DOW-UAP-D098, Film Analysis of Unidentified Objects, 1953
A 1953 Naval Photographic Interpretation Center progress report analyzes motion-picture footage recorded in Utah and Montana in 1952. It documents photogrammetric and densitometric methods, describes blue-white disk-like images, and reports calculated motion while retaining assumptions and limits in the analysis.
- File
- Document · Release 05
- Date
- 1950, 1952
- Location
- Montana, Utah
- Extent
- 23 pages
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Probed Assessment
Key takeaways
- The report analyzes Air Force-requested films of unidentified objects recorded in Utah on July 2, 1952.
- A separate request covered additional motion-picture film recorded in Montana in 1950.
- The analysts described the photographed objects as maintaining a fairly constant blue-white color.
Why it matters
This 23-page official record adds page-located primary-source material to the public history represented in Release 05. Its value lies in what the document records, not in independent confirmation of every reported event or estimate.
Corroboration
The assessment is grounded in the official PDF, reviewed page text, and faithful source excerpts. Statements attributed to witnesses or agencies remain source claims unless separately corroborated in the record.
Open questions
- • Which reported observations or technical estimates can be independently corroborated from contemporaneous records?
Probed separates this editorial assessment from the source claims below. It summarizes what the released artifact supports; it is not independent verification.
Official Description from War.gov
This file contains a memorandum relating to the U.S. Naval Photographic Interpretation Center’s assessment of two films allegedly depicting unidentified airborne objects, captured in Montana and Utah in 1950 and 1952, respectively. The file documents the Center’s analytic process, assumptions that constrained its confidence level, tentative conclusions, and recommendations for future research. The Center assessed, generally, that the objects depicted in the film demonstrated characteristics that were inconsistent with those of natural phenomena or commonly known aerospace technologies. The memorandum documents the Center’s recommendation for a more well-resourced investigation to corroborate its presumptive findings, citing a lack of funding and personnel. The accompanying charts compare the film’s luminosity with the apparent angular size of the phenomena, using contemporary mathematical modeling and photogrammetric analysis techniques.
Preserved verbatim as source metadata. This wording is separate from Probed’s file-specific description and assessment.
File Context
Related entities
Tracker findings
The report analyzes Air Force-requested films of unidentified objects recorded
The record states: The report analyzes Air Force-requested films of unidentified objects recorded in Utah on July 2, 1952.
The analysts described the photographed objects as maintaining a fairly
The record states: The analysts described the photographed objects as maintaining a fairly constant blue-white color.
Film duration and field of view argued against one explanation
The record states: The report considered one proposed explanation improbable because the objects remained visible for about 90 seconds across roughly 60 degrees of view.
Report estimated disk-like objects between 16 and 98 feet
The record states: Under its stated assumptions, the report characterized the objects as oblate or disk-shaped, blue-white, and between about 16 and 98 feet in size.
Film-derived acceleration figures depended on stated assumptions
The record states: The report presented calculated acceleration and deceleration values derived from the film analysis; these figures depend on its distance and size assumptions.
Analysts reported abrupt changes in flight direction
The record states: The analysts reported apparent abrupt changes in flight direction through relatively large angles.
Release provenance
- Release
- Release 05
- Official ID
- release-05-file-001-dow-uap-d098-film-analysis-of-unidentified-objects-1953
- Cleared
- Aug 7, 2026
Referenced Timeline
Utah film recorded
The report identifies motion-picture footage of unidentified objects taken in Utah on July 2, 1952.
Progress report issued
The Naval Photographic Interpretation Center issued the documented progress report in May 1953.
Source Claims
Claims are attributed to the released source and remain distinct from Probed’s assessment and tracker findings.
The report analyzes Air Force-requested films of unidentified objects recorded in Utah on July 2, 1952.
Air Force for the i nterpretation of movies of unidentified objects taken in Utah, 2 July 1952.
A separate request covered additional motion-picture film recorded in Montana in 1950.
Referenc.e (b) requested interpretation of additional movies taken in Montana, 1950.
The analysts described the photographed objects as maintaining a fairly constant blue-white color.
The color of the objects was fairly constant as blue-white.
The laboratory obtained densitometric measurements with a Welch Scientific Densichron Model 2150.
Densitometric tests: Densitometric data vere obtained with a Densichron, Model 2150 manufactured b:r" the Welch Scientific Company.
The report considered one proposed explanation improbable because the objects remained visible for about 90 seconds across roughly 60 degrees of view.
This is considered not probable becaUQe of the length of time they were viewed continuously on the film, approxi mately 90 seconds, and because of the angle through which they were photographed, approximately 6o degrees.
Under its stated assumptions, the report characterized the objects as oblate or disk-shaped, blue-white, and between about 16 and 98 feet in size.
The shape of the objects appears to be oblate or disk shaped, c o~or; blue-white, and maximum and minimum size; 98 a nd 16 f eet.
The report presented calculated acceleration and deceleration values derived from the film analysis; these figures depend on its distance and size assumptions.
"g" is equal to 32.17 ft/sec2 it was computed that: Maximum acceleration = 21,168 mph/sec: 965 g Minimum acceleration : 1,104 mph/sec= 50 g Maximum deceleration= 32,448 mph/aec • 14 79 g Minimum deceleration : 2 ? 2 mph/sec= 12 g Velocit
The analysts reported apparent abrupt changes in flight direction through relatively large angles.
There is evidence of abrupt changes in direction of flight path through fairly large angles.
Source Material & Evidence
Research Map
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