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| A number of so-called |
A number of so-called '''Green Fireballs''' were reported in the skies of the southwestern ], beginning in late ]. Such sightings worried some in the government, who noted that the reports were often made near military bases. | ||
| The earliest reports came from ], 1948. Two separate pilots in ] asserted that they’d each seen a dim green light, though about 20 minutes apart. Each pilot declared the lights were not ]s, but resembled ]s. The next night, a similar green light was spotted for a few seconds over a secret atomic bomber base at ]. | The earliest reports came from ], 1948. Two separate pilots in ] asserted that they’d each seen a dim green light, though about 20 minutes apart. Each pilot declared the lights were not ]s, but resembled ]s. The next night, a similar green light was spotted for a few seconds over a secret atomic bomber base at ]. | ||
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| The ] Office of Special Investigations began an official inquiry the day after the Kirtland AFB sighting. | The ] Office of Special Investigations began an official inquiry the day after the Kirtland AFB sighting. | ||
| Two such Air Force investigators--both of whom were experienced pilots--themselves witnessed a |
Two such Air Force investigators--both of whom were experienced pilots--themselves witnessed a green fireball while flying an aircraft the evening of December 8. They said it was about 2000 feet above their craft, roughly resembling the green flares commonly used by the Air Force, though "much more intense" and apparently "considerably brighter". Their report stated that the light was "definitely larger and more brilliant than a shooting star, meteor or flare." The light lasted only a few seconds, moving "almost flat and parallel to the earth". The light’s "trajectory then dropped off rapidly" leaving "a trail of fragments reddish orange in color" which then fell towards the ground. | ||
| Similar sightings were reported, and the Air Force consulted ] an ] from the ] who had previously worked on secret military projects. La Paz himself saw a |
Similar sightings were reported, and the Air Force consulted ] an ] from the ] who had previously worked on secret military projects. La Paz himself saw a "green fireball" and in a classified letter to the Air Force, wrote that the object moved far too slowly to have been a meteorite, and furthermore, left a "trail of sparks or dust cloud" as would be typical of meteors. | ||
| La Paz suggested that Air Force patrols should attempt to ] the green fireballs. This was deemed impractical, and never tried. | La Paz suggested that Air Force patrols should attempt to ] the green fireballs. This was deemed impractical, and never tried. | ||
| After interviewing witnesses, La Paz had concluded that |
After interviewing witnesses, La Paz had concluded that "green fireballs" were an artificial phenomenon. An informal study at ] quickly became formal, being called the “Conference on Aerial Phenomena”. The assembled people--both military personnel and civilian scientists--were informed that the “green fireballs” were not the result of any secret military project. | ||
| By April ], similar sights were reported over a nuclear-weapons storage facility at ] in ]. | By April ], similar sights were reported over a nuclear-weapons storage facility at ] in ]. | ||
| Despite objections by La Paz and others, the United States government concluded the green lights were a natural event. Project Twinkle (consisting of two officers at) was established at ], in order to study further reports. La Paz criticized Project Twinkle as inadequate, arguing the green fireballs were worthy of |
Despite objections by La Paz and others, the United States government concluded the green lights were a natural event. Project Twinkle (consisting of two officers at) was established at ], in order to study further reports. La Paz criticized Project Twinkle as inadequate, arguing the green fireballs were worthy of "intensive, systematic investigation". | ||
| Project Twinkle was discontinued in December, 1951. | Project Twinkle was discontinued in December, 1951. | ||
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| ==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
| *Jerome Clark, |
*Jerome Clark, "Unexplained! 347 Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurrences, and Puzzling Physical Phenomena", Visible Ink Press, 1993. | ||
Revision as of 15:40, 21 March 2005
A number of so-called Green Fireballs were reported in the skies of the southwestern United States, beginning in late 1948. Such sightings worried some in the government, who noted that the reports were often made near military bases.
The earliest reports came from December 5, 1948. Two separate pilots in New Mexico asserted that they’d each seen a dim green light, though about 20 minutes apart. Each pilot declared the lights were not meteors, but resembled flares. The next night, a similar green light was spotted for a few seconds over a secret atomic bomber base at Kirtland Air Force Base.
The United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations began an official inquiry the day after the Kirtland AFB sighting.
Two such Air Force investigators--both of whom were experienced pilots--themselves witnessed a green fireball while flying an aircraft the evening of December 8. They said it was about 2000 feet above their craft, roughly resembling the green flares commonly used by the Air Force, though "much more intense" and apparently "considerably brighter". Their report stated that the light was "definitely larger and more brilliant than a shooting star, meteor or flare." The light lasted only a few seconds, moving "almost flat and parallel to the earth". The light’s "trajectory then dropped off rapidly" leaving "a trail of fragments reddish orange in color" which then fell towards the ground.
Similar sightings were reported, and the Air Force consulted Lincoln La Paz an astronomer from the University of New Mexico who had previously worked on secret military projects. La Paz himself saw a "green fireball" and in a classified letter to the Air Force, wrote that the object moved far too slowly to have been a meteorite, and furthermore, left a "trail of sparks or dust cloud" as would be typical of meteors.
La Paz suggested that Air Force patrols should attempt to photograph the green fireballs. This was deemed impractical, and never tried.
After interviewing witnesses, La Paz had concluded that "green fireballs" were an artificial phenomenon. An informal study at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory quickly became formal, being called the “Conference on Aerial Phenomena”. The assembled people--both military personnel and civilian scientists--were informed that the “green fireballs” were not the result of any secret military project.
By April 1949, similar sights were reported over a nuclear-weapons storage facility at Fort Hood in Texas.
Despite objections by La Paz and others, the United States government concluded the green lights were a natural event. Project Twinkle (consisting of two officers at) was established at Holloman Air Force Base, in order to study further reports. La Paz criticized Project Twinkle as inadequate, arguing the green fireballs were worthy of "intensive, systematic investigation".
Project Twinkle was discontinued in December, 1951.
Edward J. Rupelt (later director of Project Blue Book) was of the opinion that the green fireballs were best explained as projectiles launched from spacecraft operated by aliens.
Sources
- Jerome Clark, "Unexplained! 347 Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurrences, and Puzzling Physical Phenomena", Visible Ink Press, 1993.