UAP Reported at Sandia Base, 1948-1950

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Report of Trip to Los Alamos., 16 Feb 49 (Cont.)
18 Febr1:1ary 1949
average during December., January., and February., yet no green fireballs
have been reported in any other areas. They seem.ad to be confined to the
Los Alamos, Las Vegas., and Vlest Texas triangle.
8. Mr. Teller then took over the discussion and showed that a
material object travelling with the velocity of the subject phenomenon
(about eight miles per second) would have to have a mass of about twenty
grams, assuming all the kinetic energy could be converted to light, under
the assumption that the light output is in the vicinity of 10
ergs per
second. He then went on to show that the shock wave produced by the
passage of an object or these dimensions or greater passing through the
atmosphere at a height of eight to ton miles (the observer fi£ures) with
a velocity of eight miles per second would produce a loud noise easily
audible ten kilometers from the source.
No sound has been observed.
Therefore, Mr. Teller has the tentative opinion they are not material
objects passing through the air.
We should look to electronios and
optics for an explanation rather than in the field of hydrodynamics.
In
any event., it was apparently agreed by those present that it-was almost
incredible that a large object such as a guided missile or informer
vehicle could pass through the atmosphere at a height of eight miles at
a velocity of seven to eight miles per second without producing a loud
noise wnich would have been audible to observers. Mr. Bradbury demurred
so far as the electronic explanation was concerned, saying if it were assumed
that the answer lay in t hat region, many more difficult problems would have
to be solved.
9. The following aotion seems in order:
a .
Recalculation of the data outlined by Mr. Teller with a more
accurate treatment to verify his tentative conclusions.
b. The establishment of woll-equipped and organized observation
stations to give as thorough photometric and photographic coverage as is
possible in the geographic area involved.
c. Assuming that Mr. Teller's theories are borne out by re­
calculation, declassification of the .Project to permit participation and
thinking by scientists tnroughout tho country.
10. Dr. Le.Paz and Captain Neef have fruitlessly attempted to obtain
information from a ?ll8teorite observers' group now at Vlhite Sands, said to
be performing work under contraot for the Navy.
Commander Mandelkorn
offered to assist them in their endeavor to enlist the servicos of the
group for observntions in connection with Project "Grudge".
11. Conclusions It is my belief that these phenomena, •particularly
if there are any further incidents., a.re deserving of serious consideration
•See next page.
NW 91526