in the State of Washington observed nine flying
disc-shaped aircraft travelling in formation at a high rate
of speed. Although this was not the first known 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. These reports
resulted in independent efforts by several different
elements of the military to ascertain the nature and purpose
of these objects in the interests of national defense. A
number of witnesses were interviewed and there were several
unsuccessful attempts to utilise aircraft in efforts to
pursue reported discs in flight. Public reaction bordered on
near hysteria at times. In spite of these efforts, little of
substance was learned about the objects until a local
rancher reported that one had crashedin a remote region of
New Mexico located approximately seventy-five miles
northwest of Roswell Army Air Base (now Walker Field). On 07
July, 1947, a secret operation was begun to assure recovery
of the wreckage of this object for scientific study.During
the course of this operation, aerial reconnaissance
discovered that four small human-like beings had apparently
ejected from the craft at some point before it exploded.
These had fallen to earth about two miles east of the
wreckage site. All four were dead and badly decomposed due
to action by predators and exposure to the elements during
the approximately one week time period which had elapsed
before their discovery. A special scientific took charge of
removing these bodies for study. (See Attachment "C".) The
wreckage of the craft was also removed to several different
locations. (See Attachment "B".) Civilian and military
witnesses in the