UAP Reported at Sandia Base, 1948-1950

This U.S. Department of War release compiles 1949 records tied to Sandia Base, New Mexico. It includes a Sandia Base security inspection reply and a W. D. Crozier letter to Lincoln LaPaz. It also contains Crozier and Seely's report on collecting airborne copper particles after the July 24, 1949 fireball near Socorro, which they judged negative or inconclusive. LaPaz's sixth report on green fireballs disputes parts of that finding, and a Fourth Army report describes unusual lights around the Q Area at Camp Hood, Texas, in March 1949.

From the source:Release of 2026-05-22 Incident: 1948-1950, New Mexico. This file contains 116 pages of documentation from the Armed Forces Special Weapons Program (AFSWP) – the direct, post-World War II successor to the Manhattan Project – and from the U.S. Air Force – relating to a series of sightings and investigations in Sandia, New Mexico, from 1948-1950. This file contains 209 sightings of “green orbs,” “discs,” and “fireballs” reported near the military base. Witnesses reported unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) maneuvering, flying out of sight, disappearing, or exploding. The documents also include the results of contemporary investigations into residual copper powder found in some areas where sightings were reported. A few of these investigations became the basis for Project Grudge, which collected reports of unidentified flying objects from various other military installations – also included in this collection.

SUBJECT: Security Inspection

2. Cont'd.

g. Pressure has been exerted to get the Post Engineers to keep the drainage system clear and to take measures to check the erosion. These efforts will be continued but little progress on erosion control can be expected until the rains diminish. Ditches have been filled, dirt moved and replaced, native grasses planted, but the rains return too soon and much of the effort invested is therefore wasted. Plans are prepared for an interim erosion control effort, and a study is being made to estimate the cost of resloping the cuts in order that the rainfall may be drained with less damaging results. Initial estimates run in the neighborhood of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00).

3. With the exception of halting the erosion, all deficiencies listed in the security inspection report have been cleared away. It is therefore requested that the monthly report of action taken required by cited letter be discontinued.

RICHARD W KLINE

Lt Col, USAF

Commanding