The Roswell Report: Case Closed

2.4
Comparison of the Hospital Account
to the Balloon Mishap
The balloon mishap near Roswell on May 21,1959 provides the
probable explanation for some of the remaining elements of the incident
profile-the redheaded captain, the unusual security at the hospital, the
wreckage in the rear of an ambulance, and one portion of the accounts of
“aliens” at the Roswell AAF hospital.
The “Redheaded Captain”
It is highly probable that the descriptions of a redheaded captain
are those of Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr., now a retired Colonel. Kittinger,
who has red hair, was present at the Walker AFB hospital the entire time the
events involving the balloon mishap took place. This is the second Roswell
account that describes a captain with red hair. As related in Section One of
this report (see page 77 and Appendix C, page 194), a redheaded captain
was also allegedly present at the “crashed saucer” site on the San Agustin
Plains.“’ That account was consistent with Kittinger’s responsibilities as the
EXCELSIOR and STARGAZERpilot and project officer. As project officer of two
research programs that utilized high altitude balloons and as a chase pilot
on many other high altitude balloon missions, Kittinger often accompanied
balloon launch and recovery crews. He was present both on the ground
and in the air at balloon launch and recovery locations throughout
New Mexico and the Southwest United States to launch and retrieve
anthropomorphic dummies used for Project EXCELSIOR and unmanned test
gondolas used for Project STARGAZER.‘~~
Following the accident, when the balloon pilots were transported
to the Walker AFB hospital for medical treatment, Kittinger wanted to leave
as soon as possible.“5 He recalled in a recent interview that his desire to
quickly leave Walker AFB was to avoid the initiation of a formal accident
investigation. He believed that an accident investigation might bring
unwanted scrutiny to Project EXCELSIOR and delay or even cancel the
controversial project.‘96 The controversy surrounding Project EXCELSIOR was
due principally to the hazardous nature of the high altitude escape research.
Some senior research and development officials within the Air Force were
reluctant to support a project that required a human subject to parachute from
a balloon gondola at over 100,000 feet. An accident investigation at this
juncture would most likely delay the human high altitude free-fall tests
scheduled for the fall of 1959 and may have resulted in cancellation of
the project.‘97
While at the hospital, Kittinger consulted by phone with his
commander, Colonel Stapp.lyd Stapp agreed with Kittinger’s assessmentthat
a quick departure from the Walker AFB hospital, after receiving appropriate
medical attention, was in the best interest of the project.‘99
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