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DOW-UAP-D102: Project Blue Book File on Tremonton Film, Utah, 1952

Department of War · 2026-09-18 · 156 pages · text from the file's own layer

This Department of War release reproduces Project Blue Book records on the Tremonton, Utah film of 2 July 1952. In them, Navy Chief Photographer Delbert C. Newhouse explains how he filmed a group of bright objects near Tremonton. ATIC memos and a December 1952 travel report record Navy and General Mills balloon specialists judging that the objects closely resembled pillow balloons. A January 1953 memorandum discusses publicly releasing the film. The file also includes unrelated sighting reports from Phoenix and Massachusetts, plus material about Donald Keyhoe.

  • p. 126 …The ol'lginal Air Force concluaion. ■ ed on the interrogation of witn •• •s0 and th evaluation…
  • p. 127 …Monts in the Air Force Presa Room in the Pentagon.. JOHN G. ERIKSEN Colonel, USAF Deputy…
DEC 5 1952UNCLASSIFIED
the bluish-white, the colors noted are due to color aber
rations in the lens and to processing defects, and are not
of the objects themselves which can be observed throughout
the entire or major portion of the film. It should be
pointed out at this point that unless an image appeared in
at least five successive frames, it was regarded as a pro
cessing defect. This process of elimination left only 11
images analyzed as the objects.
c. Velocity. In the determination of the velocity
of the objects, two assumptions were made; (a) the camera
was held steady during Part III of the fim, and (b) the
objects were movi~ perpendicular to theoptical axis. It
is obvious that (bJ 1s a fallacy; however, this assumption
will give the minimum velocity and that the actual velocity
is greater than computed. It may be possible to apply a
correction factor after the completion of the stereoscopic
study, although thi s is doubtful . With these assumptions
and knowing the focal length of the camera, the only unknown
in the determination of the velocity is the distance from
the observer to the object. This was arbitrarily set at
five miles.
d. Size, Pattern and Formation. Analysis ha.snot
progressed to the stage where the relative sizes of these
images can be stated. This applies also to patterns and
formations although it appears as if they do occur. It
is expected that stereoscopic analysis of the objects will
furnish much information on this subject.
5. Reference (b) requested interpretation of additional
movies, approximately 10 feet, taken in Montana, 1950. This
film is also in poor condition but is suitable for analyzing
the movie. One plot wa.s made of the light path in the area
where stationary objects are visible to hold to as control.
Analysis of this movie is not sufficiently complete to offer
any comment other than the pa.th of light is undulating and
. is similar to that plotted for the Utah movie. In the ana
lysis of the Montana movie it will be most helpful if the
following information can be furnished~
a.. Focal length of taking lens.
b. Location and actual distance of observer to
the center of the tower.
c . Dimensions of the tower.
d. Lengths of bracing on the tower .
e. :Vertical spacing of the bracing or the spacing
between bracing measured along the legs of the tower.
It is felt that, since this movie was taken in 1950, the
DOWNGRADED AT s
DECLAsSIFIED A};"'~:nJ.r-.~vA~;
-4- DOD DIR 6200.10 EARS.
UNCLASSIFIED
DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 923007

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