Witness Description
Air Force Equipment/Procedure
“Crash Site”
40. “tankers, like, maybe had fuel or water in ‘em”205
Anderson
reference to M-49 fuel trucks used to refuel aircraft or helium trailer used to inflate balloon (figs. 23, 70, 80, 81).
Site 2
41. “a military car”206
Anderson
A variety of military and civilian cars were often used for balloon recoveries and launches (Fig. 71).
Site 2
42. “‘47 Ford car”207
Ragsdale
Corroboration of description #41. See above.
Site 1
43. “there was a jeep that was pulling a trailer with a motor on it, like a generator.”208
Anderson
Reference to 1-ton trailer and MB-19 15 Kilowatt diesel generator that were used at balloon launch and recovery locations (fig. 71).
Site 2
Aircraft
44. “observation aircraft...high winged aircraft”209
Anderson
Reference to an L-20 aircraft, primary “chase” aircraft used for balloon recovery in the mid 1950s (fig. 77).
Site 2
45. “C-47 sittin there”[on the road]210
Anderson
C-47 aircraft were often used on dummy launch and recovery operations (fig. 78).
Site 2
Procedures
46. “The federal government could have been doing something because they didn’t want anyone to know what this was...they was using dummies in those damned things...they could use remote control”211
Ragsdale
Reference to balloon borne anthropomorphic dummies that were dropped by remote control by balloon controllers at Holloman AFB
Site 1
47. “they took everybody’s name and everything”212
Anderson
Procedure used by balloon Branch to ensure payment of $25 reward and to settle claims of property damage.
Site 2
48. “they cleaned everything all up...I mean they cleaned everything”213
Ragsdale
Balloon Branch personnel were required to remove as much debris as possible from balloon and payload landing areas to avoid complaints and legal actions.
Site 1
73