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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.

...,.,
•TO: Whom it May Concern
SUBJECT: Tremonton, Utah, incident of 2 Jul 52
On 16 Dec 52 Lt A.G. flues called l . J. R. Snith, Director, Balloon Re
search, General N~lls, Inc., Atlnneapolis, nnesota, to determine whether or
not a pillow balloon release could have caused the Tremonton incident.
'r. Smith pointed out that in the winter of 1951, his company, the only
known manufacturer of this type balloon, produced a large number of pillows
for the 11 Crusade for Freedom 11 • These balloons were distributed to both national
and local offices of that organization and GMI was unable to say exactly what
the organization did with them after receipt. However, G did say that they
were released sporadically for publicity purposes from widely separated areas
in the United States.
In the "Crusade for Freedom11 organization there have since been 100%
personnel shifts, top to bottom and J. R. Smith was not too encouraging when
Lt F1ues suggested contacting the organization. However, he agreed to forward
all shipping lists which will tell A1IC iho the consignees ere and JJJSt what
numbers each received.
Mr. Smith pointed out that in 1951 and until Nov 52, helium and hydrogen
gasses were in short supply. The two companies which furnish these gasses are
Air Reduction Company and The Linde Company. r. Smith suggested contacting
their distributors in the area of the sighting.
Reconnnendationa: That A'ITC follow-up with the lists Mr. Smith will provide and
that ATIC check distributors of hydrogen and helium in the Utah area.

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