL THIS TIME,
YOU CAN'T TELL ME THE COLOR OF MY TIE?
BUT YOU DIDN'T COME OUT OF A FLYING SAUCER.
Narrator: THEN, AT APPROXIMATELY 1400 ON JANUARY 7, 1948,
THE KENTUCKY STATE POLICE REPORTED TO THE FORT KNOX MILITARY POLICE
THAT THEY HAD SIGHTED AN UNUSUAL AIRCRAFT OR OBJECT FLYING THROUGH THE AIR,
CIRCULAR IN APPEARANCE, APPROXIMATELY 200 TO 300 FEET IN DIAMETER MOVING WESTWARD.
THE PROVOST MARSHAL AT FORT KNOX CALLED THE COMMANDING OFFICER AT GODMAN AIR FORCE BASE.
ALL FLIGHT SERVICES AT WRIGHT FIELD:
DETERMINE IF THEY HAVE ANY EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT IN OUR AREA.
WE HAVE A REPORT OF AN UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT SOUTH OF THE FIELD.
Narrator: IT WAS ABOUT 1315 WHEN THE TOWER CONTROLLER IN THE GODMAN TOWER
RECEIVED HIS INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE COMMANDING OFFICER.
WRIGHT-PATTERSON?
[NO AUDIO]
Narrator: THE PFC CONTINUED GIVING ROUTINE INSTRUCTIONS TO A LIGHT PLANE
WHICH WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS.
FLIGHT SERVICE.
CAPTAIN HOPPER, FLIGHT SERVICE.
Narrator: FLIGHT SERVICE IS A CLEARINGHOUSE.
THE POSITIONS OF ALL MILITARY PLANES ARE CAREFULLY PLOTTED
SO A MINUTE-TO-MINUTE CHECK MAY BE MADE ON THEIR POSITION, COURSE, ALTITUDE, AND SPEED.
Hopper: FLIGHT SERVICE TO GODMAN TOWER.
WE HAVE NO EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT IN THAT AREA.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE A V-29 AND AN A-26
ON PHOTO MISSIONS IN THAT AREA.
Narrator: IN THE MEANTIME, LIEUTENANT COWAN, THE AACS,
AND THE OPERATIONS OFFICER HAD ARRIVED IN THE TOWER.
THE WERE JOINED BY THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER AND THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
UPON HEARING THE INFORMATION FROM FLIGHT SERVICE,
THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER CALLED COLONEL HICKS, THE COMMANDING OFFICER.
COLONEL HICKS.
COLONEL HICKS, CAN YOU COME OVER TO THE FIELD, PLEASE?
Narrator: AT ABOUT 1350, THE TOWER CONTROLLER SAW
AN OBJECT SOUTH OF GODMAN FIELD AND DIRECTED IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE TOWER.
LIEUTENANT COWAN WAS THE FIRST OF THE GROUP AFTER THE TOWER CONTROLLER
TO LOCATE THEM.
HE IMMEDIATELY DIRECTED IT TO THE ATTENTION
OF THE OPERATIONS OFFICER.
AFTER OBSERVING IT FOR A MOMENT,
HE PICKED UP THE TELEPHONE AND PUT IN A SECOND CALL TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER.
WHILE HE WAS PUTTING THE CALL THROUGH, COLONEL HICKS ARRIVED IN THE TOWER.
IT WAS NOW ABOUT 1420.
ABOUT 1430, A FLIGHT OF 4 F-51s BEING FERRIED FROM MARIETTA, GEORGIA,
TO STANIFORD FIELD, KENTUCKY, WAS SIGHTED SOUTH OF THE BASE.
THE COMMANDING OFFICER ISSUED AN ORDER TO CONTACT THE FLIGHT LEADER.
...AND FIND OUT
WHO'S LEADING THE FLIGHT.
GODMAN TOWER TO LEADER OF FLIGHT 4 51s.
GODMAN TOWER TO LEADER OF FLIGHT 4 51s. COME IN.
Man: CAPTAIN MANTELL, FLIGHT LEADER F-51s, TO GODMAN TOWER. OVER.
STAND BY FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.
VECTOR THE FIGHTERS TO THE AREA OF THE UNKNOWN.
VECTOR MANTELL ON A HEADING OF 210 DEGREES.
GODMAN TOWER TO CAPTAIN MANTELL. COME IN, OVER.
MANTELL TO GODMAN TOWER. OVER.
GODMAN TOWER TO CAPTAIN MANTELL.
INVESTIGATE AN UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT IN YOUR AREA.
YOUR NEW COURSE: 2-1-0 DEGREES-- 210 DEGREES.
MANTELL TO GODMAN TOWER. CHANGING HEADING TO 210...
Narrator: ONE OF THE SHIPS IN MANTELL'S FORMATION,
MG336, PILOTED BY LIEUTENANT HENDRICKS,
REQUESTED PERMISSION TO LAND AT STANIFORD FIELD TO REFUEL AND GET OXYGEN.
PERMISSION WAS GRANTED.
CAPTAIN MANTELL AND THE OTHER TWO PLANES STARTED TO CLIMB TOWARD THE OBJECT.
THE SECOND PILOT MADE A SIMILAR REQUEST.
BOTH WINGMEN REFUELED, AND AFTER GETTING OXYGEN EQUIPMENT, TOOK OFF AGAIN.
CAPTAIN MANTELL, FLYING MG3869, CONTINUED CLIMBING,
OUTDISTANCING HIS WINGMEN.
AT 1445, MANTELL CALLED THE TOWER.
Mantell: MANTELL TO TOWER. I SEE IT.
UP AND AHEAD OF ME. I'M STILL CLIMBING.
Narrator: A FEW MOMENTS LATER, ONE OF MANTELL'S WINGMEN WAS HEARD.
Man: WHAT THE HELL ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
Narrator: AFTER A MOMENT, CAPTAIN MANTELL MADE A REPLY.
Mantell: MANTELL TO TOWER. THE OBJECT IS DIRECTLY AHEAD OF AND ABOVE ME,
NOW MOVING AT HALF MY SPEED.
GODMAN TOWER TO LEADER OF FLIGHT 4 51s.
GODMAN TOWER TO LEADER OF FLIGHT 4 51s. COME IN.
MANTELL TO TOWER. IT APPEARS TO BE A METALLIC OBJECT
OF TREMENDOUS SIZE.
Narrator: THE OBJECT NOW WAS IN VISUAL VIEW OF THE TOWER PERSONNEL.
Mantell: MANTELL TO TOWER.
I'M TRYING TO CLOSE IN FOR A BETTER LOOK.
I'LL GO TO 20,000 FEET.
Narrator: SHORTLY AFTER THIS, PILOT HAMMOND, THE REMAINING WINGMAN WITH MANTELL,
CALLED MANTELL OVER HIS RADIO.
Hammond: LEVEL OFF, CAPTAIN, UNTIL I'VE REGAINED VISUAL CONTACT.
Narrator: THE PERSONNEL IN GODMAN TOWER WAITED TENSELY FOR MANTELL'S REPLY,
BUT HE MADE NO ANSWER.
A MOMENT LATER, PILOT HAMMOND MADE ANOTHER REPORT TO THE TOWER.
MANTELL SEEMED TO HAVE DISAPPEARED.
MANTELL HAD APPARENTLY CLIMBED BEYOND HIS WINGMAN.
AT 1525, THE REMAINING WINGMAN BROKE OFF AND RETURNED TO STANIFORD FIELD.
THE OBJECT, WHICH WAS IN VISUAL SIGHT FROM THE TOWER,
AS WERE THE F-51s DURING THE CHASE,
DISAPPEARED AT APPROXIMATELY 1550.
THE F-51s WERE FIRST LOST TO VIEW, AND THEN THE OBJECT WENT BEHIND THE CLOUDS.
GODMAN TOWER TO CAPTAIN MANTELL. COME IN. OVER.
THIS IS GODMAN TOWER TO CAPTAIN MANTELL. COME IN. OVER.
Narrator: AT 1750, STANIFORD ADVISED GODMAN TOWER
THAT MANTELL HAD CRASHED 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FRANKLIN, KENTUCKY.
THE CRASH HAD OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 1645. CAPTAIN MANTELL WAS KILLED.
STATEMENTS WERE TAKEN FROM ALL WHO WERE PRESENT IN THE TOWER DURING THE MANTELL SIGHTING.
THE TOWER CONTROLLER STATED, "IT LOOKED SILVER OR METALLIC."
THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER: "IT APPEARED TO BE A BRIGHT SILVER OBJECT."
THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER: "IT WAS CIRCULAR IN SHAPE."
THE AACS: "A SMALL, WHITE OBJECT IN THE SKY."
THE OPERATIONS OFFICER: "IT APPEARED ROUND AND WHITE."
THE COMMANDING OFFICER: "IT COULD BE SEEN PLAINLY WITH THE NAKED EYE."
STATEMENTS WERE TYPED UP FOR THE NECESSARY SIGNATURES
AS THE INTERROGATION CONCLUDED.
THERE WAS ONE POINT ON WHICH THERE WAS SOME DISAGREEMENT.
NOT EVERYONE WHO HAD BEEN PRESENT IN THE TOWER HAD HEARD MANTELL
WHEN HE REPORTED OVER THE RADIO
THAT HE WAS MOVING IN FOR A BETTER LOOK.
THE MORE LURID SECTIONS OF THE PRESS REPORTED
THAT FRAGMENTS OF MANTELL'S PLANE WERE FOUND TO BE RADIOACTIVE.
SOME NEWS SOURCES REPORTED THAT AN AUTOPSY REVEALED THAT MANTELL HAD BEEN KILLED
BY SOME KIND OF DEATH RAY UNKNOWN TO OUR MEN OF SCIENCE.
THESE REPORTS WERE FALSE.
BECAUSE CERTAIN PUBLICATIONS PERSISTED IN USING
A SENSATIONAL APPROACH IN REPORTING SIGHTINGS,
THERE WERE INCREASING DEMANDS FROM THE PUBLIC FOR AN EXPLANATION.
HOWEVER, THE AIR FORCE HAD ALREADY TAKEN OFFICIAL COGNIZANCE
OF THE FLYING DISCS.
HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES AIR FORCES, ISSUED A DIRECTIVE
FOR A DETAILED STUDY OF FLYING DISC REPORTS.
THIS PROJECT RECEIVED A "SECRET" CLASSIFICATION AND THE CODE NAME OF "SIGN."
DEPARTMENT OF AIR FORCE AND DEPARTMENT OF ARMY LETTERS DIRECTED
ALL RESPECTIVE SUBORDINATE UNITS TO REPORT DIRECTLY TO AIR MATERIEL COMMAND
ALL INFORMATION CONCERNING UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS.
AND SO, PROJECT SIGN WAS IMPLEMENTED.
TRAINED INVESTIGATORS WERE DISPATCHED TO THE EXACT SCENES OF THE SIGHTINGS.
AFTER THOROUGH ON-THE-SPOT INTERROGATIONS,
THE REPORTS WERE SENT ON TO A.T.I.C. FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS.
UTAH...
WASHINGTON...NORWAY...
SWEDEN...
DENMARK...
SOUTH KOREA...
OHIO...
NEW JERSEY...
OREGON...
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS...
LOUISIANA...
ALABAMA...
TENNESSEE...
KANSAS...
MASSACHUSETTS.
AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE CREDIBLE TYPE OF SIGHTINGS REPORTED BY REPUTABLE, TRAINED OBSERVERS
WAS THE REPORT OF CAPTAIN WILLIS SPERRY.
WHAT IS YOUR FULL NAME, CAPTAIN?
CAPTAIN WILLIS SPERRY.
HOW LONG WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES?
17 YEARS.
WHAT WAS THE DATE OF SIGHTING?
MAY 29, 1950.
AND THE TIME OF SIGHTING?
9:30 IN THE EVENING.
THE ORIGIN OF SIGHTING?
60 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
AND THE DESTINATION?
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.
WHAT WAS THE VISIBILITY?
IT WAS UNLIMITED.
WHAT WAS YOUR ALTITUDE?
7,500 FEET.
WHO OF THE CREW FIRST SAW THE OBJECT?
THE COPILOT CALLED IT TO MY ATTENTION,
AS I HAD TURNED TO REACH FOR A MAP.
THE OBJECT WAS FLYING HEAD-ON AT US.
IT WAS 50 TIMES THE MAGNITUDE OF THE BRIGHTEST STAR.
I IMMEDIATELY MADE AN ABRUPT TURN TO AVOID COLLISION.
AS I LOOKED TO MY LEFT, THE OBJECT APPEARED TO COME TO A STOP.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE SHAPE OF THE OBJECT?
IT APPEARED AS A PERFECTLY STREAMLINED OBJECT,
WITHOUT WINGS OR TAIL SECTION,
AS IT WAS SILHOUETTED AGAINST THE FULL MOON.
AT ALL TIMES, IT HAD A BRILLIANT, SHIMMERING BLUE LIGHT IN THE NOSE.
IT WAS TRAVELLING AT FANTASTIC SPEED,
AND ALTHOUGH IT HAD PASSED OFF OUR LEFT WINGTIP,
IT CIRCLED US IN A MATTER OF SECONDS
AND APPEARED OFF OUR RIGHT WING.
THERE AGAIN, IT STOPPED, AND WE WATCHED IT FOR SEVERAL SECONDS.
WHEN AGAIN IT STARTED, IT REVERSED ITS DIRECTION.
WE WATCHED IT FOR SEVERAL MORE SECONDS
UNTIL IT DISAPPEARED IN THE EAST OUT OF SIGHT.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANY OTHER SIMILAR OBJECT, CAPTAIN?
NEVER BEFORE OR SINCE.
Narrator: ON JANUARY 9, 1950, THE PRESS REPORTED THAT PROJECT SIGN WAS CLOSED.
FROM NOW ON, THE AIR FORCE STATED,
ITS ONLY SIMILAR ACTIVITY WOULD BE THE ROUTINE CONVENTIONAL WATCH
FOR UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS.
Man, voice-over: THIS IS THE DAILY NEWS BUILDING IN DAYTON, OHIO.
MY NAME IS AL CHOP.
A SHORT TIME AFTER MY DISCHARGE FROM THE MARINE CORPS,
I PAID A VISIT TO THE NEWSPAPER WHERE I HAD PREVIOUSLY WORKED AS A REPORTER FOR 5 YEARS.
WELL, AL, YOU RASCAL. GLAD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
Chop, voice-over: THE EDITOR WAS A CLOSE FRIEND,
AND HE TRIED TO CONVINCE ME TO TAKE BACK MY OLD JOB ON THE PAPER.
HE WAS VERY PERSUASIVE, BUT FOR PERSONAL REASONS, IT DIDN'T INTEREST ME.
OH, BUT YOU REMEMBER THE OLD DAYS HERE.
NOW IT'S ALL DIFFERENT--
3 HOURS FOR LUNCH, DOUBLE TIME FOR OVERTIME,
BLONDE COPY GIRLS...
Chop, voice-over: ONCE HE REALIZED THAT MY MIND WAS MADE UP,
HE MADE ANOTHER SUGGESTION.
IT WAS DUE TO THIS CASUAL SUGGESTION THAT I WALKED
RIGHT THROUGH TO THE MIDDLE OF THE FLYING SAUCER STORY.
EVER SINCE THE KOREAN SITUATION, THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY
OUT AT AIR MATERIEL COMMAND.
YOU COULD FIT RIGHT IN THAT PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE THERE.
WHO'S THE MAN TO SEE OUT THERE?
FRIEND OF MINE-- MAJOR CROSS. I'LL CALL HIM NOW.
Chop, voice-over: THE IDEA APPEALED TO ME.
I'D ALWAYS BEEN INTENSELY INTERESTED IN AVIATION.
ALSO, I LIKED THE IDEA OF SETTLING DOWN IN DAYTON AGAIN.
BOTH DEE, MY WIFE, AND I HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS THERE.
IT WOULD BE LIKE COMING HOME AGAIN.
THE EDITOR SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME AT AIR MATERIEL COMMAND.
THIS IS WHAT I WANTED, AND A MAN NEVER KNOWS WHAT HE'S GETTING INTO.
THE NEXT DAY, I WENT OUT TO AMC AND TALKED TO THE MAJOR.
HE SEEMED SATISFIED WITH MY NEWSPAPER BACKGROUND.
I WAS INTERVIEWED BY A PERSONNEL OFFICIAL
WHO FILLED OUT THE NECESSARY PAPER PRELIMINARY TO AN AIR FORCE SECURITY CHECK.
FULL NAME.
ALBERT M. CHOP, C-H-O-P.
AGE.
35.
MARRIED?
WIFE'S NAME.
DELORES.
CHILDREN?
GIRL, AGE 11, BOY, 5.
TAKE THIS TO ROOM "D".
THANK YOU.
Chop, voice-over: SHORTLY AFTER, I WENT ON THE A.M.C. PAYROLL ON THE P.I.O. DESK.
I SOON SHOOK DOWN INTO THE ROUTINE
OF THE PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK.
THERE WAS A WIDE DIVERSIFICATION OF PROJECTS FOR WHICH I WROTE MATERIAL.
MOST OF IT WAS RELEASED AS NEWSPAPER COPY,
WITH AN OCCASIONAL ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE MAGAZINES.
I WROTE A PIECE ON A PORTABLE PRINTING PRESS THAT COULD BE SET UP CLOSE TO THE FRONT LINE.
THESE PRESSES PRINTED DAILY BULLETINS
WHICH PROVED OF GREAT VALUE IN SUSTAINING MORALE OF FRONT-LINE TROOPS.
I DID A FEW PIECES ON HELICOPTERS
WHICH WERE COMING INTO WIDE USE IN KOREA.
NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE PRINTED THIS,
AND IT ALSO APPEARED IN MANY OF THE COUNTRY'S LEADING NEWSPAPERS.
THEN, ONE MORNING ABOUT 10:00, I GOT A CALL FROM A NEWSPAPER EDITOR IN BOSTON.
THE BOSTON EDITOR WANTED CONFIRMATION OR OFFICIAL INFORMATION
ON A FLYING SAUCER REPORT OUT OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.
I TOLD THE EDITOR THAT PROJECT SIGN HAD BEEN OFFICIALLY CLOSED.
HE WAS INSISTENT, SO FINALLY, I CALLED AIR TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER.
NO, CHOP. WE HAVE NO REPORT ON SIOUX CITY OR ANY OTHER SIGHTING.
YOU PEOPLE ON P.I.O. DESK OUGHT TO KNOW
WE'VE CLOSED PROJECT SIGN.
Chop, voice-over: FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS,
CALLS CAME IN FROM NEWSPAPERS ALL OVER AMERICA.
GRADUALLY, I WAS ABLE TO PIECE THE STORY TOGETHER.
ON THE PREVIOUS EVENING, A COMMERCIAL AIRLINE DC-3 IN SIOUX CITY, IOWA,
HAD REQUESTED CLEARANCE FROM THE TOWER TO TAKE OFF.
THE TOWER HELD THEM UP, INFORMING THE PILOT THAT THERE WAS A LIGHT IN THE WEST
THAT THEY THOUGHT MIGHT BE A LIGHT PLANE.
THE TOWER STATED THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO CONTACT IT BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.
THE TOWER WAS IN CONTACT WITH ANOTHER LIGHT PLANE
THAT WAS COMING IN FOR A LANDING.
THE DC-3, ENGINES IDLING, STOOD BY AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY
UNTIL THE LIGHT PLANE LANDED AND TAXIED OFF THE STRIP.
THE TOWER THEN GAVE THE DC-3 PILOT PERMISSION TO TAKE OFF.
AS THE DC-3 CLIMBED FOR ALTITUDE,
AN UNIDENTIFIED LIGHT SUDDENLY CLOSED IN.
THIS WAS THE OBJECT THAT THE TOWER UNSUCCESSFULLY HAD TRIED TO CONTACT BY RADIO.
THE TOWER OBSERVED THIS AND RADIOED THE DC-3,
BUT THE LIGHT HAD ALREADY BEEN OBSERVED BY BOTH THE PILOT AND COPILOT.
SUDDENLY, THE LIGHT ACCELERATED AND MADE A HEAD-ON PASS AT THE PLANE
WHICH SWERVED TO AVOID A COLLISION.
IT ZOOMED PAST THEM, CLOSE TO THEIR WINGTIP.
THE PILOT CALLED THE TOWER AND DESCRIBED THE OBJECT AS A P-36 WITHOUT WINGS.
AFTER BEING OBSERVED BY SEVERAL PASSENGERS,
THE OBJECT SUDDENLY ZOOMED STRAIGHT UP AND DISAPPEARED.
ABOUT NOON, TWO REPORTERS CAME IN ASKING FOR INFORMATION ON THE SIOUX CITY SIGHTING.
WHAT'S NEW ON THIS SAUCER STORY, AL?
WE HAVE NOTHING ON IT.
PROJECT SIGN IS CLOSED.
THE A.T.I.C. IS NO LONGER INVESTIGATING THESE THINGS.
HOW STUPID CAN THEY GET?
HOW CAN THEY DROP AN INVESTIGATION
WHEN THERE ARE THINGS GOING ON LIKE THIS SIOUX CITY INCIDENT?
LOOK, GEORGE, I DON'T MAKE POLICY AROUND HERE.
I'VE GOT A JOB, AND I TAKE MY ORDERS JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
Chop, voice-over: THEY INSISTED I MAKE ANOTHER CALL
FOR VERIFICATION WITH A.T.I.C.
I INDICATED TO ONE OF THE REPORTERS TO PICK UP THE EXTENSION AND LISTEN IN
SO HE, TOO, COULD HEAR.
YEAH, HELLO, MAJOR? AL CHOP.
COUPLE OF REPORTERS HERE WANT SOME INFORMATION ON SIOUX CITY.
Major: LOOK, AL, THE ANSWER IS THE SAME. THE PROJECT IS CLOSED.
I TOLD YOU THAT BEFORE.
YEAH. THANKS, MAJOR.
YOU HEARD THE MAN.
THIS THING DOESN'T ADD UP.
THOSE MEN SAW SOMETHING UP THERE.
OH, THERE'S PROBABLY SOME SIMPLE EXPLANATION FOR IT.
DON'T TELL ME YOU GUYS BELIEVE THIS SAUCER BUNK?
YOU'RE JUST SITTING ON A STORY, AL.
WELL, YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU LIKE,
BUT PERSONALLY, I THINK THIS WHOLE SAUCER BUSINESS
IS PURE UNADULTERATED BUNK.
Chop, voice-over: ONE DAY, SHORTLY AFTER THE SIOUX CITY INCIDENT,
I WENT OVER TO GET A STORY ON A FORMER GERMAN SCIENTIST.
AREA "B" WAS A MAXIMUM SECURITY SECTION.
THE STORY APPEARED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES.
I HAD OBTAINED THE BACKGROUND ON THE SCIENTIST FROM THE FILES.
HE WAS FORMERLY ONE OF THE TOP MEN AT PEENEMUNDE, GERMANY,
ONE OF THE KEY FIGURES PARTICIPATING
IN THE SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF THE V-2 ROCKET.
THIS SCIENTIST HAD SUCCEEDED IN DEVELOPING A 98.8% PURE ALUMINUM OXIDE.
THESE CRUCIBLES WERE VITAL TO OUR NATION'S DEFENSE.
THEY WERE USED TO MELT SUPER-HARD METALS
NEEDED TO BUILD TURBINE BLADES FOR OUR JET AIRCRAFT.
TELL ME, YOUNG MAN,
WHAT NEW REPORTS ARE YOU GETTING
ON UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS?
FLYING SAUCERS?
OH, THEY KEEP COMING IN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE,
BUT WE DON'T TAKE THEM TOO SERIOUSLY.
OH, NO?
OF COURSE NOT.
IT MUST BE AMUSING TO A MAN IN YOUR LINE OF WORK
TO HEAR ABOUT ALL THESE SCREWBALL REPORTS.
IT IS MY FIRM OPINION THAT THESE SIGHTINGS
SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED MOST METICULOUSLY.
YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT THESE FLYING SAUCERS ACTUALLY EXIST, DO YOU?
AND HOW CAN YOU BE SO CERTAIN THEY DON'T, MR. CHOP?
WELL, I JUST WON'T BELIEVE IT.
OUR MINDS SHOULD BE OPEN ON ALL SUBJECTS.
WRONG CONCLUSIONS ARE USUALLY THE RESULT OF
LACK OF COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS.
OF COURSE.
WELL, THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
I WON'T TAKE UP ANY MORE OF YOUR TIME,
AND I'LL LET YOU READ THE ARTICLE BEFORE I SEND IT IN.
THANK YOU, MR. CHOP.
I'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
Chop, voice-over: LATER THAT SAME DAY,
I PAID A VISIT TO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
FOR AIR MATERIEL COMMAND.
IT WAS HIS JOB TO KNOW EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON.
I BROUGHT UP MY INTERVIEW WITH THE SCIENTIST.
HE'S A TOP MAN, ISN'T HE, COLONEL?
GOOD AS THEY COME.
WE GOT ON THE SUBJECT OF SAUCERS.
HE SEEMED TO LEND CREDENCE TO THEIR EXISTENCE.
AT LEAST, HE DOESN'T DENY IT.
HE'S NOT ALONE IN THAT OPINION.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND, COLONEL.
IF A CCK SCIENTIST THINKS THEY COULD EXIST, WHY NOT THE AIR FORCE?
AL, I'M GOING TO LET YOU IN ON SOMETHING.
SOMEHOW, SECURITY WAS BREACHED ON THE CODE NAME SIGN.
EVERY NEWS AGENCY KNEW THAT PROJECT SIGN MEANT SAUCERS.
ON TOP OF IT,
WE WERE UP TO OUR BUSTLE IN SCREWBALL REPORTS.
A SERIOUS INVESTIGATION WAS ALL FOULED UP.
A SERIOUS INVESTIGATION?
THEN THE AIR FORCE IS STILL INVESTIGATING THESE SIGHTINGS?
WE SWITCHED THE CODE NAME TO PROJECT GRUDGE,
AND THE INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE.
WHAT DO THEY SHOW?
NOTHING CONCLUSIVE AS YET.
COULD THESE SAUCERS BE SOME KIND OF A SECRET WEAPON OF OURS?
NO. IF THEY WERE,
AIR MATERIEL COMMAND WOULD BE THE FIRST TO KNOW.
HOW ABOUT A DEVICE FROM A FOREIGN COUNTRY?
NO, THEY'RE NOT.
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION, COLONEL?
I DON'T HAVE ANY OPINION, AL.
Chop, voice-over: A SHORT TIME LATER,
I WAS PROMOTED TO CHIEF OF THE PRESS SECTION.
FROM THEN ON, THERE WASN'T A MOMENT
WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE AT LEAST ONE REPORTER HOUNDING ME
FOR INFORMATION ON SAUCER SIGHTINGS.
GOT A QUESTION, AL.
THE BOYS DOWN AT THE OFFICE WOULD LIKE AN HONEST ANSWER.
PROJECT SIGN IS CLOSED, RIGHT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
HAS THE AIR FORCE SET UP
A NEW SAUCER INVESTIGATION?
NO.
THANKS, AL.
THAT'S ALL I WANT TO KNOW.
COME IN HERE RIGHT AWAY, AL.
BRING PENCIL AND PAPER.
LINE 3. COLONEL GODDARD'S ON THE PHONE.
HE'S GOT A HOT U.F.O. REPORT.
I WANT YOU TO LISTEN IN ON IT.
OK, COLONEL, SHOOT.
Chop, voice-over: COLONEL GODDARD,
CHIEF OF THE AIR FORCE PHOTORECONNAISSANCE LABORATORIES,
REPORTED THAT 3 OF HIS MEN FLYING A B-29
WERE TRACKING A WEATHER BALLOON OVER GEORGIA.
SUDDENLY, AN UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT APPEARED
AND FLEW ALONGSIDE THE BALLOON.
AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, THE OBJECT DIVED AND MADE A PASS AT THE BALLOON,
THEN PROCEEDED TO DISAPPEAR.
WHEN THE BALLOON WAS RECOVERED, IT HAD A 6-FOOT RENT IN IT.
COLONEL GODDARD'S MEN BELIEVE
THIS UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT MADE THE TEAR IN THE BALLOON.
GODDARD VOUCHED FOR HIS MEN MAKING THE REPORT,
STATING THAT THEY WERE HIGHLY EXPERIENCED AND RELIABLE AIR FORCE PERSONNEL.
THANK YOU, COLONEL.
THINK IT COULD BE A LIGHTNING BALL?
GODDARD WOULDN'T CALL ABOUT A LIGHTNING BALL.
DIDN'T ANY OF HIS MEN HAVE A CAMERA?
NO. THEY WERE TRACKING...
THAT'S SOMETHING I DON'T GET, COLONEL.
WOULDN'T YOU THINK THAT SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE
WOULD HAVE SHOT A PICTURE OF ONE OF THESE THINGS?
OH, WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF PHOTOGRAPHS,
BUT THE TROUBLE WITH STILL PICTURES IS THEY ARE TOO EASILY FAKED.
WHAT ABOUT A MOTION PICTURE? COULD THAT BE FAKED?
TRICK SHOTS ARE POSSIBLE, BUT NOT WITHOUT COMPLICATED
AND EXPENSIVE LABORATORY EQUIPMENT AND HIGHLY SKILLED MEN.
EVEN THEN, MOTION PICTURE EXPERTS COULD EASILY DETERMINE FAKES.
THAT ELIMINATES SOME JOKER FAKING A PIECE
OF MOTION PICTURE FILM IN HIS GARAGE.
IT WOULD BE PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AWAY WITH THAT.
WELL, I GUESS THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE NO MOVIES OF THEM, COLONEL.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Chop, voice-over: AS CHIEF OF THE PRESS DESK,
MY WORK HOURS, MY MEALS, MY SLEEP BECAME
INCREASINGLY DISTURBED AND CHAOTIC.
I SAW LITTLE OF MY WIFE AND CHILDREN.
CHIP, MY SON, WAS AT THIS TIME MAKING PERIODIC VISITS
TO A DOCTOR IN DAYTON.
HOW'S CHIP?
I FEEL MORE HOPEFUL WITH THE NEW SPECIALIST.
YOU LOOK TIRED. SINCE YOU'VE GOTTEN THIS NEW JOB,
THE CHILDREN DON'T KNOW THEIR OWN FATHER ANYMORE.
YEAH, SOMETIMES I WISH I WERE BACK ON THE NEWSPAPER.
I WAS TALKING WITH MRS. COLLINS TODAY.
SHE TELLS ME HER HUSBAND'S COUSIN WORKS WITH A MAN
WHO SWEARS HE SAW A FLYING SAUCER. UH-UH.
I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU THAT TERM WAS TABOO IN THIS HOUSE.
DO YOU REALLY THINK THEY MIGHT BE FROM MARS OR SOMEPLACE?
LOOK, HONEY, DON'T YOU GET LIKE THE REST OF THOSE SCREWBALLS
THAT I HAVE IN MY HAIR ALL DAY.
EVERY TIME SOME KID FLIES A KITE,
50 DIFFERENT PEOPLE SEE SPACESHIPS.
COME ON, LET'S GET TO BED.
Chop, voice-over: A FEW DAYS LATER,
THE COLONEL AND I WERE TALKING OVER ROUTINE PRESS RELEASES
ON A NEW-TYPE TRANSPORT PLANE,
WHEN SUDDENLY THE COLONEL VEERED OFF AT A TANGENT.
BY THE WAY, THERE'S A MAGAZINE FELLA
COMING OUT HERE FROM NEW YORK TO DO A STORY.
I WANT YOU TO SET UP APPOINTMENTS
WITH THE PEOPLE HE'LL WANT TO SEE.
RIGHT. WHAT MAGAZINE IS HE REPRESENTING?
LIFE.
WHAT ARE THEY AFTER?
THEY'RE GOING TO WRITE A PIECE
ABOUT UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
LIFE WAS GIVEN CLEARANCE
BY THE AIR FORCE COMMANDING GENERAL.
HOW COME?
WHEN THE GENERAL'S STAFF MAKES A PLAN,
THEY HAVE THE WHOLE PICTURE IN VIEW.
WE HERE AT DAYTON SEE ONLY A SMALLER SECTION.
THE PENTAGON HAS ITS REASONS--
VERY GOOD ONES, MOST LIKELY.
WHEN THE LIFE STORY BREAKS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGHT OUR WAY IN HERE
THROUGH A MILLING MOB OF INQUISITIVE REPORTERS.
NO, AL. YOU WON'T. YOU WON'T BE HERE.
COLONEL CYRILLS IN THE PENTAGON
HAS REQUESTED YOU BY NAME.
HE WANTS YOU TO JOIN HIS STAFF IN WASHINGTON.
COLONEL, IT'S BEEN SWELL WORKING WITH YOU,
BUT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES,
I'LL BE DELIGHTED TO GET OUT OF HERE.
Chop, voice-over: UPON MY ARRIVAL IN WASHINGTON,
I WAS ASSIGNED TO AIR FORCE PRESS DESK, ROOM 2E765
IN THE PENTAGON.
MY LAST OFFICIAL ACT AT A.M.C. HAD BEEN TO ARRANGE
THE CONFERENCES AND BRIEFINGS FOR LIFE MAGAZINE.
I WAS IN WASHINGTON ONLY A SHORT TIME
WHEN LOOK MAGAZINE SUBMITTED THE GALLEY PROOFS
OF THEIR SAUCER ARTICLE TO MY DESK.
I PUT THE LOOK ARTICLE THROUGH TO SECURITY REVIEW.
NOW I FELT FREE TO SETTLE DOWN IN MY NEW JOB.
I CHECKED IN WITH THE PRESS SECTION
OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
AND DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
I PAID THE REQUIRED VISITS TO THE INFORMATION DEPARTMENTS
OF THE ARMY, NAVY, AND MARINE CORPS.
I COVERED THE CIVIL AERONAUTICS ADMINISTRATION
AND OTHER AGENCIES WITH WHOM I WOULD BE WORKING IN CLOSE CONTACT.
BY NOW, I FIGURED I WAS THROUGH WITH FLYING SAUCERS FOR GOOD...
BUT THE PENTAGON HAD OTHER IDEAS.
BECAUSE OF MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE,
I WAS ASSIGNED TO UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS.
I WAS BACK IN THE FLYING SAUCER BUSINESS.
IN THE ACTIVITY OF SETTING UP HOUSEKEEPING
AND GETTING ADJUSTED TO THE NEW JOB,
I COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT THE LIFE MAGAZINE ARTICLE.
ALSO, I WAS ABLE TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH CHIP.
MY SON HAD BEEN DEAF IN ONE EAR SINCE INFANCY,
AND IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO PLAY WITH OTHER CHILDREN.
I HAD SETTLED DOWN TO A REGULATED HOME LIFE...
BUT IT WAS ONLY A LULL BEFORE THE STORM.
ON APRIL 7, 1952,
LIFE HIT THE NEWSSTANDS WITH THE SAUCER STORY.
THE QUESTION, IF ANYONE EVER HAD ANY DOUBT ABOUT IT,
WAS FORCEFULLY ANSWERED.
THE PUBLIC-- AMERICA AS A WHOLE--
HAD AN INTENSE, AVID INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT OF FLYING SAUCERS.
THE FIRST FEW DAYS FOLLOWING THE LIFE STORY WERE CHAOTIC.
NATURALLY, MY DESK WAS AN EXPOSED POINT,
AND I WAS UNDER AN INCESSANT BARRAGE BY NEWSMEN.
SHORTLY AFTER THE LIFE STORY,
LOOK'S COVERAGE OF SAUCERS HIT THE NEWSSTANDS.
THEIR STORY FEATURED A SAUCER MAP...
INCLUDING A STATEMENT BY THE COMMANDING GENERAL,
U.S. AIR FORCE, HOYT VANDENBERG.
VANDENBERG STATED:
Vandenberg: THE AIR FORCE IS INTERESTED IN ANYTHING
THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE AIR.
THIS INCLUDES THE AERIAL PHENOMENON
COMMONLY KNOWN AS "FLYING SAUCERS."
MANY OF THESE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN SATISFACTORILY EXPLAINED.
OTHERS HAVE NOT.
Chop, voice-over: PROJECT GRUDGE WAS EXPANDED AND AUGMENTED.
THE CLASSIFIED NAME GRUDGE WAS DROPPED.
THE NEW CODE NAME FOR THE U.F.O. INVESTIGATIVE PROJECT WAS BLUE BOOK.
THE GENERAL APPOINTED CAPTAIN EDWARD J. RUPPELT
OF A.T.I.C. AT WRIGHT-PATTERSON
AS OFFICER IN CHARGE OF PROJECT BLUE BOOK.
RUPPELT'S DEPARTMENT WAS DESIGNATED AS AIR PHENOMENON BRANCH,
AIR TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE.
AT RUPPELT'S DISPOSAL WAS A LARGE STAFF OF DISTINGUISHED SCIENTISTS,
BOTH MILITARY AND CIVILIAN.
ONE DAY, MAJOR DEWEY FOURNET OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BRANCH SENT FOR ME.
WILL YOU COME IN HERE A MINUTE, AL?
Chop, voice-over: MAJOR FOURNET WAS AN INTELLIGENCE TECHNICAL ANALYST
AND U.F.O. MONITOR.
THANKS, CAPTAIN.
AL, I JUST GOT A CALL FROM CAPTAIN RUPPELT.
A NAVY PHOTOGRAPHER NAMED NEWHOUSE
HAS MADE A SIGHTING NEAR TREMONTON, UTAH.
HE GOT SOME U.F.O.s ON FILM.
MOTION PICTURES?
MOTION PICTURES.
THIS FILM SHOULD PROVE INTERESTING
ON A COMPARATIVE BASIS.
COMPARATIVE WITH WHAT?
WITH THE MONTANA FILM.
A.T.I.C. HAS HAD IT FOR SOME TIME OVER AT DAYTON.
YOU MEAN A.T.I.C. HAS HAD MOTION PICTURES?
WHY WASN'T I TOLD ABOUT IT?
YOU'RE BEING TOLD ABOUT IT NOW.
CAN I SEE THESE FILMS?
RUPPELT HAS THE NEWHOUSE FILM.
IT'S BACK AT DAYTON, BEING PROCESSED AND ANALYZED.
BUT I CAN SHOW YOU THE MONTANA FILM.
THIS FILM WAS SHOT AUGUST 15, 1950.
IT WAS TAKEN IN GREAT FALLS, MONTANA, BY NICK MARIANA.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THE SIGHTING,
WE SENT AN INTELLIGENCE MAN TO GET A FIRSTHAND REPORT.
Man, on recording: MY NAME IS NICK MARIANA.
FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS, I'VE BEEN THE GENERAL MANAGER
OF A MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CLUB CALLED THE "SELECTRICS."
WE PLAY OUT OF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA,
AND ARE A FARM CLUB WITH THE BROOKLYN DODGERS.
ON AUGUST 15, 1950,
AT LEGION BALLPARK IN GREAT FALLS, MONTANA,
AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS IN THE CLUBHOUSE OFFICE,
I WENT UP INTO THE GRANDSTAND TO CALL THE GROUNDSKEEPER.
AS I REACHED THE TOP OF THE STAIRWAY,
I GLANCED NORTHWARD TO THE TALL ANACONDA COPPER COMPANY SMOKESTACK
TO CHECK THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND FROM THE WHITE SMOKE.
FORCE OF HABIT, I SUPPOSE, BECAUSE OUR OUTFIELDERS USE IT
AS AN INDICATOR ON DEFENSIVE PLAYS.
AS I LOOKED UP, I SAW TWO SILVERY OBJECTS
MOVING SWIFTLY OUT OF THE NORTHWEST.
THEY APPEARED TO BE MOVING DIRECTLY SOUTH.
THE OBJECTS WERE VERY BRIGHT AND ABOUT 10,000 FEET IN THE AIR.
THEY APPEARED TO BE OF A BRIGHT, SHINY METAL,
LIKE POLISHED SILVER.
BOTH WERE THE SAME SIZE AND WERE TRAVELING AT THE SAME RATE OF SPEED,
WHICH WAS MUCH SLOWER THAN THE JETS WHICH SHOT BY
SHORTLY AFTER I FILMED THE DISCS.
SUDDENLY, THEY STOPPED.
IT WAS THEN I REMEMBERED THE CAMERA IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT OF MY CAR.
I RACED DOWNSTAIRS, YELLING FOR MY SECRETARY, MISS VIRGINIA RAUNIG.
THE DISTANCE FROM THE TOP OF THE STAIRWAY TO MY CAR IS ABOUT 60 FEET,
AND I MUST HAVE MADE THAT IN ABOUT 6 JUMPS.
I ASKED MY SECRETARY IF SHE SAW ANYTHING,
AND SHE SAID, "YES, TWO SILVERY SPHERES."
I UNLOCKED THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT OF MY CAR,
TOOK OUT THE CAMERA,
TURNED THE TELEPHOTO LENS ON THE TURRET INTO POSITION,
SET THE CAMERA AT F-22,
PICKED UP THE OBJECTS IN THE VIEWFINDER,
AND PRESSED THE TRIGGER.
THE DISCS APPEARED TO BE SPINNING LIKE A TOP
AND WERE ABOUT 50 FEET ACROSS AND ABOUT 50 YARDS APART.
I COULD NOT SEE ANY EXHAUST, WINGS, OR ANY KIND OF FUSELAGE.
THERE WAS NO CABIN, NO ODOR, NO SOUND...
EXCEPT I THOUGHT I HEARD A WHOOSHING SOUND WHEN I FIRST SAW THEM.
AS THE FILM CLICKED THROUGH THE CAMERA,
I COULD SEE THE OBJECTS MOVING SOUTHEAST
BEHIND THE GENERAL MILLS GRAIN BUILDING
AND THE BLACK WATER TANK DIRECTLY SOUTH OF THE BALLPARK.
I FILMED THE OBJECTS UNTIL THEY DISAPPEARED
INTO THE BLUE SKY BEHIND THE WATER TANK.
THERE'S ONLY A FEW FEET OF FILM.
IT'LL BE OVER PRACTICALLY BEFORE YOUR EYES ARE FOCUSED ON IT.
NOW, REMEMBER, THERE'S ONLY A FEW FEET OF FILM, SO WATCH CLOSELY.
Chop, voice-over: I STILL HAD MY DOUBTS,
BUT I MUST ADMIT I FELT AN EXCITEMENT
ABOUT SEEING ACTUAL MOTION PICTURES
OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
READY? READY.
[SWITCHES ON PROJECTOR]
[SWITCHES OFF PROJECTOR]
[REWINDING FILM]
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT?
YOU SAW WHAT I SAW.
WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?
I'LL RUN IT AGAIN.
DO YOU HAVE A TRANSCRIPT ON MARIANA?
IT'S AT DAYTON. GOOD.
COLONEL CYRILLS WANTS ME TO GO TO DAYTON.
THAT IS, IF YOU'LL GIVE ME CLEARANCE.
I'LL HAVE YOU CLEARED.
IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU TO GET ACQUAINTED
WITH THE HISTORY OF U.F.O.s.
WHEN YOU GET TO DAYTON, YOU'LL MEET CAPTAIN RUPPELT.
THE THREE OF US ARE GOING TO BE WORKING CLOSELY FROM HERE ON.
RUPPELT WILL GIVE YOU A COMPLETE BRIEFING ON BLUE BOOK.
WHAT'S THE STORY ON HIM?
RUPPELT'S AN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEER.
HE KNOWS ABOUT THINGS THAT FLY--
AN EXCELLENT MAN TO HEAD UP PROJECT BLUE BOOK.
OK, ONCE AGAIN:
WHAT'S YOUR OPINION OF THIS FILM?
AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, I'LL HAVE TO CLASSIFY THEM AS UNKNOWNS.
I'LL RUN THE FILM AGAIN, THIS TIME IN SLOW MOTION.
Chop, voice-over: THIS TIME, I STRAINED MY EYES TO STUDY THE FILM.
THE AIR FORCE ANALYSTS,
BY MEASURING THE ANGULAR VELOCITY OF THE OBJECTS
AND BY COMPUTING THEIR SPEED,
HAD DETERMINED THAT THEY WERE NOT BALLOONS.
WELL?
THERE WAS SOMETHING UP THERE IN THAT SKY...
AND IF THEY WERE NOT BALLOONS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.
YOU'D BETTER GET GOING TO DAYTON.
[TYPING]
YES, SIR, MAY I HELP YOU?
AL CHOP TO SEE CAPTAIN RUPPELT.
THE CAPTAIN'S RIGHT OVER THERE, SIR.
THANK YOU.
CAPTAIN RUPPELT, I'M AL CHOP.
HAVE A SEAT, SIR.
MAJOR FOURNET ALERTED ME YOU WERE ARRIVING.
YOU'VE GOT THE GREEN LIGHT HERE.
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO START?
Chop, voice-over: AS A SPRINGBOARD,
I SUGGESTED THAT HE BRIEF ME ON THE GENERAL OUTLINE
OF HOW THE ORGANIZATION HANDLED REPORTS ON U.F.O.s.
RUPPELT BEGAN TO FILL ME IN ON THE BAFFLING SAUCER PROBLEM,
INCLUDING A BREAKDOWN ON THE REPORTED SIGHTINGS SUPPLEMENTED BY GRAPHS.
THERE WERE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF CASES
WHERE AIR DEFENSE COMMAND PILOTS HAD ATTEMPTED
TO INTERCEPT U.F.O.s.
THERE WERE SIGHTINGS WHERE U.F.O.s HAD BEEN TRACKED
BY GROUND RADAR, AIRBORNE RADAR, GROUND OBSERVATION,
AND COMBINATIONS OF ALL THESE ELEMENTS.
I ACCOMPANIED INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS ON INVESTIGATIONS.
I WITNESSED THE DIFFICULTY IN BREAKING DOWN
AND GAINING THE CONFIDEN OF THOSE
WHO WERE RELUCTANT TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES
FOR FEAR OF PERSONAL RIDICULE AND EMBARRASSMENT.
OTHERS WERE COOPERATIVE.
I OBSERVED THE TECHNIQUE OF THOROUGH INTERROGATION
USED BY BLUE BOOK'S ANALYSIS AND INVESTIGATIVE STAFF.
IN ALMOST EVERY CASE, I HEARD THE SAME WORDS USED
THE DESCRIBE THE SIGHTING.
THESE WORDS WERE "LIGHTS" AND "METALLIC OBJECTS."
THERE WERE REPORTS BY RELIABLE, COMPETENT OBSERVERS,
INCLUDING HIGH-RANKING AIR FORCE AND NAVY FLIERS,
CIVIL ENGINEERS, AND SCIENTISTS.
I LEARNED THAT THE STAGGERING TOTAL OF OVER 3,500 REPORTS
HAD BEEN RECEIVED.
QUITE A FEW OF THESE SIGHTINGS ARE UNSOLVED.
APPROXIMATELY 85% OF THE SIGHTINGS
ARE DESIGNATED AS SOLVED.
ACCORDING TO THIS DOCUMENT, 14.3% OF ALL SIGHTINGS
ARE OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED AS "UNKNOWN."
THE NEWSMEN KEEP HITTING ME WITH THE UNSOLVED CASES.
ANYWAY, "SOLVED" IS THE BIG WORD.
HOW DO YOU SOLVE THEM?
THERE'S NOTHING HIT-OR-MISS ABOUT IT. I'LL SHOW YOU.
ON DECEMBER 1, 1952,
BETWEEN 4:30 AND 5:00 IN THE MORNING,
SEVERAL MAJOR AIRPORTS IN THIS AREA...
REPORTED A SINGLE ROUND OBJECT.
IT WAS FLASHING--
FIRST WHITE, THEN WHITE-ORANGE, THEN AMBER.
IT WAS OBSERVED NORTHWEST OF THIS CENTRAL POINT
AT AN ANGLE OF 15 DEGREES ABOVE THE HORIZON.
REMEMBER THAT 15 DEGREES.
IT'S IMPORTANT.
REPORTS ARRIVED HERE FROM TETERBORO AIRPORT,
WESTCHESTER AIRPORT, NEWARK AIRPORT,
LA GUARDIA AIRFIELD,
IDLEWILD, AND MITCHELL FIELD.
VARIOUS OBSERVERS AT ALL THESE AIRPORTS
WATCHED THE OBJECT THROUGH HIGH-POWERED BINOCULARS.
WHEN THE REPORT ARRIVED HERE, WE CHECKED THE WEATHER
IN THAT AREA WITH AIR FORCE WEATHER BUREAU.
THAT NIGHT AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS NO TEMPERATURE INVERSION.
WE GOT IN TOUCH WITH NAVY BALLOON PROJECT CENTER
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.
THAT GAVE US AN EXACT SCHEDULE
OF BALLOONS RELEASED FROM THAT CENTER.
WE GOT SIMILAR INFORMATION FROM EVERY OTHER POINT
WHERE WEATHER BALLOONS ARE RELEASED
THROUGH AIR FORCE BALLOON PLOTTING CENTER AT LOWRY FIELD, DENVER.
WE CONTACTED AIR FORCE WEATHER FOR WIND CONDITIONS
AND VELOCITY AT THE ALTITUDE OF KNOWN BALLOONS.
THE PRECISE COMPUTATION OF BALLOONS IN THE AIR
AND KNOWN WIND CONDITIONS
DEFINITELY REMOVED BALLOONS FROM THE PICTURE.
WE CHECKED WITH FLIGHT SERVICE TO DETERMINE
IF ANY AIRCRAFT WERE IN THE VICINITY
ON THE BEARING AT THAT TIME.
THERE WERE NO AIRCRAFT.
AND STILL THIS THING WAS UP THERE ALL THE TIME,
BEING OBSERVED BY VARIOUS PERSONNEL FROM AIRFIELDS ALL OVER THAT AREA?
CORRECT-- THEY WERE SEEING IT.
WE CHECKED WITH OUR CONTRACT ASTRONOMER
AT A LEADING UNIVERSITY IN THE LOCALE
AND GAVE THE ASTRONOMER THE ANGLE OF ELEVATION
AND BEARING OF THE OBJECT.
REMEMBER, THE OBJECT WAS OBSERVED
AT AN ANGLE OF 15 DEGREES ABOVE THE HORIZON,
AND I TOLD YOU THAT WAS IMPORTANT.
IT PROVED TO BE THE CONCLUSIVE FACTOR.
OUR ASTRONOMER REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE OBSERVATION,
THE PLANET JUPITER WAS 15 DEGREES ABOVE THE HORIZON
AND ON THE ANGLE OF ELEVATION AND BEARING OF THE OBJECT.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT--
WHAT ALL THESE PEOPLE SAW WAS JUPITER.
WHAT MADE THE LIGHT FLASH?
ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS-- THE SAME CONDITIONS
THAT MAKE THE STARS APPEAR TO TWINKLE.
YOU PEOPLE REALLY GO INTO THESE THINGS.
WE TRY, AND OVER 80% OF THE CASES,
WE COME UP WITH THE CORRECT ANSWERS.
WE DON'T GET THE CORRECT ANSWERS IN ALL THE CASES.
WHAT ABOUT THE MOTION PICTURE MADE BY THIS NAVY MAN NEWHOUSE?
WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.
HOW DOES IT LOOK? IMPRESSIVE.
CAN I SEE IT?
IT'S BEING ANALYZED.
WHEN THE FILM IS AVAILABLE, WILL I BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT?
AS SOON AS ANALYSIS IS COMPLETED, YOU'LL SEE IT. SATISFIED?
YEAH. HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE?
ABOUT A WEEK.
WE'RE DOING AN EXHAUSTIVE CHECK ON THE NEWHOUSE STUFF--
REALLY PUTTING IT THROUGH THE WRINGER.
WHEN WE'RE THROUGH, WE'LL FORWARD A PRINT
TO THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE
WITH A COMPLETE REPORT OF OUR ANALYSIS.
FILL ME IN ON NEWHOUSE.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER HIM A QUALIFIED OBSERVER?
HE RATES AS A TOP-FLIGHT OBSERVER--
AN EXTREMELY COMPETENT ONE.
IMMEDIATELY UPON GETTING WORD OF HIS SIGHTING,
WE DISPATCHED AN INVESTIGATOR FROM TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE
TO INTERROGATE NEWHOUSE.
THE EXACT DATE OF HIS SIGHTING WAS JULY 2,
AT 11:00 A.M., MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME.
Newhouse: I WAS DRIVING ON U.S. HIGHWAY 30, SOUTH,
WITH MY WIFE AND OUR SON DELBERT AND OUR DAUGHTER ANNE.
WE WERE ON OUR WAY FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.,
TO PORTLAND, OREGON, ON VACATION
BEFORE REPORTING TO MY NEW DUTY STATION
AT THE AVIATION SUPPLY DEPOT AND NAVAL SUPPLY CENTER
IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.
ABOUT 7 MILES AFTER WE PASSED THROUGH TREMONTON, UTAH,
MY WIFE NOTICED A GROUP OF OBJECTS IN THE SKY
THAT SHE COULD NOT IDENTIFY.
I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, STOPPED, GOT OUT,
LOOKED UP, AND SAW THE OBJECTS.
THERE WERE ABOUT 12 OF THEM IN A ROUGH FORMATION
PROCEEDING IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION.
THEY WERE LIKE NOTHING I'D EVER SEEN BEFORE,
ALTHOUGH I'VE LOGGED SOME 2,000 HOURS IN THE AIR.
THEY WERE IDENTICAL IN APPEARANCE.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THESE OBJECTS?
LIKE TWO SAUCERS, ONE INVERTED OVER THE OTHER.
I HAD NO MEANS OF JUDGING THE ALTITUDE.
IT APPEARED TO ME TO BE ABOUT THE SIZE OF B-29s AT 10,000 FEET.
DID YOU PHOTOGRAPH THEM IMMEDIATELY?
I WATCHED THE OBJECTS FOR A FEW MOMENTS
BEFORE GETTING MY CAMERA OUT OF THE SUITCASE.
THEN I LOST MORE TIME GETTING FILM OUT OF THE SECOND SUITCASE
AND LOADING THE CAMERA.
WHEN I FIRST SAW THE OBJECTS, THEY WERE ALMOST OVERHEAD.
BY THE TIME I HAD THE CAMERA READY TO GO,
THEY HAD MOVED TO A CONSIDERABLY GREATER DISTANCE.
WHAT KIND OF A CAMERA DID YOU USE?
A 16-MILLIMETER BELL & HOWELL.
THE FILM AUTOLOADS,
A 3-LENS TURRET...
I SELECTED A 3-INCH LENS AND SET IT ON F-8
AND FOCUSED IT AT INFINITY.
DID YOU THINK OF USING SLOW MOTION?
NO. THE CAMERA WAS SET ON 16 FRAMES PER SECOND,
AND, IN THE EXCITEMENT OF THE MOMENT,
I DIDN'T THINK TO SHOOT AT A GREATER RATE,
ALTHOUGH THAT WOULD HAVE IMPROVED THE COVERAGE.
I CENTERED THE VIEWFINDER ON THE OBJECTS AND MADE THE FIRST SHOT.
THEN I DECIDED IF THE SKY WERE DARKER,
THE OBJECTS WOULD SHOW UP BETTER,
SO I STOPPED THE LENS DOWN TO F-16
AND CONTINUED TO PHOTOGRAPH THEM.
THIS PROVED TO BE A MISTAKE, AS THE QUALITY OF THE FILM
WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER HAD I LEFT IT AT F-8.
DID THESE OBJECTS REMAIN TOGETHER IN A GROUP AT ALL TIMES?
NO. TOWARD THE END, ONE OBJECT REVERSED ITS COURSE
AND PROCEEDED AWAY FROM THE REST OF THE GROUP.
I HELD THE CAMERA STILL AND ALLOWED THIS SINGLE OBJECT
TO PASS THROUGH THE FIELD OF VIEW,
PICKING IT UP AGAIN LATER IN ITS COURSE.
DID THIS SINGLE OBJECT RETURN TO THE REST OF THE GROUP?
NO. I ALLOWED IT TO PASS THROUGH THE FIELD OF VIEW OF THE CAMERA
2 OR 3 TIMES, AND THEN IT DISAPPEARED.
IN WHAT DIRECTION?
OVER THE EASTERN HORIZON.
WHAT DID YOU DO THEN?
I TURNED, SWINGING THE CAMERA
JUST IN TIME TO SEE THE REST OF THE GROUP
DISAPPEAR OVER THE WESTERN HORIZON.
WHAT WAS THE WEATHER?
THE WEATHER WAS BRIGHT AND CLOUDLESS.
VISIBILITY GOOD?
VISIBILITY WAS EXCELLENT.
HOW DOES THIS FILM YOU SHOT COMPARE
WITH WHAT YOU SAW WITH YOUR NAKED EYE?
YOU HAVE STUDIED THE FILM?
YES, I'VE STUDIED IT. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED.
THE FILM FALLS FAR SHORT OF SHOWING WHAT I SAW WITH THE NAKED EYE,
DUE TO THE DELAY IN GETTING THE CAMERA STARTED
AND MY ERROR IN EXPOSURE.
IF I'D HAD THIS CAMERA ON THE SEAT BESIDE ME,
LOADED AND READY TO GO,
THERE'D BE NO NEED FOR QUESTIONS.
THE AIR FORCE WOULD HAVE THE ANSWER.
WHAT IS YOUR FULL NAME, PLEASE?
DELBERT CLEMENT NEWHOUSE.
AND YOU ARE ON ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE NAVY?
YES, SIR, I AM.
WHAT IS YOUR OFFICIAL NAVY RANK?
MY TITLE IS CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER.
I'M A COMMISSIONED WARRANT OFFICER OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE SERVICE?
21 YEARS.
NOW, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN ADD
TO THE DESCRIPTION OF THESE OBJECTS?
THEY HAD A BRIGHT, SILVERY COLOR.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE SOME PARTICULAR DETAIL?
THEY HAD A METALLIC APPEARANCE.
THEY SEEMED TO BE MADE OF SOME KIND OF POLISHED METAL.
THE NEWHOUSE FILM, AS I TOLD YOU,
IS PRESENTLY UNDER ANALYSIS.
SERGEANT, WOULD YOU GET ME THE FARGO CASE?
THE FARGO SIGHTING WAS OCTOBER 1, 1948.
A NATIONAL GUARD LIEUTENANT-- THANK YOU.
A NATIONAL GUARD LIEUTENANT WAS ABOUT TO LAND
HIS F-51 AT FARGO AIRPORT.
Chop, voice-over: CAPTAIN RUPPELT GAVE ME
THE DETAILS FROM THE RECORD.
THE PILOT, AFTER A ROUTINE PATROL FLIGHT,
WAS CLEARED BY THE TOWER TO LAND
WHEN HE ASKED...
ANYTHING IN THE WAY?
THERE'S A PIPER CUB BELOW YOU.
NOTHING ELSE IN THE AIR.
I SEE THE PIPER CUB.
I SEE ANOTHER LIGHT ABOUT 1,000 YARDS AHEAD OF ME.
LOOKS LIKE THE TAIL LIGHT OF A PLANE.
I CAN SEE YOU...
BUT I CAN'T SEE THE LIGHT YOU'RE OBSERVING.
Chop, voice-over: THE PILOT TOLD THE TOWER HE COULD SEE IT
AND WAS GOING TO CLOSE IN AND TRY TO MAKE IDENTIFICATION.
I CAN SEE IT CLEARLY NOW-- A SMALL, WHITE LIGHT.
IT KEEPS FLICKING ON AND OFF.
Chop, voice-over: AS HE APPROACHED IT,
THE BLINKING LIGHT BECAME CLEAR AND STEADY.
SUDDENLY, IT PULLED INTO A SHARP LEFT BANK.
I THINK THIS THING IS GOING TO MAKE A PASS ON THE TOWER.
I SEE IT NOW. I SEE IT.
Chop, voice-over: THE PILOT DIVED ON THE LIGHT,
AND ALTHOUGH HE HAD BROUGHT HIS MANIFOLD PRESSURE UP TO 60 INCHES,
HE REPORTED...
I CAN'T SEEM TO CATCH UP WITH THE THING.
IT'S GAINING ALTITUDE, AND IT JUST MADE AN IMPOSSIBLE TURN--
A 90-DEGREE TURN TO THE LEFT.
YOU'RE RIGHT!
IT'S GAINING ALTITUDE ON YOU,
AND IT'S STILL IN A VERY TIGHT LEFT TURN.
Chop, voice-over: BY THAT TIME, THEY WERE AT 7,000 FEET
WHEN, SUDDENLY, THE LIGHT MADE A 90-DEGREE RIGHT TURN.
HE'S HEADED STRAIGHT AT ME.
THE LIGHT PASSED DIRECTLY OVER YOUR CANOPY
AT, I ESTIMATE, ABOUT 500 FEET.
Chop, voice-over: THE OBJECT SUDDENLY SHOT STRAIGHT INTO THE AIR.
THE PILOT FOLLOWED IT TO 14,000 FEET,
WHEN HIS PLANE WENT INTO A POWER STALL.
THE OBJECT DISAPPEARED.
THE CHASE HAD LASTED APPROXIMATELY 27 MINUTES.
THE OFFICER IN THE TOWER WAS THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC CONTROLLER.
THE LIEUTENANT WAS AN INSTRUCTOR FOR THE FRENCH
DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
HE SAID HE WAS SURE THERE WAS AN INTELLIGENCE
BEHIND THE MOVEMENTS OF THE LIGHTS.
HE STATED, TOO, THAT NO EARTH-BORN PILOT
COULD HAVE WITHSTOOD THE G-FACTOR INHERENT IN THE OBJECT'S
TURNS AND SPEED WITHOUT BLACKING OUT.
WAS THERE RADAR AT THE FIELD?
NO, THERE WASN'T.
TOO BAD. RADAR WOULD HAVE MADE IT AIRTIGHT.
NOT NECESSARILY.
I THOUGHT A RADAR RETURN WAS INDISPUTABLE EVIDENCE.
NO, IT ISN'T.
ARE YOU A RADAR EXPERT?
NO, I'M NOT, BUT I HAVE ONE ON TAP.
GET ME EXTENSION 361.
WE HAVE A TEAM OF 3 RADAR ANALYSTS HERE
IN AIR PHENOMENON BRANCH.
I WANT TO TALK TO WEN SWANSON.
ALL RADAR REPORTS RECEIVED HERE
PASS THROUGH THIS RADAR ANALYSIS DIVISION.
SWANSON?
I HAVE A MAN HERE FROM THE PENTAGON.
HE'S CLEARED. WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT RADAR.
MM-HMM. OK.
[HANGS UP PHONE]
FIELD'S SOCKED IN SOLID WITH FOG,
BUT HE'LL TAKE YOU OVER TO G.C.A.
THIS IS GROUND CONTROL APPROACH.
WITH ZERO VISIBILITY,
G.C.A. PICKS UP THE AIRCRAFT COMING IN
BY MEANS OF THE PIPS ON THEIR 'SCOPE,
CAN TALK THEM INTO A LANDING.
NOW, THIS 'SCOPE HERE
GIVES THE AIRCRAFT IN AN AREA.
THIS 'SCOPE HERE TELLS YOU WHETHER YOU'RE
TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT OF THE LANDING STRIP,
AND THAT ONE THERE TELLS YOU WHEN YOU'RE TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW.
NOW, THE NEXT 'SCOPE IS THE SAME AS THIS ONE,
EXCEPT THAT IT GIVES YOU MORE ACCURACY.
Man on radio: PATTERSON G.C.A.
THIS IS AIR FORCE 2-1-6-2
PATTERSON AIRFIELD LAND MARKER, INBOUND.
REQUEST LANDING INSTRUCTIONS.
THERE, YOU CAN SEE HIM ON THE SCREEN.
NOW, YOU CAN TRACK HIM ALL THE WAY IN. HE'S FLYING BLIND.
STEER RIGHT TO HEADING 20 DEGREES
AND BEGIN DESCENT TO 1,500 FEET.
Pilot: THIS IS AIR FORCE 1-6-2
STEERING 20 DEGREES,
DESCENDING TO 1,500.
OVER.
AIR FORCE 1-6-2,
THE WEATHER AT PATTERSON FIELD IS
100 FEET RAGGED CEILING,
VISIBILITY-- ONE-HALF MILE.
LIGHT RAIN.
WIND--SOUTHWEST 6.
ALTIMETER 9-9-8.
IF YOU CAN SEE IT ON RADAR,
THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION ABOUT MISINTERPRETATION.
IN THIS CASE, NO. THESE ARE GOOD, SOLID BLIPS.
Pilot: THIS IS AIR FORCE 1-6-2.
ROGER ON THE WEATHER AND RUNWAY. OVER.
AIR FORCE 1-6-2,
STEER LEFT TO HEADING 3-5,
TURNING DOWNWIND LEG.
RANGE--8 MILES SOUTH. OVER.
Pilot: THIS IS AIR FORCE 1-6-2,
STEERING 3-5. OVER.
SOMETIMES THE TEMPERATURE INVERSION WILL CAUSE TROUBLE.
IONIZED CLOUDS...
OR EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION WILL CAUSE FALSE BLIPS.
CAN YOU TELL A FALSE BLIP FROM ONE MDE BY AIRCRAFT?
YES, ANY EXPERIENCED OPERATOR CAN TELL IN A MINUTE OR SO.
AIR FORCE 1-6-2,
STEER LEFT TO HEADING 2-1-5.
THIS WILL PUT YOU ON FINAL APPROACH.
Pilot: THIS IS AIR FORCE 1-6-2. ROGER.
STEERING 2-1-5. OVER.
AIR FORCE 1-6-2, THIS IS YOUR FINAL DIRECTOR.
HOW DO YOU READ ME? OVER.
THIS IS AIR FORCE 1-6-2.
YOU ARE LOUD AND CLEAR. OVER.
AIR FORCE 1-6-2. ROGER.
YOUR RANGE IS 7 MILES.
SLOW AIRCRAFT TO DESCENDING SPEED.
MAKE FINAL FLAP SETTING.
MAINTAIN ALTITUDE OF 1,200.
HEADING 2-1-5.
DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY FURTHER TRANSMISSION
UNLESS UNABLE TO COMPLY.
IF YOU DO NOT HEAR G.C.A. FOR ANY 5-SECOND INTERVAL,
CLIMB TO 1,000 FEET ON A HEADING OF 1-2-5
AND CONTACT APPROACH CONTROL.
STEER RIGHT TO HEADING 2-1-0,
RANGE--5 MILES.
YOU ARE NOW APPROACHING GLIDE PATH.
START NORMAL RATE OF DESCENT
AT 600 FEET PER MINUTE.
ENTRY TO GLIDE PATH GOOD.
STEER LEFT TO HEADING 2-1-2.
RANGE--4 MILES.
GO ABOVE GLIDE PATH. 10, 15,
25 FEET HIGH.
INCREASE YOUR RATE OF DESCENT SLIGHTLY.
HEADING 2-1-2.
HOLDING YOU ON THE CENTER LINE,
HOLDING 2 FEET HIGH ON GLIDE PATH.
CHECK THAT DESCENT.
STEER RIGHT TO HEADING OF 2-1-3.
RANGE--NOW 3 MILES.
HOLDING GLIDE PATH VERY WELL.
GO BELOW GLIDE PATH.
10, 20, 30 FEET.
LEVEL OFF SLIGHTLY.
STEER RIGHT TO HEADING 2-1-4.
COMING BACK NICELY TO GLIDE PATH.
25...20...
15 FEET LOW.
HEADING 2-1-4 HAS YOU LINED UP
WITH THE CENTER LINE.
RANGE--2 MILES.
HOLDING 15 FEET LOW ON THE GLIDE PATH.
BRING IT UP SLIGHTLY.
10, 5. NOW ON GLIDE PATH.
RANGE--1 1/2 MILES.
HEADING 2-1-4 ON GLIDE PATH.
STEER LEFT TO HEADING 2-1-3.
OVER THE END OF RUNWAY ON CENTER LINE.
ON GLIDE PATH AS YOU APPROACH POINT OF TOUCHDOWN.
TOUCHDOWN IN 3 SECONDS.
IF YOU CANNOT SEE THE RUNWAY, PULL UP AND CLIMB
TO 1,000 FEET.
HEADING 1-2-5.
HE'S SAFE AT HOME.
Swanson: WELL, THAT'S IT.
COFFEE?
YES.
WHAT EXACTLY IS YOUR JOB HERE, SWANSON?
I'M ONE OF A GROUP OF 3 RADAR SPECIALISTS
EMPLOYED BY THE AIR FORCE.
REPORTS OF RADAR CONTACTS OF UNIDENTIFIED OBJECTS
ARE SENT IN TO US FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR ANALYSIS.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE?
TWO YEARS.
EVER COME ACROSS ANY CASES YOU COULDN'T SOLVE?
WE HAVE UNSOLVED CASES, YES--
CASES WHERE GOOD, SOLID BLIPS APPEARED
AND NO KNOWN OBJECTS IN THE AREA.
THEN, TOO, WE HAVE CASES OF FANTASTIC SPEED.
EXACTLY WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY "FANTASTIC SPEED"?
I MEAN SPEEDS GREATER THAN ANY ACHIEVED BY MAN.
HOW MUCH GREATER?
THOUSANDS OF MILES PER HOUR.
THOUSANDS OF MILES?
WHAT'S YOUR IDEA OF WHAT THEY ARE?
ALL I CAN SAY IS UNKNOWN.
YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT I'VE...
BEEN RESTRICTED TO ONLY RADAR CONTACTS.
I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WITH VISUAL CONTACT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CHANCES OF THESE OBJECTS
HAVING INTELLIGENCE BEHIND THEIR CONTROL?
ALL I CAN SAY IS I HAVE AN OPEN MIND.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE THEORY OF INTERPLANETARY SOURCE?
I HAVE AN OPEN MIND, PERIOD.
Chop: I SPENT A FULL WEEK IN DAYTON.
I HAD HOPED TO SEE THE NEWHOUSE FILM
BEFORE RETURNING TO WASHINGTON,
BUT IT WAS STILL UNDER ANALYSIS BY THE WRIGHT FIELD PHOTO LAB.
WHEN THE ANALYSIS WAS COMPLETED,
FILM WAS TAKEN BY AN AIR FORCE COURIER
AND HAND-CARRIED TO WASHINGTON TO BE VIEWED
BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE.
AT EASE.
ALL SET, MAJOR?
YES, SIR.
AIR TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE HAS REPORTED
THAT THIS FILM CANNOT BE PRODUCED UNDER SIMULATED CONDITIONS.
LET'S GO.
Major: THERE WILL BE SEVERAL FEET OF BLANK FILM
BEFORE THE PICTURES COME ON.
[PROJECTOR HUMMING]
Chop, voice-over: THE FILM, AS NEWHOUSE HAD PREDICTED, WAS IN BAD CONDITION,
BUT THE CHIEF INTEREST WAS IN MOVEMENT, SPEED, AND LIGHT SOURCE.
AFTER A MOMENT, THE GENERAL ASKED TO SEE IT AGAIN.
[PROJECTOR HUMMING]
HOW ABOUT THAT?
Chop, voice-over: THOSE WERE THE ONLY WORDS SPOKEN IN THE ROOM--
"HOW ABOUT THAT?"
A FEW DAYS LATER, MAJOR FOURNET HAD SOME NEWS FOR ME.
WE GOT THE ANALYSIS OF THE NEWHOUSE FILM
FROM AIR MATERIEL COMMAND.
WHAT DOES IT SHOW?
NOT BIRDS,
NOT BALLOONS,
NOT AIRCRAFT,
NOT FAKED.
"WITH A TELEPHOTO LENS USED,
"WEATHER BALLOONS WITHIN 5 MILES' DISTANCE
"COULD HAVE BEEN DETERMINED ON THE FILM.
"AT A GREATER DISTANCE THAN 5 MILES,
"IT COULD NOT OBTAIN THE SPEEDS CALCULATED.
"WITHIN A 5-MILE RANGE,
"AN AIRCRAFT OF 40-FOOT WINGSPAN
"COULD HAVE BEEN CLEARLY DETERMINED.
"IN EXCESS OF 5 MILES,
"THE SPEEDS OF THE OBJECTS ARE GREATER
"THAN AIRCRAFT COULD ACHIEVE, EXCEPT IN
"A STRAIGHT-LINE SPEED RUN.
"NO BIRD IS SUFFICIENTLY REFECTIVE
"AS TO HAVE CAUSED THE FILM TO REACT
AS STRONGLY AS IT HAS DONE."
IF THEY'RE NOT BIRDS,
NOT BALLOONS,
OR AIRCRAFT,
AND THE FILM ISN'T FAKED,
WHAT CAN THESE THINGS BE?
THE OFFICIAL CONCLUSION IS...
UNKNOWNS.
Chop, voice-over: THE NEWHOUSE FILM WAS ONLY THE OVERTURE.
A FEW MINUTES BEFORE 1 A.M., JULY 20, 1952,
THE CURTAIN ON THE FIRST ACT OF THE WASHINGTON DRAMA WENT UP.
THE UNKNOWNS MOVED IN FOR THE FIRST TIME
OVER THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
I HAD ALWAYS REGARDED MYSELF AS A MAN
WITH AN INTUITIVE NOSE FOR NEWS.
SO, THROUGH THE FIRST WASHINGTON SIGHTING,
WHILE THE SAUCERS HOVERED OVER THE CITY,
I WAS IN BED, SLEEPING SOUNDLY THROUGH IT ALL.
WHEN I REACHED MY DESK THAT MORNING,
WE WERE FLOODED WITH NEWSPAPER QUERIES.
TELEPHONES WERE JANGLING THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
IRATE EDITORS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
WERE INSISTENTLY DEMANDING MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION.
NEWSMEN FROM THE WIRE SERVICES,
REPORTERS FROM LOCAL AND OUT-OF-TOWN NEWSPAPERS
WERE HEMMING ME IN, BELABORING ME WITH QUESTIONS
FOR WHICH I HAD NO ANSWERS.
FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF HOURS, WE AT THE PRESS DESK
HAD A TERRIBLE TIME GETTING THE STORY STRAIGHT OURSELVES,
BUT, BIT BY BIT, I MANAGED TO PIECE IT TOGETHER.
THERE HAD BEEN BOTH VISUAL AND RADAR CONTACTS.
ANDREWS FIELD, THE AIR FORCE INSTALLATION,
HAD RADAR RETURNS SIMILAR TO THOSE ON THE CAA RADAR.
JETS HAD BEEN SCRAMBLED IN AN ATTEMPT
TO MAKE AN INTERCEPT WITH THE U.F.O.s,
BUT THEY HAD NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
THE WEEK AFTER THE WASHINGTON SAUCER SIGHTING
WAS A MAD, CHAOTIC ONE.
THE STORY WAS HEADLINED FROM COAST TO COAST.
AS THE P.I.O. MAN ASSIGNED TO ANSWER SAUCER QUESTIONS,
I HAD BEEN UNDER AN INCESSANT BARRAGE OF INQUIRIES
DAY AND NIGHT BY NEWSMEN.
I COULD GET NO SLEEP,
NO REST AT ALL.
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS PUBLISHED
AN INTERVIEW WITH HARRY G. BARNES--
SENIOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER,
CIVIL AERONAUTICS ADMINISTRATION.
BARNES STATED...
Chop, voice-over: THEN, EXACTLY A WEEK LATER, IT REALLY BROKE LOOSE.
[TELEPHONE RINGING] IT WAS THE NIGHT OF JULY 26, 1952.
AT 10:30 P.M., I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM RAY NATHAN AT CAA.
HELLO?
Nathan: CHOP? YEAH.
RAY NATHAN. GET DOWN HERE RIGHT AWAY.
WHAT'S UP?
THE RADAR AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL
IS PICKING UP UNKNOWNS.
AGAIN?
THE PRESS IS HOUNDING ME FOR A STATEMENT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL THEM.
DEE, BRING MY COAT AND THE CAR KEYS. STALL THEM OFF. I'LL BE RIGHT OVER.
COUPLE OF GUYS FROM LIFE MAGAZINE ARE HERE WITH A CAMERA.
STALL THEM, TOO.
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
RADAR IS PICKING UP UNKNOWNS OVER THE CAPITAL.
DON'T WAIT UP.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
Chop, voice-over: AT 11:10 P.M., MAJOR FOURNET RECEIVED A CALL
FROM LIEUTENANT COLONEL THOMAS, AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE DUTY OFFICER AT THE PENTAGON,
INFORMING HIM OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL.
AS I RACED TO THE AIRPORT, I KEPT GLANCING UP
THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, EXPECTING TO SEE THE THING,
BUT EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL.
Man: CHOP! AM I GLAD TO SEE YOU!
THEY TELL US WE NEED YOUR OK TO GET INTO THE RADAR ROOM.
YOU CAN'T GET IN, BOYS. I'M SORRY.
WE WANT SOME PICTURES OF THAT 'SCOPE, AL.
YOU CAN'T PHOTOGRAPH THE 'SCOPE.
WHY NOT?
IT'S UNDER SECURITY MEASURES--
CLASSIFIED WAVELENGTH, CLASSIFIED CODE NAMES.
HERE WE ARE, ON THE BIGGEST STORY IN HISTORY,
AND YOU'RE KEEPING US OUT.
SORRY, BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GOT TO BE.
THEN WE'RE GOING OVER YOUR HEAD, AL.
COLONEL DICK CYRILLS.
YOU CAN REACH HIM AT METROPOLITAN 8-9898.
ANOTHER ONE.
LOOK AT HIM GO.
ONE OF THEM IS AN AIRLINE. THAT'S A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SHAPE.
DID YOU ALERT THE AIR FORCE?
I CALLED AIR DEFENSE COMMAND.
WHAT DID THEY SAY?
THEY'RE SCRAMBLING A COUPLE OF JETS.
SAME AS LAST WEEK?
UH-HUH.
COULD THIS BE CAUSED BY TEMPERATURE INVERSION?
INVERSION? THAT ISN'T INVERSION.
AND IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE GROUND CLUTTER WE PICKED UP.
DID YOU CALL THE AIR FORCE COMMAND POST AT PENTAGON?
NO, WE WORK THROUGH FILTER CENTER.
I'D BETTER CALL THEM.
GET ME THE PENTAGON AIR FORCE COMMAND POST.
THIS IS AL CHOP. I'M AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL.
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE UNKNOWNS HERE TONIGHT?
Man on phone: WE'VE BEEN ALERTED.
THERE'S A BLUE FLIGHT ON THE WAY THERE RIGHT NOW.
OK.
Man: WASHINGTON CONTROL TO FLIGHT 6-3-9.
COME IN.
Man on radio: FLIGHT 6-3-9 TO WASHINGTON CONTROL. OVER.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO FLIGHT 6-3-9,
YOU'RE APPROACHING TRAFFIC ON YOUR LEFT.
CAN YOU SEE IT? OVER.
Second man on radio: ANDREWS TOWER TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
WE SHOW AN UNKNOWN JUST TO THE LEFT OF FLIGHT 6-3-9.
Pilot: FLIGHT 6-3-9 TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
WE CAN SEE THAT TRAFFIC ON OUR LEFT. OVER.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO FLIGHT 6-3-9,
WHAT DOES THE TRAFFIC LOOK LIKE? OVER.
Pilot: FLIGHT 6-3-9 TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
IT'S A LIGHT.
A BLUE-GREEN...LIGHT. OVER.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO FLIGHT 6-3-9.
CAN YOU MAKE OUT WHAT TYPE OF CRAFT IT IS? OVER.
FLIGHT 6-3-9 TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
NO.
WE CAN JUST SEE A LIGHT--
A BLUE-GREEN LIGHT. OVER.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO FLIGHT 6-3-9.
ROGER. OUT.
Third man on radio: THIS IS BLUEBIRD ONE
TO WASHINGTON CONTROL. COME IN.
JETS ARE COMING ON NOW.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO BLUEBIRD ONE.
CHANGE COURSE TO 225 DEGREES.
BLUEBIRD TWO, HOLD YOUR COURSE. OVER.
BLUEBIRD ONE TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
WILCO. OUT.
BLUEBIRD TWO TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
WILCO. OUT.
Man: THEY'RE GONE!
ANDREWS TOWER TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
ALL OUR UNKNOWNS VANISHED SHORTLY AFTER THE JETS APPEARED.
DO YOU STILL HAVE ANY OF THE UNKNOWNS? OVER.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO ANDREWS TOWER.
THE SAME THING HAPPENED HERE. OUT.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO BLUEBIRD ONE.
ALL THE UNKNOWNS HAVE DISAPPEARED.
Chop: SAY THOSE RETURNS ARE THE SAME AS THOSE YOU GOT LAST WEEK?
THE SAME AS LAST WEEK.
Chop, voice-over: AT THIS POINT, MAJOR FOURNET ARRIVED
WITH THE NAVY ELECTRONICS INTELLIGENCE OFFICER.
Fournet: GONE?
[SNAP] LIKE THAT.
AS SOON AS THE JETS CAME ON THE 'SCOPE,
THE UNKNOWNS LEFT.
BLUEBIRD ONE TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE BASE AND REFUEL.
CAN'T SEE ANYTHING AROUND UP HERE.
VISIBILITY IS GOOD. OVER.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO BLUEBIRD ONE.
ROGER. OUT.
WERE THEY GOOD RETURNS?
GOOD RETURNS.
HAS THIS SET BEEN CHECKED FOR MALFUNCTIONS?
THE RADAR EQUIPMENT IS IN PERFECT OPERATING ORDER.
Man: THEY'RE BACK!
ANDREWS TOWER TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
THEY'RE BACK--JUST AS THE JETS LEFT OUR 'SCOPE!
THEY DROPPED BACK IN AGAIN OUT OF NOWHERE.
YOU GOT THEM? OVER.
THOSE BLIPS ARE SOLID.
THEY'RE GOOD AND SOLID.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO ANDREWS TOWER.
SAME THING HAPPENED HERE.
GET ME THE PENTAGON COMMAND POST.
THEY'RE ALL OVER THE 'SCOPE:
TWO IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT;
4 IN SOUTHEAST QUADRANT;
3 IN SOUTHWEST QUADRANT;
3 IN NORTHWEST QUADRANT. OVER.
THIS IS MAJOR FOURNET CALLING
FROM WASHINGTON CONTROL.
RADAR IS PICKING UP 14 UNKNOWNS AGAIN.
THE CHIEF CONTROLLER TELLS ME
THE UNKNOWNS DISAPPEARED FROM THE 'SCOPE
AS SOON AS THE JETS CAME IN,
AND WERE PICKED UP AGAIN WHEN THE JETS LEFT.
THE NAVY ELECTRONICS INTELLIGENCE OFFICER CONFIRMS
THAT THE UNKNOWN BLIPS ARE GOOD AND SOLID.
I RECOMMEND A COUPLE OF MORE JETS BE SENT UP
IMMEDIATELY TO INVESTIGATE.
YES, SIR.
ANDREWS TOWER TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
THAT'S THE WAY WE HAD THEM.
ONE JUST MOVED FROM THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT
INTO THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT.
IT STOPPED OVER THE WHITE HOUSE.
Fournet: THEY'RE SCRAMBLING A COUPLE OF MORE JETS.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO ANDREWS TOWER.
ROGER ON THE CHANGE.
NOW LET'S MOVE HIM BACK. DO YOU GET IT? OVER.
IT'S BACK IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT. OVER.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO ANDREWS TOWER.
ROGER. WE'VE GOT A SCRAMBLE OUT.
WHAT ARE THOSE?
SLIGHT TEMPERATURE INVERSION.
YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE RETURNS--
ONE'S STRONG, THE OTHER WEAK.
THESE UNKNOWNS ARE SOLID OBJECTS.
RED DOG ONE TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
WE'RE APPROACHING THE AREA. OVER.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO RED DOG TWO.
CHANGE COURSE TO 265 DEGREES.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO RED DOG ONE.
CHANGE COURSE TO 114 DEGREES. OVER.
RED DOG ONE TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
WILCO. OUT.
Chop, voice-over: ABOUT 4:30 A.M.,
MAJOR FOURNET RECEIVED A LONG-DISTANCE TELEPHONE CALL
FROM ROBERT JINNA OF LIFE MAGAZINE.
HE WANTED PERMISSION FOR HIS PEOPLE TO INTERVIEW THE PILOTS
OF THE FIRST SCRAMBLE AT NEW CASTLE.
MAJOR FOURNET DECIDED THAT, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES,
IT WOULD BE WISE FOR HIM TO TAKE THE CALL.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO RED DOG ONE.
CHANGE COURSE TO 315 DEGREES. OVER.
RED DOG ONE TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
WILCO. OUT.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO RED DOG ONE. COME IN.
RED DOG ONE TO WASHINGTON CONTROL. OVER.
ANDREWS TOWER TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
OUR 'SCOPE SHOWS RED DOG ONE IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE UNKNOWNS!
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO RED DOG ONE.
CAN YOU SEE ANYTHING ON EITHER SIDE
OR TO THE FRONT OF YOU? OVER.
RED DOG ONE TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
CAN'T SEE ANYTHING.
WAIT A MINUTE.
I SEE THEM.
YEAH...I SEE THEM!
THEY'RE ALL AROUND ME.
THEY'RE MOVING IN ON ME.
THEY'RE COMING CLOSER.
THEY'RE COMING RIGHT AT ME.
HOLD IT.
THEY'RE MOVING OFF.
I'M AT MAXIMUM SPEED.
THEY'RE GOING AWAY.
THEY'RE GONE.
I CAN'T SEE THEM.
RED DOG ONE TO WASHINGTON CONTROL.
I'VE BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION TO RETURN TO BASE.
OVER.
WASHINGTON CONTROL TO RED DOG ONE.
ROGER. OUT.
Chop, voice-over: AT 6 A.M. THAT SAME MORNING,
I CALLED LIEUTENANT WILLIAM PATTERSON-- THE PILOT OF RED DOG ONE--
WHO HAD MADE VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE UNKNOWNS.
HE COULD ADD NOTHING MORE TO WHAT HE HAD REPORTED
TO US OVER THE INTERCOM.
LATER THAT SAME MORNING,
THE WHITE HOUSE PLACED A CALL TO THE PENTAGON.
CAPTAIN RUPPELT, WHO HAD FLOWN IN FROM WRIGHT-PATTERSON
AND WHO WAS ONLY BEGINNING HIS ANALYSIS OF THE SIGHTING,
GOT THE CALL FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
YES, SIR.
IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED
BY TEMPERATURE INVERSION.
YES, SIR.
WE'VE HAD CASES WHERE RADAR BLIPS HAVE BEEN CAUSED
BY TEMPERATURE INVERSION.
Chop, voice-over: THIS WAS CAPTAIN RUPPELT'S REPORT TO PRESIDENT TRUMAN,
BUT CAPTAIN RUPPELT HAD NOT BEEN PRESENT
AT THE WASHINGTON SIGHTING.
IT WASN'T UNTIL LATER THAT HE LEARNED
THERE HAD BEEN BOTH VISUAL AND RADAR CONTACT
WITH THE UNKNOWNS ON THAT NIGHT.
ON MONDAY MORNING, AN AVALANCHE OF CALLS FROM NEWSPAPERS
THROUGHOUT THE NATION JAMMED THE TRUNK LINES AT THE PENTAGON.
THE RELENTLESS PRESSURE CONTINUED.
WE ADMITTED RADAR CONTACTS FROM THE 3 SURROUNDING AIRFIELDS.
WHEN DID THE SAUCERS FIRST APPEAR?
9 P.M.
HOW LONG WERE THEY UNDER OBSERVATN?
6 HOURS.
HOW MANY WERE THERE?
14.
THE PILOT SEE ANY DETAILS?
NO.
[TELEPHONES DINGING]
Chop, voice-over: IN AN INTERVIEW WHICH
APPEARED IN THE WASHINGTON TIMES HERALD,
LIEUTENANT PATTERSON, PILOT OF RED DOG ONE, SAID...
Chop, voice-over: UNDER THE INSISTENT DEMANDS FROM THE NATION'S PRESS
AND THE ACCUMULATING PRESSURE WITH THE PUBLIC,
THE CHIEF OF STAFF SET UP A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE PENTAGON.
I WAS PRESENT WHEN GENERAL SAMFORD SPOKE FOR THE NEWSREEL CAMERAS.
AIR FORCE INTEREST IN THIS PROBLEM
HAS BEEN DUE TO OUR FEELING OF AN OBLIGATION
TO IDENTIFY...
AND ANALYZE, TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY,
ANYTHING IN THE AIR
THAT MAY HAVE THE POSSIBILITY
OF THREAT OR MENACE TO THE UNITED STATES.
IN PURSUIT OF THIS OBLIGATION,
SINCE 1947,
WE HAVE RECEIVED AND ANALYZED BETWEEN 1,000
AND 2,000 REPORTS
THAT HAVE COME TO US FROM ALL KINDS OF SOURCES.
OF THIS GREAT MASS OF REPORTS,
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE, ADEQUATELY, TO EXPLAIN
THE GREAT BULK OF THEM--
EXPLAIN THEM TO OUR OWN SATISFACTION.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN THEM AS HOAXES,
AS ERRONEOUSLY IDENTIFIED FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT,
AS METEOROLOGICAL OR ELECTRONIC PHENOMENA,
OR AS LIGHT ABERRATIONS.
HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE
OF THIS VOLUME OF REPORTS
THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY CREDIBLE OBSERVERS
OF RELATIVELY INCREDIBLE THINGS.
IT IS THIS GROUP OF OBSERVATIONS
THAT WE NOW ARE ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE.
WE HAVE, AS OF DATE, COME TO ONLY ONE FIRM CONCLUSION
WITH RESPECT TO THIS REMAINING PERCENTAGE,
AND THAT IS THAT IT DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY PATTERN
OF PURPOSE OR OF CONSISTENCY
THAT WE CAN RELATE WITH ANY--
TO ANY CONCEIVABLE THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES.
WE CAN SAY THAT THE RECENT SIGHTINGS
ARE IN NO WAY CONNECTED
WITH ANY SECRET DEVELOPMENTS
BY ANY AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES.
Chop, voice-over: WHEN I LEFT THE PENTAGON THAT EVENING,
GENERAL SAMFORD'S WORDS KEPT RUNNING THROUGH MY MIND:
"CREDIBLE OBSERVERS OF RELATIVELY INCREDIBLE THINGS."
THE THEORIES OF THE SKEPTICS COULD NOT STAND UP
TO THE ACTUAL EXPERIENCES OF HIGH-RANKING MILITARY PERSONNEL,
RADAR EXPERTS, AIRLINE PILOTS,
AND OTHER RESPONSIBLE WITNESSES REFERRED TO
BY GENERAL SAMFORD AS "CREDIBLE OBSERVERS."
I STARTED TO WALK THROUGH THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON,
THE WORDS REMAINING WITH ME:
"CREDIBLE OBSERVERS OF RELATIVELY INCREDIBLE THINGS."
I RECALLED WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE PROJECT AT AMC,
HOW I REGARDED WITH DISBELIEF
THE WHOLE SUBJECT OF FLYING SAUCERS.
BUT, PIECE BY PIECE,
THE EVIDENCE HAD CRYSTALLIZED,
UNTIL NOW, IN MY OPINION,
THERE WAS NO DOUBT AS TO THEIR EXISTENCE.
NOW, SO FAR AS I WAS CONCERNED,
IT WAS NO LONGER A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT
THERE WERE UNKNOWN OBJECTS FLYING IN OUR ATMOSPHERE.
FOR ME, THE ONLY QUESTIONS THAT REMAINED WERE...
WHAT ARE THESE OBJECTS?
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
TO ME, THE EVIDENCE INDICATED INTELLIGENCE
BEHIND THEIR CONTROL.
AND, BY NOW, THE BELIEF THAT THEIR SOURCE WAS INTERPLANETARY
WAS NO LONGER "INCREDIBLE."
Man: THIS IS THE MONTANA FILM,
PROJECTED EXACTLY AS IT WAS PHOTOGRAPHED.
THE OBJECTS ARE MOVING AGAINST A 25- TO 28-MILE-AN-HOUR WIND.
THIS IS THE FILM IN DOUBLE FRAME, OR SLOW MOTION.
A SLIGHT BOUNCE IN THE MOVEMENT OF THE OBJECTS,
AS WELL AS THE TOWER, IS PERCEPTIBLE.
THIS IS DUE TO THE HANDHELD CAMERA.
THE FILM, ANALYZED FRAME BY FRAME,
SHOWS THE MOVEMENT OF THE OBJECT TO BE HORIZONTAL AND STEADY.
Second man: WE WILL NOW VARY THE ACTION AND SIZE OF THE OBJECTS,
AND ALSO STOP THE ACTION FROM TIME TO TIME FOR YOUR STUDY.
WE HAVE JUST MADE A JUMP CUT IN THE FILM
TO AN ENLARGED SIZE AND REVERSED THE ACTION.
YOU ARE NOW SEEING THE OBJECTS
EXACTLY AS THEY WERE PHOTOGRAPHED,
BUT FROM A CLOSER PERSPECTIVE.
ANALYSIS REVEALS THAT THE OBJECTS ARE NOT BALLOONS,
NOR ANY KIND OF KNOWN AIRCRAFT.
THE IMAGES ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE PRODUCED
BY ANY KIND OF BIRD AT ANY DISTANCE.
THE SHAPE, BRIGHTNESS, SPEED,
RECTILINEAR PATH, STEADY MOTION,
AND SEPARATION RULE OUT VARIOUS FORMS
OF OPTICAL ATMOSPHERIC MIRAGES
OR CLOUD REFLECTION.
COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS HAS ELIMINATED METEORS
AND OTHER KNOWN NATURAL PHENOMENON.
THE POSSIBILITY OF AIRPLANE REFLECTION
HAS BEEN CAREFULLY STUDIED AND RULED OUT.
First man: THIS IS THE UTAH FILM,
AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY PHOTOGRAPHED.
Second man: THE IMAGE STRUCTURE AND MANEUVERS
DEFINITELY ELIMINATE ANY KIND OF KNOWN AIRCRAFT.
First man: THIS IS WHERE CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER NEWHOUSE,
IN HIS EXCITEMENT, CHANGED EXPOSURE.
HE BELIEVED THAT, BY CHANGING DENSITY
AND GIVING THE FILM MORE CONTRAST,
HE COULD CLARIFY THE OBJECTS.
THE SINGLE OBJECT HAD REVERSED ITS COURSE.
THE BOUNCE IS DUE TO HANDHELD CAMERA.
NOW WE STUDY THE ACTION OF ONE SECTION OF THE FILM.
STOP THE ACTION...
AND MOVE IN.
Second man: WITHIN A 5-MILE RANGE,
AIRCRAFT COULD BE DETERMINED.
IN EXCESS OF 5 MILES, THE SPEEDS ARE GREATER
THAN AIRCRAFT CAN ACHIEVE,
EXCEPT IN STRAIGHT-LINE SPEED RUN.
THE MOVEMENT HERE FOLLOWS
AN ELLIPTICAL OR CIRCULAR PATTERN.
MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION REVEALS
THAT THE OBJECTS ARE WELL-FOCUSED.
THEIR SIZE VARIES FROM 1/6 TO 1/10
THE SIZE OF THE MOON,
AS IT APPEARS TO THE NAKED EYE.
THEIR FORM IS CIRCULAR AND SOMETIMES ELLIPTICAL.
THIS FITS THE COMMONLY USED "FLYING SAUCER" DESCRIPTION.
First man: OBSERVE THE OBJECT IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER.
WE MOVE IN TO STUDY THE ACTION.
THE OBJECT UPPER LEFT WILL GO OUT OF FRAME ON WIDE-SCREEN PROJECTION.
OBSERVE THE MOTION OF THE TWO OBJECTS UPPER RIGHT
AS WE ROCK THEM BACK AND FORTH.
NOW WE'LL MOVE OVER AND UP ON THE FRAME,
TO MAKE A CLOSER STUDY OF THE OBJECT IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER.
Second man: EXAMINE THIS OBJECT CLOSELY.
COMPARE IT WITH THOSE OBJECTS YOU SAW IN THE MONTANA FILM.
THESE FILMS WERE TAKEN APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS APART,
HUNDREDS OF MILES APART.
First man: WE DROP BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PERSPECTIVE
AND RESUME.
NOW THE SECTION OF THE FILM
WHERE PHOTOGRAPHER NEWHOUSE CHANGED EXPOSURE.
Second man: WEATHER CONDITIONS, TOGETHER WITH THE PERSISTENCE
AND MOTION OF THE FORMATIONS,
ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF ATMOSPHERIC MIRAGES.
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC EXPERIMENTS HAVE SHOWN
THAT THE IMAGES CANNOT BE ASSOCIATED
WITH ANY KIND OF BIRD AT ANY DISTANCE.
First man: STOP...
NOW FORWARD AGAIN.
STOP...
WE DROP BACK TO ORIGINAL PERSPECTIVE.
NOW, ONCE AGAIN AND FOR THE LAST TIME, THE UTAH FILM.
Second man: THE OBJECTS CANNOT BE ASSOCIATED
WITH ANY KNOWN BALLOON OBSERVATION.
First man: FOR THE LAST TIME, THE MONTANA FILM.
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