Except that the Department of Energy didn't exist until 1977. Its predecessors, The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Energy Research and Development Administration, existed between 1974 and 1977. Prior to these, it was the Atomic Energy Commission, which didn't exist until January 1, 1947, after being created by the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 (signed 8/1/46). The Department of Defense didn't exist prior to September 18, 1947 (same with the USAF), it was the Department of War. Prior to 9/18/47, all things Nuclear were the provision of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which was under the Department of War. So, if this craft crashed and was recovered in 1945, it would have been under The Department of War, which would have also been in charge of The Pentagon upon its completion in 1943.
I think he’s referring to the fact that Dixie Lee Ray had access to the file, and told Padilla about its existence.
Good history—but we know from a former Department of Energy head (Dixie Lee Ray) that she had custody of the craft and bodies when she was Secretary.
The details are discussed in the Vallee book.
Because the craft landed adjacent to the nuclear test site the Atomic Energy folks took control of it—and as far as we know never relinquished that control (except probably to contractors).
There is a lot of evidence that the now Department of Energy, the Air Force and the Navy (to give just three examples) have been competitive and non-cooperative in this field—trying to hide the information from each other and other government agencies as well as the public.
This is part of what Congress needs to address.
I have to correct my post 16. I think it was the Baca boy, not Padilla, who grew up and moved in circles where he would come into contact with Dixie Lee Ray.