Author: John Greenewald

Background This film reel is of a press conference held by the Air Force to address the rash of UFO sightings over Washington, D.C. in 1952. In this interview, Major General John A. Samford explains the Air Force’s objective to identify and analyze potential threats from the UFO phenomenon. Appearing in the video after Maj. Gen. Samford is Donald Keyhoe. The press conference was held on July 31, 1952, and this film reel is found within the National Archives & Records Administration. According to General Samford, between 1947 and the time of the interview (a span of about five years),…

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Background In December 1949 Project Twinkle, a network of green fireball observation and photographic units, was established but never fully implemented. Although it is widely believed the green fireballs were natural phenomenon, during Project TWINKLE, many scientific experts were not convinced. In addition, Clyde Tombaugh, the astronomer who discovered the planet Pluto, was reported as saying, “I have seen three objects in the last seven years which defied any explanation of known phenomenon, such as Venus, atmospheric optic, meteors or planes. I am a professional, highly skilled, professional astronomer. In addition I have seen three green fireballs which were unusual…

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