PROJECT BLUE BOOK

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ri : r va “f SECURITY CLAT*IFICATION (if ens) ae

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DISPOSITION FORM

SUBJECT
(Uncl) Analysis of Photos

TO WCEFP FROM ATTAL5 DATE =A : COMMENT NO. 1

Lt Rothstein/vs
66361/Bldg 263D/P D-28

Inclosed are photographs taken by a U.5, Coast Guard photographer, We would like| |
these photographs analyzed,

TL

2 Incls L. BOWER, Colonel, USAF
1, Ltr dta /ai/s2 u/photo Chief, Technical Analysis Division
(in dupl) Air Technical Intelligence Center
2, Wire, Hq USAF a
ca ee re IA YY . Ty oe (OF

Te Led Cope
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. 5 , ree mer

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—_=_ * ‘ue 7

TO ATIAA=5 FRO WCHrP<2 . DATE AUG 28 19SZCMENT NO. #
Attn: Captain Ruvpelt - Mr. ©

3138 B17/2119

. |. A study has been completed of the Coast Guard negative of unimown aerial
objects. -A full report to describe the steps in this study will be sent to you ina

short time. Until it is completed, this brief summary will contain the findings of
the isch Reconnaissence Laboratory.

2. The central point in question is the apparent brightness of the 4 objects
cooled with the total absence of any corresponding highlights or reflections of these
objects.from the automobiles in the picture. The brigntness of these objects would | |
eppear to be of the same order of magnitude as the reflections of the sun in the chro-
mium bumpers and trim of the automobiles. This is indicated by the inclosed prints in |
Series A, numbered on the reverse side in pencil, and representing: A~-1l is normal ,
print exposure time, A-2 is double this exoosure time, A-3 is four times, end A-l} is
eight times.

3. Further examination of the Series A vrints shows no trace of highlights on
the automobiles caused by the objects. All bright spots that can be seen are direct~
ly related to the sun, which is to the rear and to the left of the camera position.
There are, however, surfaces which should show highlishts, eg, the auto directly under
the lergest object. It is obviously a fairly new car, with average polish to the
vaint. Yet nowhere on the roof is any suggestion of an overhead illumination directly

ROVE PEXRIG PRESSOR inirmey a ledy

. DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YRAKS.
DQD Dik 6200.10

EY UNCLASSIFIED

Wanalysis of Photos" (Uncl) AUG 28 1952

4. This voint has been tested experimentally in the Series B and C vrints. A |
standard studio photoflood lemp wes placed above end some 50 ftteyond a row of parked
eutowoblles beside the Photogranhic Reconnaissance laboratory. A camera was set up
on an elevated platform, about 200 ft from the central auto in the ohotogranh, indi-~-
cated by the photoflood lamp appearing directly above it. The Series B prints show
the cars with the lamp turned off, while the Series 0 prints show the same scene with
the lamp on. An unmistakable bright line highlight can be seen in the car appearing
directly under the lamp, a highlight which is not there vhen the lamp is off. A
similer bright line should be seen somewhere on the top of the car in the Series A
prints, hed distant bright objects been actually located as indicated.

5. Series D prints show how easy it is to construct a hoax by means of double
exposure. The glowing objects, hovering over the Photogranhic Reconnaissence Lab-
oretory are mitiple exoosures of a simole street lemon, stauchion tyne. The film
was multiply exsivet. at night, with a derk view field surrounding the lenm. The day-
time exposure of the building was carefully oriented to vroduce the aerial hovering
effect. However, the fraud is indicated because no hizhlights may be seen in the
auto — (The possibility of building shading in Series D is not existent in
Series A).

6. It is therefore concluded that the authenticity of the victure, taken by the
Const Guard photographer, is open to serious doubt.

A SN
Colone@l, USAF
Chief » Photo Reconnaissance Lab
Weapons Comonents Division

CON ig

1. Incl
Series A (4 Prints
Series B (4 Prints
Series C (4 Prints
Series D (2 Prints) .

——- -— °-

ACTION

AIR @4
‘ AFM DE AIR Se ee ETD Be REOEEATT RN
PP JEDFN JEDWP 222 BEFORE DECLASSIFY Hv.
: DF JEPHQ 78C
/ P 17231292
iy FM HQ USAF wasupcy
TO JEDFN/CGAIRDEFCOM ENT AFB COLO
JEDWPZATIC WRIGHT PATTERSON AFP OHIO

WRMEDEMYF ROM AFOIN 53853 ATIC ATIN ATIAA~2Ce THE FOLLOWING
CABLE. FROM CGAS SALFM MASS IS QUOTFD FOR YOUR INFORMATION CLN
"SUSPICIOUS OBJECTS UNIDENTIFIABLE SIGHTED BY 2 RELIABLE FNLISTFD
MEN THIS UNIT AT 99350 FROM AIR STATION. 4)OBJFCTS CIRCULAR IN
SHAPE. IN V FORMATION APPARENTLY OVFR BEVERLY MASSACHUSFTTS -LOW
ALTITUDE. ORIGINALLY SIGHTED BY STATION PHOTOGRAPHER. ATTFNTION
ATTRACTED BY VERY BRIGHT LIGHT. CLEAR PHOTCGRAPH OBTAINED. COPIFS

BEING AIRMAILED THIS DATE TO ACTION AND INFORMATION ADFFS.

WEATHER. CLEAR. THIN BROKEN 28999 FEET VISIBILITY 6 MILFS WINDS
SOUTHWEST 8 KNOTS ALTINFTER 3925 TEMP 84"
417/2132Z JUL JEPHQ

wh

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oF

O_o

UFO SIGHTING
a MASSACHUSETTS

July 1952

On 16 July 1952 a photograph of four objects was taken by the USCG
station photographer at Salem, Massachusetts. The photograph was
submitted to ATIC for analysis and the analysis was completed on

1 Aug 52. Analysis was made from the original negative which was returned
to the Coast Guard at their request. The results of this analysis in-
dicated that the photo was a hoax. Extensive photographs were taken under
Similar conditions. Failure of the light source to cast reflections on
the highly polished cars below indicated that the light was not outside
and it was assumed by the analyst at the time, that the photo was a double
exposure and for this reason was a hoax. A subsequent examination of this

photo was made in October 1963 and the following analysis is indicated as
@ more probable cause.

The photo was taken through a window with a 4/5 Busch Pressman Camera
(135 MM F4.7 Reptar lens with Rapax shutter, loaded with 4/5 Super XX cut
film). ‘The photographer observed several lights which seemed to be
wavering. He observed the lights for 5 or 6 seconds and grabbed the
comera, which had been on a nearby table. The focus was edjusted to in-
finity. The photographer pulled the slide in preparation for the picture
when he noticed that the lights had dimmed. He assumed at the time that
the object he saw was a reflection. He ran out of the room to get an
additional witness, and upon returning noticed that the lights were again
brilliant. When they went to the window the lights were gone. He again
stated that perhaps some sort of refraction or ground reflection could
possibly account for the lights.

The following points are deemed pertinant to analysis. The camera was
focused on infinity and the picture taken through a window. As the
witness approached the window the objects dimmed, as he returned to his
point of initial observation and at the second observation as he reentered
the room the lights were egain brilliant. The objects as photographed,
appear fuzzy and out of focus. The cars and buildings outside are sharply
outlined. The window frame inside the building is out of focus. All four

objects have the same outline and general configuration, in spite of the
blurring.

Conclusion: It is believed that the photos represent light reflections
from an interior source (probably the ceiling lights) on the window
through which the photo was taken. With the camera set on infinity the
window would be more out of focus than the lights. The lights would still
be out of focus since the distance from the lights to the window and back
to the camera lens would still be shorter than the distance required for

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

ADRESS RFPLY To:
COMMANDANT
U. 8. COAST GUARD
HEADQUARTERS
WASHINGTON 23, D.C.

« CPI
1 August 1952

Captain

Air Force Technical Intelligence
Wright Patterson Air Force Base
Dayton, Ohio

Dear Captain Qiaim

At the request of Major Fournet, Air Force Intelligence, Pentagon,
Washington, we are sending you the original negative of the aerial
phenomena photograph for your scrutiny.

When you have finished with it, we would like to have it back.

Very truly yours,

— Chief, Public Information
Division

Encl-Original Negative

6 ee a = eee

—- -—- —_——

ee Ts

oe

i( (
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

COM MANDANT
U. 8. COAST GUARD

CPI
18 August 9 1952

MEADQUARTERS
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.

A0RMAIL REGISTERED MAIL

Captain Ga
Air Tech. Intelligence Center

Wright Patterson Air Force Base
Dayton, Ohio

Dear Captain We.

In accordance with the telephonic request of Major D. J. J. Fournet,
we are forwarding herewith two depositions and investigation report of

unusual aerial phenomena. This material, previously classified secret,
has been declassified.

Very truly yours,

LCDR, USCG
Acting Chief, Public Information Division
Incls: —
Deposition

Deposition ae ose

Agent's rep

yin g.

| The.

KO 7! Se: to yeh
hn (Mh Bi ee By

r| ad a se” ef

Ww GTON; Aug. LU
Coast Guard. H uarters today
made" photograph. of

unidentified -2 -aerial phenomena”
taken: by a Coast Guard photog-
rapher.. >/" } > tf ayy)

.

. ,The Ghote. clearty.shows four
round obj Each appears
to have two tical shafts of:
light extending across its cen-’

ter. and. prolseting atthe for-

oe

amera

Flying ng Saucers, Disks, or What?
! Catches 4 of.

.

Them

cab Sn} , he cin roe Unie Pres Teepbtn of Cont Guard Phos
Hibs Sag i ere’s: thé! ‘picture’ shapped by Coast Guardsman Shell R., Alpert. : 7

‘ward and rear ends, The Nights
are'ina“V” formation.

The Coast Guard said it had)
| 119- opinion as to the cause or
Source of the -objects..and .was
|) Teleasing ‘the, picture only’ be-}

cause: of the widespread * public
interest in aerial phenomena. . |

> ‘The picture was snapped by
- Shell R. Alpert, . Salem, M Mass.,.

S «we?

Air Station “‘photugrapher. who
“said he sighted several brillian
white lights through the sta-
tion’s photo lab window at 9:35;
mm. uly 16: Lo € .
‘Alpert ‘watched the lights {
five- or six .seconds before at

tempting to photograph them
By the time he had focused his
camera the lights were reported.
“considerably - dimmed down.” ,

—21-- ao 4k.

——_

Coast Guard

a

SE aia Sido on a
Flying Saucers?—A Coast.
share whit enue Sve a Bate

*
re Carey A

Photograph released by the Coast Guard yesterday made July 16 by Shell R. Alpe

—_————_-

SATURDAY,

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Bay = et

AUGUST 2,

tograph
cr te

Herald Tribune—United Press from United States Coast Guard
rt at Coast Guard Air Station in Salem, Mass. -

1952

LO C48

Gets Picture of|

“Objects’ in Sky
‘Saucer’ be a Parking Lot,
Shown ju Photo of Four,

Proves To Be White Rock

’ Bye B. Allen

%

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—

7

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.—Coast!
Guard headquarters today released
a picture of “four round objects”
or lights snapped when they ap-
peared briefly in the sky near the
Salem, Mass., Coast Guard air
Station at 9:35 a. m, July 16. It
said the ‘phenomenal photograph”
was the first daylight one ever
made “of—what are they?” but
emphasized that the Coast Guard

was in no way sponsoring the
reality of “flying saucers.”
Officials who gave the pictures
to the press said they vouched
only for the fact that the original
had been taken by Shell R. Alpert,
a twenty-one-year-old © Coast
Guard photographer, of Denver, in

|
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$

,

: -_— —-

the presence of Thémig, Flaherty,
of Marblehead, Mass.,.a hospital-
man first class at the alr station.
The Coast Guard did Say
that the negative had not been’!
“tampered with in any way.” The
officials added that the four’
“objects” ty it resembled a salvo
burst of. vfs from un anti-air-'
craft battery but said there was
no Army. or Navy firing range in
the vicinity of Salem. -

“Saucer” in Parking Lot

Only after the pictures had been
given out did Coast Guard head-!
quarters discover what appeared
to be a far more perfect “saucer”
than the aerial lights neatly

grounded at the edge of a parking j

*
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Oe OMe... t8eratserer

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kW YOrs WOR Les rant ANU SUN, WaunodUs.Y, slut ov, 250,
a  , ae

-

‘

AF Studying
Photogranh of |
Disk Formation,

“4

if By JIM -G, LUCAS, é
-_ Seripps-Howard Staff Writer.
_ WASHINGTON, July 30.—

Alr Force is checking the authen-'
ticity of a photograph which pur-

ports to show five f1 aucers
in formation Re Mass,

The picture was -tekerr-by-Cos st
Guardsmen at Salem last Thurs-
day about 10 am. It was flown
to Coast Guard headquarters in
‘Washington and then turned over
to the Air Force,. It is now at
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,
Dayton, Ohio,. where flying saucer
‘ reports are investigated and eval
uated. I saw it yesterday in the
Pentagon. 44 8 >

Capt, E. J. Ruppelt, the Al
Force's flying saucer expert, had
it in his briefcase—unmentioned—
_ through a press conference in

which Maj. Gen. John A. Sam-
ford, Air Force intelligence chief,
discounted recent saucer sightin

‘Gen, Samford said he: is ‘con
vinced in my own mind” that the
' saucers picked up by radar over
Washington are the result of sud-
den changes in temperature. He
Said they are not secret weapons
or machines produced in this

country. He discounted the idea
they came from another planet.
Gen. Samford conceded that a

‘graphs of what purport to be fly-

buildings in the foreground.

# flying saucer picture.*

Wd TASB 30 |

Believes What's Proved. |

In the Salem picture, the fly-
ing saucers—if that’s what: they
are—appear egg-shaped white ob-
jects with wavy edges suspended

ing saucers have been taken, all
were snapped at night. The Air
Force, Invariably has explained
them away as meteors, rockets or
bursting firebajls. --

* Although the sky is light in the
photo, the white objects which
may be flying are easily distin-
guishable. They somewhat Tesem-
Hle, but could not be confused
with clouds. There are several

Capt, Ruppelt, who was spent
several years checking and plot-
ting flying saucer reports, said he
is skeptical, Attempts have been
made to hoodwink him in the past
and. he - believes nothing which
canngt be proved. . — -

He points out that:a single pho-
tograph’ was submitted. There was

yet to get hold of a Negative of

Wants to See Nagative.

“apt. Ruppelt said he has asked

_Soast Guard to obtain the
evative and-forward it to him.

Without. questioning anyone's
integrity, Capt. Ruppelt said his
first impression was that the pic-
tyre is a fake. He said the al-
leged saucers-appear to have been
painted in. Their somewhat ir-
regular, wavy edges indicate as
much, he sald.

Lwouldn’t know. Capt. Ruppelt
is-a trained observer, who mak
it his business to look for suc
things. L could easily be fooled b
a composite picture. -_

—_

“ies

-
2

TIRE acti

tA
A Coast Guard photograph taken on an air station in Salem, .
Mass. The Coast Guard caption, “What Are They?” called its picture
“phenomenal” and described the objects in the sky as. “brilliant lights.”

: Pee cm? eee ;. ft TH
= ° ms a = a

———— =—

a clear picture with the lens setting on infinity. The objects outside

the building would be in focus. The apparant brightness of the reflection

would decrease as the photographer approached the window. The initial
photo analysis indicating the magnitude of the light and substantistion
of fact that the light source was not external is correct. There is no
indication of any attempt to perpertrate ao hoax. The photo received is
similar to many others taken through windows which have been confirmed as
reflections of an interior light source. Had the camera been focused for
a shorter distance the outlines of the interior light sources would have
been sharper. It is believed that there is sufficient evidence to sub-

stantiate the evaluation of this photo as reflections of internal light
sources.

( COPY
Pima = Ay * P |
U.S, Coast age 1 of pages

06-2947 (8-47) AGENT'S REPORT _

SUBJECT REPORTING UNIT

Unidentified airborne objects; Observation o Intelligence, 10GD(op1)
report of

ORIGIN OF CASE

17 July 1952

Commander, First Coast Guard District (op)

. This investigation was predicated on information received from the
CO, Coast Guard Air Station, Salem, Massachusetts, concerning unidentified
airborne objects sighted near the Air Station.

SEED (292-52. SN, official photographer for the Air
Station was int ewed at 0845, 17 July 1952, in the photo lab at the
Air Station. Statement enclosed,
SE 273-206) HM1, was interviewed in the sick bay
at the Air Station at 0930, 17 July 1952, Statement enclosed.
The above are the only known eye-witnesses to subject objects. No

factual information could be learned concerning the size, shape, altitude,
speed, sound or direction of motion, of the objects,

All personnel interviewed or questioned were informed that any in-
formation concerning the oljjects was "SECRET" and should not be discussed
with any one without permission from the CO,

i iss
; JANAP 146 A

F.G.E.
Encls:
(a) Statement of |
(b) Statement of Declassified 4,
(c) Photos 7-29-52 F.G.E.

CERTIFIED TO BE A TRUE COPY: |

COPY

STATEMENT OF UNUSUAL OCCURANCES OBSERVED AND PHOTOGRAPHED APPROXIMATILY
0935, 16 July, 1952 from photo office window, U. S. COAST GUARD AIR STATION,
Salem, Mass. by Station Photographer:

I was sitting in the Photo Office filing negatives with my back toward the
window when I turned slightly in the direction of the window and noticed
something bright outside, I observed the sky and saw what appeared to be
several bright — almost brilliant -—- lights slightly on the starboard side
of the power plant smoke stacks. I could not determine:

l- Size of lights

2~ Number of lights

3- Altitude of lights

4—- Sound, if any

5= Speed of lights, if any

6— Direction of lateral or vertical motion
7= Shape of lights

The color temperature of the lights was a high number of Kelvin degrees--

extremely brilliant and white, They seemed to be wavering but I am-not

certain of this. I observed these lights for possibly 5 or 6 seconds

and then turned to a 4/5 Busch Pressmah Camera (135 MM Fi,.7 Rapter

lens with a Rapax shutter, loaded with 4/5 Super XX cut film). I had this

camera on the desk in order to clean the lens and was not certain there

was film in it. I adjusted the focusing scale roughly to infinity, pulled

the slide and.prepared to shoot the picture when I noticed the lights were

considerably dimmed down, I assumed that what I had seen was merely some

sort of reflection, but I rushed out of the lab into the Sick Bay and got
ie welee a, ed HM1 to come back to the window with me. As I entered the

. office, I noticed that the lights were again burning brightly and without

saying anything to dived for the camera and hit the shutter,

after which I told to look out and as he and I did there was a momentary

flash and we could no longer see any lights. I developed the film which

was exposed at about 1/50th second, f 4.7; in Dektol 1:1 for about 3 3/4 minutes,

the developing agent imnediately at hand. After I had fixed and washed the
negative, I took it to CDR. XO for his examination.

It was anatremely hot day and I think that perhaps some sort of refraction
of ground reflections could possibly have accounted for the lights, but in
my estimation this is an improbable explanation. The lens was quite dirty
and so was the window screen, I cannot in all honesty say that I saw objects
or aircraft, merely some manner of lights.

Submitted 17 July, 1952

|, —_
tation Photographer

CERTIFIED TO BE A TRUE COPY:

Declassified 7-29-52
F.G.E.

ae Sea —

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

Address reply to:

File:
17 July, 1952. °

Statement of unusual occurance observed by Base Hospitalman at approximately
0930, 16 July, 1952, from photo lab window, CG Air Station, Salem, Mass.

le working on daily reports I was summoned by Base Photographer, one
SN(PH) who called me to hurry and look at airborne lights.
Looking out the window to the North West there appeared to be what was thought

to be a quick flash, I actuglly could not say that it was anything. It could
have been reflections from passing cars or from the ocean.

ae

Declassified 7-29-52
F-G.E.

CERTIFIED TO BE A TRUE COPY:

W. D. STRAUCH, QR, LCDR, USCG

eee

SUT: (Unclasaified) Leporting of Information on
Unconventional Aircraft (Salem, Uassachusstts)
SPhcLsaL iM ULRY

Tus Diractor of Soecial snvestigations
iatdimarters, Uool
sesnlagtan <5, Ye Ce

52g at approxiaately 0935 hours, errs cae
USCG Station fhotographer, U, 5, Joast Guard alr [tation;

Salem, .ass., observed four (4) unidentified airborne ob jects west of
the station, A photegranh of the objecta way taken, io “aebivity or
condition ceveloped that accounts for sighting,

5 hours, 15 July 1952, 4 telephone call was received from
Commander, UsCG, Cowsanding Officer, U, 5, ‘foist Guard

Mir Station, Salam, Lasa,, raporting that two of his men hed observed
unusual airborne objects at. approximately 0935 hours, 16 duly 1752, and
ihat one of the men had taken a photograph of the objects, ie s ee
1952, Commander NC CUS ras contacted by Special Agen P
and the following inforwation obtained;

FT< nes

» VOCG, station Vhotoerapher, U.S.
Coast Cuard Air Station, calem, hasa,, noticed a very brilliant lizht in
the sky west of the station, GUE -racbed his camera end took a photo

rana of the brilliant Licht, @lecs. led 7 273-206
‘hel, UscG, who was in the sane building and alse saw a bright Lisst in
the aky. 3L/Ui? furnished the following inforsation,

f re i YRAR bey so
HAL Ac SIFIEDpowscnspen. 8 * PAR

to 6 PIL 8 303 ;

Leal Myala259 HACE ASS tal

b. Three (3) objectsa glowing bright and then Light and dis-
Qopeared Like a light being dlawed with a rheostab, Ubjects anpeared
to waver slightly and slow aa 4 Light source, Se could not determine
the shape nor formation, acrodynamis features, or -_ SySbum.
did not see any trail, exhaust, or maneuvers, did not hear
any sowxl and could not tell if the objects: were moving, After ALT
Ceveloped the photograph, he nobed that there was a difference in nuxbers
than what he had observed,

GC. Objects sighted by QM approximately 6935 hours, 16
July 1952 and were observed for approximately <5 - 30 seconds,

ad, VUbserved vy through a fine mesh serven window, Photoe
graoh yas taken through the same window with a 4 x 5 Dusch vresaman, with
en £ 4.7 raptar lens, 135 «a, with aetbings of f 4.7 at 1/50th of a second,
ui Kodak Super Aa fila,

f, MH bas beon a monber of the U, S, Coast Guard for one and
one-half years, and previously attended the art vonter School, Los Angales,
California, ee a swnber of the U, 5, liavy for tie yours, seven
months, and U, 5S, Coast Guard for five years, four months, Cosmande

advised oo % 3 an excellent photographer, and that both ggg and
@ very stable und reliabie,

@. Weather conditions, as reported by U, S, Coast Cuard “tation
Serology vffice for 0923 hours, 16 July 1952, ars as follows: thin, broxen
Clouds at 23,000 ft., vislbility six (6) miles, wird couthvest olgnt (3)
knobs, altineter satting 3.05, toaperature Si? I,

h. Wo astivity or condition ia known that might account for the
sichting. aA

; a

A. FPhotoxrana taxen of the objesta is attacned as an inclosare,

4. Ho interceotor or identificati
objacta “asa not reperted to Commander
tw thirty minutes after thay were observed,

action taken, Sighting of
until approximtaly fifteen

GIES confined tice and place of sizhbing and stated he
223 of the opinion that the light in tha sky was a reflection of 4 plans
or Light reflected of2 an autowobile windshidd, QQmcould give no
further account of bhe sigziting.

LdeOSD PheOe25? .

UNCLASSIFIED

Two (2) copies of this report will ba fornarced to the Coumunding
Ganeral, Aix tg Vowaand , “Pighb-Pabterson Aiy “orca Base, Dayton,

Uhio, Atta:tions MOS, ho further avtion taicen hy this Diotriet, |

i

1 Inoke 1 Lids rev? i j |
Phote of objacts (trip) Major, U: AP . a

: |

“eos CG, AMC, ¥/Incl (dup)

UNC) 4 SO ey
“ASSIFIED
3

a RELIES ata ceg |