inqumes. There was never a reason to mislead or threaten individuals
who observed balloon operations. Relations with local citizens were
good, and Balloon Branch personnel and equipment were a common sight
to residents in areas with high incidences of balloon operations.
In a few instances, situations arose when persons not familiar with
the procedures and equipment used by the Balloon Branch misunderstood
their activities. Such misunderstandings occurred several times during the
1970s and 1980s when recovery crews not only attracted the attention of
local citizens while coordinating balloon recoveries, but also drew the
attention of federal law enforcement agencies. 106
Checks with the local sheriff revealed that the trucks and circling
aircraft in the desert near Roswell were part of a balloon recovery mission,
and not a drug smuggling operation. Apparently, balloon recoveries
appeared to be something suspicious even to federal agents.
50
Fig. 61. A typical Holloman
Balloon Branch recovery crew
is shown here with a man
known as "The hermit" who
assisted them in a balloon
recovery northwest of Silver
City, N.M. in the 1960s.
(photo collection of Robert
Blankenship)
Fig. 62. A mule (named Ida)
was borrowed from a local
rancher when a balloon payload
landed in difficult terrain 20
miles north of Wickenburg,
Ariz. in October 1966.
(U.S. Air Force photo)