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.

In each of these incidents the following description applies:

a. Color - Red, orange, pink, or amber

b. Shape - Elongated, about five to ten times as long as wide.

c. Consistency - Apparently solid, but flexible. Did not supern be vapor or smoke trail.

d. Luminosity - Appeared to be self-luminous, and the varying act of flight and charges of position caused no change either degree or color of emitted light.

e. Flight - Both objects performed various maneuvers, consisting of climbing and diving, with turning movements.

f. Speed - Not accurately estimated, due to variation in time factor

g. Termination - Both objects appeared to disappear in the distance

h. Location - The 17 February incident was observed from the area of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 27 March observations were made from the Tucumcari-Clevis area.

i. Course - The 17 February object appeared to move from west to east that of 27 Earth, from east to west.

j. Sound - No sound was reported in conjunction with either incident.

k. Remarks - In each case, reports indicated that the objects flowed around corners in vertical maneuvers, rather than swirling around as would a rigid object. In neither case did investigation produce any evidence of a jet-propelled craft in the area. Observers in each case were found whose credibility is above average.