This is one of the 24 pages of one of the many formerly secret official documents on this issue. These pages are the minutes of an important conference on the issue held at Los Alamos on February 16, 1949. Representatives of the Army, the FBI, the Air Force and scientists joined together. Dr. La Paz spent two years chasing the green fireballs and explains the issues. Dr. Edward Teller, one of the fathers of the atomic bomb, asks questions.
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In the case of the irons, it will be very faint, but it'll be there if you look for it. In the case of the Four corners Fall, that trail was observed and I'm inclined to believe that it might have been a conventional meteorite fall. In the case of the green fireballs, to my knowledge, no such trail has been observed. That question is always asked of people - did you observe a long enduring trail; their replies were always negative.
Comdr. Mandelkorn: Then you would say there were 10 incidents which are analogous to the green fireballs, with reports checked by a sufficient number of independent observers, that there is no doubt whatsoever of their occurrence?
Dr. LaPaz: That's right.
Comdr. Mandelkorn: Then there are 20 with some deviations, two of these probably are related to the green fireballs ....
Dr. LaPaz: I believe two of those incidents I mentioned occurred before the 5th of December. A very remarkable one of the 4th of August - note that again it is very close to the time of ... meteor shower ... From late in July on and my report will be producing quite a number of these ... but it is physically impossible with this observation from near ... Oregon ...
Dr. Bradbury: Then their directions were wrong?
Dr. LaPaz: As a matter of fact, we can't tell because they were single observations. Maybe I should pass that letter around, but it is, I believe, the first detailed report on what might be characterized as a typical green fireball. After the Oscar ... incident of January 1, 1948, was merely a remarkable green flash, which might have had some other interpretation.
(Dr. LaPaz showed some letters around the table, and there was general talk not able to be picked up individually)
Major Godsoe: The basic purpose of this meeting is: we want you to find meteor.
Mr. Newburger: Have the military - anyone from the National defense establishment - given us anything? Sent out any conjectures about this thing?
Major Godsoe: No, most of the military authorities think we are crackpots; that is, except fot the Army Air Forces, which is taking an active interest in details.
Mr. Newburger: The Air Force does have the primary interest in this gadget?
Major Godsoe: Yes, the Air Force is the gathering, reporting agency for this phenomenon.
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