FOIA: Los Alamos Security Sighting (green-white, flaming object) 08MAR49 Reports

NM_MAR_8_1949.pdf
08MAR49 Sighting Los Alamos & Kirtland AFB
Two security guards at Los Alamos and one unidentified person at Kirtland AFB, witnessed this object on 08MAR49
Document date: 1949-03-09
Department: 4TH Army Intelligence Liason Sandia Base Albuquerque New Mexico
Author: Unknown
Document type: Report
pages: 13


Archivist's Notes: Mostly legible document, a drawing by a witness was illegible. A green white/ blue white flaming elliptical object with a flaming tail,moving slower than an aircraft or meteor was seen for less than 5 seconds descending at an angle of 45 degrees and one witness reported the object to have exploded. Incident reports of the two security guards at Los Alamos are included the witness information and report from Kirtland AFB does not appear in the file.

While very little information, aside from the basic report can be gleaned here, it is apparent that something was seen. The witnesses seem to have been reliable, judging from the comments concerning their background checks.

One would think that if this were a plane crash, it would not have ended up as a report of this nature. A missing plane would have early on been associated with this report. One would also conclude that some search would have been made for a missing plane, and this information would have been used to help determine it's location.

The speed described by the witnesses does not fit with what is expected of a meteor of classic "fireball" from space, as it seems too slow. Also the description of a "fuselage" seen amid the flames doesn't sound like a meteor either.

In the end, with only this information available, it seems this has to be listed as an unknown object.

NM_MAR_8_1949.pdf
The first page of this report is basically blank.

Page 2
Summary of information
9th March 1949
Preparing Officer
Fourth Army Intelligence Liaison Officer, Sandia Lese ( I’m rather unsure of this name it’s a bit difficult to read) Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Subject
Unidentified Flying Light Phenomenon
Summary of information

1. An unidentified flying light was observed in New Mexico on 8 March 1949 at 18:35 hours. Observations are reported from.
Kirtland AFB control tower Los Alamos, AEC Project.

2. (a) Kirtland AFB reports luminous objects, blue white in color in northwest horizon. Decent vertical, exploding before reaching earth. No sound indicated.
(b) Los Alamos guard station # 106 reports luminous object, greenish white in color, west of southwest. Direction of flight southeast on horizontal plane. Altitude at or below partial cloud cover. Duration of sighting 2 to 4 seconds. Speed slower than meteor or falling star. No noise heard.

(c) Los Alamos guard station # 103 reports luminous object, greenish white with billowy white flaming tail. Seen west of southwest by observer, gliding in a 60 degree downward angle. Was at altitude of cloud layer.
Speed undetermined but described as floating or a lazy manner.Observed for 2 to 4 seconds. No noise heard.

Page 3
Summary of Information
15th March 1949
Preparing Officer
Headquarters Fourth Army, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
Subject
Unconventional Aircraft
452.1 AKABB
Summary of information

The following was submitted to the headquarters on 9 March 1949.
An unidentified flying light was observed on New Mexico on 8 March 1949 at 18:35 hours. Observations reported from:
Kirtland AFB control tower Los Alamos, AEC Project.
Kirtland AFB reports luminous object, blue white in color in northwest horizon.
Descent vertical, exploding before reaching earth. No sound indicated.
Los Alamos guard station # 106 reports luminous object greenish white in color, west of southwest. Direction of flight southeast on horizontal plane. Altitude at or below partial cloud cover. Duration of sighting 2 to 4 seconds. Speed slower than meteor or falling star. No noise heard.
Los Alamos guard station #103 reports luminous object, greenish white with billowy white flaming tail. Seen west of southwest by observer, gliding in 60 degree downward angle. Was at altitude of cloud layer. Speed undetermined but described as floating or lazy manner. Observed for 2 to 4 seconds. No noise heard.

Page 4
1. Date of observation 8 March 1949 Date of interview 8 March 1949
2. Exact time of observation (local) 18:35 hours
3. Place of observation 35 deg 53 min 09 sec north
Map coordinates 106 deg 14 min 54 sec west
4. Position of observer (slightly unreadable) Outside, at security guard post, Los Alamos, New Mexico
5. What attracted attention to object: Light
6. Number of objects and sketch of formation or grouping: One
7. Apparent size ( compare to known objects, i.e. sun, moon, fist at arms length): N/S
8. Color of object: Intense white light
9. Shape (give graphic description compare with known object): Elliptical. Pointed at ends; similar to fuselage of ?E 109.
10. Altitude (angle if elevation above horizon -0 degrees at horizon ?? overhead): Appeared to be below clouds ( approximately 11,000 feet above sea level, 4,000 feet above terrain)
11. Direction from observer (angle clockwise from north): first position – 259 deg; last position- 268 deg.
12. Distance from observer (distance to tower, unreadable): Apparently one-half mile.
13. Direction of flight of object (s): South to north, descending at 45 degree angle.
14. Time in sight: Very short
15. Speed (time to cover given angular?): Slower than twin engine plane – angular speed not available
16. Second, unreadable: None

Page 5
Continuation of guide to investigation
17. Trail (color, length, width, persistence, etc.) None
18. Luminosity (visible by reflection, incandescent, other unreadable): Self-luminous appeared to be flaming.
19. Projections (fins, wings, rods, antennae, canopies, etc.): Doubtful, but possible as in sketch.
20. Maneuvers (turns, climbs dives, etc. – sketch of flight path): Descent at over 45 degree angle.
21. Manner of disappearance: Disappeared behind trees.
22. Effect on clouds: N/S
23. Additional information concerning object: Central part seemed to be sold silver colored fuselage with flame or glow surrounding it.
24. Weather conditions and light at time of sighting: Overcast at 6,000 feet; object seen in open space in clouds.

Page 6
Summary of pages above
Page 7
Blank

Page 8
Statement
This Inspector was extremely startled by this object as the first impression was that it was a plane on fire and about to crash nearby.
As the eyes became adjusted to the distance this Inspector had the distinct impression of seeing a silver or aluminum covered body inside the flame or glow that resembled that part of the fuselage of a war-time German type plane from just behind the wing to just in front of the tail assembly. This Inspector further had the impression that the object was actually flaming and that the flames were quite visible. The over-all shape of the object including the flame or light was much like the accompanying sketch.
The object appeared less than one half mile from the observer and the outlines were very distinct.

Page 9
Summary of previous pages above
Page 10
Summary of previous pages above
Page 11
Summary of previous pages above
Page 12
Summary of previous pages above

Page 13
To: Lt. ?.D. Hightower, Protective Force Headquarters
From: Inspector Leonard Lang
Time: 18:36
Date: March 8. 1949
Direction: South to North (275 deg- true –L289 deg true)
Speed: 800 miles per hour
Color: bright white with a slight greenish tint
Altitude: 12,000 to 15,000 feet
Point of observation: Station 106 (106 deg 16’ 40n W- 35deg 52’ 33n N)
Sound: None
Observer: Inspector Leonard Lang
Duration of observation: 1 to 2 seconds
Statement of observer: I was sitting in the tower at my station and glanced out the northwest window just as a bright white object went by on the western horizon. I jumped up and ran outside just in time to see the object either go out or disappear into the cloud cover. I checked the time which was 18:36 hrs. The object was traveling from south to north roughly parallel to the range of mountains and at approximately the same height as the top of the peaks.



[edit on 21/11/2007 by Sauron]