The Roswell Report: Fact vs. Fiction in the New Mexico Desert

It is impossible to make really detailed calculations of the maximum range without better information about temperature and sound velocity in locations from 45,000 to 90,000 feet, for it is there that the greatest frictional losses will occur. However, it is safe to predict that a bomb containing a few pounds of TNT can be heard from 4000 to 5000 miles. The chance that it could be heard to the farthest point on earth is worth consideration.

IV PROPOSED MILITARY USE OF ATMOSPHERIC SOUND CHANNEL

It is my belief that a large rocket or jet propulsion motor passing the axis of the sound channel would also be detectable by listening at several thousand miles, and subject to location by triangulation if heard by three suitably chosen stations. In time of war this triangulation could locate the launching sites of the enemy, and in peace time it is conceivable that suitably chosen listening stations could monitor the entire world to detect and locate any unusual rocket or jet propulsion experiments, thus minimizing the danger of surprise attacks with secret weapons.

## V TYPES OF LISTENING STATION

The most promising types of listening station according to my present knowledge would make use either of the higher mountains of the world or of free balloons to gain adequate height. It is unknown at present by how far the receiver may be removed from the preferred height without prohibitive sacrifice of sound channel properties. However, in the submarine sound channel we have had fairly good reception with the hydrophone at 2000 feet when the axis of the channel was at 4000 feet. Hence, it is not beyond reason that the taller mountains might provide sufficient altitude of themselves.

Small stratosphere balloons provided with radio means for transmission of sound impulses to a receiving station either fixed or mobile, probably provide the most readily available listening arrangement.