Roger Ramey
From the UAP Encyclopedia, the open encyclopedia of UFO and UAP history · 👤 Person
Contents 5
| Type | Person |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Gen. Roger Ramey, Ramey |
| On the Timeline | 4 events, 1947–2004 |
Roger Maxwell Ramey (9 September 1905 – 4 March 1963) was a U.S. Air Force general who, as commander of the Eighth Air Force in Fort Worth, Texas, announced in July 1947 that the debris recovered near Roswell was a weather balloon, reversing the "flying disc" announcement. A photograph of him holding a message during that press event, often called the "Ramey memo", is still debated by researchers.[1][2]
Early career and World War II
Ramey was born in Sulphur Springs, Texas, attended North Texas Teachers College, and graduated from West Point in 1928. He trained as a pilot and in the 1930s commanded a pursuit squadron and instructed at Randolph Field. In World War II he became plans and training officer of VII Bomber Command in 1942, then commanded the 43rd Bomb Group and the 314th Bomb Wing in the Fifth Air Force in the Pacific, earning the Distinguished Service Cross.[1][3]
Roswell
In 1946 Ramey directed the "Able" shot of Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll, and in January 1947 he took command of the Eighth Air Force at Fort Worth Army Air Field, with authority over the 509th Bomb Group at Roswell. On 8 July 1947, after Roswell announced it had recovered a "flying disc", debris was flown to Fort Worth. In Ramey's office, with his chief of staff Col. Thomas DuBose and weather officer Irving Newton, the material was identified as a weather balloon and its radar reflector and shown to reporters.[1][2][4]
One photograph shows Ramey kneeling by the debris holding a folded teletype message. Researchers including David Rudiak have studied enlarged scans and argued that it refers to "victims" and a "disc"; others say the text is too blurry to read reliably, and attempts to decipher it have been inconclusive.[1][5]
Later career
Ramey later commanded the Fifth Air Force in Korea from May 1954, becoming a lieutenant general. He retired on 31 January 1957 because of heart problems and died in Torrance, California, in 1963. His decorations included the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Distinguished Flying Cross.[1][3]
On the UAP Timeline
- Thomas DuBose affidavit on the Roswell debris (8 July 1947) — Col. Thomas DuBose's affidavit says the Roswell debris went via Fort Worth to Wright Field and the balloon photos were a cover story.
- DuBose affidavit (1991) (16 September 1991) — Gen. Thomas DuBose says the Roswell balloon story was a cover and the event was above Top Secret.
- Earl Zimmerman affidavit (2 November 1993) — A radio operator's affidavit describes 1947 flying saucer rumors at his base.
- Ramey memo (2004) — A 1947 photo of Gen. Ramey holding a message is enlarged, and its text is debated.
References
- Roger M. Ramey — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · archived copy
- Roswell incident — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · archived copy
- "Lt. Gen. Roger M. Ramey", U.S. Air Force biography · af.mil · archived copy
- "Rancher surprised at excitement over his debris discovery near Roswell", El Paso Times (2017) · eu.elpasotimes.com · archived copy
- Kevin D. Randle, Roswell in the 21st Century (2016) — Google Books · books.google.com · 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.
No discussion yet.