Project Blue Book file: Trinidade Island, 16 Jan 1958

ROB MERCER-. . ,-, ~ -;. .
tJNctASSIFlE9
NFORMATI ON REPORT
FRO M
, .
U.S. Naval Attache, Rio
Preparing Officer's Comments:
REPORT NO.
~" .
" .... " ;
DATE .
11 March
1. Most flying saucer stories are not worth A'lasting much time· or .
effort, but this story apparently substanti~ted by official Navy
photographs taken in the presence of large number ·of Navy personnel
under y10sely controlled and almost ideal circumstances should have
absolufely proved the existence of an unidentified flyl~g object.
Unfortpnately, further investigation provided onlyfrust~ationat every
turning. A number or Brazilian Navy · officerS profess to believe the
story ;implic itly but whether they have more information than \~e is
unknow.a.
2. There appear to be only Vwo explanations 1'01" this peculiar incident:
(a) Some overwhleming power has told the Brazilian Na~~not to
orficial1y verify this incident (\.;lTlch they should easily be able to do,
if it occurred) nor to deny it (which they should easily be able to do,
ir it is a fake). I personally do not believe that anyone has told the
Brazilian Navy to keep qUiet about it because there has been no hint of
SUy.}} suppression in either Brazilian or U.S. circles; and also because
I doubt their control or the individual orricers and man is good enough
to hold the line.
(b) The "lho1e thing is a fake publicity stunt put on by a crooked
photographer and the Brazilian Navy fell for it. This seems like · the
most likely considering Brazilian's love for sensationalism and gossip,
their \'11311 knovffi propensity for never 1ettE'lI:g the truth stand in the way
of a good story, and g.eneral bureaucratic inerficie~cy. '
3. In addition, the photographs furnished by the Brazilian Navy are
unconvincing. Details of the 'land are extremely sharp but the disc
is hazy and has little contrast and shows no shadow effect. ·· It also
appears that the object "las inverted in photograph 2 compared to I and
3. Also the papers have mentioned extremely hggh velocities.· ahd there
appears to be no lateral blurring as would occur vlith 8..I."l..y re~onable
shutter speed. . ).:" "'
",.'
.'
40 It is the reporting officer's priVate opinion that a"'flyirlg saucer
sighting vlould be unlikely at the very barren island of.:~rindilde, as
everyone knows Nartians are extremely comfort loving 3!l'eatur~s •
• ~,.: ;: < ~.
OOWNORADED AT 3 YEAR INTEIWM.3;
" DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS.
. DOD DIR 5200.10