Sarbacher's Letter to Steinman

William Steinman wrote to Robert Sarbacher on 12 September 1983 [S3]. Sarbacher replied on 29 November 1983 on Washington Institute of Technology letterhead. He confirmed the substance of what Wilbert Smith had recorded in 1950, and wrote that "John von Neuman was definitely involved. Dr. Vannevar Bush was definitely involved, and I think Dr. Robert Oppenheimer also" [S1]. Von Neumann and Oppenheimer appear nowhere in Smith's 1950 notes or memo.

The letter misdates Sarbacher's own service. He places his Research and Development Board association "under Doctor Compton during the Eisenhower administration" [S1], but Karl Compton chaired the Board in 1948–50, under Truman [S4]. A skeptical reading notes that nothing in the correspondence implies firsthand knowledge [S3]. A photocopy is held in the Arthur Bray fonds, file F8, at the University of Ottawa [S2].

Sources

[S1] "Sarbacher to Steinman letter, 29 Nov 1983" (scan) URL: https://www.sunrisepage.com/roswell/files/witnesses/1983_Letter_from_Sarbacher,_Dr_Robert.pdf Accessed: 2026-09-18 Claim: Letter text

[S2] "File F8 — Letter from Robert I. Sarbacher to Mr. Steinman" (University of Ottawa Archives) URL: https://arcs-atom.uottawa.ca/index.php/letter-from-robert-i-sarbacher-to-mr-steinman Accessed: 2026-09-18 Claim: Photocopy held in the Bray fonds

[S3] "A Real UFO Crash? — The Sarbacher Clue" (The Quester Files) URL: https://www.thequesterfiles.com/html/a_real_ufo_crash_--_the_sarbac.html Accessed: 2026-09-18 Claim: Steinman's 12 September letter; no implication of firsthand knowledge

[S4] "Karl Compton" (Wikipedia, offices infobox) URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Compton Accessed: 2026-09-18 Claim: Compton chaired the RDB 1948–1950

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