In February, 1950, a double barbed-wire complex was set up within Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque , New Mexico, to headquarter a new Top Secret U.S. Air Force unit designated the 4925th Test Group (Atomic). A small sign at the gate simply said "Sante Fe Operations". Unauthorized, curious visitors were politely but firmly turned away by armed USAF Air Policemen.

The best bomber and fighter pilots in the USAF and all types of expert support personnel were located worldwide and orders were promptly cut transferring them to the elite 4925th.

A special search was made for the right man to lead the outfit. Colonel Osmund J. "Ozzie" Ritland was selected as Commanding Officer. As a test pilot, he had 150 aircraft to his credit, including all captured aircraft in WWII. He had a degree in engineering, and was an expert in logistics.

All aircraft then in the Air Force inventory and thought capable of nuclear weapons delivery were to be obtained and sent to the 4925th for testing. The Special Weapons Command reporting only to the Pentagon and the AEC, set the wheels in motion to expedite this.

The 4925 was given this mission:

1. "Marry" all nuclear weapon types to all suitable types of aircraft.

2. Establish the ballistics of each type of nuclear weapon, on precision bomb ranges.

3. Support the AEC with live test drops, at Nevada and the Pacific.

4. Fly through and "sample" the highly radioactive nuclear "clouds" after the bangs.

With top priority established, the 4925th was staffed with highly experienced people. Bomber, fighter, and chopper pilots, triple-rated bombardiers (Bomb/Navigator/Radar), staff officers, nuclear project engineers (military and civilian), depot-level modification personnel, aerial cameramen, photo lab technicians, bomb loading specialists, crew chiefs and crews. Col. Ritland "welded" these pros into a highly sharp TEAM. If there ever was an ELITE outfit, the 4925th was it."

On March 22, 1950  eleven members of the 4925th Test Group (Atomic) witnessed a UFO northwest of Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, in broad daylight.

The following, formerly confidential incident, is not listed among the original Project Blue Book Unknowns. However it was found in the Blue Book archives. With the credibility of the witnesses established, and the discovered documents now available, there is no question that this UFO sighting is also credible.

kirtland500321/20608doc.htm
NARA Blue Book Microfilm Sequence 70352 Page 20608

Time: 1100 hours. Heights: 25,000 to 30,000 feet. Described as about the size of a golf ball at arm's length with approximate shape of the "flying wing" and tan in color to brown on the edges. Horizontal flight, extremely high speed, heading northeast. Out of sight in 5-9 seconds.

500322/20609doc.htm
NARA Blue Book Microfilm Sequence 70353 Page 20609

500322/20610doc.htm
NARA Blue Book Microfilm Sequence 70354 Page 20610

The Spot Intelligence Report was sent to the Director of Special Investigations, Headquarters, USAF Washington, DC. The official document reads:

"1. SNYNOPSIS: On 22 March 1950, ROPER and ten others observed what they believed was a flying disc. Disc at 25,000 to 30,000 feet northwest of Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Shape similar to flying wing aircraft and tan in color,   turning to brown around the edges. When first observed, object was traveling in a northwesterly direction then turned north and disappeared with a tremendous burst of speed. Object left no vapor trail, although aircraft in the vicinity were leaving vapor trails. Reliabillty of informants: Reliable.

"2. DETAILS: On 25 March 1950, M/Sgt. John H. Roper, AF-18038342, 4925th Special Weapons Group, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, advised that he, together with ten other persons, observed what he believed a flying disc at 1100 hours,  22 March 1950. Other members  of the party, all of the 4925th Special Weapons Group, were:......"

In this Spot Intelligence Report ten witnesses were listed. All of these personnel were interviewed and all stated substantially the same, that at 1100 hours, 22 March 195O, all of them were standing outside of the east hanger in the Kirtland AFB Restricted Area facing south. The party noticed an object in the sky which was moving northwest very quickly. The objectthen suddenly turned north and disappeared with a great burst of speed. The tan colored object with brown edges was about the size of a golf ball held at arm's length. When it put on the last burst of speed to the north it was out of sight in 5-6 seconds.

This single SPOT INTELLIGENCE REPORT listed more witnesses, but the reports for the previous day had more isolated witnesses and much more information.

It is interesting to note that there were several very important UFO incidents reported around this period:

Mar 21, 1950; Kirtland AFB, NM, Sightings by the 4925th

Mar 22, 1950; Kirtland AFB, NM, Sightings by the 4925th

Apr 27, 1950; White Sands, NM, theodolite photo

May 11, 1950; McMinnville, Oregon, Trent Photos.

May 29, 1950; White Sands, NM, theodolite photo

At Los Alamos laboratories, New Mexico, a crash program to develop the Hydrogen Bomb was underway during March 1950. There were many reports of "Green Fireballs", discs and globes seen all around Los Alamos and Kirtland AFB during March 1950. This is just on month after the 4925th Test Gruop (Atomic) set up shop at Kirtland AFB. During the period of March 14 through 17, 1950 many UFOs were seen hanging around northern New Mexico