March 7, 1952🇺🇸Investigation
ScienceHistorical
Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: Kaplan discusses diffraction grids for fireball cameras
On 7 March 1952 physicist Joseph Kaplan visited the Air Technical Intelligence Center to discuss fitting patrol cameras with a special diffraction grid to obtain spectra of green fireballs.
Background
Physicist Joseph Kaplan visited the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) to discuss methods of obtaining more information on green fireballs. The proposal was a special diffraction grid to be placed on patrol cameras so that they could be used as field spectrometers. Eberhart cites the report “Status of Project Blue Book” (T52-6888, 1952). The account follows the entry in George M. Eberhart's chronology UFOs and Intelligence (CUFOS) and the sources cited there; it is not an independent determination by From Beyond Space.