Vaughn, Novo México, 1950: a Força Aérea monta o Projeto Twinkle para vigiar e fotografar as bolas verdes

Office Memorandum - UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. TO: D. M. Ladd. FROM: A. H. Belmont. DATE: August 2[3], 1950. 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) Dr. LaPaz, Meteor Expert of the University of New Mexico, reported that the phenomena does not appear to be of meteoric origin. (3) OSI has contracted with Land-Air Inc., 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 phenomena resembling meteoric material moving at high velocity and varying 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. KWD/mp. RECORDED - 2. INDEXED - 2. 62-83894-246. SEP 18 1950.

RESULTS OF AN INQUIRY BY PROFESSOR LINCOLN LA PAZ. Dr. LaPaz, Director, Institute of Meteoritics, 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. Dr. LaPaz pointed out that if he were wrong in interpreting the phenomena as originating with U.S. guided missiles that a systematic investigation of the observations should be made immediately. Dr. LaPaz 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 made by Dr. LaPaz 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 Land-Air, Incorporated, 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 Land-Air, Incorporated, 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 Land-Air, Incorporated, sighted 8 to 10 objects of aerial phenomena. A 24-hour day watch is being maintained and has been designated "Project Twinkle." - 2 -

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. Anthony O. Mirarchi, Project Engineer, had been informed of the Bureau's 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. - 3 -

Office Memorandum - UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. TO: THE DIRECTOR. FROM: MR. D. M. LADD. DATE: October 9, 1950. SUBJECT: FLYING SAUCERS; FLYING DISCS; GREEN FIREBALLS. PURPOSE: To advise you of the most recent information known to the Bureau concerning the captioned aerial phenomena. BACKGROUND: You will recall that on August 23, 1950, I furnished to you a memorandum regarding Project Twinkle set up by the Department of the Air Force, with the assistance of Land-Air, Inc., at Vaughn, New Mexico, for the purpose of obtaining data regarding these unusual aerial phenomena which had been seen in the vicinity of sensitive installations in New Mexico. To date the Air Force has not advised us of any new developments in connection with this project. Dr. Anthony O. Mirarchi, Project Engineer of Project Twinkle, has been contacted by the Albuquerque Office and arrangements have been made in order that the Bureau will be advised in the event any information relative to these phenomena indicates any jurisdiction on the part of the Bureau. According to Bureau files, an average of approximately three or four complaints have been received per month from June through September. These complaints were brought to the attention of OSI. A review of Bureau files does not indicate that there has been any increase in the sightings of these phenomena during or as a result of the war in Korea. JURISDICTION FOR INVESTIGATION OF THESE PHENOMENA: You will recall the investigation to obtain information concerning these aerial phenomena is the jurisdiction of the Department of the Air Force. The Department of the Air Force is aware of our jurisdiction in matters relating to espionage, sabotage and internal security, and we have contacted OSI and requested them to advise us of any developments in connection with these phenomena which would be of interest to us as a result of our jurisdiction. EHM:del. RECORDED - 105. 62-83894-250. OCT 10 1950. OCT 16 1950.

POSSIBLE ORIGIN OF THESE AERIAL PHENOMENA: The Bureau has been advised in the past by OSI that many of the sightings reported to them were determined by investigation to have been of weather balloons, falling stars, meteorological phenomena and other air-borne objects. INFORMATION OBTAINED BY BUREAU LIAISON FROM OSI, WASHINGTON, D. C. RE THE CAPTIONED MATTERS ON OCTOBER 9, 1950. Bureau liaison determined on the morning of October 9, 1950 from OSI headquarters that the investigations of these aerial phenomena are being handled by OSI, Wright Field, Ohio. Their investigation of these phenomena fails to indicate that the sightings involved space ships or missiles from any other planet or country. According to OSI, the complaints received by them have failed to indicate any definite pattern of activity. OSI further advised they are closely following the investigation of the captioned matters, and they will advise this Bureau of any matters of interest. ACTION: None. The above is for your information. - 2 -

SECRET - Security Information. TAB B. SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY PANEL ON UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS, 14 - 17 January 1953. EVIDENCE PRESENTED: 1. Seventy-five case histories of sightings 1951 - 1952 (selected by ATIC as those best documented). 2. ATIC Status and Progress Reports of Project GRUDGE and Project BLUE BOOK (code names for ATIC study of subject). 3. Progress Reports of Project STORK (code name for Battelle Memorial Institute contract work supporting ATIC). 4. Summary Report of Sightings at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. 5. Report of USAF Research Center, Cambridge, Mass., Investigation of "Green Fireball" Phenomena (Project TWINKLE). 6. Outline of Investigation of U.F.O.'s Proposed by Kirtland Air Force Base (Project POUNCE). 7. Motion Picture Films of sightings at Tremonton, Utah, 2 July 1952 and Great Falls, Montana, August 1950. 8. Summary Report of 89 selected cases of sightings of various categories (Formations, Blinking Lights, Hovering, etc.). 9. Draft of manual: "How to Make a FLYOBRPT", prepared at ATIC. 10. Chart Showing Plot of Geographic Location of Unexplained Sightings in the United States during 1952. 11. Chart Showing Balloon Launching Sites in the United States. 12. Charts Showing Selected Actual Balloon Flight Paths and Relation to Reported Sightings. 13. Charts Showing Frequency of Reports of Sightings, 1948 - 1952. 14. Charts Showing Categories of Explanations of Sightings. 15. Kodachrome Transparencies of Polyethylene Film Balloons in Bright Sunlight Showing High Reflectivity. SECRET - Security Information.