Roswell Army Airfield
Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF) was a major U.S. Army Air Forces installation in New Mexico and home to the 509th Bomb Group in 1947. It is the core military location in the Roswell incident record, including the original "flying disc" press release and subsequent transfer of authority to Fort Worth command channels.
Operational Significance
RAAF hosted strategic bomber capabilities and personnel with high-level security responsibilities in the immediate postwar period. This context is frequently cited by researchers who argue Roswell response decisions were treated as a priority national security matter.
Roswell Incident Role
In July 1947, reports of unusual debris from Foster Ranch moved through Roswell command staff. Lieutenant Walter Haut issued the initial press release from this installation. Later witness narratives also place guarded hangar activity at the base, including references to Hangar 84 as a temporary holding site for recovered material.