Office Memorandum      ·    UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT


TO     :        D. M. Ladd                      DATE:   August 23, 1950

FROM   :        A. H. Belmont

SUBJECT:        SUMMARY OF AERIAL
                PHENOMENA IN NEW MEXICO
                MISCELLANEOUS - INFORMATION CONCERNING


PURPOSE
_______

                To advise that:  (1)  OSI has expressed concern in
connection with the continued appearance of unexplained phenomena
described as green fireballs, discs and meteors in the vicinity
of sensitive installations in New Mexico.  (2)  XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXX
XXXXXX of the University of New Mexico, reported that the phenomenon
does not appear to be of meteoric origin. (3)  OSI has contracted
with XXXXXXXXXXXX, Alamogordo, New Mexico, to make scientific
study of the unexplained phenomena.

NATURE OF PHENOMENA
___________________

          Observations of aerial phenomena occurring within the
vicinity of sensitive installations have been recorded by the
Air Force since December, 1948.  The phenomena have been
classified into 3 general types which are identified as follows:

          1.  Green fireballs, objects moving at high speed
in shapes resembling half moons, circles and discs emitting
green light.

          2.  Discs, round flat shaped objects or phenomena
moving at fast velocity and emitting a brilliant white light
or reflected light.

          3.  Meteors, aerial phenomana resemblng meteoric
material moving at high velocity in color.

          The above phenomena have been reported to vary in
color from brilliant white to amber, red and green.

          Since 1948, approximately 150 observations of aerial
phenomena referred to above have been recorded in the vicinity
of installations in New Mexico.  A number of observations have
been reported by different reliable individuals at approximately
the same time.

RESULTS OF AN INQUIRY BY XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
________________________________________________________

          XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
University of New Mexico, submitted an analysis of the various
observations on May 23, 1950.  He concluded, as a result of
his investigation, that approximately half of the phenomena
recorded were of meteoric origin.  The other phenomena
commonly referred to as green fireballs or discs he believed
to be U.S. guided missiles being tested in the neighborhood
of the installations.  XXXXXXXXX pointed out that if he were
wrong in interpreting the phenomena as originating with U.S.
guided missiles that a systematic investigation of the obser-
vations should be made immediately.  XXXXXXXXX pointed out that
missiles moving with the velocities of the order of those
found for the green fireballs and discs could travel from the
Ural region of the USSR to New Mexico in less than 15 minutes.
He suggested that the observations might be of guided missiles
launched from bases in the Urals.

          On the basis of the investigations mady by XXXXXXXXX
and the Air Force, it was concluded that the occurrence of the
unexplained phenomena in the vicinity of sensitive installations
was a cause for concern.  The Air Force entered into a contract
with XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Alamogordo, New Mexico, for the
purpose of making scientific studies of the green fireballs and
discs.  It was pointed out in the summary furnished by OSI on
July 19, 1950, that the unexplained green fireballs and discs
are still observed in the vicinity of sensitive military and
Government installations.

RESULTS OF AIR FORCE INVESTIGATION
__________________________________

          The Air Force together with XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
have established a number of observation posts in the vicinity
of Vaughn, New Mexico, for the purpose of photographing and
determining the speed, height and nature of the unusual
phenomena referred to as green fireballs and discs.  On May 24,
1950, personnel of XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX sighted 8 to 10
objects of aerial phenomena.  A 24-hour day watch is being
maintained and has been designated "Project Twinkle."

CONCLUSIONS
___________

          The Albuquerque Office, in a letter dated August 10,
1950, advised that there have been no new developments in connection
with the efforts to ascertain the identity of the strange aerial
phenomena referred to as green fireballs and discs.  The Albuquerque
Office advised that Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Project Engineer,
had been informed of the Bureau jurisdiction relative to espionage
and sabotage and arrangements have been made so that the Bureau
will be promptly advised in the event additional information relative
to this project indicates any jurisdiction on the part of the
Bureau.

ACTION
______

          None.  The above is for your information.

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***
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http://foia.fbi.gov/ufo/


Daniel G.

-- 
Just the Cases - UFO sightings database
http://cs.tu-berlin.de/~thomasg/ufodb.htm