Introduction
This report covers my analysis of two well-known UFO photographs taken on May 11, 1950, in Sheridan, Oregon. These images, often referred to as the "McMinnville UFO Photos," have been the subject of much debate. Utilizing modern tools and techniques, I aimed to determine the general location of where the photos were taken, and whether the object in the images moved between shots or remained stationary.
Location Identification
Despite the 75-year gap and limited data from the town of Sheridan, I successfully matched the mountains seen in the background of the photos using Google Street View. I calculated a heading of 6.2 degrees to align the mountains in the current landscape with those in the original photographs. This allowed me to determine the general area where the photos were likely taken.
Witness Testimonies and Inconsistencies
The witnesses, who estimated the object’s diameter to be between 20 and 30 feet, provided crucial details. However, upon reviewing their testimonies, I discovered several inconsistencies that raised questions about the accuracy of their claims. These inconsistencies, combined with the physical evidence from the photos, warranted a deeper analysis.
Technical Specifications
The photos were taken with a Kodak Roamer Six-20 camera, which had a 100mm focal length, an f-stop range between f/4.5 and f/11, and a shutter speed of 1/50. The camera operated with a circle of confusion (CoC) of approximately 0.045mm and a 3:2 aspect ratio. These details, along with reference points in the scene, provided essential clues for determining size and perspective.
3D Recreation and Reference Points
To gain a clearer understanding of the scene, I used reference objects like a 1950s heating oil tank, which measured approximately 44 inches tall, 66 inches wide, and 27 inches long. In addition, I utilized other images and schematics of the farm from a 1950 LIFE magazine article to recreate the scene in 3D space. This enabled me to accurately place the two camera positions and determine the orientation of the buildings.
- Camera and Object Positions
- The first camera was approximately 82.01 meters from the far (left) telephone pole.
- The second camera was approximately 51.88 meters from the closer (right) pole.
- The distance between the two telephone poles was roughly 49.68 meters.
- Both buildings in the photos were parallel, oriented a few degrees clockwise from true north.
By drawing lines in 3D space from known fixed objects to the center of where the UFO appears in the photos, I found that all lines—including those drawn from both cameras—converged at the same point on each axis. This provided critical insight into the object’s location.
Object Movement Analysis
One of the primary goals was to determine whether the object moved between the two photos. Unfortunately, with only two images available, it was challenging to definitively conclude whether motion occurred. However, I developed a method to estimate the object’s location based on the distances between the cameras and the object.
Using advanced mathematics and simulations, I estimated that both photos were likely taken with an f-stop of 7 and a focus distance of 5 meters. If correct, this would place the object approximately 4.8 meters from Camera 1 and 5.6 meters from Camera 2. Notably, these distances match the distances between the cameras and the point where all lines converge in 3D space.
Conclusion
Given that the estimated distances between the cameras and the object match the distances to the convergence point, it is likely that the object remained stationary between the two photos. Based on these calculations, I estimate that the object had a diameter of roughly 6.7 inches and was located about 2.54 meters above the ground.
While I am confident in this conclusion, the age of the photographs and the limited number of images available introduce some degree of uncertainty. Further analysis, including access to more photos or additional data, could provide further clarity.