roswell

received satisfactory results when the number of targets was increased to belo/een
3 and 5.30 Interestingly, during July of 1948, a similar test would be made at
Alamogordo AAF by another organization.31 This test confirmed Moore's theory
that when targets were increased to at least three, satisfactory returns were
received by the radar. This procedure, according to Moore, was employe~ on
flight nos. 3 and 4, but it was only marginally successful. This prompted Mioore
and his associates to configure the two remaining flights of Alamogordo I, flights
#5 and #6, with radiosonde transmitters.
I
For these two final flights, Moore devised a method of manually determi!ning
azimuth and elevation, in the absence of a radisonde recorder, by counting dicks
as pressure-sensitive contacts closed. NYU Technical Report No. 1 shows 1
two
"interpretations" of the data which confirm that manual calculations were q.sed.
In regard to flight no. 5, it appears there was a typographical error in Techpical
Report No. 1, Table VII, for the time of launch which is erroneously listed as 1517
MST, contrary to figures 32 and 33 in Technical Report No.1 and Crary's qiary
(Atch 6). The correct time of launch for flight no. 5 appears to be 0516 MST. With
the launching of flight no. 6 at approximately 0530 on June 7, the NYU group
departed Alamogordo via a B-17 for Newark AAF, NJ. NYU flight nos. 1~ are
summarized below:
SUMMARY OF FLIGHTS 1--6
Flight no. Date Launch Site Configuration Landing: Site
1 4/3/47 Bethlehem, PA See NYU Tech. Report Sandy Hoof<, NJ
No. 1, Table VII
2 4/18/47 Bethlehem, PA See Appendix NYU Unknown
Special Report No. 1
3 5/29/47 Alamogordo, NM Same as flight no. 2* Unknown
4 6/4/47 Alamogordo, NM Same as flight no. 2* Unknown
5 6/5/47 Alamogordo, NM See NYU Tech. Report East of Roswell, NM
No. 1, Table VII
6 6/7/47 Alamogordo, NM See NYU Tech. Report South of H'ghrolls, NM
No. 1, Table VII
* Depictions of flight nos. 3 and 4 are not provided in the NYU reports. According to NYU Progress ~eport
No. 6, Section II, p. 5, the equipment to be used for the Alamogordo field trip in June was consistent with
the depiction of flight no. -2. This information also concurred with Crary's partial description of flight no. 4
in his diary. ·
Note: An attempt to launch a balloon-train assembly which would have been NYU flight no. 3 was made
on May 8, 1947, but due to strong winds, restraining lines failed before the acoustical payload was attached.
Since the launch was unsuccessful, no flight number was assigned.
30. Ibid.
31. Rprt, Holloman AFB, "Progress Summary Report on U.S.A.F. Guided Missile' Test
Activities," Vol 1, Aug 1, 1948.