AFFIDAVIT OF ROBERT SHIRKEY
(1) My name is Robert Shirkey
(2) My address is: XXXXXXXXXX
(3) I am ( ) retired ( ) employed as: __________________________________
(4) In July 1947, I was stationed at the Roswell Army Air field with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. I served as the assistant flight safety officer and was assigned to base operations for the 509th Bomb Group.
(5) During that period, the call a B-29 ready to go as soon as possible. Its destination was to be Fort Worth, on orders from the base commander, Col. Blanchard. I was in the Operations Office when Col. Blanchard arrived. He asked if the aircraft was ready. When he was told it was, Blanchard waved to somebody, and approximately five people came in the front door, down the hallway and on to the ramp to climb into the airplane, carrying parts of what I heard was the crashed flying saucer.
(6) At this time, I asked Col. Blanchard to turn sideways so I could see what was going on. I saw them carrying what appeared to be pieces of metal; there was one piece that was 18 x 24 inches, brushed stainless steel in color. I also saw what was described by another witness as an I-beam and markings.
(7) Several days later, a B-25 was scheduled to take something to Ft. Worth. This was the second flight during this period: the third was a B-29 piloted by Oliver W. "Pappy" Henderson directly to Wright-Patterson.
(8) I learned later that a Sergeant and some airmen went to the crash site and swept up everything, including bodies. The bodies were laid out in Hanger 84. Henderson's flight contained all that material.
(9) All of those involved--the Sergeant of the Guards, all of the crewmen, and myself--were shipped out to different bases within two weeks.
(10) I have not been paid or given anything of value to make this statement, and it is the truth to the best of my recollection.
Signed: Robert Shirkey
30 April 1991
Signature witnessed by:
Lupe V. Sandoval
[Note later added by Shirkey] Ref: #9: I have learned since making the statement #9 that, while I was aware of several people being "shipped out" on change of station, not everyone actually were that may have been involved with the incident aftermath.
[Source: Karl Pflock, Roswell in Perspective, 1994]
