Person
Robert Sarbacher
Smith's 1950 source on a secret Vannevar Bush group, and the origin of the claim that von Neumann and Oppenheimer were involved (his 1983 letter).
American physicist and Defense Department research consultant. In 1950 he told Canadian engineer Wilbert Smith that the recovery of flying saucers was the most highly classified subject in the US government, and Smith's memo of 21 Nov 1950 names Vannevar Bush as heading the small group studying it. In a letter to researcher William Steinman of 29 Nov 1983, Sarbacher added von Neumann and, he thought, Oppenheimer, while saying he could not attend the meetings himself.
Claims (5)
John von Neumann was definitely involved. Dr. Vannevar Bush was definitely involved, and I think Dr. Robert Oppenheimer also.secondhandSourced, unconfirmedRobert Sarbacher, letter to William Steinman, 29 Nov 1983 (says he did not attend the meetings)
He named Dr. Eric A. Walker of Penn State as a participant in the recovered-craft work.firsthandSourced, unconfirmedRobert Sarbacher
His father built camera-carrying missiles to track UFOs, "like on the V-2 rockets".Dr. Robert Sarbacher & the US Government's Secret UFO Crash Retrieval GroupsecondhandSourced, unconfirmedRobert Sarbacher Jr (to D.M. Duncan)
The materials were "extremely light and very tough" and the occupants "constructed like certain insects".Dr. Robert Sarbacher & the US Government's Secret UFO Crash Retrieval GroupsecondhandSourced, unconfirmedRobert Sarbacher
At a Wright Field meeting "they didn't have any skin"; a smug man from Philadelphia, later identified as Eric Walker, was present.Eric A. WalkerDr. Robert Sarbacher & the US Government's Secret UFO Crash Retrieval GroupfirsthandSourced, unconfirmedRobert Sarbacher
What Robert Sarbacher said (8 claims)
On the record 3Witness testimony 5
“Sarbacher told Wilbert Smith in 1950 that the crash stories were 'substantially correct'.”On the recordAztec 1948 with Scott and Suzanne Ramsey
Smith's notes of 15 September 1950, answering about Scully's book.
“Sarbacher's 1983 letter to Steinman names Bush and von Neumann.”On the recordAztec 1948 with Scott and Suzanne Ramsey
The letter is published.
“Bush, von Neumann and Oppenheimer were on the recovery team, per Wilbert Smith's document.”Witness testimonyDeep Prasad returns: AI, quantum, Roswell tech and his 2019 encounter
Smith's 1950 memo names only Bush. The other names come from Sarbacher's 1983 letter, and he says he didn't attend the meetings.
“Robert Sarbacher told Wilbert Smith in 1950 that Scully's book was substantially correct.”On the recordThe 1948 Aztec, New Mexico UFO Crash Retrieval
Smith's notes record Sarbacher's words.
“Sarbacher wrote to Steinman in 1983 that John von Neumann was definitely involved and that he believed Oppenheimer was too.”Witness testimonyThe Manhattan Project 2.0 - the Secrecy of UFO Crash Retrieval Programs [VOL.1]
Sarbacher's own letter.
“He was not at the recoveries but was invited to R&D board discussions; Bush, von Neumann and probably Oppenheimer were involved.”Witness testimonyDr. Robert Sarbacher & the US Government's Secret UFO Crash Retrieval Group
Letter to William Steinman, Nov 1983.
“The materials were "extremely light and very tough" and the occupants were "constructed like certain insects".”Witness testimonyDr. Robert Sarbacher & the US Government's Secret UFO Crash Retrieval Group
Reports he heard at the meetings.
“At a Wright Field meeting he heard "they didn't have any skin", and a smug man from Philadelphia was there, later identified as Eric Walker.”Witness testimonyDr. Robert Sarbacher & the US Government's Secret UFO Crash Retrieval Group
Call with Stanton Friedman, 1983.
Cases (1)
Connected
Eric A. Walker personFrank Scully personJohn von Neumann personVannevar Bush personWilbert Smith's Top Secret memo (21 November 1950) document
Sources
- Sarbacher's letter to William Steinman, 29 Nov 1983 (Patrick Gross)
- American Alchemy: Deep Prasad with Jesse Michels (Oct 2026)
- UAP Gerb: 80 Years, the legacy-program timeline
- UAP Gerb: The Manhattan Project 2.0, Vol. 1
- UAP Gerb, 'Dr. Robert Sarbacher & the US Government's Secret UFO Crash Retrieval Group' (YouTube, 8 April 2024)
Mentioned on (7)
- American Alchemy: Aztec 1948 with Scott and Suzanne Ramsey
- American Alchemy: Deep Prasad returns: AI, quantum, Roswell tech and his 2019 encounter
- UAP Gerb: 80 Years of UFO Crash Retrieval and Reverse Engineering: A Timeline
- UAP Gerb: The 1948 Aztec, New Mexico UFO Crash Retrieval
- UAP Gerb: David Grusch on JRE, Herrington Denial, RFK Shoot Down Briefing & QnA - UAP Gerb Live
- UAP Gerb: The Manhattan Project 2.0 - the Secrecy of UFO Crash Retrieval Programs [VOL.1]
- UAP Gerb: Dr. Robert Sarbacher & the US Government's Secret UFO Crash Retrieval Group