Project Blue Book

The Roswell Incident - Part I - S2-E1

Factual error: General Harding is asked what will happen to a civilian caught trying to fight the Air Force air police personnel. He responds that he will go to a military tribunal. That is not correct. First of all, the defendant is a civilian and not subject to military authority. This has been so since 1866 when the Supreme Court ruled such a venue unconstitutional. Of note, the incident took place outside of Federal jurisdiction. So, no, he would would have to be turned over to civilian authorities and tried under civilian jurisdiction. (00:37:45)

toroscan

The Roswell Incident - Part I - S2-E1

Factual error: During the flashback scene when Professor Hynek is describing what happened at Roswell in 1947, the paper boy is holding the paper then the military vehicle is driving toward the camera. The two vehicles parked on the side of the road are too new to be in the scene. One is a 1949 or 50 Chevrolet sedan delivery, the one parked behind it is a 1954 Chevrolet, but the flashback is supposed to be happening in 1947.

The Roswell Incident - Part I - S2-E1

Factual error: General Harding continues to walk around out of uniform, with just his hat showing any kind of Air Force affiliation. General officers have three pairs of clouds and lightning bolts (colloquially known as "farts and darts") on either side of the bill. The show shows him using one with only two pairs per side. What he is wearing is appropriate only for Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels. He is using a nondescript khaki shirt with absolutely NO rank on it. No distinctive insignia or decorations at all. While this shirt is authorized when worn with the service coat, it is not authorized for use alone.

toroscan

Hopkinsville - S2-E4

Factual error: Dr. Hynek's wife dials a phone number to contact a club member. She dials four digits. Four digit telephone numbers were in use in the 1910s, and five digit numbers in the 1920s. By the 1950s, when this show takes place, there were even area codes and seven digit numbers already in use. (00:16:40)

toroscan

The Men in Black - S2-E5

Factual error: An assistant to the Captain is wearing an Air Force uniform (as she should be). But it has no stripes on the sleeves. This would denote an Airman Basic. But no Airman Basic is going to be in an administrative position. (00:14:10)

toroscan

Broken Arrow - S2-E9

Factual error: An unidentified airplane has crossed into Canadian airspace. The pilot flying right seat orders the left seat pilot to climb to 15,000 feet. This in itself is odd, because the Aircraft Commander flies the left seat, and bombers would be much higher than that in the first place. The pilot advances four throttles to initiate the climb, typical of a four engine reciprocating engine plane. When we see an outside shot what is shown is a twin engine jet aircraft. And the interior shots of the wreckage later are also wrong for the era too. (00:02:00)

toroscan

Operation Mainbrace - S2-E10

Factual error: The Admiral is looking over the shoulder at a sonar scope that has a radial sweep. Sonar displays of that era had concentric sweeps starting from the middle to the outside. (00:24:00)

The Green Fireballs - S1-E6

Factual error: The Secretary of the Air Force enters a room. A captain not in uniform salutes him. You do not salute out of uniform, and you do not salute civilians. You stand at attention. (00:09:20)

toroscan

More mistakes in Project Blue Book

Hopkinsville - S2-E4

Trivia: If you look closely, that Bourbon that Captain Quinn is drinking is called "Ruppelt Bourbon", a nod to the real-life Captain Ed Ruppelt, the first Director of Project Blue Book, and who the character of Captain Quinn is partially based. Thanks to David O'Leary for the information. (00:18:20)

toroscan

More trivia for Project Blue Book

The Fuller Dogfight - S1-E1

Question: At the end, why was Fuller drugged and dragged? What were they trying to keep him quiet about that he could possibly have let slip? What exactly was it that he saw and engaged that night up in the plane?

More questions & answers from Project Blue Book

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