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Tremonton UFO Film

A Navy warrant officer filmed a group of bright objects maneuvering in the sky. The footage was analyzed by the Navy and Air Force with conflicting conclusions about its nature.

July 2, 1952
Tremonton, Utah, USA
2+ witnesses

The Tremonton UFO Film

On July 2, 1952, Navy Chief Warrant Officer Delbert Newhouse filmed a group of bright, disc-like objects maneuvering in the sky near Tremonton, Utah. The 16mm color film became one of the most analyzed pieces of UFO footage in history, studied by both the Navy and Air Force.

The Witness

Delbert Newhouse was a Navy Chief Photographer with over 20 years of experience. He was traveling with his wife and children when he stopped to film the unusual aerial display.

The Sighting

At approximately 11:10 AM, while driving on Highway 30:

  • Newhouse noticed bright objects in the clear blue sky
  • He stopped the car and retrieved his 16mm Bell & Howell camera
  • He filmed the objects for several minutes
  • The objects maneuvered in patterns unlike conventional aircraft

The Film

The footage showed:

  • Approximately 12-14 bright, disc-shaped objects
  • Objects moving in formation
  • Maneuvering that appeared coordinated
  • One object breaking from the group and returning
  • Circular or disc-shaped appearance when zoomed

The Navy’s Photo Interpretation Laboratory analyzed the film:

  • Frame-by-frame examination
  • Motion analysis
  • Brightness studies
  • The Navy concluded the objects were “self-luminous” and not birds or aircraft

Air Force Analysis

The Air Force reached different conclusions:

  • Project Blue Book reviewed the footage
  • Some analysts suggested birds
  • Others found the Navy’s analysis compelling
  • The case was ultimately listed as “unknown”

The Robertson Panel

The CIA’s Robertson Panel reviewed the Tremonton film in 1953:

  • Members were divided on interpretation
  • Some accepted the bird explanation
  • Others found the flight characteristics inconsistent with birds
  • The film contributed to the panel’s ambivalent conclusions

Technical Analysis

Various analyses noted:

  • The objects’ brightness exceeded bird reflectivity
  • Flight patterns differed from known bird behavior
  • Speed estimates varied widely depending on assumed distance
  • No definitive identification was achieved

Newhouse’s Testimony

Chief Newhouse maintained:

  • He had initially seen the objects at closer range before filming
  • They appeared disc-shaped, not bird-like
  • His 20+ years of photo experience made him confident in his observation
  • He was frustrated that he hadn’t filmed sooner when objects were closer

Significance

The Tremonton film is significant for:

  • Professional photographer as witness
  • Military analysis by both Navy and Air Force
  • High-quality 16mm color footage
  • Extended observation period
  • Conflicting official conclusions

Legacy

The Tremonton film represents one of the best early UFO films:

  • Still analyzed by researchers today
  • Demonstrates challenges of UFO photo analysis
  • Shows how same evidence can yield different conclusions
  • Remains technically unresolved
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