UAP Reported at Sandia Base, 1948-1950

This large file gathers 116 pages of Air Force records and papers of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project (AFSWP, called a “Program” in AARO’s description), the military organization that took over the Manhattan Project’s weapons role after World War II. They concern sightings near Sandia Base in New Mexico, a central site for nuclear weapons work, between 1948 and 1950.

What the file covers

AARO counts 209 sightings in the collection, described variously as “green orbs,” “discs” and “fireballs.” The witnesses reported objects maneuvering, flying out of sight, vanishing or exploding. The documents also include contemporary investigations into copper powder found in some places where sightings were reported. Some of these investigations fed into Project Grudge, the Air Force’s UFO project that followed Project Sign, which collected reports from other military installations too.

Context and limits

The New Mexico green fireballs of this period were discussed by the Air Force’s Edward Ruppelt in a talk that also mentions plans for special cameras for guards at Sandia (DOW-UAP-D154). The counts and summaries above follow AARO’s description of the file. For the later Air Force program, see Project Blue Book.