Witness

Maj. Jesse Marcel

U.S. Army Air Forces intelligence officer

Intelligence officer at the 509th Bomb Group in Roswell, New Mexico, in July 1947. Photographed with debris recovered from the J. B. Foster ranch in the days following what the Roswell Army Air Field publicly described as the recovery of a 'flying disc' before the Army revised its account to a weather balloon.

Connected events

Official Statement
July 8, 1947
Roswell Army Air Field announces recovery of a 'flying disc'
The Roswell Army Air Field public information officer issues a press release stating that the 509th Bomb Group has come into possession of a 'flying disc' recovered from a nearby ranch. Within twenty-four hours the Army retracts the statement and identifies the debris as a weather balloon.

Roswell Army Air Field announces recovery of a 'flying disc'