Key to interpreters:
RP1= "Roswell Photointerpretation Team," initial interpretation 1998
RP2= "Roswell Photointerpretation Team," Nov. 2004 (Ron Regher)
M1 = Neil Morris (early effort)
M2 = Neil Morris (in a later review)
R1 = David Rudiak (early effort)
R2 = David Rudiak (in a later review)
R3 = David Rudiak (latest version)
B = Don Burleson (MUFON Journal, issue #102)
C = Tom Carey
S = Brad Sparks
F = Glenn Fishbine (MUFON Minnesota J., issue #102, July/Aug 2003)
MN = William McNeff (MUFON Minnesota J., issue #102, July/Aug 2003)
BK = Bob Koford (private email May 2009)
DJ = David Jones (2024)
A = Consensus agreement among All readers in letters/words. Letters/words in boldface BLACK CAPITALS show plurality agreement between 3-5 persons out of the 9-10 readers. Letters/words in boldface BLUE indicate majority consensus by 6-7 readers. Letters/words in RED show strong consensus between at least 7 readers, sometimes indicating unanimity. Lower case letters indicate weaker alternate agreement by at least two persons or a slightly favored interpretation by two persons (with no clear stronger consensus).
Numbers in parentheses represent the lines of the message. By early convention, the first clearly present line in the message was numbered line (1). However, another line of text exists in shadow and sharply tilted away from the camera above line (1). To maintain early convention, it has been called line (0). Only one person has attempted to read it (Rudiak) and there is no basis for comparison.
There are about 65-78 visible words (depending on reader and what counts as a "word") from lines 1 to 9 consisting of about 320 read characters (excluding spaces). There is currently plurality to unanimous consensus on about 76% of the words/letters and strong consensus to unanimous agreement on about 41% of the words/letters (at least 2/3rds of readers agree), with 48% consensus on majority to unanimous reads (at least 5 readers agree). I (Rudiak) currently agree with 99% of the overall stronger consensus word/letter reads (50% or more of readers), but drop to about 75% overall agreement when weaker consensus words/letters are added. I have strong disagreements with consensus where I consider letter counts to be wrong (see graphic & discussion), grammar poor, and/or poor semantics or sensibility in group reads.
About 40%-50% of the words (depending on reader) are very common English "framework", short words, such as "the", "of", "at", "to" "and", "you", "for", etc. Many of these are relatively easy to pick out and help define the grammatical structure. E.g., the word "the" (most common English word) is likely to be followed by a noun, particularly in a telegram where adjectives tend to be few. (Examples: "the victims of the wreck", "the 'disc'"). "Of" (second most common English word) is likewise probably going to be followed by an article like "the" or a noun or adjective. (Examples: "of the wreck", "meaning of story", "of weather balloons")
In cases where the interpreter mixes capital and lower case letters (Rudiak, Morris, Fishbine, McNeff), capital letters show a higher level of confidence in a letter or word (convention introduced by Morris); lower case letters indicate a lower level of confidence and are generally best guesses or filled in from context. Letters or words in parentheses are concealed and best guesses. Question marks either represent invisible letters with no best guess or disagreements in number of letters between interpreters. In some cases, alternative words for a reading are also indicated under the preferred, best-guess words and placed in brackets.
The top line of x's represents letter and word counts suggested by Rudiak. The x's represent characters that are definitely or probably there as determined by inspection, letter spacing, and/or column alignment with characters directly above or below. Indicated spaces are also definitely or very likely there. Indefinite characters (there could be a character or space there) are indicated by the hyphen '-'. Extra spaces between words have sometimes been inserted to maintain alignment between different interpretations. These extra "padding" spaces are indicated by the underscore '_'.
Please see graphic showing columns of characters lined up so that letter counts can be easily and objectively determined. This is why I dispute various other reader letter counts and words. The main disputes involve words dipping into the center crease. Word reads of others I deem definitely wrong because of obviously bad counts I have underlined. In most cases, readers have done a good job of sticking to proper word lengths. One however (McNeff, or MN), has deliberately misspelled three words containing double letters in order to make his words fit, using the dubious assumption that Ramey typed his own memo and was a bad speller. I have underlined these misspellings as well.
It is not always apparent in different presented reads by individual readers exactly what words/letters correspond to what in a line. Words/letters are therefore lined up on the basis of best-guess matching lengths and similarity of lettering to others.
(0) xxxx xxxxx -xxx- x-xxxx--xxxx -xx- x -xxxx- x- -x-x xxx xxx- x-xx --
(R3) (0) FWAAF AcKnowleDGES THAT A "DISK" IS NEXT NEW FIND WEST of
(R4) (0) FORT WORTH AAFB ACKnowledges THAT A "DISC" IS NEXT NEW FIND WEST OF
(1) ???)xxxxxx- xx xxxxxxxx xxx_ x xx-xx xxxx xxxxxx--x xx xxx
(RP1) AS THE
(RP2) (1) R****ECOVERY OPERATION WITH ROSWELL DISK AT THE
(M1) (1) ——————— ***ARY WERE ——————— AS
(M2) (1) ——————— recoVERY Was ROSWELl Head olc giveN AS THE
[in addiTION] ["pod"]
(B) (1) RECO OPERATION WITH ROSWELL DISK 074 MJ- AT THE
(C) (1) RECO . OPERATION... AT THE
(S) COOPERATION
(F) (1) **** **** explanation was e l** ****** **** **** ** ***
(MN) (1) Efemlow EXPLANATION WAS welcome news Especialy of THE
(R1) (1) ——————— officer
(R2) (1) NEAR OPErATioN AT THE
(R3/4) (1) the)COrdOn. at locATION Was A wreck NEAR OPERAtioN AT THE
[in addiTION] ["pod"]
[Airfoil]
(DJ) (1) XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXX XXXXXX BASE ARE HERE AT THE
(A) (1) rECO OPERATION WAS? ROSWELL nEa* O*e*****n AT THE
With disk As
(2) ????xxx xxx_ xxx xxxxxxx xx xxx xxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxx_ xx xxx
(RP1) (2) **JULY 4TH THE VICTIMS OF THE YOU FORWARDED TO THE
(RP2) (2) ****JULY 4TH THE VICTIMS OF THE WRECK YOU FORWARDED TO THE
(M1) (2) ———— fxs 4 rsev1 VICTIMS OF THE WReck and CONVAY ON TO
(M2) (2) [n]ext 4hs Exp VictIMS of THE WReck and CONVAy ON TO THE
(S) THE FINDING OF THE
(B) (2) () () THE VICTIMS OF THE WRECK YOU FORWARDED TO THE
(C) (2) JULY 4TH. THE VICTIMS OF THE WRECK YOU FORWARDED TO THE
(F) (2) **** and THE REMAINS OF THE WRECK YOU FORWARDED TO THE
(MN) (2) ****SOW AND THE REMAINS OF THE WRECK YOU FORWARDED TO THE
(BK) (2) AND THE VICTIMS OF THE WRECK FOR EVALUATION TO THE
(R1) (2) —(jul)y 4th the VictIMs of tHE wrECK you fOrWArdEd TO The
(R2,3) (2) "ran)CH" AnD THE VICTIMS OF THE WRECK YOU FORWARDED TO THE
(R4) (2) fi)eld AnD THE VICTIMS OF THE WRECK YOU FORWARDED TO THE
(DJ) (2) XXX AND THE PACKING OF THE WRECK WAS COMMENCED IN THE
(A) (2) *** AND THE VICTIMS OF THE WRECK YOU FORWARDED TO THE
july 4th remains conxxxxED
(3) ???)xxx xx xxxx xxxxxx xxx.
(RP1) AT FORT WORTH, TEX.
(RP2) (3) TEAM AT FORT WORTH, TEX.
(M1) (3) ———*** AT FORT WORTH, Txe.
(S) (3) EIGHTH AIR FO)RCE AT FORT WORTH, TEX.
(B) (3) T)EAM AT FORT WORTH, TEX.
(C) (3) ... AT FORT WORTH, TEX.
(F) (3) gmt AT FORT WortH, TEX.
(MN) (3) TeAM AT FORT WORTH, TEX.
(BK) (3) AT FORT WORTH, TEX.
(R1) (3) ———EaM AT FORT WORTH, TEX.
(R2,3) (3) ??t)Eam AT FORT WORTH, TEX.
(DJ) (3) H)ERE AT FORT WORTH, TEX.
(A) (3) T)EAM AT FORT WORTH, TEX.
(4) ??)xxxxxx_ xx xxx_ xxxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xx-xxx_ xxxxxxxx
(RP1) (4) THE "CRASH" "STORY" ... FOR 0984 ACKNOWLEDGES
(RP2) (4) ****ESSOR ON THE "DISK" MUST HAVE SENT LOS ALAMOS A*****D
(M1) (4) ——***S** smi Ths *ELSE* * unus-d**e T&E A3ea96 L******
(M2) (4) W-S-- SorTei -e———- thAT ONUS raaf T&E A# 9—— Landparty
(B) (4) () ON THE “DISK” MUST HAVE SENT LOS ALAMOS ADVANCED
(C) (4) SSORS ON THE “DISK” MUST THUS SAVE FOR ATOMIC LABORATORY
(S) (4) rad)IATION ON THE "DISK" MUST COME FROM THE
(F) (4) **** **** L The *BLACk *box WAS value tac AEC mer Equipment
(MN) (4) device IN THE BLACK BOX MUST SAVE FOR ATOMIC AnALySts
(BK) (4) OF THE "DISC" THEY AWAY TOP SECRET LABORATORY.
(R1) (4) 5 pM THE “DISC” they will ship FOR A3 8th Arrived.
(R2) (4) THE “DISC” THEY will ship FOR A3-AS2 Arrived
(R3) (4) av)iAToRS IN THE “DISC” THEY WILL SHIP FOR A1-8TH ARMYamhc
[Send] -4TH [Analysis]
(R4) (4) ca)DAveRS IN THE “DISC” armY QMGR PREP FOR A1QMGR ApM,bamc
(DJ) (4) WIT)NESSES ON THE “DISK” MUST HAVE KNEW THE HIGHER LIKELIHOOD
(A) (4) iAtORS ON THE "DISC" MUST HAVE SENt FOR A***** A****a**????
SS iN "DISK" they **us Save lOs AlaMos la******????
TO* AtoMic
(5) ?)x xxx-xx xx xxxx xxxxxx xx_ xxxxxx_ xxxxxxx__ xx xxxxxxxx xxxx-
(RP1) (5) EMERGENCY POWERS ARE NEEDED SITETWO SW MAGDALENA, NMEX
(RP2) (5) URGENT POWERS ARE NEEDED SITETWO NW ROSWELL, NMEX.
(M1) (5) —— SOught CRASHEs pOw*** *** N***** SITEOne IS reMotely *****
(B) (5) () URGENT. POWERS ARE NEEDED SITETWO AT CARLSBAD NMEX.
(C) (5) URGENT POWERS ARE NEEDED SITETWO NW ROSWELL, NMEX.
(S) (5) FLYING SAUCERS AT ROSWELL, NMEX.
(F) (5) execute on order AAF APPEARS ******* IT WOULD ** A*****
(MN) (5) **o**ure EXECUTE ORDERs HQ APEARS ASSURED IT WOULD BE MAJOR
(BK) (5) PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECRETARY OF ROSWELL SAID
(R1) (5) — or 58th bomber sq Assist officer AT ROSwell. AS for
[Assess]
(R2) (5) b)Y B29-ST OR C47. WrIGhT AF ASSIST flights AT ROSWELL. ASSURe
(R3) (5) b)Y B29-ST OR C47. WrIGhT AF ASSeSs aerFOil AT ROSWELL. ASsUre
[ABoUt]
(R4) (5) BY B29,97 OR C47. BOMBER HQ AFFIRM PATIENT AT ROSWELL, ABIU.
(DJ) HOLD SHIP ONIGHT, BEINGS ARE ALIENS TACITLY “ET” ORIGIN IN NATUR(E)
(A) (5) .........t uRGENT. POWERS ARE NEEDED SITETWO AT ROSWELL, NMEX.?
A*? A***** aI**o** nw a***r?
hq a i
(6) -x-x x-xxxxxx xxxx_ xxxx _xxxxxxxx_ xxxxxxx xx xxxxx xxx xxxx-
(RP1) (6) SAFE TALK FOR MEANING OF STORY AND MISSION
(RP2) (6) MIDDAY 509TH TOLD NEWSPAPER MEANING OF STORY AND MISSION
(M1) (6) ———— ***D* bAsE ToLd ***a* for we**ous BY STORY are 8*****
(M2) (6) MIDDAY 509# TOLD newsPaPer segment of STORY Adv——
(B) (6) () SAFE TALK NEWSPAPER MEANING OF STORY AND
(C) (6) SAFE TALK WANTED FOR MEANING OF STORY AND
(F) ****Day **** SEND ***TIONS RecovEr IS ORDER AEC *****
(MN) (6) ** * weabl* SAID SEND MISTATED MEANING OF STORY AND THINK
(BK) (6) CASE THEY MEANING OF STORY AND THINK
[vErsIon]
(R1) (6) 54th SAID MIStaken meaning of story And said
[weather balloon is]
(R2) (6) THAT CiC/TEAM SAID THIS MISTAKEN MEANING OF STORY AND THINK
(R3/4) (6) that CiC/TEAM SAID this MISSTATE MEANING OF STORY AND THINK
[noon] [send] [vErsIon] [said]
(R4) (6) that CiC/TEAM SAID that MISSTATE RELEASE OF STORY AND THINK
(DJ) (6) XXXXXXXX SAID SWAP. MYSTEROUS REMNANTS OF DISKS ARE GOING
(A) (6) ***DAY SAFE TALK NEWSPAPER MEANING OF STORY AND THINK??
SAID SEND MiSSTAtE? re**a**
TolD version
Th**
(7) ---xxxxxxx xxxx xxxx_ xxx xx_ xx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxx
(RP1) (7) SHOW "STUFF" OF WEATHER BALLOONS SENT ON THE
(RP2) (7) ONLY SHOW **** *** BY WEATHER BALLOONS WOULD MAKE
(M1) (7) ———— lly thry even PUT FOR BY WEATHER BALLOONS n*d** were
(M2) (7) LLY ThrY EVEN PUT for AF WEATATN BALLOONS raDar WERE
(S) (7) USED TO SP)READ STORY THEY JUST PUT IN OF WEATHER BALLOONS FOUND NEAR
(B) (7) ONLY SHOW ( ) ( ) BY WEATHER BALLOONS ( ) WAVE
(C) (7) NEXT CREW OUT TODAY. WEATHER BALLOONS WOULD MAKE
(F) (7) **** NEXT could you ** IF WEATHER BALLOONS WOULD MAKE
(MN) (7) ******** nEXT THEY SAY PR OF WEATHER BALLOONS WOULD WORK
(R1) (7) news out is OF WEATHER BALLOONS which were
(R2) (7) LATE TODAY NEXT SENT OUT PR OF WEATHER BALLOONS WOULD WORK
(R3/4) (7) LATE TODAY NEXT SENT OUT PR OF WEATHER BALLOONS WOULD takE/work
farE
(DJ) (7) XXXXX ONLY JUST SHOW TR OF WEATHER BALLOONS XXXXX HERE
(A) (7) Y NEXT s**T oUT pR? OF WEATHER BALLOONS WOULD MAKE
th?Y just pUT WORK
(8) ??------x xxxx xxx xxxx xx-xxxxxx xxxxx.
(RP1) (8) AND LAND ... ROVER CREWS.
(RP2) (8) ****509 HAS LAND SURVEYOR CREWS.
(M1) (8) ————— **** **la** l***denver *****
(M2) (8) And Land L denver ofww3
(S) (8) ROSWELL. )ROSWELL
(B) (8) () () L-DENVER CREWS.
(C) (8) 509 HAS LAND SURVEYOR CREWS.
(F) (8) ABQ LAND recOVERY crews.
(MN) (8) a ****O sAys ADD LAND SCAVENGER CREWS.
(R1) (8) ——--- Add land d******** crews.
[And, Ask] [dirtcover]
(R2/3) (8) if photos usEd AnD LANd DEm/RAWIN CREWS.
better if thEy AdD LAms DEceptioN
Dropsonde
(R4) (8) they emPLoY navY AND LAND DEMORAWIN TEAMS.
(DJ) (8) THE SHIP AND LOAD DRY ICE FROZEN GOODS.
(A) (8) 509 AND LAND ****E*vER CREWS.
AdD de*******
has
(9) xxxxx-
(RP) (9) TEMPLE
(M) (9) Temple
(R1-4) (9) rAMEy
(S) (9) RRAMEY
(B) (9) TEMPLE
(C) (9) R RAMEY
(S) (9) RRAMEY
(F) (9) * R****
(MN) (9) RRAMEY
(DJ) (9) RAMEY
(A) (9) RRAMEY
temple
Comparison Ramey Memo Reads
Comparisons of 9 Ramey memo readers show substantial consensus on words and letters
Last updated: February 17, 2025
