Great Falls UFO Film

On August 15, 1950, Nicholas Mariana, manager of the Great Falls Electrics baseball team, filmed two bright, disc-like objects streaking across the sky over a baseball stadium. The 16mm color footage became one of the earliest and most analyzed UFO films in history.

The Witness

Nicholas Mariana was the general manager of the Great Falls Electrics, a minor league baseball team. He was at Legion Stadium checking the field conditions when the sighting occurred.

The Sighting

At approximately 11:25 AM, Mariana noticed two bright, silvery objects in the sky. The objects were moving rapidly, and he immediately ran to his car to get his camera. He filmed approximately 16 seconds of footage documenting the event.

The Film

The 16mm color film showed two bright, silvery, disc-shaped objects moving in a steady, consistent pattern. The objects exhibited an apparent rotation or pulsation, and they moved across the sky at a high-speed.

Air Force Investigation

The Air Force investigated the film, with the footage being analyzed by Project Blue Book. Initial analysis of the film found no conventional explanation for the sightings, and ultimately the case was classified as “unknown.” Allegedly, the Air Force removed several frames from the film before returning it to Mariana.

Missing Frames

Mariana claimed that the Air Force had borrowed his original film. When the film was returned, he noted that several frames showing clearer disc shapes had been removed. These missing frames demonstrated the objects more distinctly, and this action was never officially acknowledged by the Air Force.

Analysis Results

Technical analysis of the film indicated that the objects were at a significant distance from the observer. Their speed exceeded what was known to be possible for conventional aircraft, and the objects appeared self-luminous, exhibiting no conventional light source. No conventional explanation could adequately account for the observed phenomena.

F-94 Jets Theory

Some individuals proposed that the objects were two F-94 jets from Malmstrom AFB. However, the investigators determined that the jets were not airborne at the time shown in the footage, and the objects’ appearance didn’t match the characteristics of F-94 aircraft. Furthermore, the flight path of the objects was inconsistent with the trajectory of the alleged aircraft.

Scientific Examination

The Robertson Panel, convened in 1953, reviewed the Mariana film. Some members suggested that the objects were reflections of aircraft, but others found this explanation inadequate. No consensus was reached regarding the nature of the film, and the film itself remained significant evidence in the ongoing study of unidentified aerial phenomena.

Significance

The Mariana film is significant for several reasons. It is considered one of the earliest UFO films ever recorded, and the color footage distinctly showed the objects. The witness, Nicholas Mariana, was credible with nothing to gain from the claims, and the film was subjected to extensive official analysis. The controversy surrounding the missing frames further fueled speculation about potential cover-ups, and the case remains classified as “unknown” to this day.

Legacy

The Great Falls film demonstrated early on that UFO phenomena could be recorded and analyzed. It established a precedent for the systematic analysis of film footage, and the missing frames became a template for claims of government cover-ups. The film also showed early official interest in UFO evidence, and it remains unresolved after 70+ years.

Mariana maintained his account of the events until his death, and the film continues to be studied by researchers seeking to understand the early UFO phenomenon.

Sources

• Wikipedia search: “Great Falls UFO Film”
• Project Blue Book — National Archives — USAF UFO investigation files, 1947–1969
• CIA UFO/UAP Reading Room — Declassified CIA documents on UAP
• Chronicling America — Historic US newspapers (1690–1963)