The Roswell Report: Case Closed

Fig 28. Capt. Dan D. Fulgham
at Wright-Patterson AFB,
Ohio several days after the
balloon accident with a
“fraumatic hematoma” on his
forehead. This photo shows
Fulgham after blood had been
aspirated from under his scalp
and a substantial amount of
swelling had dissipated.
Concerns that Fulgham’s.
odd appearance might startle
uninformed persons was why
he was returned to Wrighl-
Patterson AFB aboard a
specially arranged flight from
Holloman AFB, N.M. (photo
co/recrion ofDan D. Fulgham)
When the balloon gondola struck Fulgham’s head, he received,
according to his clinical record from May 21, 1959, an “Extensive
hematoma forehead and ant [anterior] scalp.“*z9 A hematoma is a
localized blood-filled swelling, that in this instance was on the forehead.
The hematoma resulted in immediate facial swelling, two black eyes and
later caused his skin to turn yellow.2’0
The rapid onset of the swelling caused both of Fulgham’s eyes to
close. As it progressed, according to Kittinger who accompanied Fulgham
at the hospital, “His whole face had swollen up and his nose barely
protruded.“2” This appearance lead Kittinger to characterize Fulgham’s
appearance at the time as “just a big blob” and “grotesque.“*‘*
When interviewed, Fulgham remembered that even though he
didn’t feel bad, “I didn’t know how bad I looked.” There was no attempt to
hide or limit Fulgham’s exposure to persons in the hospital that day. In fact,
when he arrived at the hospital Fulgham recalled that he stopped outside the
building to smoke a cigarette. Kaufman also recalled that the injured pilots,
Fulgham and Kittinger, waited for treatment on a bench in the hallway of the
hospital. Kaufman added that a number of military wives were present in the
hospital that day for prenatal care, and there was no effort to keep Fulgham
from their view.2”
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