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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.
“The Pentagon”2 pages
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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