4 May 1953
(U.S.
Naval Photographic Interpretation
Center,
U.S.
Naval Receiving Station, Washington,
D.C.)
Source: NICAP.org
The document pertains to the 2 July 1952 Tremonton,
Utah,
and 15 August 1950 Great Falls, Montana,
UFO films (filmed by
Warrant Officer and Chief
Photographer Delbert C. Newhouse,
U.S. Navy, and Nicholas Mariana, a civilian,
respectively).
Quote from the document (not written in U.S.
Department of Defense document format) (Page 15):
“1. … It is
the majority opinion of the group conducting this analysis that these images
are light sources. This will explain the non-blinking and variations in
luminosity – but not the velocity or acceleration factors. In either case,
light source or reflective surface, it appears as if the objects are of a
nature which we are not able to identify in terms of natural phenomena or
commonly known man-made objects.
2. There is
no indication of what kind of objects could have caused the images except that
they must be of a construction, design, and material not commonly known. This
is indicated by the computed acceleration rate and elocity [velocity] (answer 5). For the same reasons,
birds, aircraft and balloons are ruled out.
3. An
analysis of the charts relative to movement indicate that there were group and
individual movement. Within a group it appears as if the individual objects
were moving counter-clock-wise along an elliptical or similar track. Thus when
two objects crossed the camera line of sight they will appear to fuse into one.
As they continued along their paths it will appear as if one object became two.
This occurred at regular intervals at approximately every 25th frame as plotted
in charts 5a and 5b.
4. All objects appear to have the same
characteristics in regards to shape, color, size and relative motion.
5. The
shape of the objects appears to be oblate or disk shaped, color; blue-white,
and maximum and minimum size; 98 and 16 feet. The size is based on the assumption
that the objects are five miles from the observer.
6. Fade in
and fade out of the objects were analyzed as in 3 above. In this case the group
movement was such that the distance between the objects and camera was increased
so that the objects could not be recorded on the film thereby causing the
apparent fade-out. Fade-in as attributed to a shortening of the distance from
the fade-out area to the camera station.
7. Plots of
the groups indicate that the objects move counter-clock-wise relative to the
axis of flight path. However, nothing has been detected which indicates motion
of the individual objects about their own axis although this motion appears to
be likely.
8. In determining the
velocity of the objects three assumptions were made:
a. The camera was held steady during Part
III of the film.
b. The objects were moving perpendicular to
the optical axis, and
c. The objects were five miles from the
camera.
It is obvious that (b) is a fallacy; however, this
assumption will give the minimum velocity and the actual velocity is greater
than computed. The assumption that the objects are five miles from the camera
is an arbitrary one. However, based on the emulsion speed and focal length, and
object 50 feet
in diameter and five miles from camera will be recorded on the film with
sufficient resolution to identify major details of the object. It is felt that
if these objects were closer than five miles at the time of recording, details
would appear on the film.
Velocity is computed to be 3780 mph for a shift of 1 mm per frame if the object
is five miles from the observer. From 55 measurements taken from Part III of
the Utah
film, the maximum and minimum velocities were 2457 and 378 mph respectively. These
figures differ from those given in reference (c) and were computed from
measurements obtained under more controlled conditions. Acceleration was
determined from the formula: …
Since ‘g’
is equal to 32.17 ft/sec2
it was computed that:
Maximum acceleration = 21,168 mph/sec
= 965 g
Minimum acceleration = 1,104
mph/sec = 50 g
Maximum deceleration = 32,448
mph/sec = 1479 g
Minimum deceleration = 272 mph/sec = 12 g
Velocity and acceleration determinations were also
made from the Montana
film. In this case, terrestrial objects appeared in the film and were held to
as control. Subsequently, the velocity and acceleration determinations are
considered to be more reliable. On the assumption of (b) and (c) above the
maximum and minimum velocities of the left object are 1374 and 361 mph respectfully. For
the right object they are 1117 and 189 mph. Accelerations were computed as:
Left Object Right Object
Maximum acceleration mph/sec 14,016
= 639 g 12640 = 576g
Minimum acceleration mph/sec 0 = 0 g 0 = 0g
Maximum deceleration mph/sec 13,184
= 601 g 14288 = 651g
Minimum deceleration mph/sec 0 = 0
g 0 = 0g
The above determinations were made from a total of 322
measurements. It was noted that the acceleration and determinations were in
multiples of 12.5 approximately. This may be of significance although no study
has been conducted to determine this.
9. Velocity
and acceleration were treated in sub-paragraph 8 above. Paragraph 2a indicates
the controls used during this investigation.
10. a. There is no recurring pattern in the
relative position of the objects in formation. It appears however, as if the
shift in relative positions were regular and that the original formation would
be recovered if the continuing action has been recorded.
b. No. However, the same formation is
maintained with objects changing positions.
c. No detection of relative positions being
maintained coincidental with movement about their axis.
d. No detection of undulating motion of
objects in phase either in formation or tumbling motion.
e. There is evidence of abrupt changes in
direction of flight path through fairly large angles.
f. Certain objects do appear to remain
motionless while other move about.
g. Certain objects disappear while still well
within the field of view. This is discussed in sub-paragraph 6 above.
4. Discussion.
During the study and investigation of the unidentified
objects, the preliminary data uncovered were revealed to experts (with proper
security clearance) in the fields of astronomy and physics. Although they
presented certain natural phenomena theories to explain the cause of the
objects under certain conditions they were not able to do so under the
conditions during which the photography was taken, nor were they able to
recognize these objects as man-made.
As to the results of the investigations being
reported, no attempt was made to corroborate the opinions presented. Because of
the lack of proper equipment, money and personnel, the investigation was
limited. There are obvious tests which can be conducted to prove or disprove
some of the findings presented. It is suggested that these be undertaken.
5. Reference (d) requests spectrophotometric analysis
of the Utah
film be made. Preliminary plan of test id underway.
L. W. KEITH [Officer in
Charge]”
The document was sent to Director of Naval
Intelligence.
NOTE: The document starts on Page 12. Numbers 1 to 10 in
this text are
sub-paragraphs. Numbers 4 (Discussion.) and
5 (Reference …) are paragraphs.
Wikipedia article: “Office of Naval Intelligence”:
Quote from the Wikipedia article:
“The Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) is the
military intelligence agency of the United States Navy. Established in 1882
primarily to advance the Navy’s modernization efforts,[4][5] ONI is the oldest
member of the United States Intelligence Community and serves as the nation’s
premier source of maritime intelligence. Since the First World War, its mission
has broadened to include real-time reporting on the developments and activities
of foreign navies; protecting maritime resources and interests; monitoring and
countering transnational maritime threats; providing technical, operational,
and tactical support to the U.S. Navy and its partners; and surveying the
global maritime environment. ONI employs over 3,000 military and civilian
personnel worldwide and is headquartered at the National
Maritime Intelligence
Center in Suitland, Maryland.”
(wikimedia.org image)
Freeze-frame of the 2 July 1952 Tremonton, Utah,
UFOs
(filmed by Delbert
C. Newhouse, Warrant Officer and
Chief Photographer,
U.S. Navy) (gststic.com image)
(tageo.com photo)
Film freeze-frame of the
15 August 1950 Great Falls, Montana, UFOs (filmed by Nicholas Mariana) (ufocasebook.com image)
Satellite photo of Great
Falls, Montana (tageo.com)
(tageo.com photo)
