Unidentified Flying Objects: The True Story of Flying Saucers (1956) - full transcript

♪

[MAN READING]

NARRATOR: On July 29th, 1952,
at the Pentagon, a press
conference was held.

This is the actual official
transcript of that conference.

Amongst 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 24th
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 nine
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 mountain tops,

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 nine objects
in echelon formation.

He observed that
they had no tails,

and described them as
"saucer-shaped" objects.

The story was picked up
by the wire services.

He saw what?

In the next 24 hours,
virtually every newspaper
in the country ran the story.

♪

[INAUDIBLE]

The Arnold report precipitated
an avalanche of sightings
from cities, towns, villages,

from every section
of the country.

The commercials 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 a...
His head was pointed.

He came to a very sharp point.

He had long green hair.

His eyes were a sort of
purplish red.

He had large ears that were
formed like an antennae.

His teeth were perfect,
but 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?

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 14:00
on January 7th, 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.

Call 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.

It was about 13:15 when
the tower controller in the
Godman Tower received

his instructions from
the commanding officer.

All right, Patterson?

NARRATOR: The PFC continued
giving routine instructions
to a light plane

which was practicing
take-offs, and landings.

Flight Service.

Captain Hopper,
Flight Service.

Flight Service
is a clearing house.

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.

Flight Service
to Godman Tower.

We have no experimental
aircraft in that area.

However, we do have
a B-29 and an A-26
on photo mission in that area.

In the meantime,
Lieutenant Cowan, the AACS,

and the operations officer
had arrived in the tower.

They were joined by
the intelligence officer,
and the executive officer.

Upon hearing the information
from Flight Service,

the executive officer
called Colonel Hix,
the commanding officer.

-[MACHINE WHIRRING]
-Colonel Hix.

Colonel Hix, can you come over
to the tower, please.

At about 13:50, 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 it.

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 Hix arrived
in the tower.

It was now about 14:20.

About 14:30,
a flight of four F-51s,

being ferried
from Marietta, Georgia
to Standiford Field, Kentucky,

was sighted south of the base.

The commanding officer
issued an order to contact
the flight leader.

Phone and find out
who's leading the flight.

Godman Tower to leader
of Flight 451.

Godman Tower to leader
of Flight 451. Come in.

[OVER PA] Captain Mantell,
flight leader of 451
to Godman Tower.

Over.

Standby for further
instructions.

Record of flight
into the area of the unknown.

Captain Mantell on a heading
of 210 degrees.

Godman Tower to Captain
Mantell, come in. Over.

[OVER PA] 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.

[OVER PA]
Mantell to Godman Tower.

Changing heading to 210.

Wilco, out.

NARRATOR: One of the ships
in Mantell's formation, NG336,

piloted by
Lieutenant Hendricks,

requested permission
to land at Standiford 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 NG3869,
continued climbing.

Outdistancing his wingmen.

At 14:45,
Mantell called the tower.

[OVER PA] Mantell to Tower.
I see it. Above and ahead
of me. I'm still climbing.

NARRATOR: A few minutes later,
one of Mantell's wingmen
was heard.

MAN: [OVER PA] What the hell
are we looking for?

After a moment,
Captain Mantell made a reply.

[OVER PA] Mantell to Tower.

The object is directly ahead
and above me.

Now moving at half my speed.

Godman Tower to leader
of Flight 451.

Godman Tower to leader
of Flight 451. Come in.

[OVER PA] 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.

[OVER PA] 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.

[OVER PA] Level off, Captain,
until I regain 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 15:25, the remaining
wingman broke off and returned
to Standiford Field.

The object, which was in
visual sight from the tower,

as were the F-51s
during the chase,

disappeared at
approximately 15:50.

The F-51s were
first lost to view,

and then the object
went behind a cloud.

Godman Tower
to Captain Mantell.
Come in. Over.

This is Godman Tower
to Captain Mantell.
Come in. Over.

NARRATOR: At 17:50, Standiford
advised Godman Tower that
Mantell had crashed

five miles southwest
of Franklin, Kentucky.

The crash had occurred
at approximately 16:45.

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 a naked eye."

The 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 respected
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 ATIC 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 the 29th, 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?

A co-pilot 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 traveling
at fantastic speed.

And although it had passed
off our left wing tip,

it circled us in a manner
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 9th,
1950, the press reported that
Project Sign was closed.

From now on,
the air force stated,
it's only similar activity

would be the routine,
conventional watch for
unidentified flying objects.

MAN: 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 five years.

Well, hell! You rascal.

-Glad to see you.
-Good to see you.

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.

Three hours for lunch,
double time for over time.

Blonde copy girls.

Once he realized that my
mind was made up,

he made another suggestion.

It was due to this casual
suggestion that I walked

right into 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 at the
public information office.

Who's the man
to see out there?

A friend of mine, Major Cross.
I'll call him now.

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.

When 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 papers

preliminary to an
Air Force security check.

-Full name?
-Albert M. Chop. C-H-O-P.

-Age?
-35.

Married?

-Wife's name?
-Dolores.

Children?

Girl, age 11. Boy, 5.

Take this to room D.

Thank you.

Shortly after, I went on the
AMC payroll on the PIO 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 the 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.
-[PHONE RINGS]

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 haven't
a report on Sioux City,
or any other sighting.

You people on POI
desk ought to know
we closed Project Sign.

♪

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 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.

[ENGINE RUMBLING]

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 co-pilot.

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 wing tip.

The pilot called the tower
and described the object
as a B-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.
ATIC 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.

They insisted
I make another call
for verification with ATIC.

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.

A couple of reporters here
want some information
on Sioux City.

MAN: 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 sittin'
on a story, Al.

Well, you believe
what you like. But personally,

I think this whole saucer
business is pure,
unadulterated bunk.

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 formally
one of the top men
at Peenemunde, Germany.

One of the key figures
participating in the
successful development

of the B-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 mount
super hard metals needed
to build turbine blades

for our jet aircraft.

Tell me, young man.
[CLEARS THROAT]

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 that they don't,
Mr. Chop?

Well, I just don'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.

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 crack 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.

Serious investigation
was all fouled up.

Serious investigation?
Then the Air Force is still
investigating these sightings?

We switched the code name
to Project Grudge.

And the investigations
continue.

-And what have they shown?
-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?

We know they're not.

What is your opinion, Colonel?

I don't have any opinion, Al.

A short time later,
I was promoted to chief
at 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.
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.
And bring pencil and paper.

Line 3.

Colonel Godard's on the phone,
he's got a hot UFO report.
I want you to listen in on it.

Okay, Colonel. Shoot.

ALBERT: Colonel Godard,
Chief of the Air Force Photo
Reconnaissance Laboratories,

reported that three 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 six foot rip in it.

Colonel Godard's men
believe this unidentified
flying object

made the tear in the balloon.

Godard 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?

Godard wouldn't call about
a lightning ball.

Didn't any of his men
have a camera?

No. They were tracking it
with binoculars.

That's something
I don't get, Colonel.

Wouldn't you think that
somebody, somewhere,

would've shot a picture of one
of these things?

Oh, we've got plenty
of photographs.

But the trouble
with still pictures is,

they're too easily faked.

What about a motion picture,
could that be faked?

Well, 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.

Practically impossible
to get away with that.

Well, I guess that's why
you have no movies
of them, Colonel.

♪

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 some place?

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.

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 on a tangent.

By the way, there's a magazine
fellow 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?

Lifewas given clearance
by the Air Force
commanding general.

How come?

When the general stamp
makes a plan,

they have the whole picture
in view.

We here at Dayton see only
a smaller section.

Pentagon has its reasons.

Very good ones, most likely.

When the Lifestory breaks,
we're going to have to fight
our way in here through

through a milling mob
of inquisitive reporters.

No, Al, you won't.
You won't be here.

Colonel Sirrells
of 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.

Upon my arrival in Washington,

I was assigned to Air Force
press desk, room 2E 765
at the Pentagon.

My last official act at AMC

had been to arrange the
conferences and briefings
forLife magazine.

I was in Washington only a
short while 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
theLife 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 7th, 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
theLife story were chaotic.

Naturally my desk
was an exposed point.

And I was under 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...

HOYT: The Air Force is
interested in anything that
takes place in the air.

This includes the aerial
phenomena commonly
known as "flying saucers."

Many of these incidents have
been satisfactorily explained.
Others have not.

ALBERT: Project Grudge was
expanded and augmented.

The classified name Grudge
was dropped.

The new code name for
the UFO investigative project
was Blue Book.

The General appointed
Captain Edward J. Ruppelt
of ATIC 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?

Major Fournet was an
intelligence technical analyst
and UFO 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 UFOs on film.

-Motion pictures?
-Motion pictures.

This film should
prove interesting on
a comparative basis.

-Comparative with what?
-With the Montana film.

ATIC's had it for some time
over at Dayton.

You mean ATIC's 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 the 15th, 1950.

It was taken in Great Falls,
Montana by Nick Mariana.

Immediately after we were
notified of the sighting,

we went an intelligence man
to get a firsthand report.

[RECORDER PLAYING]
My name is Nick Mariana.

For the past six years,
I've been the general manager
of a minor league baseball

club called the Electrics.

We play out of
Great Falls, Montana,

and are a farm club
with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

On August 15th, 1950,

at Legion Ball Park
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 play.

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 that 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.

This distance from the top
of the stairway to my car
is about sixty feet,

and I must have made that
in about six 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 ball park.

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.

ALBERT: I still had my doubts.

But I must admit,
I felt an excitement
about seeing

actual footage of
unidentified flying objects
for the first time.

-Ready?
-Ready.

[PROJECTOR WHIRRING]

[WHIRRING]

-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 Sirrells 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 UFOs.

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.

Okay. Once again,
what's your opinion
on 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.

ALBERT: This time I strained
my eyes to study the film.

Well?

There was something up there
in that sky.

If they were not balloons,

I don't know what to think.

You better get going
to Dayton.

-Yes, sir, may I help you?
-Al Chop to see
Captain Ruppelt.

-Captain's right
over there, sir.
-Thanks.

Captain Ruppelt? I'm Al Chop.

Have a seat, sir.

Major Burnett alerted me
you were arriving.

You got the green light here,
where would you like
to start?

ALBERT: As a springboard,
I suggested

that he brief me on the
general outline of how

the organization handled
reports on UFOs.

Ruppelt began to fill me in on
the battling 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 UFOs.

There were sightings
where UFOs 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 confidence 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
to 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, "solve" is a big word.

How do you solve them?

There's nothing hit-or-miss
about it. I'll show you.

On December 1st, 1952,
between 4:30 and 5:00
in the morning,

several major airports
in this area

reported seeing a round object
that 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,
LaGuardia Air Field,

Idlewild and Mitchell Field.

This flashing sphere of light
was also observed by an
Eastern airline pilot,

who radioed in his report.

Various observers at all these
airports watched the object

through high powered
binoculars.

When the report arrived here,
we check 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 to 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.

A 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 were up
there all the time,

being observed by various
personnel from airfields
all over that area?

Correct, and they
were seeing it.

We checked with
our contract astronomer at
a leading University,

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 recorded
that at the time
of the observation,

the planet Jupiter was
15 degrees above the horizon,

and on the angle of elevation
bearing at 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.

-People really go
into these things.
-We try.

In 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 ringer.

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.
Do 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
to the Travis Air Force Base
to interrogate Newhouse.

Exact date of his sighting
was July 2nd 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,

Naval Supply Center,
Oakland, California.

About seven 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,

we stopped, got up,
looked up and saw the objects.

There were about twelve
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,

but 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 mm Bell and Howell.

Uh, the film I had loaded
with the three lens turret.

I selected three inch lens,

and set it on F8.

And focused 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 set 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 F16.

And continue photographing.

This prove to be a mistake
as the quality of the film
would've 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
it's 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,

two or three 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?
-The visibility was excellent.

How did 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 had this camera on the
seat beside me loaded
and ready to go,

they'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, 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?

It 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 1st, 1948.

A National Guard lieutenant,
thank you,

a National Guard lieutenant
was about to land his F-51
at Fargo Airport.

ALBERT: Captain Ruppelt
gave me the details
from the record.

The pilot, after a routine
patrol flight, was third 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
a 1,000 yards ahead of me.

Looks like the tail end
of a plane.

I can see you.

But I can't see the light
you're observing.

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 blinking on and off.

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 by the tower.

I see it now. I see it.

The pilot dived on the light,
and although he brought
his manifold

to 60 inches, he reported,

I can't seem to catch up
with the thing.

It's gaining altitude and 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
on a very tight left turn.

By that time they were at
7,000 feet when suddenly,

the light made a 90 degree
right turn.

It's headed straight at me.

The light passed directly
over your canopy.

At, I estimate,
about 500 feet.

The object suddenly shot
straight into the air.

The pilot followed it to
14,000 feet, but his plane
went into a power stall.

The object disappeared.

The chase had last
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've withstood

the G-factor inherited
in the object's turns
and speed

without blacking out.

Was there radar at the field?

-No, there wasn't.
-Too bad, radar would've
made it air tight.

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.

Give me extension 361.

We have a team of three
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.

Uh-huh, okay.

Field's socked in solid with
fog, but he'll take
you over to GCA.

♪

This is Ground Control
Approach.

With zero visibility,

GCA 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 the area.

This scope here tells you
whether you're on the right or
the left of the landing strip.

And that one there tells you
whether you're too high,
or too low.

And the next scope is the
same as this one, except it
gives you more accuracy.

MAN: [OVER PA] Patterson GCA,
this is Air Force 2162.

Past Fairfield landmarker
in-bound.
Request landing instructions.

There you can see him
on the screen.

Then you can track him all
the way in, he's flying by.

Steer right to heading
20 degrees and begin descent
to 1,500 feet.

This is Air Force 162,
steering 20 degrees,

descending to 1,500. Over.

Air Force 162, the weather
at Patterson Field
is 100 feet ragged ceiling.

Visibility one half mile,
light rain.

Wind, southwest six,

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 sonic blips.

This is Air Force 162.
Roger on the weather
at runway. Over.

Air Force 162, steer left
to heading three-five,

turning downwind leg.

Range, eight miles south.
Over.

This is Air Force 162,
steering three-five. 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 made by aircraft?

Yes, any experienced operator
can tell in a minute or so.

Air Force 162,
steer left to heading 2-1-5.

This will put you
on final approach.

This is Air Force 162. Roger.

Steering 2-1-5. Over.

Air Force 162,
this is your final director.

How do you read me? Over.

This is Air Force 162,
you are loud and clear. Over.

Air Force 162, Roger.

Your range is seven 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 GCA
for any five 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, five miles.

You are now approaching
the light path.

Start normal rate of descent
at 600 feet per minute.

Entry to glide path, good.

Steer left to heading 2-1-2.

Range, four 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 two feet high
on glide path.

Check that descent.

Steer right to heading
of 2-1-3.

Range now three 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 had you lined up
with the center line.

Range, two miles.

Holding 15 feet low
on glide path.

Bright it up slightly.
10-5. Now on glide path.

Range, one and a half 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 three seconds.

If you cannot see the runway,
pull up and climb
to 1,000 feet.

Heading, 1-2-5.

♪

He's safe at home.

Well, that's it.

-Coffee?
-Yes.

What exactly is your job here,
Swanson?

I'm one of a group of
three radar specialists
employed by the Air Force.

Report radar contacts
of unidentified objects

are sent in to us
from all over the world
for analysis.

-How long 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.

ALBERT:
I spent a full week at 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,

the 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
could not be produced

under simulated conditions.

Let's go.

There'll be several feet
of blank film before
the pictures come on.

[PROJECTOR WHIRRING]

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.

[WHIRRING]

How about that.

ALBERT: 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
five miles distance could've
been determined on the film.

"At a greater distance
than five miles,

"they could not attain
the speeds calculated.

"Within a five mile range,

"an aircraft of 40 foot
wingspan could've been
clearly determined.

"In excess of five miles,

"the speeds of the objects
are greater than aircraft
could achieve.

"Except in a straight line
speed run.

"No bird is sufficiently
reflective

"as to cause the film
to react as strongly
as it has done."

Not birds, not balloons,
or aircraft.

And the film isn't faked.

What can these things be?

The official conclusion is,

unknowns.

♪

ALBERT: The Newhouse film
was only the overture.

A few minutes
before 1:00 a.m.,
July 20th, 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 incessantly

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 UFOs,

but they had not
been successful.

The week after the Washington
saucer sighting was a mad
and chaotic one.

The story was headlined
from coast to coast.

As the PIO man assigned
to answer 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,

[ALBERT READING]

Then, exactly a week later,
it really broke loose.

-It was the night
of July 26th, 1952.
-[PHONE RINGING]

At 10:30 p.m.,
I received a phone call
from Ray Nathan at CAA.

Hello?

-[OVER PHONE] Al?
-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,

and I don't know
what to tell them.

Dee, bring my coat
and the car keys.

Stall 'em off,
I'll be right over.

A couple of guys from
Life magazine are here
with a camera.

Stall them too.

What's a matter?

Radar is picking up unknowns
over the Capital.

Don't wait up.

[PHONE RINGING]

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 things.
But everything seemed normal.

Chop, am I glad to see you!

They tell us we need your okay
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 in the
biggest story in history,
and you're keeping us out.

I'm sorry, but that's
the way it's got to be.

Then we're going
over your head, Al.

Colonel Dick Sirrells.
You can reach him
at Metropolitan 89898.

♪

-Another one.
-Look at 'em go.

MAN 1: Well, that was
an airline. It's a slightly
different shape.

Did you alert the Air Force?

I called Air Defense Command.

-What'd they say?
-They're scrambling
a couple of jets.

-Same as last week?
-Uh-huh.

Could this be caught up
by temperature inversion?

Inversion?
That isn't inversion.

That is different than the
ground clutter we pick up.

Did you call the Air Force
command post at Pentagon?

No, we work through
a filter center.

I 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 OVER PHONE]
We've been alerted.

There's a blue flight on the
way there right now.

Okay.

Washington Control
to Flight 639. Come in.

[OVER PA] Flight 639 to
Washington Control. Over.

Washington Control
to Flight 639.

You're approaching
traffic on your left.

Can you see it? Over.

[OVER PA] Andrews Tower
to Washington Control.

We show an unknown next
to Flight 639.

Flight 639 to
Washington Control.

We can see that traffic
on our left. Over.

Washington Control
to Flight 639.

What does the traffic
look like? Over.

Flight 639 to
Washington Control.

It's a light,
a blue-green light. Over.

Washington Control
to Flight 639.

Can you make out what type
of craft it is? Over.

Flight 639 to
Washington Control.

We can just see a light.

A blue-green light. Over.

Washington Control
to Flight 639.

Roger. Out.

[OVER PA]
This is Blue Bird One to
Washington Control. Come in.

The jets are coming on now.

Washington Control
to Blue Bird One.

Change course to 225 degrees.

Blue Bird Two,
hold your course. Over.

Blue Bird One
to Washington Control.

Wilco. Out.

Blue Bird Two
to Washington Control.

Wilco. Out.

MAN 2: 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 Blue Bird One.

All the unknowns
have disappeared.

Say those returns are the same
as those you got last week?

The same as last week.

ALBERT: At this point,
Major Fournet arrived

with a Navy electronics
intelligence officer.

-Gone?
-Like that.

As soon as the jets came
on the scope,
the unknowns left.

[OVER PA] Blue Bird One
to Washington Control.

We're going back to the base.

Can't see anything
around up here.
Visibility is good. Over.

Washington Control to
Blue Bird One. Roger. Out.

-Were they good returns?
-Good returns.

Has the set been checked
for malfunctions?

The radar equipment is in
perfect operating order.

MAN 3: 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 'em? Over.

-Those blips are solid.
-They're good and solid.

Washington Control
to Andrews Tower.
Same thing happened here.

Give me the Pentagon
Command Post.

They're all over the scope.

Two in the northeast quadrant,
four in southeast quadrant,

three in southwest quadrant,
three in northwest quadrant.

Over.

This is Major Fournet calling
from Washington Control.

Radar's picking up fourteen
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.

[OVER PA] Andrews Tower
to Washington Control.

That's the way we had 'em.

One just moved from the
northwest quadrant into
the southeast quadrant.

It stopped over
the White House.

They're scrambling
a couple of more jets.

Washington Control
to Andrews Tower.
Roger on the change.

Now it's moving back.
Do you get it? Over.

It's back in the
northwest quadrant. Over.

Washington Control
to Andrews Tower. Roger.

We 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 at 265 degrees.

Washington Control
to Red Dog One.

Change course
to 114 degrees. Over.

Red Dog One to
Washington Control.
Wilco, out.

ALBERT: About 4:30 a.m.,
Major Fournet received a
long distance telephone call

from Robert Gina
ofLife 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 'em.

♪

Yeah, I see 'em.

They're all around me.

They're moving in on me.

They're coming closer.

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 'em.

♪

Red Dog One to
Washington Control.

I've been given permission
to return to base.

Over.

Washington Control
to Red Dog One.
Roger, out.

ALBERT: At 6:00 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

to get news 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.

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 been both visual
and radar contact

on that night.

On Monday morning,
an avalanche of calls
from newspapers

about the nation jammed the
trunk lines at the Pentagon.

The relentless
pressure continued.

We admitted radar contacts
from the three surrounding
air fields.

-When did the saucers
first appear?
-9:00 p.m.

-How long were they
under observation?
-Six hours.

-How many were there?
-Fourteen.

-Could the pilot
see any details?
-No.

♪

In an interview
which appeared in the
Washington Times Herald,

Lieutenant William Patterson,
pilot of Red Dog One...

[ALBERT READING]

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 one
and 2000 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 phenomenon,
or as light aberrations.

However, there've 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
to any conceivable threat
to the United States.

What we can say is that
the recent sightings
are in no way connected

with any secret development,

by any agency
of the United States.

ALBERT:
Leaving the Pentagon
that evening,

General Samford's
words came to 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
been put in place

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.

♪

NARRATOR:
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
hand-held camera.

The film,
analyzed frame by frame,

shows the movement
of the objects

to be horizontal and steady.

We will now vary the action
and size of the objects,

and also stop the action
to allow 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 birds

at any distance.

The shape, brightness,
speed, rectilinear paths,

steady motion and separation,

rule out various forms of
optical atmospheric mirages

or cloud reflections.

Comprehensive analysis
has eliminated meteors,

and other known
natural phenomenon.

The possibility
of a plane reflection
has been carefully studied

and ruled out.

This is the Utah film
as it was originally
photographed.

The image structure
and maneuvers definitely
eliminate any kind

of known aircraft.

This photographer, Newhouse,
in his excitement,
changed exposure.

He believed that by
changing density and giving
the film more exposure,

he could clarify the objects.

The single object that
reversed its course.

The bounce is due
to hand-held camera.

Now we study the action
of one section of the film.

We stop the action,

we move in.

Within a five mile range,
aircraft could be determined.

In excess of five miles,
the speeds are greater than
aircraft can achieve.

Except in straight line
speed runs.

The movement follows
an elliptical,
or circular pattern.

Microscopic examination
reveals that the objects
are well focused.

Their size varies from
one-sixth to one-tenth

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.

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 widescreen projection.

Observe the motion
of the two objects,
upper right,

as we rock them
back and forth.

Now we move up on the frame

for a closer study
of the object in the
upper left corner.

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.

We drop back to the original
perspective and resume.

Now the section of the film
where photographer,

Newhouse, changed exposure.

Weather conditions together
with the persistence

and motion of the formations,

eliminate the possibilities
of atmospheric mirages.

Photogrammetry
exposure condone

that the images cannot
be associated

with any kind of birds
at any distance.

Stop.

Now forward again.

Stop.

We drop back to
original perspective.

Now, once again,
and for the last time,
the Utah film.

The objects cannot be
associated with any known
balloon observations.

For the last time,
the Montana film.

[NARRATOR READING]

♪