Project Blue Book File on Tremonton Film, Utah, 1952

Text

A machine read this text from the scan. When the text and the image disagree, the image is right.

ANALYSIS OF 16 MM. MOTION PICTURE PHOTOGRAPHY OF UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL OBJECTS.

INTRODUCTION

The motion picture was examined both by normal and slow motion projection, and by low power microscope. At the start it was found that the images are much too small to show any detail in the objects; the only effect visible on the film by microscopic examination is a collection of small white spots. They are frequently elongated in the direction of motion with respect to the camera position, but no other significant shape features can be seen.

A Bell & Howell Model D-1-B projector was used to examine the motion of the objects. This projector permits the operator to reverse the motion during motor-driven projection, or to examine any length of film frame-by-frame, by means of a hand crank and frame counter. It was found that the objects are ten in number, in every one but the last of the motion sequences photographed. Occasionally some of these objects moved out of the camera's field of view momentarily.

A list of questions, accompanying the request for this evaluation, are answered below.

ANSWERS TO STATED QUESTIONS

1. It cannot be stated definitely whether the objects are seen by reflected sunlight or because they are self-powered light sources. However, it can be deduced that, if they are light-reflecting only, they are decidedly non-spherical in shape. During part of their flight paths they shine brightly, while at other times they are so dim as almost to escape detection. Furthermore, those objects which are following similar courses show similar brightness fluctuations, which could be caused by their taking similar flight attitudes.

2. It is believed to be reasonably certain that the reflection brightness of these objects exceeds that of any natural diffusing type of reflecting object, such as white birds against the sky. Also, there is no known bird that could emit such a radiation as would be required to produce the observed brightness. Either a large metallic surface of nearly flat shape, or a self-luminous source, is thought to be responsible. This statement, and the deduction of a non-spherical shape, combine to rule out large translucent spherical balloons, but not bright aluminum-surfaced aircraft.

3. Slow motion studies of the objects disclose that, in several instances, two objects on a nearly parallel course pass very close to each other, producing the blending effect. However, in each instance the two separate objects reappear after a moment.

4. and 5. As stated above, the only detail that can be seen is the small bright spot on the blue film, so no object shape can be determined. However, the maximum brightness of all the different spots appears to be the same, when they do become bright. The color at maximum brightness appears to be a clear white. At reduced brightness the spots remain essentially a neutral or grayish

DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 923007