Reconstruct

Ramey's message in ordinary text, color coded for confidence level and visibility. rtf file should be readable with both Mac and PC word processors.

(Copyrighted)

A full page, lower resolution reconstruction, showing overall layout of message, including address header and possible stamps at top and bottom of page. Lines of text are separated with printed interpretation directly below. Main image is from a high-contrast direct scan of the original negative. Not everything is readable at this level of resolution, particularly in the shadowed areas. (Copyrighted)

A high-resolution reconstruction of the main body of the message consisting of two paragraphs, the signature line, and some handwriting underneath. From scanned blow-up prints at several times the resolution of the negative direct-scan. Lines of text are again separated with printed interpretation below. Printed letters use actual period teletype font scanned from period teletype messages. (Copyrighted)

[Note: Total of images is over 1 MByte -- slower connections expect long download times.]

Because of vertical compression of letters from page tilt, print scanned at 1200 dpi vertically, 600 dpi horizontally, to stretch letters vertically. Some letters along right side are hidden from view by a fold in the paper. Duplicate image at right with message letters outlined in red. Interpretation below each line is in true teletype font. Because header is in shadow and tilted away from camera, it is unusually difficult to read, and this interpretation will no doubt be controversial. Keyword is "VANDENBERG", indicating addressee was Gen. Vandenberg at the Pentagon. Also indicates message was from 8th AAF headquarters, or Gen. Ramey's command. (Copyrighted)

A closer look at the keyword "VANDENBERG" in the address header. Lettering beneath has been placed in perspective to try to replicate perspective distortion caused by paper tilt. Image lettering has been stretched 2X in the vertical direction. The "V" and "A" at the beginning of the word are quite clear, but the less-distinct letters will undoubtedly be questioned. (Copyrighted)

This faint security stamp is along the lower left margin of the page. Most letters are not very distinct, but the "S", "R", and "T" in SECRET are reasonably clear. Duplicate image on top outlines the suspected letters in red. Expected second security stamp at top of page may not be visible because of paper curvature (upper left), page tilt, and shadowing. (Copyrighted)

A close look at the two key phrases in the message with the words "VICTIMS" and "DISC" which disprove any balloon theory. Real teletype font is used for comparison. (Copyrighted)

NEW! Citizen's poll added. View the image and then vote on whether words are really there.

A high-resolution scan of the entire Ramey message. How believable is Air Force counterintelligence's claim that nothing could be read here?

What I believe is a faint time stamp, vertical in orientation, in the top left margin adjacent to the address header. Certainly controversial. The transmit time would be minutes before Gen. Vandenberg returned to his office after being out for an hour dealing with the Roswell press feeding frenzy in the Pentagon press room. (Copyrighted)

A closer look at the keyword "VICTIMS" and alternative proposed words "REMAINS" and "FINDING". Real teletype font is again used. You decide which is the better choice for the word, but the first letter doesn't look anything like "R" or "F".

Added 11/24/02:

Brand new direct scans of negative done Sept. 2002 by
Roswell International UFO Museum & Research Center. Added here to graphic for comparison.

New! An illustration of how a on-line dictionary search engine turns up only 8 possible hits in the English language in a broad search with 4 of the 7 most likely letters in the word. Only "victims" makes sense in context. Context can be used to reject spurious matches.