23 Jan 48 - Clingerman memo - SIGN requests AFOIR (USAF
Intelligence) GR file for review
17 Feb 48 - AFOIR-AA memo. A Swedish Dr Wilkenson described
efforts of Swedish govt and his company to perfect V-1-type guided
missiles; had called in a German scientist who was expert on V-1 for
assistance with range deficiency. Dr Wilkenson had ideas about GRs but
Col von Schinkel shouted him down
18 Feb 48 - Norton County, Kansas fireball - apparent concern that
it might be foreign missile. (see 25 Mar 48) LaPaz tells April 1949 <
http://www.project1947.com/gfb/cap21649.html>Los
Alamos GFB conference (Teller, Ulam, Bradbury) that "The time that
fall, February 18, 1948, the rumor got around somehow in Northern
Kansas and Southern Kansas that it was a Russian bomb, and it was aimed
at the geographical center of the United States which is not very far
from [Norton]. Apparently, a great many people gave credence to that
rumor and were delighted when we finally recovered meteorites up there
and proved it wasn't anything but an ordinary meteorite fall.
Incidentally, it did not have the characteristics of the green fireball
we're talking about here."
(However, the Norton County fall is unique in being to date the
largest recovered example of a meteorite composed of extremely rare
material called "Aubrite" - enstatite achondrite, almost pure magnesium
silicate.)
15c906.jpg
LaPaz directs loading of the magnesium meteorite from the Norton
County fall
15c9b2.jpg
Ironically, LaPaz received a letter the same day from the AF
concerning photo reconnaissance coverage of the Four Corners area (see
30 Oct 47)
25 Mar 48 - "Enemy ranging fire" and Nininger's reaction to
LaPaz's unseemly haste to recover the Norton County meteorite.
The University of New Mexico
Albuquerque
Institute of Meteoritics
March 25, 1948
TO: Dr. V. H. Regener, Chairman
Senate Research Committee
FROM: Lincoln LaPaz
SUBJECT: Grant for Meteoritic Investigations
In response to your recent inquiry, the following information is
submitted with respect to (1) the $375.00 grant originally asked for;
and (2) the additional $125.00 now requested:
(a) At the time, (Nov. 17, 1947) when the original
request was made, no source of money save the almost exhausted research
grant of the Institute of Meteoritics was available and no request had
been made to any other agency for funds.
(b) On March 10, 1948, in response to an invitation
sent out by the O.N.R. asking for proposed projects in the field of
Astronomy, a grant of $3,000 was requested from the O.N.R. to support
continuation of the search in the Four Corners area and to finance an
intensive investigation of the very recent (Feb. 18, 1948) fall at
Norton, Kansas. The writer's request to the O.N.R. has received
strong support from at least the following nationally known scientists:
Dr. H. E. Landsberg, Research and Development Board, Washington, D.C.;
Dr. Fred Whipple and Dr. Fletcher Watson, Harvard University; Dr.
Harold Urey and Dr. Harrison Brown of the Institute for Nuclear
Studies, University of Chicago. However, even in case the O.N.R. acts
favorably on our application for funds, it will be sometime before such
funds become available. Therefore, in view of the urgent need for
speedy recovery of the meteorites, it is felt that a request for
immediate additional financial aid is justified. As noted in my
earlier communication to you, the fact that only part of the $375.00
has been spent to date is simply a reflection of the impossibility of
launching a full scale search until weather and terrain conditions
improve, and should not be interpreted as evidence that no more funds
are needed.
(c) The scale of the light, sound and mechanical
effects observed during the falls of both 1947 Oct. 30 in the Four
Corners area and 1948 Feb. 18 in the Norton, Kansas area is the
strongest possible evidence that genuine meteorite falls occurred in
these localities. All experts who have personal knowledge of the
facts concur in the belief that meteorites actually fell in these
areas. It is true that rocket or guided missile experiments on a
colossal scale might give rise to phenomena of the sort observed in New
Mexico and Kansas. But if the observed effects are of human
origin, then the need for speedy recovery of all possible evidence is
far more urgent than in case harmless meteorite falls were involved;
for, from the beginning, all U.S. Military Agencies have denied that
our forces were responsible for either the Four Corners or Norton
incidents. As evidence of the sincerity of the Armed Forces, the
writer wishes to point out that the Institute has received every
possible aid from them in connection with the searches so far carried
out in the Four Corners area. Col. Leslie O. Peterson's letter of
18 Feb. 1948 (of which copies are inclosed) and the elaborate suite of
A.A.F. air photographs recently presented to the Institute which you
have personally examined, give some indication of the extent to which
the A.A.F. has gone and plans to go in order to insure the success of
the Institute of Meteoritics' searcher. I have no hesitation in
characterizing both the Four Corners and Norton incidents as either
genuine meteorite falls of the results of enemy ranging fire. In either
case it would appear that the searches conducted by the Institute of
Meteoritics are entirely justified. Personally, I believe the
odds are of the order of 999 to 1 that genuine meteorite falls are
observed.
(d) The question as to the probability of recovering
meteorites (or missile fragments) assuming such objects are actually
present in the Four Corners and Norton area can be answered as follows:
This probability can be made as near unity as we please by conducting a
sufficiently intensive and extensive search.
In conclusion, I should like to point out that whereas the $375
originally requested was earmarked for use on the Four Corners fall, I
should like to have authorization from the Senate Research Committee to
allocate the $125 last requested to either the Norton, Kansas area or
the Four Corners area whichever first presents weather and terrain
conditions permitting a resumption of effective search. This
request has its origin in the urgency for as speedy recovery as
possible of the fallen meteorites; and the knowledge gained through
field experience that conditions in the Four Corners area may remain
impossible until late spring or early summer. Should the
Committee be willing to permit what remains of the original $375 in
either area, I believe the chances for early recovery of meteorites
would be substantially improved. In making this statement I do
not wish to be understood to imply that meteorites may not have fallen
in the Four Corners area; but only that they will very probably be much
harder to find there than in Kansas and Nebraska.
Assuring you and through you the Senate Research Committee of our
appreciation of the very material aid given the Institute of
Meteoritics, I
am, with the highest personal regards
Very truly yours,
Lincoln LaPaz
Director
Institute of Meteoritics
Related, undated Nininger flyer:
The Norton, Kansas Meteorite - A Factual Statement in the Interest
of Safeguarding Research
Part 1
February 18, 1948 at about 5:00 p.m. a fireball was sighted by
people of several states. This was variously reported as a rocket, a
bomb, a space ship, etc.
February 19th. Statements were given to the press by several
scientists including Monning, LaPaz and Nininger, to the effect that a
meteorite had probably landed in the vicinity of Norton, Kans.
February 19th. Nininger inquired of news agencies if any proposed
survey had been announced by anyone and when informed that no such plan
had been reported, he authorized the announcement that he would be on
the way within an hour to make a survey. The Niningers left about 11:00
a.m. for this survey the same day.
February 20th was spent in the Panhandle of Texas, Oklahoma and
Kansas, interviewing witnesses to the great meteor. At this time there
was still much speculation in the press as to whether this had been a
meteor, a bomb, a rocket, etc, etc. But Nininger stated positively that
it was a meteorite.
February 21st. Niningers encircled the end point of the meteor,
which proved to be almost directly over Norcatur, Kans. They found the
populace of Norton County about evenly divided on the question as to
whether it had been a meteor or some other type of apparition. There
was a similar division of opinion on the matter of direction, whether
from the S.W. to N.E. or from N.E. to S.W. Nininger assured them it had
passed from S.W. to N.E.
Mr. H. O. Stockwell was in the Norton area when the Niningers
arrived. He had come with his detecting device, but had decided that
this situation had not yet reached the state where his method was
applicable. He said he was not able to make the kind of survey needed
and would return to Hutchinson. He and the Niningers agreed upon a plan
of cooperation.
February 22nd was spent in making further interviews and in
drawing a preliminary map to guide the community in a search for
fragments.
February 23d. A free lecture was given in the Norton High School
and another in Norcatur at a Father & Son banquet. Specimens were
exhibited at these lectures and were left on display in the high school
until noon the following day.
February 24th. A sketch map was placed on exhibition in the high
school and left there to guide local residents in their search for
small fragments. The Nininger method has always been to concentrate on
the search for small fragments first, which lie on the surface, and let
these finds guide in the later search for large fragments. Also,
instructions were published in the local newspapers as to how to
proceed with the search and where to report suspected specimens.
It should be mentioned that the editor of the Norton Daily
Telegram told Nininger on Feg. 24th that all of the information that he
had gleaned previous to the Nininger lecture and his personal contact
with him, had given him the impression that any meteorite could be
identified by its response to a magnet. This of course is
eroneous [sic].
It should also be mentioned that Nininger found several spurious
exhibits in circulation in Norton, the owners of which were informed of
the falseness of their exhibits as meteorites.
The Niningers' departure was forced by the arrival of the season's
worst snow storm but they left with the full assurance of complete
cooperation on the part of the community.
Part II
Subsequent to the Niningers' departure it appears that the area
was visited in March by representatives of the University of New Mexico
who interviewed farmers in the area which has been designated for
search. Some weeks later, April 6th, Mr. Tansill, well within the
designated search area picked up an odd-looking stone which he
suspected of being a piece of the meteorite that had been so much
talked about. Though his family and neighbors tried to talk him out of
it he persisted in the idea and about three weeks later he reported it.
Due to the activities of those who had followed the Niningers, this
fragment went to the University of New Mexico.
Dr. Lincoln LaPaz of the University of New Mexico now began a
vigorous campaign among the farmers in the area surrounding this
find. This was accomplished without any publicity until the eve
of his return to Albuquerque when announcement was made over the radio.
The wording of the announcement was such as to lead Nininger to
believe that the find had been made farther north and east than the
area which he had designated for search. When members of his
staff expressed surprise that Nininger did not go immediately, he
explained that his designated area would yield in due time and that he
did not intend to interfere with any survey that may have developed
independently. However, when a few days later the 100-lb.
fragment was found, he learned that it was within the area which he had
designated. He then went again to the location and found that
most of the fragments so far recovered were within the limits
designated.
While in the area this second time, May 5th to 9th, Nininger made
further checks on the observational data, coupled with facts revealed
by the finds so far made, and saw no reason for changing his original
map materially. He recalculated to extend the search for large
fragments which he had not included in the preliminary sketch and
interviewed farmers on the Nebraska side of the line. He spoke
specifically to Mr. Harold Hahn, urging him to look out for any hole
that might mark the entrance of a large stone. It was in Mr.
Hahn's field that the large mass was later found.
Part III
This large mass was offered for sale to the highest bidder. The
University of New Mexico and the University of Nebraska combined
together to outbid Niningers on the pretext that the latter were
commercial and that they on the contrary represented "pure
science." Yet it is a matter of record that Nininger has carried
on far more research in meteoritics than both these institutions
combined during the past 10 years. And all of his resources are
at present devoted to education and research.
It is also a matter of record that on the occasion of the fall of
February 18th, and during succeeding days these "pure science"
institutions saw fit to stay at home and let the great meteor go
unsurveyed so far as they were concerned. Dr. LaPaz sent word to
Norton that he would come if anything were found and the University of
Nebraska contributed to science by announcing that "It may well have
been a meteor."
Weeks after the fall Dr. LaPaz was quoted in the press as
speculating whether it was a meteor, a rocket or a contra-terrene
meteorite.
On the eve of the sale of the meteorite, representatives of the
University of Nebraska volunteered that they had no interest whatever
in the whole affair until it was learned that a piece had landed in
their state! Such is the way of "pure science"! They also
stated that they felt a moral responsibility to the state for securing
this meteorite. Apparently, this feeling of moral responsibility
did not extend to those whose labors and money had been responsible for
their knowing that the meteorite had landed.
Of all the different phases of meteoritical research, none has
ever proven so costly and so likely to represent a clean outlay of cash
with no returns, even in for form of specimens, as in the survey of
fireballs. Surely no one with experience in this field would ever
think of its being turned into a profitable activity. Yet the records
will show that two individuals operating independent of "pure science"
institutions have done nearly all of this kind of research in the
southwest during the past 20 years. Nininger is one of the two.
It might well be mentioned that when the first finds were made Dr.
LaPaz explained that because Nininger had left the area and that the
University of New Mexico was first on the ground after the find,
therefore the latter had prior rights and that Nininger was an
interloper. When, however, the big stone was found on Hahn's
farm, in keeping with Nininger's calculations and by the man whom he
had coached to look for such phenomena, even though Nininger was on the
ground 14 hours ahead of LaPaz, the latter again insisted on prior
rights.
On this occasion, this "pure science" advocate (who a month
earlier was the only man in the great A.A.S. convention in Pasadena to
speak in favor of the continued commercializing of the great Arizona
meteorite crater forced all concerned to participate in the ridiculous
procedure of an auction sale where Nininger had to choose between
losing the fruit of his expensive survey and the paying of an
exorbitant price for the meteorite.
The "pure science" group therefore set a new high price level
which will go a long way in completing the commercialization of
meteorites.
H. H. Nininger, Director
American Meteorite Museum
P.O. Box 1171, Winslow, Arizona
15 Apr 48 - "An otherwise routine request to a news service for
copies of [photos of] the February 18th [1948 Norton, KS meteor's]
smoke cloud made by Col W R Clingerman, Chief, Technical Intelligence
Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, on April 15th, contains this sentence:
'This Command is currently engaged in an intelligence study involving
the identification of meteors and meteorites.'" (Gross)
5 May 48 - "An item in the Istanbul newspaper Yeni Sabah on May 5
[48] told of strange doings in the sky over the countryside: 'There
have been reports lately to the effect that shining objects like
meteors have been sighted in various parts of the country. Some people
suggest that these might be rockets. Information received from
authorized circles reveals that such a thing passed over Adapazari and
was seen to explode in the air. Parts of it fell into a village nearby
and killed a sheep dog. The thing was found to be a rocket and the
debris will be inspected by experts. Observers say that the rocket
which has [been] claimed to have come from the Northwest was flying at
an altitude of 200 meters over Adapazari before it fell. According to
rumors, it is possible that the rocket is connected with the 'flying
disc' experiments being conducted by the Russians at the station on Mt.
Alagos close to the eastern frontier.'" (Gross)
Late May/early Jun 48 - "The US Air Force attache in Ankara had a
note delivered to him from the Pentagon requesting that he investigate
fully, with the help of the Turkish General Staff, the death of a dog
in a village near Adapazari [~60 miles ESE of Istanbul -
JC]....Classified 'secret,' the episode was named the 'Adapazari
Incident' in an information request to the Air Force Chief of Staff,
which asked that inquiries be made concerning rumored 'experiments by
Russians on Mt. Alagos.'" (Gross)
10 Jun 48 - AF Intel rpt: "MOSCOW, USSR, 'WHILE IN MOSCOW THE
FRIEND HAD MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE MOSCOW IZVESTIYA EDITORIAL STAFF AT
WHICH TIME HE HAD LEARNED THAT THE CENTRAL PARTY COMMITTEE IS MAKING A
SPECIAL SECRET STUDY OF THE AMERICAN 'FLYING SAUCER' STORY AND THE
'ROCKETS OVER SWEDEN' INCIDENT. SOURCE HAD NOT HEARD OF THE 'FLYING
SAUCERS' IN AMERICA AND SO WAS COMPLETELY IN THE DARK AS TO WHAT THE
'SECRET STUDY' MIGHT IMPLY.
Air Force Intelligence urged the following: 'Request AMC continue
any followups deemed necessary by headquarters, USAF, regarding
followups on Turkish report [Adipazari Incident] will be forwarded to
Air Materiel Command (Classification of these remarks: SECRET).'"
[Gross]
24 Jun 48 - Berlin Blockade begins
10 Jul 48 - "Operation Falun": Swedish pilot Fredrik
Lambert-Meuller makes reconnaissance flight over Saaremaa Island,
Estonia, in F-51 Mustang equipped with special K-22 high-resolution
reconnaissance camera supplied by US in attempt to locate suspected
Soviet missile installations (see 18 July 48; 10, 23 Nov 48) ("Bortom
Horisonten")
15cafa.jpg
15cba6.jpg
16-20 Jul 48 - Deployment of US B-29 and F-80 sqdrns to Europe.
War appears imminent
21 Jul 48 - AF requests RAND study to "present information that
would serve to evaluate the remote possibility that some of the
observed objects may be space ships or satellite vehicles" (Project
SIGN rpt)
24 Aug 48 - (TS) Col Mallory Recon Branch memo re recent loan of
recon cameras to Sweden and Swedish COS Gen Jung sighting. Mentions
eastern Baltic islands Dago, Osel (Hiiumaa, Saaremaa, off Estonia) as
GR launch sites (see 10 July 48; 18 July 48;10 Nov 48; 31 Aug 49)
24 Aug 48 - (S) Gen C P Cabell memo - Daily Activity Rept -
Swedish Foreign Office confidentially informed the US Ambassador in
Stockholm that on four to six occasions during the second week of
August, unidentified aircraft have flown over Gotland Island. On 13 Aug
a Swedish fighter squadron was dispatched to Gotland to patrol and
identify. Soviet south Baltic fleet known to be on maneuvers.
Oct 48 - USAF Air Intelligence Digest - Chief of Soviet Long Range
Air Force on cover [DA Air Chief Marshal Aleksandr Golovanov]. Under
Sweden heading - Fires in the Sky- An increase in number of incidents
over Sweden during summer may be connected with Soviet guided missile
tests in the Lake Seliger area (57 N. - 33 E.) or along the Baltic
coast of Estonia. About 32 launching sites reportedly exist in areas
fronting on the Baltic Sea. Swedish sources claim to have confirmed the
existence of three such sites. Reoccurrence of so-called rocket
incidents over Sweden is important in view of the reported move of
Peenemünde launching facilities to locations in the USSR. Earlier,
the greatest number of incidents in Scandinavia occurred in 1946, when
the Peenemünde facilities reportedly were being used in trial
launchings of German World War II missiles then being manufactured in
the Soviet Zone of Germany. Sightings of rockets over Scandinavia
ceased with the reported removal of Peenemünde facilities but
began again almost coincidentally with the reported establishment of
test facilities in the USSR. Any missiles being test-fired by the
Soviets in areas such as the Baltic probably are slightly improved
versions of German World War II types, and those which may be under
development at installations in the interior regions of the USSR
possibly are more advanced types [Secret][Lake Seliger location is
partially correct. Groettrup German rocket team had been transferred to
facility in lake on Gorodolmya Island in 1947]
18 Oct 48 - CONFIDENTIAL Gen Holger Toftoy (US Army
Ordnance/Rocket) daily log: "Conference attended by Cols Toftoy,
Roberts & Bainbridge (CC), Maj J.F. Gay & Dr. J. J. Grebe,
(Chemical Corps), and Dr. Mugson. Chemical Corps reported analysis of
fragments picked up from '"flying saucer" which vanished with a
brilliant flash and bang near Midlin [sic], Michigan. Sand and clinker
recovered from the locality contained nuggets of fairly pure silver and
some thorium. The thorium was sufficient to give radio activity [sic]
approximately 10 times natural background which could possibly be
ascribed to thorium coated filaments in electronic equipment, although
the quantity seems excessive. There was evidence also of mechanism
[magnesium] which had been completely oxidized. Dr. Grebe advanced his
hypothesis that small missiles of the order of 1 to 3 feet in diameter
might be responsible, coming from distant sources. He considered that a
rapidly rotating disc of mechanism [magnesium] and/or aluminum might
have enough energy if properly utilized to propel the disc several
thousand miles, and might be completely destroyed by burning in air.
Remaining traces of silver and thorium might be ascribed to electronic
control system. After discussion, it was agreed that Col Roberts should
request the Bur of Standards group to investigate some of the
mechanisms which might conceivably propel discs of this general type
and TU will keep in close touch with these calculations (CMH). A
meeting next Monday, 25 Oct, can be arranged with Dr. Grebe if
indications are favorable. Dr. Grebe also briefly described a theory of
his that a fish-shaped object with a modified tear-drop cross section
would take off along the long axis and change position in flight to fly
at an angle more like a flying wing. No wings or other aerodynamic
surfaces that produce drag would be required."
10 Nov 48 - Second reconnaissance overflight of Saaremaa Island by
Swedish F-51 in search of Soviet V-1 and other military installations
(see 10 July 48; 24 Aug 48; 23 Nov 48; 31 Aug 49)
12 Nov 48 - meeting at National Bureau of Standards between AF
Intelligence Collections Branch, Project SIGN and NBS members re saucer
problem. SIGN turns over its case files to AF Intelligence and MIT air
defense expert George Valley
18 Nov 48 - BGen Donald Putt, Director AF R&D, writes to RAND
to request analysis of "special design and performance characteristics
that are believed to distinguish space ships."
23 Nov 48 - Third reconnaissance overflight of Saaremaa Island by
Swedish F-51 in search of Soviet V-1 and other military installations
(see 10 July 48; 24 Aug 48; 23 Nov 48)
10 Dec 48 - [TS] Air Intelligence Study 100-203-79, "
http://www.project1947.com/fig/1948air.htm Analysis
of Flying Object Incidents in the U.S." concludes that, "Assuming that
the objects might eventually be identified as foreign or
foreign-sponsored devices, the possible reason for their appearance
over the U.S. requires consideration. Several possible explanations
appear noteworthy, viz:
a. To negate U.S. confidence in the atom bomb
as the most advanced and decisive weapon in warfare.
b. To perform photographic reconnaissance
missions.
c. To test U.S. air defenses.
d. To conduct familiarization flights over U.S.
territory.
13 Dec 48 - RAND's James Lipp sends "space ship" analysis to Putt
- becomes Appendix "D" of SIGN report.
16 Dec 48 - Col Gasser of ANP project sends 7 July 47 Presley
negatives to WPAFB TID for examination. (see 10 Feb)