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.

To: Lt. Colonel Doyle Rees - Page 5

Subj: Anomalous Luminous Phenomena (Seventh Report) May 23, 1950

that Dr. L. A. Manning, of Stanford, and Dr. Millman be placed in charge of the radar investigation; and, finally, that Dr. William Crozier, of the New Mexico School of Mines, be placed in charge of dust collection and identification. On the basis of many intensive field surveys, I do not anticipate that ground search will lead to any recoveries, but in case such ground search is to be attempted, it should be carried out on the scale stressed in my conversations with you and Major Oder last month."

9. Although the above paragraphs were written some months ago, the recommendations contained in them are the ones I would urge you to consider at the present time. In conclusion, I should like to repeat the offer made at the end of my letter of February 20 to Dr. Wyckoff, namely to serve, if needed, as consultant on the green fireball project as suggested in Major Oder's letter to me under date of November 29, 1949, with the stipulation, however, that my service be on a voluntary basis rather than on the $40 per day contract specified in Major Oder's letter.

Lincoln LaPaz, Director

Institute of meteoritics

University of New Mexico