Project Blue Book file: Trinidade Island, 16 Jan 1958

ROB MERCER· UN'CLASSlt '- '" _.,$Q
NFORMATI ON REPORT
-- nOWNGRAD .-., " .. --- . .• '.--.
DECLAss~~IItllF~~~R INTERVALS_
DOD DTn 52 12 YEARS "-U\, 00,10 ' "
REPORT NO. DATE
U.S. Naval Attache, Rio 39-58 11 March 1958
offended because I don't doubt the authenticity of your photos but I need
t o hear from you. If you 1:1ere going to make a flying saucer appear on
' a neg::rtive, hOH '-TOuld you proceed?' Comandante, I am an able photo-
graphe:;r specialized in trick photographY but not one would ,vithstand
close 'and accurate examination. II
3. Brazilian Navy Stand . I mmediat ely after the photographs of the
flying saucer ''lere publicized, the Brazilian Navy refused ' to make any
official statement confirming or denying the incident. Hm,reV'er, proofs
f r om the original negatives 'vere sent to the other armed ' forces and to
the President via an officer-messenger \.ho related the complete story.
According to the press 9 the narration so impressed Mr . Kubitschek that
he became convinced of the VeraCity of the happening.
On 2i~ February, three days after the photos were first published
in the press, the Navy Hinistry finally made an official statement:
BlUth reference to the reports appearing in the press that the Navy
is opposed to divulge the facts concerning the appearance of a strange
object over Trindade Island, this Cabinet declares that sUch information
has no basis. This Hinistry has no motive to impede the relea~e of
photographs of the referred to object t aken by Mr. Almira Barauna, who
t>las at Trindade Island at t he invitaticn of -the Navy, and in the presenee
of a large number of the crew of ALHffiAl'lTE SJ..LDAl'l'HA from ~lhose deck the
photographs ,Jere taken . Clearly, this J.1inistry "Till not be able to
make any pronouncement concerning the object seen because t he photo-
graphs do not constitute sufficient proof" for such purpose. 1f
4~ s t atements of SALDANHA Personnel. On the morning after the photos
of the flying saucer 1I1ere published in the press ( Febru?,1"Y 22), the
ALMlliANTE SALDANHA departed Rio to continue its mission i n connection
vlith the I OY, Two days later hovrevel', the ship docked at Santos
(February 24) for voyage repaIrs and this was the f irst chance that
newspaperman had an opportunity- to inte rvieiv officers and men aooard o '
The Assistant Naval Attache lIIaS in Santos at this time in mm:l! connection
,-tith the visit of"' USCGC VJESTVlIND (linsna Rio m: 36-58 of 10 March) and
had an, opportunity to v:j,sit aboard. The commanding officer, Capitao-de-
Y~r - e= Guarra (CAPT) Jose Santos Saldanha da Gama, had not seen the
obje c t and was noncommittal . The executive officer also had not s e en it
bu~, arriving shortly thereafter. had formed the opinion that those on
de¢k had seen it. The captain had reported that hIs secretary, a LeDR,
had sean it but this officer ,,,hen personally questioned atJoided discuss-
ing the matter., Later, it was learne d that the photographer was ,
accompanieq. to the darlc room by an officer i'rho waited outs,ide the door
while Barauna developed the negatives alone ~
At the time of the official visjl,t of t he commanding officer of'
\VESTvlIND to ALHlliANTE SALDANHA, Captaip Saldanha da Gama freely dis -
cussed the flying saucer and sho"red th~ original proofs to the call.ars
but a:ai~ di::1 not commit hiinsel1' .. ; .' lJNCLASSIF e'