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DOE (Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory) UNCLASSIFIED

Correspondence from James L. Tuck regarding atmospheric vortices and UFO sightings

Date 16 December 1970
Location Los Alamos, New Mexico; Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Type correspondence
Pages 4

Letter from Los Alamos scientist James L. Tuck to the U.S. Army Engineering School requesting the recipe for simulated atomic bomb demonstrations, expressing interest in atmospheric vortices reported in the Condon UFO study. An accompanying handwritten response from a colleague recounts multiple green light sightings and five flying objects in formation over Los Alamos during 1948-1951.

Los Alamosgreen fireballsJames Tuckatmospheric vorticesCondon Report

Someone at Los Alamos wrote to scientist James Tuck about what they'd been seeing between 1948 and 1951: green lights during early evening hours near the Jersey Mountains, hovering green lights in Montana, and five objects flying in formation over Los Alamos in broad daylight moving from the southwest. The correspondent was Protective Force personnel -- security staff at the nuclear lab. The handwritten letter connects to the broader green fireball wave that plagued New Mexico's nuclear installations during that period.

  • Multiple sightings of green lights at Los Alamos between 1948 and 1951, occurring during early evening hours (around 8-11 PM)
  • Green lights observed near the Jersey Mountains and also hovering in Montana
  • Five objects seen flying in formation over Los Alamos during daytime, moving from southwest direction
  • Protective Force personnel were among the trusted observers of these events
  • Letter appears to be part of the broader "green fireball" correspondence associated with Los Alamos
4 pages
statushas_content
doc_typeletter
classificationnone visible
page_descriptionHandwritten personal letter regarding UAP sightings and investigations during 1948-1951 period and subsequent observations.
dates
  • 11-23-22 | date notation on letter
  • 1948-1951 | period of sightings mentioned
  • [Montana years] | unspecified period in Montana
people
  • Mr. Tuck | recipient | scientist/researcher | addressee
  • [Author name illegible] | correspondent | investigator | author
  • Protective Force personnel | official observers | military/defense facility
  • [Redacted name (b)(6)] | [role unclear] | [agency unknown] | mentioned
locations
  • Los Alamos | location of observations
  • New Mexico | state location
  • Jersey Mountains | location mentioned
  • Montana | location of sightings
observations
  • I can never state fact all attacks forms three times and dates of any sightings escape [author]
  • During 1948 through 1951, several sightings of green light were made at Los Alamos
  • These sightings occurred during early part of night and were seen at Jersey Mountains
  • Several instances of green light hovering in and out of Montana years
  • Objects flying over Los Alamos in afternoon
  • Objects were flying from southwest to southwest/east [unclear direction]
  • Smallest object appeared to be worse-on formation
  • [Author believes] (b)(6) Protective Force was one of few or trusted people that [text cut off]
observations characteristics
  • Green light sightings
  • Objects with apparent intelligent control/operation
  • Green light hovering behavior
redactions
  • One name redacted (b)(6)
  • Additional content cut off at bottom of page
quotes
  • "Dear Mr. Tuck;" | letter opening
  • "I'm being that I cannot give out the attached form three times and dates of any sightings escape me." | author statement
  • "I can, however, tell you that during the years 1948 through 1951 several sightings of green light were made at Los Alamos." | author statement
  • "These usually occurred during the early part of the night, there to eleven, and were usually in the Jersey Mountains." | author statement
  • "I also recall several instances of green light, hovering in and out of Montana years." | author statement
  • "I also recall one instance of five objects flying over Los Alamos in the afternoon." | author statement
  • "They were flying from southwest to [southwest/east?] and the smallest object appeared to be worse-on formation." | author statement
  • "I believe [REDACTED] of the Protective Force was one of the five or so people that" | author statement (cut off)
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