The Great Falls Mariana UFO Film
Nicholas Mariana, manager of the Great Falls baseball team, filmed two bright silvery objects moving across the sky with his 16mm camera. Initial frames allegedly showing the objects as clearly disc-shaped were reportedly removed by the Air Force before the film was returned.
On August 15, 1950, Nicholas Mariana, general manager of the Great Falls baseball team, captured one of the earliest and most controversial UFO films in history. Utilizing his 16mm camera, Mariana filmed two bright circular objects moving in formation across the Montana sky. The case subsequently became a source of lasting controversy, as Mariana claimed that the initial 35 frames – which he stated showed the objects most clearly as disc-shaped – were removed by the Air Force before the film was returned to him.
The Witness
Nicholas Mariana
Nicholas Mariana was the general manager of the Great Falls Electrics baseball team, a respected local businessman, and an amateur photographer. He had no known history of fabrication, and he maintained his account of the events throughout his life.
Credibility Factors
The credibility of Mariana’s account stemmed from several factors. His professional position as general manager, coupled with his standing within the community, lent significant weight to his observations. He owned suitable camera equipment for the task, and there was no apparent motive for him to fabricate a hoax. Furthermore, his consistent testimony over decades solidified his position as a reliable witness.
The Sighting
Time and Location
The circumstances surrounding the sighting were as follows: the event occurred on August 15, 1950, at approximately 11:25 AM in Great Falls, Montana. The conditions were clear daylight, with good visibility, allowing for a detailed observation.
Initial Observation
Mariana observed two bright circular objects, possessing a silvery appearance, moving across the sky while flying in a precise formation. He described the flight characteristics as unusual, suggesting a level of control and coordination not typically observed in conventional aircraft.
The Film
Equipment Used
Mariana utilized a 16mm motion picture camera – standard amateur equipment at the time – which may have employed color film, according to some accounts. The camera was adequately equipped for filming at a distance, capturing approximately 16 seconds of footage.
What He Filmed
The footage captured two bright objects that were circular or disc-shaped, moving in formation and exhibiting a smooth, controlled flight. The objects appeared against a clear sky throughout the recorded footage.
The Missing Frames Controversy
Mariana submitted the film to the Air Force, asserting that the initial 35 frames had been removed. He maintained that these frames depicted the objects most clearly, definitively showing them as disc shapes. When he received the film back, it was incomplete.
Air Force Analysis
Initial Investigation
The Air Force initiated an investigation upon receiving the film, submitting it for analysis. The U.S. Air Force examined the film, and the Navy Photo Interpretation Center reviewed it. Multiple expert analyses were conducted, and the case was subjected to years of study.
Official Explanation
The Air Force concluded that the objects were reflections, specifically attributable to two F-94 jets in the area, with sunlight reflecting off the aircraft. They offered a conventional explanation, resolving the case officially.
Problems with Explanation
Mariana disputed the Air Force’s explanation, citing a lack of correlation between the timing and the reported jet positions, the differing flight characteristics of the objects compared to the jets, and the appearance of the objects, which didn’t match conventional aircraft. He argued that the missing frames would have provided conclusive evidence supporting his account, and he maintained his objection to the official explanation throughout his life.
Robertson Panel Review
1953 Examination
In 1953, the CIA convened a panel to examine the Great Falls film, alongside the Tremonton, Utah film, as part of a comprehensive assessment. The panel evaluated the footage as evidence, concluding that it could not definitively explain the phenomena.
Their Assessment
The panel’s conclusions noted the footage as interesting, acknowledging some anomalies and the possibility of aircraft reflection. However, they deemed the evidence not conclusive and left the assessment somewhat ambiguous.
Analysis
What the Film Shows
Visible characteristics of the objects included two bright points of light, moving in formation, with steady, controlled motion, and appearing circular, consistently throughout the footage.
Technical Considerations
Film analysis factors to consider were the distance from the camera, which made it difficult to obtain detailed information, light conditions affecting the appearance of the objects, and the potential for motion blur and resolution limits impacting interpretation. The film stock was ultimately confirmed as authentic.
The Frame Removal Question
The central controversy revolved around the alleged removal of frames by the Air Force. Mariana insisted that the initial frames were clearer and presented the objects in their true form, while neither claim could be definitively verified. The mystery surrounding the missing frames remains.
Legacy
UFO Film History
This film’s importance lies in its status as one of the earliest UFO films ever taken. It predates most famous footage and has been extensively analyzed, becoming part of the official record and referenced for decades.
Pattern of Controversy
The film established a pattern of evidence submission to military authorities, claims of tampering, and a dispute between a witness and official accounts. This ongoing debate highlights the complex nature of unexplained phenomena and the challenges in reaching definitive conclusions.
The Question
August 15, 1950. Great Falls, Montana.
Nicholas Mariana looked up and saw something strange.
Two bright objects. Silvery. Circular. Moving across the sky in perfect formation.
He had a camera. A 16mm movie camera. He used it.
For sixteen seconds, he captured what he saw. Two UFOs, flying over Montana in broad daylight.
Then he made a decision that would haunt him forever.
He gave the film to the Air Force.
When he got it back, something was different. The first 35 frames were gone. The frames where, according to Mariana, the objects were closest. Where they looked most clearly like what they were - disc-shaped craft.
The Air Force said they were jet reflections. Two F-94s in the area. Sunlight bouncing off metal.
But Mariana knew what he’d filmed. He knew what those missing frames showed.
He spent the rest of his life insisting those frames had been removed. The Air Force spent the rest of theirs denying it.
Who was right?
The Robertson Panel looked at the film in 1953. They couldn’t explain it definitively either.
The Great Falls film.
One of the first UFO films ever taken.
And perhaps the first to disappear - at least partially - into government hands.
We have what remains. Two bright objects, moving across the sky.
We’ll never have what was lost.
Those 35 frames.
Gone forever.
Along with whatever truth they contained.
Sources
- Wikipedia search: “The Great Falls Mariana 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)