DOW UAP D098 Film Analysis of Unidentified Objects 1953
This declassified memorandum from the U.S. Naval Photographic Interpretation Center (NAVPIC), released by the Department of War as part of a 2026 UAP records disclosure, reports on the interpretation of two motion picture films allegedly showing unidentified airborne objects. According to the file, one film comprised roughly 30 feet of 16mm color motion picture footage taken in Utah on 2 July 1952, and a second was captured in Montana in 1950; the analysis was requested by the U.S. Air Force and conducted by the Center's Photogrammetry Division. The document describes the technical process — including duplicating the brittle Utah film for preservation, using a stop-frame projector at 22x magnification against a ground-glass screen to prepare overlay plots of the objects, and comparing film luminosity against apparent angular size using contemporary mathematical modeling. Per the source page, the Center assessed generally that the depicted objects showed characteristics inconsistent with natural phenomena or commonly known aerospace technologies, while cautioning that limited funding and personnel constrained its confidence, and recommended a more well-resourced follow-up investigation. The memorandum notes its findings do not necessarily represent the official position of the Department of the Navy or the Center. Reference correspondence cited includes exchanges among the Director of Naval Intelligence and USAF's Topical Division dating from October 1952 through February 1953.
Description
A U.S. Naval Photographic Interpretation Center memorandum, released by the U.S. Department of War, documenting the analysis of two 16mm color motion picture films allegedly depicting unidentified airborne objects filmed in Utah (1952) and Montana (1950). The progress report details photogrammetric procedures, analytic assumptions, tentative conclusions, and recommendations for further investigation.
Claims
The Naval Photographic Interpretation Center assessed generally that the objects depicted in the films showed characteristics inconsistent with natural phenomena or commonly known aerospace technologies.
60%One film comprised approximately 30 feet of 16mm color motion picture footage taken in Utah on 2 July 1952.
85%A second film of unidentified objects was taken in Montana in 1950.
80%The analysis was requested by the U.S. Air Force and performed by the Center's Photogrammetry Division.
85%The Utah film was in poor condition — dry and brittle — and was duplicated with color correction to preserve it before analysis.
90%A stop-frame projector at 22x magnification against a ground-glass screen was used to prepare overlay plots of the objects.
88%The Center cited a lack of funding and personnel as constraints and recommended a more well-resourced follow-up investigation.
70%
Events
Dec 31, 1949
Montana UAP film captured
A motion picture film allegedly depicting unidentified airborne objects was taken in Montana in 1950.
Jul 1, 1952
Utah UAP film captured
Approximately 30 feet of 16mm color motion picture film allegedly depicting unidentified objects was taken in Utah on 2 July 1952.
Dec 31, 1952
NAVPIC progress report on film interpretation
The Naval Photographic Interpretation Center issued this progress report analyzing the two films, superseding an earlier December 1952 letter.
Aug 6, 2026
Department of War UAP records release
The file was released publicly as part of a Department of War UAP disclosure.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Extracted text (OCR)
U. S, NAVAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER U. 8. NAVAL RECEIVING STATION Washington 25, D. Cc. Code O1/aWw/abh a2 Serial: Ob orci, SECURITY INFORMATION officer in charge Director of Naval Intelligence (oP-322H4D) Interpretation of Novies of Unidentified Objects; Progrees report on es (a) Conf 1tr DNI OP322y5/rtm, ta 27 Oct 1952 wi enclosures thereto Conf memo, Chief, Topical Division, USAF, AFOIN 222, ata 24 Nov 1952 with enclosures thereto PIC Conf ltr O1/HWW/gcl, ser 0263 ata 5 Dec 1952 Rest meno, Chief, Topical Division, USAF, AFOLY 282, ata 16 Feb 1953 Enel: (1) cherte 2-13 1. Reference (a) is @ request from U. 8. Air Force for the terpretation of uovies of unidentified objects taken in Utah, 2 July 1952. Included among the enclosures are approximately 30 feet of processed, 16m color motion picture film end a list of questions for guidance in deteruining the type of analysis desired. Reference (b) requested ixterpretation of additional movies taken 1950. Thie report supercedes reference (c) and prese: procedures and methods designed to answer the questions contained in enclosure 7 of reference (a). Tne results and analysis were performed by the Photogrametry Division, Evaluation Department of this Center and do not necessarily represent the official attitude of the Depart- ment of the Navy or this Center DECLASSIFIED Lub 62208 ar 2. ‘Tests and Procedure. a. Plots. ‘The film exposed in Uteh is in very poor condition; dry, brittle, and with a tendency to break. After initial viewing, duplication of the film vas performed in order to preserve the film. In the duplication process sone color correction vas made to permit better viewing of the objects. To prepare plots of the objects, a stop frame projector was rigidly mounted at a fixed distance from = finely-ground glass screen. The magoification vas 22 tines eiving a format size of 14.2" vide. This proved very satisfactory and provided a shadow free image upon vhich overlay plots could be made. COMPDENEL- a ‘SECURITY INFORMATION f nT SECURITY inFoa Ms
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