The Roswell Report: Case Closed

Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.

overturn. $ ^{180} $ The three pilots, Kittinger, Fulgham, and Kaufman, were spilled from the gondola pinning Fulgham's head between the edge of the gondola and the ground. $ ^{181} $ The impact shattered his helmet and he sustained a head injury. $ ^{182} $ When the three pilots climbed out from under the gondola, Fulgham noticed that his "head seemed to be protruding outward from underneath [his] helmet." $ ^{183} $ Kittinger also received an injury, a minor facial laceration. The crew of the nearby chase helicopter and personnel in the ground tracking vehicles rushed to the scene. $ ^{184} $ For medical treatment, the pilots were transported by the helicopter to nearby Walker AFB. $ ^{185} $

When the helicopter landed at Walker AFB, it was met by armed security personnel who sought to verify the purpose of the unannounced arrival. $ ^{186} $ The security personnel escorted the balloon pilots to the hospital. $ ^{187} $ The balloon recovery and communications crew, after retrieving the gondola and balloon, drove to Walker AFB to check on the injured crew and to inform the Balloon Branch at Holloman AFB of the accident. $ ^{188} $

Fig.18. The balloon training missions flown from Holloman AFB, N.M. in May 1959, were made in an open gondola suspended beneath a 30-foot diameter polyethelyne balloon. This photo was taken on May 21, 1959 by Balloon Branch communications technician, A2C Ole Jorgeson just prior to the mishap which resulted in injuries to two of the pilots. (photo collection of Ole Jorgeson)

At the Walker AFB hospital, Fulgham and Kittinger received treatment for their injuries and neither required admission. Meanwhile, the Walker AFB security officials continued to escort the unannounced visitors while verifying their identities. $ ^{189} $ The pilot's identities and purpose for their visit were confirmed via phone by Colonel Stapp, Aero Medical Laboratory commander at Wright-Patterson AFB (the pilots and Project EXCELSIOR were assigned to this organization). $ ^{190} $

Kittinger, the EXCELSIOR project officer, wanted to leave the hospital as quickly as possible after he and Fulgham received medical attention. $ ^{191} $ The quick departure was to avoid unwanted scrutiny by Walker AFB flying safety officials. $ ^{192} $ When released by the flight surgeon, the three pilots boarded the chase helicopter and returned to Holloman AFB approximately 100 miles to the west.