William Blanchard
From the UAP Encyclopedia, the open encyclopedia of UFO and UAP history · 👤 Person
Contents 5
| Type | Person |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Col. William Blanchard, Blanchard |
| On the Timeline | 4 events, 1947–2008 |
William Hubert Blanchard (6 February 1916 – 31 May 1966) was a U.S. Air Force general who, as commander of the 509th Bomb Group at Roswell Army Air Field in July 1947, authorised the press release announcing the recovery of a "flying disc", setting off the Roswell incident. He later rose to four-star rank as Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force.[1][2]
Early career and World War II
Blanchard was born in Boston and attended Phillips Exeter Academy before entering the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1934; he was commissioned in 1938 and completed pilot training in 1939. In 1943 he was chosen for the first B-29 bomber wing, and in 1944, as deputy commander of the 58th Bomb Wing, he flew the first B-29 into China. He later commanded the 40th Bomb Group and was operations officer of XXI Bomber Command in the Marianas. As a colonel he prepared the operations order for the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and served as backup pilot to Paul Tibbets.[1]
The 509th and Roswell
In January 1946 Blanchard took command of the 509th Bomb Group, then the only unit able to deliver atomic weapons, which took part in the Operation Crossroads tests at Bikini Atoll that summer. On 23 August 1946 he also assumed command of Roswell Army Air Field.[1]
In July 1947, after intelligence officer Maj. Jesse Marcel brought back debris from a ranch, Blanchard approved the press release, written by public information officer Walter Haut, stating that the base had recovered a "flying disc". Within a day his superior, Brig. Gen. Roger Ramey of the Eighth Air Force, identified the debris as a weather balloon. Roswell researchers have argued that Blanchard's continued rapid promotion shows he was not blamed for a mistake, implying the announcement was not an error; skeptics see no such significance.[1][3]
Later career
Blanchard joined Eighth Air Force headquarters in 1948, became deputy director of operations for Strategic Air Command in 1953, and in 1957 commanded the 7th Air Division in England. He returned to SAC in 1960, became Inspector General of the Air Force as a lieutenant general in 1961, and in 1963 deputy chief of staff for programs and requirements. On 19 February 1965 he became Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force with the rank of general.[1][2]
He died of a heart attack at the Pentagon while on duty on 31 May 1966, aged 50, and is buried at the U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery.[1]
On the UAP Timeline
- Walter Haut sealed affidavit (8 July 1947) — Roswell press officer Walter Haut's affidavit says his commander told him the base had recovered crash debris from a disc.
- Art McQuiddy and the Roswell press release (8 July 1947) — Roswell newspaper editor Art McQuiddy says the base announced a recovered disc, then asked him to call it a weather balloon.
- Robert Shirkey affidavit on the Roswell debris flights (8 July 1947) — Lt. Robert Shirkey's affidavit says he saw debris loaded for flights from Roswell to Fort Worth and Wright Field.
- Chester Lytle's Kirtland sighting (1 January 2008) — A Manhattan Project contractor says he saw a domed disc through a telescope during a nuclear test.
References
- William H. Blanchard — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · archived copy
- Personal Fact Sheet, William H. Blanchard — Air Force Historical Research Agency · archive.org · archived copy
- Roswell incident — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · archived copy
This page was last edited on 29 October 2026. Articles are written in our own words from the sources listed under References; disputed claims are attributed to the people who made them.
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