---------------------------------------------------------------- ================================================================ PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD -- TRANSCRIPTION File: 1952-05-9614260-Albuquerque-NewMexico.pdf Transcribed by Claude Sonnet 4.6 for GlitchyMatrix.com/bluebook/ ================================================================ [Note: Annotation above form reads "3 reports same date same place" -- this card consolidates three separate sighting reports. Field 8 (Number of Objects) and Field 3 (Date-Time Group) reflect the composite data. See supplemental AF Form 112 for individual observation narratives.] FIELD 1 -- DATE: 28 May 1952 FIELD 2 -- LOCATION: Albuquerque, New Mexico [Status Report #7 lists location as Kirtland AFB, N.M.; Kirtland is contiguous with and within Albuquerque. Observers were city firemen from Fire Station 5, Albuquerque.] FIELD 3 -- DATE-TIME GROUP: Local 1345 & 1440 MST [Two local times on card for three observations. GMT: 2045, 2140, 2100 Z -- three GMT times corresponding to three events. Chronological order: 2045Z (1345 MST), 2100Z (1400 MST), 2140Z (1440 MST). New Mexico observes MST year-round (UTC-7); times are internally consistent.] FIELD 4 -- TYPE OF OBSERVATION: Ground-Visual [X] Ground-Radar [ ] Air-Visual [ ] Air-Intercept Radar [ ] FIELD 5 -- PHOTOS: No FIELD 6 -- SOURCE: City Firemen FIELD 7 -- LENGTH OF OBS: Not separately reported per observation [Status Report #7: "Not Reported"]. Total span of three sightings: approx. 55 minutes (1345-1440 MST). FIELD 8 -- NUMBER OF OBJECTS: 1, 1, 2 [three observations: first = 1 object; second = 2 objects; third = 1 object] FIELD 9 -- COURSE: 315° [NW] FIELD 10 -- BRIEF SUMMARY: COLOR: TWO REPORTS**LIGHT SILVER / ONE REPORT***ORANGE AND LIGHT BROWN SHAPE: Circular FIELD 11 -- COMMENTS: Came in from NE at high speed. As it approached it started to circle and climbed out of sight.----Observed high over the mountains NE of city. Made long shallow turn to NW.----Objects come in from NE, approached observers till they were at elevation of about 40° then turned to NW. FIELD 12 -- CONCLUSIONS: [ ] Was balloon [ ] Probably balloon [ ] Possibly balloon [ ] Was aircraft [ ] Probably aircraft [ ] Possibly aircraft [ ] Was astronomical [ ] Probably astronomical [ ] Possibly astronomical [ ] Other: [specify] [ ] Insufficient data for evaluation [X] Unknown Form: ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52) Supplemental documents present (in order of appearance): F-1/F-2: Two scans of the ATIC Form 329 record card. Cleaner and lower-quality scans. Same content. F-3/F-4: Outgoing military message (two scans). Reference designation WCKB0-5-7, FLYOBRPT. Transmitted R 282230Z ZNJ. From: CO 4901ST SPT WG /ATOMIC/ KIRTLAND AFB NMEX (4901st Support Wing, Atomic, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico). To: JEPHQ/DIR OF INTELL HQ USAF WASH DC JEDUP/AIR TECH INTELL CEN ATTN ATIAA-2C WPAFB OHIO JEDEN/CG ENT AFB COLO SPRINGS COLO JEPYB/CG ARDC BALT MD Full message text: "[redacted] -WCKB0-5-7 FLYOBRPT THREE OBJECTS OF PINKISH COLOR IN TRAIL FORMATION X SIGHTED VISUALLY FR GROUND AT APPROX 1345 MST NE QUADRANT ALBUQUERQUE X FLYING WEST LOW THEN HIGH X WEATHER CLEAR W/FEW CUMULUS ALL QUADRANTS VISIBILITY 60 MI WINDS WNW 10 MPH X OBSERVERS [redacted] AND [redacted] OF 5 FIRE STA ALBUQUERQUE X 28/2330Z MAY JWFKD" Handwritten distribution notations: ATIAA-2C; 2 ATIA Files; 3 Central Files. Reference number CY-1. F-5/F-6: AF Form 112-Part I, Air Intelligence Information Report (two scans). UNCLASSIFIED (originally marked for downgrade at 3-year intervals, declassified after 12 years per DOD DIR 5200.10). Country: United States. Report No.: TR-1-52. Subject: Unidentified Flying Objects (FLYOBRPT). Area: Albuquerque, New Mexico. From (Agency): Hq 4901st Support Wing (Atomic). Date of Report: 9 June 1952. Date of Information: 28 May 1952. Evaluation: C-3 [Source: Fairly Reliable; Information: Possibly True]. Prepared by: Major Roy L. Huddleston, USAF. References: OL-1000-5 and TEY WCKBD-5-7. Approved by: MARION R. McCRACKEN, Lt Col, USAF, Wing Operations & Training Officer. Distribution: Chief, Air Technical Intelligence Center, ATTN: ATIAA-2c, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Full report narrative: "Three unidentified flying objects were sighted over Northeast Albuquerque by two city fire department employees at three different intervals during a day of clear skys except for a few scattered cumulus clouds over the mountainous area north and east of the city. The first object was sighted at 1345 MST approaching from the northeast toward the observers at a high altitude and an extremely high speed. It had a circular shape, a shinning silver color, no visible source of propulsion, and no sound could be heard. The object approached to a point estimated at four miles from the observers and then rose in a sharp clockwise circle. Sight was lost because of the higher altitude attained. Two similar objects approached at a lower altitude (estimated at 15,000 ft.) from above the mountains northeast of the observers at 1400 MST. They moved in a straight line and appeared to move faster than the first object. Both seemed to be of the same design as the first object, but had an orange or light brown color. The objects turned abruptly when they reached a point approximately on a forty (40) degree angle to the observers and turned to a northwest course. The objects seemed to be thirty (30) to forty (40) feet in diameter at this point, which was the closest approach of an object at any time. The two objects flew in close formation toward the northwest until sight was lost. A third sighting was made of an object flying high over the mountains northeast of the city at 1440 MST. It had the same characteristics as the first object spotted at 1345 MST. The object was flying among scattered cumulus clouds high over the mountains in a curving course from northeast to southeast. Sight was lost due to the high altitude gained by the object. The above mentioned objects were unfamiliar to the observers and seemed to have no characteristics similar to aircraft seen by them in this vicinity." F-7/F-8: Extract from Status Report #7 (two scans). Date: 28 May 52. Time (Local): 1345 MST. Location: Kirtland AFB, N.M. Length of Time Observed: Not Reported. Sound: Unknown. Speed: Unknown. Altitude: Varied. Heading: W. Source: Civilians. Action or Comments: Pending. Description of Incident: "Three pinkish objects in trail formation sighted from ground. [redacted]." UNCLASSIFIED. ================================================================ SEARCH INDEX TERMS ================================================================ Albuquerque New-Mexico Kirtland-AFB Bernalillo-County Sandia- Mountains 1952 May city-firemen two-witnesses three-sightings circular silver orange light-brown trail-formation NE-approach NW-departure clockwise-climb high-altitude high-speed no-sound no-propulsion 30-40-feet 15000-feet unknown 4901st-Support-Wing atomic nuclear ATIAA ATIC AF-Form-112 air-intelligence-report C-3-evaluation Huddleston McCracken Status-Report-7 1952-wave Fire-Station-5 Ruppelt-era multiple-objects abrupt-turn formation ================================================================ CASE ANALYSIS -- Claude Sonnet 4.6 ================================================================ THE OFFICIAL CONCLUSION ----------------------- The ATIC Form 329 records a conclusion of "Unknown" -- the designation for cases where the evidence is sufficient to assess but no conventional explanation was identified. This is distinct from "Insufficient Data for Evaluation," which would reflect a data problem. The investigator had three separate sighting reports from two trained observers, weather conditions, and a formal Air Intelligence Information Report (AF Form 112) prepared by the wing intelligence officer. The Unknown conclusion reflects a genuine analytical finding, not a paperwork gap. WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS ----------------------- On May 28, 1952, two employees of Albuquerque Fire Station 5 observed three separate aerial events over the northeast quadrant of Albuquerque across a 55-minute span. The day was clear with few scattered cumulus clouds over the Sandia Mountains to the northeast; visibility was 60 miles; winds were WNW at 10 mph. First sighting (1345 MST): One circular, shining silver object approaching from the northeast at high altitude and extremely high speed. No visible propulsion, no sound. It approached to an estimated four miles, then rose in a sharp clockwise circle and climbed out of sight. Second sighting (1400 MST): Two objects, similar design to the first but orange or light brown in color, emerging from above the Sandia Mountains at an estimated 15,000 feet. They moved in a straight line faster than the first object. At approximately 40 degrees elevation angle they turned abruptly to a northwest course and flew in close formation until lost from sight. At closest approach they appeared to be 30-40 feet in diameter. Third sighting (1440 MST): One object, same characteristics as the first (silver, circular), flying high over the mountains northeast of the city in a curving course from northeast to southeast. Lost due to altitude gained. The events were formally reported through the 4901st Support Wing (Atomic) at Kirtland AFB to ATIC at Wright-Patterson, ADC at Ent AFB, and the Air Research and Development Command in Baltimore. The AF Form 112 prepared by Major Roy L. Huddleston on June 9, 1952 -- twelve days after the sighting -- received an evaluation of C-3: Fairly Reliable Source, Possibly True. POINTS OF INTEREST / WHAT GIVES ME PAUSE ----------------------------------------- The reporting chain through the 4901st Support Wing (Atomic) is the first point of note. Kirtland AFB was the operational hub of the US atomic weapons program in 1952, adjacent to Sandia Base (now Sandia National Laboratories) where nuclear weapons were designed and assembled. Sightings in the immediate vicinity of the nation's primary nuclear weapons complex were received with particular attention, and the routing to ADC and ARDC alongside ATIC reflects that sensitivity. The objects in all three observations appeared from the direction of the Sandia Mountains northeast of the city -- the direction of Sandia Base and, 60 miles farther, Los Alamos National Laboratory. Observer source matters. City firemen are professional responders trained in aerial awareness, size and distance assessment, and calm incident reporting. Their description is detailed but appropriately qualified -- they estimate distances and altitudes, specify the direction and manner of departure, and note the absence of propulsion and sound. Their AF Form 112 assessment concludes the objects had "no characteristics similar to aircraft seen by them in this vicinity" -- a significant statement from observers professionally familiar with the low-altitude air traffic around a major airfield. The color shift between observations is unusual and warrants attention. The first and third sightings describe silver objects; the second describes two objects as orange or light brown. The AF Form 112 attributes the same design to all three events, with color as the distinguishing variable. This could reflect different solar illumination angles as objects changed altitude or aspect, or it could indicate genuinely different surface characteristics. The 15,000-foot altitude estimate for the orange pair is lower than the first and third events (described as "high altitude" without number), which is consistent with differing illumination from the late-afternoon sun. The abrupt maneuvering of the second pair is the strongest behavioral element. Objects moving in a straight line at high speed that "turned abruptly" to a northwest course at a specific elevation angle, flying afterward in close formation, describe performance characteristics inconsistent with balloons (which cannot turn on command) or conventional aircraft of 1952 (which would require visible banking and could not make abrupt turns from high-speed straight-line flight without structural limits). Wind direction (WNW 10 mph) would drift balloons to the east-southeast, not toward the northwest. The May 1952 timing places this firmly within the ascending phase of the 1952 UFO wave that peaked with the Washington DC incidents in July. This case is geographically and contextually significant within that broader pattern. BOTTOM LINE ----------- The Albuquerque case is a well-documented, multi-event report from credible observers adjacent to the most sensitive nuclear weapons complex in the United States, during the peak year of Cold War aerial anxiety. The Unknown classification is earned: no conventional explanation accounts for the full set of observed behaviors across three events -- particularly the abrupt turn and close-formation flight of the second pair, which explicitly eliminates balloon and standard aircraft hypotheses. What distinguishes this from thinner Unknown cases is the combination of consistent behavior pattern across three separate observations, professional observers who explicitly compared the objects to known aircraft and found no match, the proximity to nuclear facilities that gave the report operational significance, and a formal Air Intelligence Information Report prepared by a wing intelligence officer twelve days after the event. The case warranted that processing and the record supports it. ================================================================ https://glitchymatrix.com/bluebook/ GlitchyMatrix Project Blue Book Archive All 10,808 declassified USAF UFO case files, 1945-1969 ================================================================ ----------------------------------------------------------------