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TOP SECRET / MAJIC vous EYES..QNLY * TOP SECRET * eeneeeonanenne EYES ONLY a civilian pilot flying over the Cascade Mountains in the State of W shington observed nine flying diso-shaped aircraft t: ng in formation at a high rate of aveed. Although thia not the first know sighting of such objects, it was the first to gain widespread attention in the public media. Hundreds of reports of sightings of similar objects followed. Many of these came from highly credible military and civilian sources. Theee reports res- ulted in independent efforts by several different elements of the military to ascertain the nature and purpose of these objects in the intere ts of national defense. A number of witni a were interviewed and there were several unsuccessful attempts to utilize a: reraft in efforts to pursue reported disos in flight. Public reaction bordered on near hysteria at times. On 24 June, 1947, In spite of these efforta, little of substance was learned about the objects until a local rancher reported that one had crashed in a remote region of New Mexico located approx- imately seventy-five miles northwest of Roswell Army Air (now Walker Pield). On 07 July, 1947, a secret operation was begun to assure recovery of the wreckage of this object for scientific atudy. During the course of this operation, aerial reconnaissance discovered that four small human-like beings had apparently ed from the craft at some point before it exploded. Th had fallen to earth about two mil et of the wreckage site. All four e deud and badly 4: posed due to action by predators and exposure to the e during the approx- imately one week time period which had elapsed before their discovery. A special scientific team took charge of removing these bodies for study. (See Attachment "C".) The wreckage of the craft was aleo removed to several different locations. (See Attachment "B".) Civilian and military witnesses in the area were debriefed, and news reporters were given the effective cover story that the object had been a misguided weather research balloon. gs omy | OP seCRET 7 MAJIC resets ry rvce ANIV 003 COPY ONE OP ONE. T52-EXEMPT (E) EYES ONLY