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Project Twinkle Final Report (scan)

NICAP · 29 pages · text by OCR

This declassified U.S. Air Force file contains the final report of Project Twinkle, dated 27 November 1951 and written by Louis Elterman of the Geophysics Research Division, together with related correspondence. The project was set up to investigate the green fireballs and other light phenomena around Holloman AFB and Vaughn, New Mexico, and it was run with Askania cameras. The report calls its findings essentially negative and recommends no further funding. In March 1952 the Directorate of Intelligence declined to declassify it.

Open the PDF at page 28 Original source ↗

“Nature”12 pages

  • p. 2 …the fact that nothing of a security nature has been discovered. FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL: ## 1…
  • p. 3 …Others can be attributed to natural phenomena such as flying birds, small clouds, and meteorites. There…
  • p. 8 …Post Contractual Inquiry In view of the unproductive nature of the contract with Land-Air, it…
  • p. 11 …La Paz, them to be classed as natural phenomena. The most recent that has come to…
  • p. 12 …Many of the sightings are attributable to natural phenomena such as flight of birds, planets, meteors…
  • p. 18 …number) appeared to be of a swirling nature, not unlike a flock of towering geese or…
  • p. 20 …Kaplan has concluded that the "green fireballs" are natural phenomena. 3. Correspondence relative to Dr. Kaplan…
  • p. 21 …Inasmuch as the phenomena appears to be atmospheric in nature it is recommended that the investigation…
  • p. 23 …Inasmuch as the phenomena appears to be atmospheric in nature, such an assignment is considered appropriate…
  • p. 24 …Inasmuch as the phenomena appears to be atmospheric in nature, it is recommended that the investigation…
  • p. 27 …the project personnel that this is a natural phenomenon. As long as a reasonable doubt exists…
  • p. 29 …have been reached concerning the origin or nature of the phenomenon which have been investigated. It…
(UNCLASSIFIED) Project TWINKLE

Directorate of Intelligence

Attention: Colonel John G. Erickson, Chief Technical Capabilities Branch

Research Division, Directorate of Research and Development, Office, DCS/Development

19 Feb 1952

Lt Col Clayton/djh/52407 AFDRD-RE

1. Attached is a copy of a letter from the Air Research and Development Command requesting declassification of Project TWINKLE, a project which was carried out by AMC and ARDC for investigation of unusual light phenomena in the general area of Holloman Air Force Base and Vaughn, New Mexico.

2. The Scientific Advisory Board Secretariat has suggested that this project not be declassified for a variety of reasons, chief among which is that no scientific explanation for any of the "fireballs" and other phenomena was revealed by the report and that some reputable scientists still believe that the observed phenomena are man-made.

3. In view of the great interest of the Directorate of Intelligence in such phenomena and the related manifestations, evaluation of the final report of Project TWINKLE with a view to its declassification is requested.

## 2 Incls

1. cy ltr fr ARDC to Hq 14 Jan 52

2. cy of Proj TWINKLE Final Report

ALBERT E. LOMBARD, JR. Chief, Research Division Directorate of Research and Development Office, Deputy Chief of Staff, Development

JOHN H. CLAYTON Lt Colonel, USAF

DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVAL DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS. DOD DIR 5200.10

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Report, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. The text was read from the page images by an OCR model; expect the odd misread word. 29 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.