Green Fireballs
Beginning in late 1948, brilliant green fireballs were repeatedly seen over New Mexico's sensitive military installations, including Los Alamos and Sandia. The phenomena were so concerning that the military launched Project Twinkle to investigate. Dr. Lincoln La Paz, a meteor expert, concluded they were not natural meteors. The green fireballs remain unexplained.
The Green Fireballs of New Mexico represent one of the most mysterious and officially investigated UFO phenomena of the early atomic age. Brilliant green lights repeatedly appeared over America’s most sensitive nuclear installations, alarming scientists and military officials. A top meteor expert concluded they weren’t natural. The military launched a formal investigation, but the green fireballs were never explained.
Late 1948
The phenomenon began during the early atomic era:
First Reports: Late 1948, primarily in New Mexico.
Location: Over and around Los Alamos, Sandia Base, and other sensitive sites.
Context: These were America’s most important nuclear facilities.
Concern: Unexplained aerial phenomena over nuclear sites was alarming.
The Sightings
The green fireballs had distinct characteristics:
Color: Brilliant, vivid green - distinctly different from normal meteors.
Brightness: Extremely bright, sometimes illuminating the ground.
Trajectory: Often flat or horizontal, unlike typical meteors.
Duration: Visible for several seconds.
Frequency: Dozens of sightings over several years.
The Locations
The geographic pattern was troubling:
Los Alamos: The birthplace of the atomic bomb.
Sandia Base: A primary nuclear weapons facility.
Kirtland AFB: A Strategic Air Command installation.
White Sands: The missile testing range.
Pattern: The concentration over nuclear sites was noted.
Dr. Lincoln La Paz
A renowned scientist investigated:
Credentials: Dr. La Paz was a world-recognized expert on meteors.
University Position: Director of the Institute of Meteoritics at the University of New Mexico.
Investigation: He personally investigated multiple sightings.
Conclusion: He determined these were NOT natural meteors.
La Paz’s Findings
The scientist’s conclusions were significant:
Not Meteors: The color, trajectory, and lack of debris ruled out natural meteors.
Horizontal Flight: Many traveled horizontally, unlike falling meteors.
No Debris: No meteorite fragments were ever recovered.
Controlled: The flight characteristics suggested controlled movement.
Unknown: He couldn’t identify what they were.
Project Twinkle
The military established a formal investigation:
Launch: 1949-1950.
Purpose: To document and explain the green fireballs.
Method: Observation posts with cameras and scientific instruments.
Results: Despite the effort, no definitive explanation was found.
Military Concern
The phenomena worried authorities:
Nuclear Security: Any unknown over nuclear sites was a concern.
Soviet Possibility: Could these be Soviet reconnaissance?
Technology Gap: They didn’t match any known Soviet capability.
Unknown Origin: The source remained unidentified.
Witness Accounts
Numerous credible observers reported the fireballs:
Scientists: Researchers at Los Alamos saw them.
Military Personnel: Soldiers and airmen reported sightings.
Pilots: Aircraft crews observed the phenomena.
Consistency: The descriptions were remarkably consistent.
Characteristics
The fireballs had distinctive features:
Color: Distinctly green, different from any meteor color.
Size: Appeared large, like small suns.
Trajectory: Often horizontal or even climbing.
Duration: Longer visibility than typical meteors.
Sound: Usually silent or with delayed sound.
The 1949 Conference
Officials met to discuss the mystery:
Attendees: Military officers, scientists, intelligence personnel.
Topic: What were the green fireballs?
La Paz Presentation: He presented his findings that they weren’t meteors.
Outcome: No consensus on identification.
Edward Teller’s Concern
The “father of the hydrogen bomb” was involved:
Awareness: Teller was aware of the sightings over Los Alamos.
Concern: He reportedly expressed concern about the phenomena.
Security: Any unexplained intrusion over nuclear sites worried scientists.
Unknown: Even top scientists couldn’t explain them.
Natural Meteor Theory
Some argued they were unusual meteors:
Copper Content: High copper content might produce green color.
Unique Angle: An unusual entry angle could explain the trajectory.
Problems: La Paz’s analysis contradicted this.
No Debris: The complete absence of recoverable fragments was strange.
Artificial Object Theory
Others suggested man-made origins:
Soviet Devices: Some kind of Soviet reconnaissance.
Test Objects: American secret tests.
Problems: No evidence supported these theories.
Technology: The performance exceeded known capabilities.
The Decline
The phenomenon eventually decreased:
Peak: 1948-1951 saw the most sightings.
Decline: Reports became less frequent after the early 1950s.
Not Gone: Occasional sightings continued.
Unexplained: The decrease was as mysterious as the appearances.
FBI Involvement
The Bureau took notice:
Reports: FBI field offices forwarded green fireball reports.
Memo: Internal FBI memos discussed the phenomenon.
Concern: The FBI recognized the potential security implications.
No Conclusion: They reached no explanation.
Official Documentation
The case is well-documented:
Project Twinkle Files: Official investigation records exist.
Air Force Files: The phenomena appear in Blue Book-era documents.
La Paz Papers: His scientific analysis is preserved.
Multiple Sources: Documentation comes from various agencies.
Legacy
The Green Fireballs matter because:
- A world expert on meteors concluded they weren’t meteors
- They appeared over America’s most sensitive nuclear facilities
- The military launched an official investigation
- They remain unexplained after 70+ years
- They represent some of the most officially documented UFO phenomena
Whatever flew over New Mexico’s nuclear installations in those early Cold War years alarmed scientists and generals alike. The green fireballs remain among the most mysterious and best-documented unexplained phenomena of the atomic age.
Sources
- Project Twinkle files
- Dr. Lincoln La Paz research
- Air Force documentation
- FBI records
- Green fireballs - Wikipedia