Unidentified flying objects -- Sightings and encounters -- New Mexico -- Roswell
Place Date: 31 May 95
I, Roland H. Lutz, CMSgt, USAF, (Ret), hereby state that James
McAndrew was identified as a Lieutenant, USAFR on this date at my
home and do hereby, voluntarily and of my own free will, make the
following statement. This was done without having been subjected to
any coercion, unlawful influence or unlawful inducement.
I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1947 and transferred to the U.S. Air
Force in 1958. In June, 1958 I was assigned to the flight surgeon’s
office at Holloman AFB, NM as an Aero Medical Technician. I served
several tours in Southeast Asia and retired from the Air Force in
1974 as an Aero Medical Superintendent.
On May 20–21, 1959 I was assigned to provide medical coverage for a
balloon training mission that took off from Holloman AFB and ended
with a crash near Roswell, NM. Capt Joe Kittinger was training
two other pilots, Capt Fulgham and Capt Kaufman. I followed the
balloon in an ambulance during the night and at daybreak I followed
the balloon in an H-21 helicopter. Just after daybreak I saw the
balloon crash and the three pilots were dumped form the gondola.
I immediately informed the helicopter pilot and we landed in a
field on which cattle were grazing. I recall the rancher was upset
because the helicopter was frightening his cattle and some cattle
had gotten out of the field.
I assesed the injuries to the pilots and recommended they be taken
immediately to the closest hospital which was at Walker AFB,
apprximately 5 to 10 minutes away by helicopter. Capt Fulgham’s
head was swelling due to a hemotoma he received when the gondola
struck him. Capt Kittinger was cut on the face and was bleeding.
Capt Kaufman was uninjured. At Walker I remember a telephone
conversation with a flight surgeon who told me to “go home and
sleep it off”. He apparently did not believe my story of three
Air Force pilots that were victims of a balloon crash. However,
I was able to convince him and he treated Capt Fulgham and Capt
Kittinger. While at the hospital Capt Fulgham’s head had swelled
enormously and his eyes were beginning to turn black.
I do not recall that anything unusual occurred at the hospital
at Walker. I remember the three pilots sitting on a bench in
the hallway waiting to be treated. I do not remember that Capt
Kittinger was involved in an altercation with anyone while at the
hospital, if he had, I would have known about it. Capt Kittinger
was concerned with getting medical treatment for his injured crew
member, Capt Fulgham, and returning to Holloman. I also do not
recall a black NCO accompanying Capt Kittinger while we were at
the hospital. I do not remember a nurse assisting in the treatment
of Capt Fulgham or Capt Kittinger. I also do not remember a male
civilian or any personnel or vehicles from a mortuary, and I do not
recall any remains in body bags in the hospital.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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