What we found at Roswell Col. Kevin Randle — former Vietnam helicopter pilot, former Iraq intelligence officer, UFO expert and specialist — on what happened in July 1947 in Roswell , a crappy little town of then maybe 50,000 (about what a NYC hi-rise would have). So, today, are these so-called UFOs yes or no? The Colonel: “UFOs were in Roswell, NM, because that’s where atomic research began. Roswell Army Airfield was the only atomic strike force then. “The debris field was 65 miles northwest.