1850 - September 15 - 6:20 hours - Wellington Channel, Canada - Google Map

Witnesses:

Dr. Elisha Kent Kane, USN surgeon and chief medical officer on the First Grinnel Expedition to find Sir John Franklin lost in 1845.

Captain De Haven, Commanding Officer of the USS Advance.





USS Advance in The Ice, 26th September, 1850

Click photo for additional images

Summary:

“A large spheroidal mass seen floating in the air at an unknown distance to the north.” Joined by a second smaller object a short distance from it. Capt. De Haven thought it might be a kite. The other Grinnel ship, the Resolute had launched a balloon on the 2nd, but it probably could not have survived a storm in the meantime. Other British vessels on the same mission might have launched a balloon, but there was no mention of this in English publications.



Dr. Elisha Kane's 1st edition of his two-volume book on the expedition contains an illustration of an object which looks like "a dark dirigible."

Mysteries in the Skies, pp. 44-45

http://www.waterufo.net/item.php?id=10 Source: Lore and Deneault,, pp. 44-45



- 36° 20' N 127° 36' W - 1904 - 28 February - Pacific Ocean about 300 miles WSW of San Francisco- 36° 20' N 127° 36' W - Google Map

Witnesses:



LT Frank H. Schofield, the USS Supply's Captain, is often erroneously listed as a witness, but he did not see the objects. He was the one who reported the sighting in a number of publications.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/fhschofield.htm



Officer of the Deck (OOD) and two crewmen on watch.LT Frank H. Schofield, the USS Supply's Captain, is often erroneously listed as a witness, but he did not see the objects. He was the one who reported the sighting in a number of publications.

USS Supply before WW I

Click photo for additional images

Summary:

“3 remarkable meteors” bright red. Lead object egg-shaped the others round. Approached from NNW toward ship. Soared through clouds at angle 75 deg. Departed WNW...



Hall II

Barry Greenwood: Meteors

The log of the USS Supply – see:

http://www.brumac.8k.com/RemarkableMeteors/Remarkable.html Source: Monthly Weather Report, March 1904Hall IIBarry Greenwood: MeteorsThe log of the USS Supply – see:

1939 - July - about 9:30 p.m. - Pittsburgh, Pennslyvania - Google Map

Witnesses:

J. M. Williams, identified as 15 years in the Navy, but no further information, and his wife





Summary:

"We were sitting on our front porch enjoying a nice evening when my wife called me to look at the funny thing in the sky so I proceeded to the sidewalk where I noticed this object sitting at an angle up in the sky. We both watched for about 15 minutes until a cloud came by and covered [it]. As soon as the cloud passed I was startled to find the object had disappeared."

Sketch of UFO Sighting by J.M. Williams

Click photo for enlarged image

Appearance was one solid sharply outlined self-luminous object resembling a "sword," "as long as 12 inch ruler at arms' length, something like the brightness of a car's fog lamp." The weather was partly cloudy, dusk as the sun had set. There was no moon, but the stars were visible through breaks in the clouds. There was a slight 5 mph west wind.

Richard Hall comment: See Vinther case, Sioux City, Iowa, January 20, 1951.

Source: Report date 18 February, 1958

Richard Hall's notes on Pre-1947 incidents (circa 1965-1966)



Twitchell Island, California - 1941 - December (after Pearl Harbor attack 7 Dec) - Day - Sevenmile Slough,Twitchell Island, California - Google Map

Witness:

Robert C. Avila, operator of the Twitchell Island ferry

Summary:

While out of the shelter checking the water depth to make allowances for tide, Avila looked up and saw several of “what appeared to be large balloon objects in the sky. They were orange-red and appeared to be luminescent. They were about 1/4 of a mile away and maybe 1000 feet above the ground. They were evenly spaced perhaps 300 to 400 yards apart, and they were in a very straight line or row. They seemed to extend well over Sacramento. They remained stationary for perhaps 45 minutes. I went into the shack and phoned Mather Field in Sacramento to report the incident. When I came outside again they were gone.”

Project 1947 Comment: After the Pearl Harbor attack, the mood in the country was very "jumpy." Such reports would be taken very seriously and were probably recorded in some files, FBI, Army Intelligence or similar agency. The Western Defense Command was formed in March 1941 and such a report might be in the records of this organization.

FOURTH ARMY and Western Defense Command Order of Battle: http://niehorster.orbat.com/013_usa/_41_usarmy/army-04/army-004.htm

Source: Letter to Major Donald E. Keyhoe, 3 August 1960

1942 - 12 August - Day - Tulagi, Solomon Islands - Google Map

Witnesses:

Sgt Stephen J Brickner, USMC 1st Marine Division





Summary:

During lull in fighting air raid alert was sounding. Loud roaring noise. Large formation of silvery objects, with slight wobbling, high overhead

Source: Chester, Strange Company: Military Encounters with UFOs in World War II page 28-29

1942 - 9-10 October 10:00 a.m. - Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands - Google Map

Witnesses:

USS Helm





USS Helm DD-388, off Mare Island Navy Yard, Ca., 26 February, 1942

Click photo for additional images

Summary:

Incoming object observed by witness thru 7x50 binoculars. Silvery disc shaped with a dome on top with portholes around disc. At 3000 yards crew opened fire, object turned, circled fleet twice. Radar tracking.

Source: Taped interview by Paul Cerny, "MUFON Journal" #185, July 1983, pp14-15



Project 1947 Note: Various researchers believe the witness may have recalled the wrong date for the sighting. The USS Helm took part in the invasion of Guadalcanal beginning in early August of 1942. Naval records indicate that during October the Helm was active on escort protection duty between Australia and New Guinea, beginning on 8 September, 1942, and continuing for "some months".



This image of "gunnery practice by Destroyer Squadron Four" was taken from the deck of the USS Helm on 9 October, 1942.

The location was ten miles north of the Palm Islands, off the Australian coast, some 1500 kms away from Guadalcanal where the sighting was supposed to have occurred the next day.

A check of the USS Helm's log by Kevin Randle reveals only this entry for July 6, 1942, for anything unusual: "Sighted steady white light bearing 061 [degrees], distance about 10 miles; unidentified."



Morocco - 1942 - November - Night - With the Atlantic Fleet Off Casablanca,Morocco - Google Map

Witnesses:

LT George H. Simpson from New Haven, CT





Summary:

“..observed a strange nocturnal light in the skies formed a ‘V’ while his task force was underway toward the battle. Lt Simpson and scores of others aboard the ship are ready to admit they aren’t far from superstitious about the ‘V for Victory’ slogan.”

Source: Hammond, Indiana, Times, 18 December, 1942, Delayed INS report

Aldrich: Morale boasting story.

1943 - Russell Islands (Pavuvu and Mbanika), Solomon Islands - Google Map

Witnesses:

Lloyd Kenyon, ship fitter





Summary:

Aboard ship with several others who observed a number of high speed objects.

Source: Portland, Oregon Journal, 6/27/1947

1943 - Night? - Persian Gulf - Google Map

Witnesses:

Seaman Matthew Mangle





Summary:

Huge disc beneath surface of water glowing with soft green light paced ship at 12 knots before speeding up moving out of sight.

Source: "NICAP UFO Investigator" July/August 1960, page 7



Peninsula bearing N at about 20 knots - 1943 - Early 2300 - Patrolling the Bering Sea, N of AlaskanPeninsula bearing N at about 20 knots - Google Map

Witnesses:

Gunner on starboard 20mm gun on watch, USS Williamson





USS Williamson DD-244, San Francisco Bay, Ca., 23 January, 1944

Click image for additional information

Summary:

Very dark night. Port gunners report sighting of at least 8 red lights in a row, traveling parallel and slightly ahead of the ship. The row was canted at a 15 degree angle to surface of the sea. The lights paced the ship for about an hour until the watch was relieved. Did not find out what happened after.

Source: MUFON CMS Reporting System

1943 - Summer - about midnight, North Atlantic (Ferrying a PB2Y-5

'Coronado' from the US to Great Britain)

Consolidated PB2Y-5 Coronado





Witnesses:

Lieutenant Commander James Greider (after war a commercial pilot and PhD) and 7 other crew members on the flight.





Summary:

Flying at about 10,000 feet altitude at a speed of 200 mph. During the flight a UFO was first sighted "flying formation" with the aircraft at just about 300 feet off the Coronado's wing. Its size was estimated anywhere between 30 to 100 feet in diameter. "Depth perception is difficult on a single lighted object."



Whenever the plane changed into a different position the UFO would duplicate the change. After a short time, a minute or two, the UFO took off until it disappeared from view in about 20 seconds.



The UFO was described as "a big orange (or red-orange) ball of fire." It appeared "fuzzy at the outer edge of light – like a glowing coal." Its shape was completely round. The duration was about 3 minutes. No report to authorites was made at the time as it was considered a common occurrence over the North Atlantic and a common topic discussed over meals by air crews.



http://www.project1947.com/47cats/acupdt.htm#atlantic Source: Hall I, page 23, Interview with witness by Richard Haines



(now Bonriki International Airport, Kiribati) - 1944 - April - Night - Mullinix Field, Bonriki Island, Tarawa(now Bonriki International Airport, Kiribati) - Google Map

Argus unit following Marines ashore with Early Warning radar set

Exterior Argus 16 CIC Tarawa Island, 1944

Interior Argus 16 CIC Tarawa Island, 1944

Witnesses:

LTJG Matthew P. Dillingham: “I was on evening duty at our Argus 16 Combat Information Center and senior officer present.”



Radar and CIC personnel







Summary:

Lore/Denault account: “One day in April, radar plotters for Argus suddenly picked up a 'bogey' – the blip of an unknown object – moving swiftly from North to South. The speed was calculated at approximately 700 miles per hour far greater than any aircraft then known to exist.”

The track was running roughly north to south at a range of about 40 miles from Mullinix Field.

Dillingham commented: "….we were conjecturing that this might be some reconnaissance aircraft (Presumably Jap since it displayed no IFF), when a second and then a third 'bogey' followed the track of the first across the board, running at the same speed."

Lore/Denault: "The radar sets were in excellent condition, and the operators, Dillingham emphasizes, were all expert plotters. Even so, some incredulous Navy officers at first called it poor calibration. But not long after this, there was a second mysterious 'bogey,' and again Navy plotters computed the speed at 700 miles an hour. When this happened once more, Dillingham and his group knew there was no error."

Dillingham commented: "At the time, I entered the 'anomaly' in the log and the following day asked our chief radar technician to check out the equipment and possibility of unusual weather 'distortions' such as temperature inversion, which might have caused the sightings. His reply was 'negative in both cases."

Sources: “NICAP UFO Investigator”, Volume, I, No.1, July, 1957 in an article by Major Donald E Keyhoe, “The Flying Saucer Story - A History of Unidentified Flying Objects - Beginning a Series” Lore, Gordon and Harold Denault, “Mysteries of the Skies”, pp. 126-7

“Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) Associate Newsletter”, December 1983-January 1984, Volume 4, Number 6

For more information about ARGUS – “a thousand eyes in the night” – and ARGUS Unit 16 see:

http://argusunits.wordpress.com/argus-13-24/argus-unit-16/

For a detailed history of the Tarawa Campaign see: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Tarawa/USMC-M-Tarawa-Fwd.html



Northern Line Islands, Northern Pacific - 1944 - June about midnight - Anchored at Palmyra Atoll,Northern Line Islands, Northern Pacific - Google Map

Witnesses:

Edward W. Ludwig Executive Officer on a Coast Guard crewed cargo vessel.





Summary:

After searching for a lost Navy aircraft, sighted a moving star-like light which began to swell like a balloon as it came closer. Viewed with binoculars: it was a round sphere hovering 5X brighter than the stars. It moved slowly for half an hour covering 90 degs, then headed northward.

Water UFO

http://www.waterufo.net/item.php?id=1214

Jerome Clark and Lucius Farish, "The Mysterious Foo Fighters of World War II."

Saga UFO Report, Spring 1975: p. 44-47, 64-66.

http://www.project1947.com/fig/sagafoo.htm Sources:Jerome Clark and Lucius Farish, "The Mysterious Foo Fighters of World War II.", Spring 1975: p. 44-47, 64-66.

1944 - 6 June - just off Omaha Beach, France - Google Map

USS George E. Badger APD-33 Leyte Gulf, October, 1944

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

Edward Breckel, gunner, USS George E. Badger





Summary:

Dark ellipsoid object. Seen 5 miles away about 15 ft above water moving in circular course for 3 minutes.

Source: Chester, Strange Company page 67, "C.R.I.F.O. Orbit," Jan 1955



- Google Map 1944 - November night? - Departing Lingayen Gulf, Philippines

USS Gilliam APA-57 at 18 knots during trials on 28 July, 1944

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

LTJG P. Kendall Bruce, Fire Control Officer, USS Gilliam





Summary:

While on watch observed a bright green globe shaped object raising out of headlands, reached altitude and sped off. Too slow for missile.

Source: Chester, Strange Company: Military Encounters with UFOs in World War II pages 95-96,

Letter to NICAP, USS Gilliam Ship’s Log



from San Francisco (base San Cristobal Island at 0200) 1944 - 1 November - 1825-1830 - En route Milne Bay, New Guineafrom San Francisco (base San Cristobal Island at 0200)

Witnesses:

LT. A. Swalling, USNR, OOD, USS Gilliam APA 57, in company Task Unit 79.15.1





Summary:

Radar indication bearing 185 deg T Distance 8000 yards. (Commenced zig-zagging, exercised general quarters. Radar indication faded.

Source: USS Gilliam Ship’s Log

1944 - 16 November - 2355 - En route Leyte, Philippine Islands

from Oro Bay, New Guinea

USS Gilliam APA-57 in Pearl Harbor, 5 May, 1946.

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

LT. J. L. Besmond, OOD, USS Gilliam, APA 57, in company Task Unit 79.15.1



Summary:

Combat reports unidentified object, distance 21 miles. (No further info.)

Source: USS Gilliam Ship’s Log

1945 - Night (?) - Tokyo Bay, Japan - Google Map

Witnesses:

Photo obtained from Naval Intelligence





Summary:

Aerial photo shows an object or light below aircraft (infrared?) Jo Chamberlin asked for intel reports on foo-fighters after his return from his visit from Europe and 415th Night Fighter Squadron, (no further info.)

Source: Lt. Col. Jo Chamberlin's Air Force papers within General of the Air Forces H. H. (Hap) Arnold collection at Library of Congress



Naval Air Technical Training Center, South Base,

Norman, OK - 1944-45 - Winter? - (Probably closer to Spring 1945) - Day -Naval Air Technical Training Center, South Base,Norman, OK - Google Map

Witnesses:

Vern Seifert (then student) later a pilot





Summary:

Standing in the chow line with others when one pointed out the spinning shimmering aluminum or stainless steel bright sphere which seemed to have lines running up and down giving it a texture. It hovered, then seemed to instantaneously skip over 35 degs, then resume hovering. It was about 1-2 miles N of witnesses, below 1000 ft, about 35-40 ft in diameter. Men moved into chow hall so did not see it disappear.

Source: NICAP Report form 13 Feb 1967

1945 - Btn 26-31 January - Day - Btn Solomon Islands, New Caledonia

USS McCracken APA-198 in San Francisco Bay, circa 1946

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

Louis Gracie and 4 other sailors USS McCracken, APA 198, Troop Transport





Summary:

Submerged round object about the size of a gun turret, 20 feet, with a dull finish, sharply outlined and no sound. Ship passed over it laying still in the water. Not reported as sailor thought at the time it was a sea turtle.

Source: International UFO Bureau report form date 25 September, 1976

1945 - January-February Pasco NAS, WA - Google Map



US Navy SNJ similar to Hendershot's plane



Witnesses:

Commander R. W. Hendershot, USNR





Summary:

Radar targets detected and interception attempted at least twice by F6F Hellcats with no results. Hendershot flying out of Pasco NAS, attempted an interception of high altitude, slow moving blips. Negative results.



Air Station, Washington - 1945 - Between 9 January 9 to 15 February - Night - Pasco NavalAir Station, Washington - Google Map

Witnesses:

Lt. Commander Richard Brown

Lieutenant Junior Grade Clarence R. "Bud" Clem, USNR

Ensign C. T. Neal,

All F6F pilots assigned to Air Group 50 at Klamath Falls NAS, Oregon deployed to Pasco NAS during this period for training.





Summary:

While at the Officers Club Lt. Commander Brown took a call intended for the Captain who was in conference and unavailable. The duty officer at the radar station across the Columbia River from the Hanford Ordnance Works informed him that an unidentified target – a "bogy" – had been detected over Hanford and he wanted it investigated. (The pilots were unaware there was a radar station in the area, but they did know that Hanford was strictly "a no fly area.") Lt Commander Brown asked the other two pilots to help with the interception.

Lt. Commander Brown took off in an F6F fighter, while Ens. Neal stood by in another aircraft and Lt Clem went to the tower to help coordinate communications between the radar station and the pilots. (Due to the threat of the Japanese Fugo balloon attacks, aircraft were on standby on the flight line to intercept them.)

Lt. Commander Brown quickly found the object – looking like a ball of fire – and gave chase. The object was so bright he had trouble looking at it. He could not close with the target even with the added shot of speed the water-injected "war emergency power" setting provided his R-2800 Double Wasp engine. The object headed out to the NW in the direction of Seattle and was quickly lost by the radar.

Later Clem was assigned to fly the entire Hanford installation at a low altitude to determine radar blind spots.

There were two other such incidents but Clem only vaguely recalls the details. The next intercept was possibly Ens. Neal, but the object disappeared before he got airborne. The last one was just before they returned to Klamath Falls NAS.

There are no references to these incidents in their squadron history, but Clem thinks the Pasco NAS history might have details.

UFOs and Nukes: Extraordinary Encounters at Nuclear Weapons Sites, in 2d revised edition.

http://www.theufochronicles.com/2009/08/former-world-war-ii-fighter-pilot-bud.html

4th Air Force Intel Summaries indicate overflights of Hanford Labs, and possible countermeasures using Navy assets at Pasco NAS. (NARA):

http://www.project1947.com/fig/1945b.htm Source: Hastings, Robert,, in 2d revised edition.4th Air Force Intel Summaries indicate overflights of Hanford Labs, and possible countermeasures using Navy assets at Pasco NAS. (NARA):



- Google Map 1945 - 7 February - Afternoon - Alethea, Ulithi Atoll - Caroline Islands



F6F Hellcat on flight deck of USS Wasp, 1945



Witnesses:

LCDR Norman P. Stark, F6F Combat Air Patrol, USS Wasp





USS Wasp CV-18 - Western Pacific, 6 August, 1945

Click photo for additional images

Summary:

Alert for bogie at 30,000 feet, 10 miles W on radar. Interception attempted, but by that time the bogie had passed over the fleet heading back to W, outrunning pursuit.



LCDR Stark's assessment: “Japanese jet recon aircraft”.



WWII F6F Navy Fighter Pilot's Experiences in the Pacific

by LCDR Norman P. Stark USNR(R), January 1, 2000

http://www.battleofsaipan.com/Nstark000101.htm



Source: Web site:WWII F6F Navy Fighter Pilot's Experiences in the Pacificby LCDR Norman P. Stark USNR(R), January 1, 2000

1945 - April (approximate date) - Day, near Okinawa, Japan - Google Map

Witnesses:

Crew on a minesweeper





Summary:

A lookout on the flying bridge of a minesweeper approaching Okinawa observed a shiny, silvery disc at a very high altitude directly over the ship. The main concern at the time was Kamikazes. The sighting was reported to the office of the deck and others viewed it also. It remained directly over the ship the rest of the day with no action on the object's part. Since Japanese weapons were the primary concern, no action taken. NFIA. (No Further Information Available)

Project 1947 Comment: When Richard Hall left the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), he took his desk blotter with him. Attached to the blotter was a note concerning a telephone message which said that the commander of the USS Defense, a minesweeper, called about a UFO sighting in 1945 which would be in the ship's log. A check of the USS Defense's log and war diary revealed no such incident. However, experience has shown that most ships' logs do not record such sightings even if a separate report were made.

Source: NUFORC 2/24/2005

1945 - May or June - Daylight - Okinawa - Google Map

Witnesses:

Crew of Marine Transport





Summary:

Cylindrical object with 3 smaller discs which appeared to enter the larger object, then it took off with tremendous acceleration.

Source: Hall I, page 30,

D. M. Hall 1999, page 22,

Witness letter to NICAP



in the Marshall Islands to Ulithi in the Caroline Islands

- Google Map 1945 - Early June - Afternoon about 1400 - enroute from Eniwetokin the Marshall Islands to Ulithi in the Caroline Islands

World War II Victory Ship similar to SS Calvin Victory

Witnesses:

The Captain

Wesley Brown, Jr., Naval security officer

Naval gun crew

And others on the Victory Ship S. S. Calvin Victory #780 VC2-S-AP2

Summary:

Brown was on the bridge when a lookout spotted “a silver object directly overhead.” Viewed with the naked eye it was about as big as an aspirin tablet at arm’s length. Under Navy glasses (50 x 7) it looked like a brilliant silver object, circular in shape. Through the glasses it appeared the same size as the moon or slightly smaller.

The captain surmised that the object was “one of those new-fangled Japanese magnetic balloons,” and ordered the Navy gun crew to fire on it. They estimated an altitude of 40,000 feet and fired. Adjusted the height for 35,000 feet and about eight to ten shots were fired, with no observable effect on the object. Since the object stayed directly overhead, without taking evasive action or trying to attack the ship, the captain ordered the firing to cease.

The weather was clear. Cruising speed was 16 knots on a westerly course and the object stayed directly overhead for the remainder of the afternoon. It did not disappear until nightfall when the lookouts lost it in the darkness.

The incident was recorded in the ship’s log.

Source: Letter from Wesley Brown, Jr. Head, Department of Police Science and Administration, Northern Arizona University to J. Allen Hynek August, 28, 1974.

1945 - June - Noon - Pasco NAS, WA, USA - - Google Map

WW II Pasco NAS Control Tower with F6F Hellcats

Witnesses:

Roland D. Powell and 5 other F6F pilots





Summary:

Sent to intercept a large high speed radar contact, then hovering over Hanford. Visual contact with a large object: Oval-shaped, very streamlined, like a stretched egg and pinkish in color. Vapor emitted by vents around the edge of the object F6Fs could not reach object's altitude of about 65,000 feet. It went straight up and disappeared.

Source: Chester, Strange Company page 188



26° 08' N, 148° 05' W - 1945 - 25 June - Day - Approximately 675 NE of Honolulu, TH26° 08' N, 148° 05' W - Google Map

Witnesses:

Navy ship (not identified)

Summary:

Reported that an object described as a balloon was sighted at ship... traveling E at an altitude of 30,000, estimated speed 20 knots. The actual time of sighting is unknown. (B-4)

Source: Western Defense Command, Annex #3 to G-2 Periodic Report #183, 1200 GCT, NARA



- Google Map 1945 - Summer - about 11:00 a. m. - South of Okinawa, Japan

USS Salamaua CVE-96 off San Francisco, 1945

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

Lieutenant (j.g.) E.L. Wells, interceptor officer

Other crew of USS Salamaua (CVE 96) escort carrier

Summary:

A blip of one object on the radar screen, traveling at an estimated 1000 mph. "It was moving on a course of zero one zero, coming in from the direction of Formosa and traveling toward Japan. We at first thought it was a baka bomb, but it was too fast for that.

"We just braced ourselves and waited for it to hit. Then, after tracking it just a few miles from the ship, as the radar made another sweep, we lost it.

"We never heard another thing about it, but we wondered a lot what it was."

Source: St Petersburg Times, Florida, July 6, 1947



(on the way to Seattle, Washington) - 1945 - July - Day - near sunset in open waters past Adak, Alaska(on the way to Seattle, Washington) - Google Map

US Army Transport Delarof off Alaska, 1943

Witnesses:

14 of the ship's crew,

Naval Gun crew,

Army personnel,

Merchant marine of the U. S. Army Transport Delarof,

PFC Robert S. Crawford, radioman

Summary:

As the Delarof experienced 10-degree rolls in fairly heavy seas and strong winds, a crew member yelled out and drew Private Crawford's attention to an object ascending roughly vertically upwards. It was perhaps a mile away according to a 1960 interview. In a follow-up interview Dr James E. McDonald conducted with Crawford in 1967, the estimated distance between the ship and object was described as varying from 1/4 to two miles.

The object ascended to an angular elevation of 5 degrees before arcing into a level, circular path. Then it circled the Delarof at least twice, possibly a third time. Crawford estimated the speed might be 100 mph, about the speed of a small aircraft.

At first the gun crew thought it might have been a balloon released for target practice, but on checking, no balloon was reported released.

Speed of object was uniform, with no oscillatory motion. The object was dark and stood out against the setting sun. After circling it departed towards the SSW where some of the crew saw "three flashes of light from the area where it had vanished." No sound was heard.

Crewmembers signed statements in Seattle.

Richard Hall Comment: Several attempts were made by NICAP's Assistant Director, Richard Hall, to contact the other seaman, the captain of the ship and perhaps obtain a copy of the ship's log for that day. Hall's search began with the Alaskan Packers Association, Inc., whose firm owned the DELAROF which had been chartered as an Army Transportation vessel during the war. Letters to the Chief of Public Information, Department of the Army, to the Military Sea Transport Service and Department of the Navy all ended in a dead-end. The Navy checked with the Army Transportation Corps., and their final reply was:

“The Army Transportation Corps has no record of the incident you describe, and assumed that if such a record had been sent to Washington it probably would have been directed to Army Intelligence: also, that any such report would be classified.”

Project 1947 Comment: The Army chartered a large number of civilian seagoing transports and freighters during the second World War. Despite earlier reports about this incident, no one actually saw the object emerge from the sea. Crawford corrected this information during his interview with Dr. James E. McDonald. The USAT (US attack transport) designation often reported for the Delarof is incorrect. USAT stood for US Army Transport.

Sources: Hall II

Richard Hall's notes on Pre-1947 incidents (circa 1965-66)

Lore & Denault, pages 131-132

McDonald papers.



1945 - August - about 6:00 p. m. - Gulf of Mexico - Google Map

SS Jeremiah O'Brien Liberty Ship similar to S.S. George L. Curry

Witnesses:

14 of the ship's crew

Capt. Bennett, master

Capt. L. T. Frost (at the time chief officer)

6 U.S. Naval Armed Guards (Naval gun crew)

11 other crewmembers of the Liberty Ship S.S. George L. Curry

Summary:

Frost was on the bridge watch and noticed a small jumping light abeam of the ship which he pointed out to the gun crew. The light became larger and was later ascertained to be moving vertically about 50 feet up and down. Frost became alarmed and gave the order "hard right wheel", and called the master, Capt. Bennett, to the bridge. The light followed the ship and remained in the same relative position as the ship swung right. Within 30 second from first seeing the object, it was alongside and about 20 feet away from the ship and fixed in its position instead of moving up and down. Capt. Bennett ordered the original course resumed.

The blue round light appeared to be 20-50 feet in diameter and remained with the ship for five minutes while performing various antics including vanishing and reappearing.

Frost wrote the Smithsonian Institution who answered that they might have seen "St. Elmo's fire." The original report may still be at the Smithsonian. (The sighting was annotated in the ship's log according to Frost.)

Sources: 2 letters to J. Allen Hynek

Audio tape of Frost



For more information on Liberty Ships and the men who sailed and defended them, see: http://www.armed-guard.com/



- Google Map 1945 - August - Twilight just after Sunset - Ulithi, Caroline Islands

Witnesses:

Andrew Cimbala

Summary:

Red streak like a hot bar of steel, not a flame in the sky to the east, traveled overhead toward Japan. Duration about 40 second.

Source: Wilkins, Harold, Flying Saucers Uncensored, 1956

Farish and Clark



1945 - August (possibly after Hiroshima A-bomb) - about 2:00 a.m.

600 miles ESE of Kyushu, Japan

USS Bradford DD-545 off Mare Island, San Francisco October 19, 1944

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

Dan MacDougald, Jr., OOD (Officer of the Deck),

A petty officer,

QMOW (Quartermaster Of the Watch),

and Troina, rank and rating unknown, who operated both the radar and optical range finder aboard USS Bradford, DD-545

Summary:

Star-like object traveling horizontally with the horizon. Checked with three radars with no indication. Optical range finder on infinity so more than 40,000 yards. The object had crossed the bow and was apparently increasing its distance. Its color was white with a reddish tinge. After reaching 10 degrees on the Port bow it seemed to turn to its right, increase its speed and altitude and disappeared on an upward line of flight changing color....to white with a bluish tinge. Task Force commander's voice came over the TBS asking for reports of the object. Other ships answered, but MacDougald remained silent.

Source: Letter to Congressman E. Mendel Rivers, Chairman of the House Armed Service Committee. Letter to NICAP

1945 - Fall - night? - about 300 miles off Massachusetts

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution RV Atlantis circa 1940s

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

Research Vessel (RV) Atlantis

George H. Jennings, Belfast, Maine, master

And three other men

Summary:

RV Atlantis returning from Bermuda bound for Woodshole, Massachusetts with a group of scientists from the Institute. About 300 miles off the coast Capt. Jennings and three other men watched a fast moving glow which came from the ESE. Was thought to be a meteor until it made a loop when the object was on the same meridian as the ship and disappeared off in a NNW direction. The captain consulted the scientists who suggested he send an account to the Fowler Planetarium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which he did.

Source: Letter from the ship's radio man.



Bay (Nakagusuku Bay) Okinawa - 1945 - 25-27 September - Exact date uncertain - Night - BucknerBay (Nakagusuku Bay) Okinawa - Google Map

USS Beaver AS-5 Mare Island Navy Yard, 20 September, 1943

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

George M Reynolds, Machinist Mate, First Class, USS Beaver AS-5/ARG-19 with Submarine Squadron 45

Summary:

Bluish light moved to the south, turned right, went over to the west, stopped and stood still. When it moved again, back to the general area it started from.

Source: Chester, Strange Company 195-6

1945 - Probably after Japanese surrender - 2400-0400 Watch -

Okinawa to Samar, Philippine Islands

USS LSM-220 underway, date and location unknown.

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

LTJG John Kopke, OOD,

Frederick M. Seehell, Quartermaster LSM 220

Summary:

2 green lights appeared off port about 8-10 degs up bearing 333 degs, relative to course. Grew larger as it approached, passed 35-40 degs to port, and disappeared at same elevation. Circular shape with haze behind 2X diameter of objects.

Source: Letter 4 April 1952, to USAF in response to LIFE magazine article of April 1952

1946 - 31 January 2:23 p.m. near Bridgeton, NJ - Google Map

Witnesses:

Radar and flying boats otherwise unspecified





Summary:

An unidentified object in the air 40 miles SE of Philadelphia detected on radar. Flying boats sent to check with no result. Blamed on unusual cloud formation.

Source: Philadelphia (PA) Enquirer, 1 February, 1946

1946 - March - between Panama City, Panama and San Diego, California

USS Attu CVE-102 September, 1944

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

George Allison, aboard the USS Attu, CVE-102

Summary:

A photograph taken by George Allison on the flight deck of the USS Attu was submitted to the Johnson City, Tennessee Press-Chronicle which had asked for proof of “flying saucers” in one of its articles. The treatment of the photo was light-hearted with no details supplied and no follow up on the article. In 1946, the USS Attu’s main mission was the return of military personnel from the Pacific to the US.

NFIA.

Source: Johnson City, Tennessee Press-Chronicle, 12 July, 1947

1946 - May - Forenoon - LaGrange, FL - Google Map

Witnesses:

LTJG Andrew A. Titcomb gunnery and radar officer on terminal leave.

May, 1946, "Flying Football" UFO as seen by LTJG Andrew A. Titcomb



Summary:

Dark elliptical object moving slowly east to west at about 1000 feet disappearing in clouds.

Click here to see original report to NICAP.

Source: Hall II, page 6

1946 - August - Day? - N of Chicago, IL - Google Map

Witnesses:

Charles A. Johnson working in motor pool awaiting discharge at Great Lakes Naval Training Center.

Summary:

After driving an officer to Chicago, he was returning on Route 41 along Lake Shore when he saw 3 silver discs moving E to W. Objects were in triangular formation.

Source: Letter to CUFOS



to White Sands V-2 firing range, NM about a third the

distance from Las Cruces - 1947 - 29 June - btn 1:00-1:30 p.m. on Highway 17 from Las Crucesto White Sands V-2 firing range, NM about a third thedistance from Las Cruces - Google Map

Witnesses:

Carl J. Zohn, Administrative Assistant in Rocket Sonde Section Naval Research Laboratory (NRL);

Curtis C. Rockwood, NRL Rocket Sonde high altitude spectrograph scientist & Mrs. Woodward;

Mr. J. R. Kauke, NRL Rocket Sonde Section Telemetering Supervisor

Summary:

All 4 occupants of the car observed a silver sphere or disc moving at a rapid velocity in a northerly direction unknown altitude (~10,000 feet) crossed highway in front of car. Lost from sight after about 30 seconds. Mr. Kauke thought there was a vapor trail

Source: SIGN/Grudge Incident #80: Project Grudge (Hynek) Insufficient Information

Project Blue Book: Balloon

Hynek/CUFOS reevaluation: (Obviously not a balloon.)



- Google Map 1947 - 30 June - 0910 MST - Rim of the Grand Canyon, AZ

Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

LT William G McGinty, USN,

P-80 student pilot at Army Air Forces William Field, Chandler, AZ





Summary:

Flying a P-80 at 30,000 feet heading south observed 2 gray circular objects diving at high speed. They appeared to land 25 miles south of the Grand Canyon.

Source: SIGN/Grudge Case #78 Hynek: free falling objects: either instruments or possibly meteors

Project Blue Book #

1947 - 3 July 12:45 p.m. - San Diego NAS, CA - Google Map

Witnesses:

Chief Robert L Jackson,

Chief William Baker, motor machinists

Summary:

3 saucer-shaped objects twice the size of Navy aircraft, gleaming in sun like aluminum, flying about 400 mph, over ocean west of San Diego.

Source: San Diego, CA Union, 4 Jul, 1947

Bloecher Case 194



- Google Map 1947 - 3 July - 4:50 p.m. - Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Santa Rosa, CA

Witnesses:

confirmed by Dr. R. W. Nelson, (a civilian dentist) off base





Summary:

Object shaped like a giant pocket watch, colored like aluminum about 15-20 feet in diameter, about 1000 feet above main runway. It moved N to end of runway, turned E banking, headed toward Santa Rosa

Source: Gross

Santa Rosa Press-Democrat

1947 - 4 July - 5:45 p.m. - Lake City, WA - Google Map

Witnesses:

Yeoman Frank Ryman, USCG photographer





Summary:

Photographed a white disc object as it flew over the city.

Source: Hall II, 87

SIGN/Grudge Case 3

Project Blue Book #

Bloecher Case # 257

1947 - 5 July - 12:40 p.m. - Seattle, WA - Google Map

Witnesses:

SGT Raynar Cain, USMC





Summary:

2 disc-like objects (like night footballs.) One banked slightly at about 8000 feet, then shot up and out of sight to N. Second one following a minute behind, wobbling. Headed N climbing out of sight.

Source: Bloecher Case #326

1947 - 6 July - Day - Buckley Naval Air Station, CO - Google Map

Witnesses:

LeRoy Krieger, Aerologist Second Class

James Cavalieri, hospital apprentice





Summary:

A bright round silvery object shooting up and down (noiselessly) for several minutes, then left at high speed.

Source: Bloecher Case #403

1947 - 7 July - Day - Norfolk, Virginia - Google Map

Witnesses:

LCDR L. G. Patterson, pilot





Summary:

Five yellowish discs "like the moon" flying in formation over the Air Station from the West. The formation seemed to be surrounded by a mist, and the bodies each left a trail.

Source: Norfolk, Virginia, Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch, 7 July, 1947

Aldrich, "Project 1947: A Preliminary Report."

1947 - 8 July - 5:30 p.m. - HST Pearl Harbor, TH - Google Map

Witnesses:

About 100 Navy personnel

Yeoman 2c Ted Purdue

Yeoman 1c Douglas Kacherle

Seaman 1c Donald Ferguson

Yeoman Morris Kzamme

Seaman Albert Delancey





Summary:

Oblong (silvery colored like aluminum) object moving fast and slow very high up with (alternate bursts of speed) and in a (slow, zigzag flight path) going westward toward Honolulu. Balloon flight at Weather Bureau at Honolulu at 4:35 p.m. went to the SW on prevailing winds.

Source: Bloecher Case #769

1947 - 9 July - 2:20 p. m. - Norfolk, Virginia - Google Map

Witnesses:

Harry Stepte (Steptoe?), Coast Guard Reservist





Summary:

Observed an object more or less square with “cut-in” places on it which appeared to be trailed by a P-80 aircraft flying at about 12,000 feet.

Source: Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch, 10 July, 1947



- Google Map 1947 - 12 July - 6:35 p.m. - Sand Point Naval Air Station, WA

Witnesses:

Seaman John C. Kennedy

Seaman Ben Bobberly on duty





Summary:

A disc-like object seen flying overhead headed east toward Kirkland over Lake Washington. (Silvery, perfectly round and made no noise.) Reported to officers on base.

Source: Bloecher Case #835



- Google Map 1947 - 24 July - Morning - Squantum Naval Air Station, MA

Witnesses:

Joseph Muka, Seaman 2c

John Francis Nihen, aerographer 3c





Summary:

During routine weather check on the Operations Building. “A highly polished, silver ball” hurtled thru air between about 8 to 10 thousand feet at a speed of 300 mph and rising in a north-westerly direction. It was not a weather balloon.

Source: Gross Supplement to Supplements, page 40-41

Quincy (MA) Patriot-Ledger 24 July 1947, page 1

1947 - August (?) - Coffeyville Airport Dedication, KS - Google Map

Witnesses:

CDR L.H. (Tex) Witherspoon, his civilian air show support staff and large number of attendees.





Summary:

Disc-like object flashed over airport.

“It was circular in shape and much darker blue or blue-gray than the sky surrounding with a rapidly whirling, white gaseous ring and was definitely in motion in a clockwise spinning motion. The gaseous ring left no residual trail, as it disappeared over the Eastern horizon, the illusion was definitely that of a flat spinning shape.”

— Letter from CDR Witherspoon to Lt Joe Hatton at

District Engineers APO 942 (Alaska), 12 January, 1950

Source: Hall II, page 30

Letter from Cmdr Witherspoon to friend

1947 - 11 August - 1630 E.S.T. - St Louis, Missouri - Google Map

Witnesses:

2 softball teams and 25 spectators who included 9 pilots and others

Calvin E. Wallace, pilot, and A & E mechanic later employed by the Navy as inspector at McDonnell Aircraft, Corp.



Summary:

An odd number of objects either 7 or 9 objects, disc-shaped size of a grape held at arms length black on one side, white or reflecting light on the other. Disc appeared to flip in unison from black to white approximately every two seconds. Moved from South to North in straight flight, duration about 3 minutes. “They seemed or rather were in a vertical Vee formation. [With] one on a point and then stepped down above or below in trail.”



Estimated altitude 25,000-30,000 feet. CAVU. At first it was thought they might be bombers, but there were no contrails or sound. A flight of ducks was considered, but they were going in the wrong direction for that time of year and the formation was too perfect.

Source: Project Blue Book: Not a case, information only, Maxwell microfilm roll 3 frame 65

1947 - 6 September - 2140Z - Persian Gulf - Google Map

USS Chipola AO-63 at anchor at Hong Kong in 1962

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

LTJG R. L Simmons

Ensign J. B. Farris

CM3 J. A. Wisnienski

Richard Carruthers, Jr., USS Chipola, AO-63





Summary:

“Unidentified luminous phenomena” seen at 10 degs elevation at an estimated range of less than 5 miles. Two groups of eight bluish oval-shaped objects moving at about 5 knots. They banked away from the ship and disappeared in about 8 seconds.

Carruthers: 8 objects made a climbing turn in echelon formation and passed from sight.

Source: Log of the USS Chipola

Letter from Carruthers to parents quoted in Astoria (OR) Astorian-Budget, 4 Nov 1947



40 miles from Cape Blanco - 1947 - 12 November - Early Morning - off coast of Oregon40 miles from Cape Blanco - Google Map

Witnesses:

Williamson, 2nd officer USS (?) Ticonderoga – an oiler, not the CV-14 aircraft carrier – and another sailor





Summary:

2 flying objects observed from ship and reportedly observed on radar. (No radar in official report). 2 balls of fire with fiery tail headed NW at estimated speed 700-900 mph.

Project 1947 comment: This incident is more important historically than it is for what it contributes to the field of unknown aerial phenomena.

In August 1947, after the death of two Counter Intelligence Corps agents in a plane crash while returning from looking into the Maury Island hoax, LTC Springer, the 4th Air Force Intelligence officer, stated that no further UFO investigation would be undertaken. The press misinterpreted this statement to mean that all Air Force UFO investigations had been terminated. The newswire services reported this statement world-wide, being carried in newspapers as far away as India.

LTC Springer apologized for this misinterpretation in a letter to Wright Field, but made no attempt to correct the public press accounts. Neither did Wright Field nor the Air Force.

Later when David Johnson, aviation editor of the Boise, Idaho Statesmen newspaper, heard about the Ticonderoga report, he sent a telegram to the head of the Air Defense command asking whether the UFO investigations had definitely been terminated. Johnson’s request was sent to General Spaatz, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, who answered that the investigations were ongoing. The reporting of this incident served to correct the public misinformation regarding the supposed termination of official military inquiry into UFOs.

The Ticonderoga in this case was an oiler, not the more famous aircraft carrier. It may have been a civilian vessel contracted to the navy, but it is listed on all the reports as the “USS Ticonderoga” and there is a log book identifying this vessel at the national archives.

Source: SIGN/Grudge Case #35 (Hynek: Insufficient information/possibly two parts of a meteor)

Telegram from Dave Johnson Boise (ID) Statesmen aviation editor to LTG George E. Stratemeyer, 18 Nov 1947

Observation reported by radio-telephone to the Hydrographic Office in San Francisco.



- Google Map 1948 - 18 April - 1500 hours GCT - Ocean Station Able 62° North, 33° West

USCGC Bibb WPG-31 at home port of New Bedford, MA, date unknown

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

US Coast Guard Cutter Bibb, (V. O. Johnson, Commanding)





Summary:

Radar contact made by air search radar at about 6500 yards and was tracked to 18,000 yards at a velocity of about 30 miles per hour. Visual and surface radar search were negative. There were no clouds or weather fronts in the area. Target strength was S5 fading at 18,000 yards. This was the only time the phenomenon was observed.

Source: Letter from CO, USCGC Bibb to Commander, First Coast Guard District, Boston, dated 12 May, 1948

Project SIGN Incident:124. Project Blue Book: Birds



1948 - 30 April - South of Anacostia Naval Air Station, MD - Google Map

Witnesses:

LCDR Marcus L. Lowe, USN SNJ(?) aircraft





Summary:

Flying South at 180 degs magnetic at 5,500 feet a yellow sphere was seen moving on the opposite course South to North at a constant altitude.



http://www.bluebookarchive.org/page.aspx?PageCode=USAF-SIGN2-391

1948 AF Headquaters Intelligence file .009 Flying Discs, NARA

Analysis of Flying Objects Over the US (formerly Top Secret), page 11

http://www.project1947.com/fig/1948air.htm#lowe Source: SIGN/Grudge Case #126 (Hynek and Air Weather Service: possible balloon)1948 AF Headquaters Intelligence file .009 Flying Discs, NARAAnalysis of Flying Objects Over the US (formerly Top Secret), page 11



- Google Map 1948 - 26 July - 9:00 p.m. - Atlanta Naval Air Station, GA

Witnesses:

Doyle L Avery, tower operator





Summary:

A blue-white object in horizontal flight at high altitude in the NE heading SE in a few seconds gain altitude and suddenly turn South, without noise. About the same time Georgia Tech students and others [saw] green light with a silver tail to the SE slowly descending as if for landing.

Source: SIGN/Grudge Cases #165, 165a (Hynek: bright meteor)



- Google Map 1948 - 3 December - 1715 hours - Outskirts of Dayton, Ohio

Witnesses:

LT Edgar S. Miller

LT G. G. Reeves

Bureau of Aeronautics General Representatives, USN, Central District, Wright-Patterson AFB





Summary:

A yellow-orange object like the exhaust of a ramjet or rocket seen intermittently which maneuvered both horizontally and vertically and appeared to climb at a high rate of speed. Observed from a vehicle in motion.



http://www.bluebookarchive.org/page.aspx?PageCode=USAF-SIGN7-449

Project SIGN: B-29 circling Patterson Field with landing lights on. Source: Project SIGN Incident #213Project SIGN: B-29 circling Patterson Field with landing lights on.

1949 - 24 April 10:30 a.m. - 3 miles N of Arrey, NM - Google Map

A David White ML-47 Theodolite as used by Charles B. Moore

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

Charles B Moore, General Mills meteorologist

Navy aerographers:

Akers

Davidson

Fitsimmons

Moorman







Summary:

Saw a white, round ellipsoid shadowed yellowish on one side, length/width ratio 2.5 cross the sky. S to E at 5 degs/sec angular velocity tracked through 25x ML-47 Theodolite. Object seemed to turn N. Sudden climb from 23 degs to 29 degs.



- Google Map 1949 - 9 May - White Sands Proving Grounds, NM

Witnesses:

Commander Robert B. McLaughlin and a USMC Captain.





WAC Corporal missile.

Summary:

During a WAC B firing object appeared overhead gradually gaining velocity to the west and disappearing in a burst of speed. Hard to observe as it was within a few degrees of the sun.



entering into San Pablo Bay near San Francisco Bay,

California - 1949 - about July - approx. 6:15 a. m. near Vallejo in a narrow straitentering into San Pablo Bay near San Francisco Bay,California - Google Map

USS President Andrew Jackson APA-18, March, 1947

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

Charles B. Harnett, aboard the USS President Jackson, APA 18

On watch and in contact with radar, the signal bridge and fan tail lookout

Summary:

The ship had been in dry dock for repairs and had left the facility and was moving backwards south in the strait from Vallejo to San Pablo. Maneuvering at the southernmost end of the strait to enter San Pablo Bay in the forward direction when Harnett caught sight of 12 to 14 objects directly above and to the east of the signal bridge. Their shape was not clearly outlined in a modified “8” formation. The color of the objects was alternating light and dark (witness was color-blind) and they appeared to move in a “nervous” zig-zag” pattern: light during the zig and dark during the zag. Their speed appeared to be faster than a fighter plane. “The pattern was not of equal distance traveled in each direction, but rather shorter distance was covered in their movement west than in their movement north.”

As he watched the formation, he took his eyes off it to look at the deck momentarily to make sure he was not seeing things. When he looked back, they had progressed about 1/5 of their observed flight. Total duration was about 10-12 seconds. They traveled from southeast to northwest and disappeared into a low cloud band to the north of the ship.

He was too startled to inform the others through the “talker,” but later reported the incident to the Communication Officer who said he would make an official report. After considering his observation, he thought one explanation might be high flying geese whose wings alternately reflected the sun, causing the zig-zag illusion.

Source: Report to NICAP received 19 July 1957

1949 - 3 July - Day - Longview, Washington - Google Map

Witnesses:

Commander M. B. Taylor

Attendees at the local airshow





Summary:

At the Longview Fairgrounds, Commander Taylor was giving commentary at the beginning of an air show when he and others spotted an object in the sky above a sky-writing biplane. The UFO moved against the wind with an undulating motion, then made a right-angle turn after which it appeared like a discus of bright metal when viewed through 8x30 field glasses. Other reports of discs in the area at about the same time.

Commander Taylor served under Rear Admiral Delmar S. Fahrney, who is regarded today as the US Navy’s “Father of Guided Missiles.”

Sources: Hall, II

1949 - 8 August 1300-1330 - Medford ATS Base, OR - Google Map

Witnesses:

Wallace Lee McDonald, Aviation Photographers Mate, Naval Air Auxiliary Station, Alameda

Pilot P. O. Hull, AP1, Seattle

Co-pilot R Tuswell, Chief Air Pilot, Alameda

J. H. Sparks, AF1, Alameda





Summary:

During the refueling of SBM-5(?) witnesses observed 5 white luminous objects overhead traveling ESE in V formation. Pilot called tower which had also observed object. Aircraft attained 8000 feet, the shape was discerned to be like camera lens (Convex on top, flat on bottom), traveling ESE from airport at about 150 mph. One object dropped down to 1000 feet, then returned to formation.

Source: Gross, 1949

From McDonald's log book. (Not possible to obtain photograph.)

Project Blue Book (Spot Intelligence Report) by Col. John G. Swope, AFOSI DO#19 21 April 1950



- Google Map 1950 - 22 January - 2:40-4:40 a.m. near Kodiak Naval Air Station, AK

Lockheed P2-V3 Neptune

USS Tillamook ATA-192, Auxiliary Fleet Tug, date unknown

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

LT Smith, Pilot and A. L. C. Gaskey radar officer flying in a Neptune P2-V3

Morgan and Carver, on watch USS Tillamook off S of Kodiak Island





Summary:

Briefly detected radar target 20 miles N of Kodiak Island, then another to the S at 2:48. Strong radar interference which prevented further tracking. At 3 a.m. watch on the Tillamook saw a red or orange ball of fire like an exhaust circle Kodiak Island in about 30 seconds, beginning and ended in the SE. P2-V3 radar picked up target at 5 miles which closed to dead ahead in 10 seconds. Visually, (2 orange lights rotating about a common center like 2 jet aircraft making slow rolls in formation.) P2-V3 tried to pursue, but object came at aircraft. Pilot turned off lights, then object departed to SE in 4 minutes.

Source: Navy Intelligence Report found within FBI UFO files.

Swords and Powell, UFOs and Government, page 90

Gross, 1950

1950 - Before noon - Salton Sea, California - Google Map

Grumman F9F-5 Panther

Witnesses:

Commander Robert W. Weber, flying an F9F-5 jet out of Miramar Naval Air Station

AF jet pilot near Catalina Island

Los Angeles Air Port tower (LAX)

Another aircraft pilot, not remembered if it was military or civilian





Summary:

Weber flying near the Salton Sea at 25,000 feet heard a call from an Air Force pilot near Catalina Island (40-50 miles offshore) about an unidentified object. Weber had plenty of fuel and decided to help in the interception.



The object was about the size of a dime at arm's length and very bright, not as big as the moon, but too large to be Venus. Its shine was peculiar. It was elliptical, almost a cigar 1 to 6 ratio like a dime seen at an angle. Seemed motionless. It was hard to acquire at first and the Air Force pilot told him where to look. He could not estimate range as there were no clouds near the object. Tried to close with it for 15 to 20 minutes doing almost 400 knots, but made no progress.



The tower personnel at LAX confirmed the object to the Air Force pilot, but Weber did not recall if it were radar or visual contact. Another pilot also saw the object.



He was disappointed he could not close on the object. Weber reported the incident to operations officer. While the characteristic of the sighting might suggest Venus, Weber was sure it was not. He told Dr. McDonald he would try to supply a copy of his flight log book to determine the date, but there is nothing in McDonald's files.

Source: Dr. James McDonald's interview with Commander Robert W. Weber



- Google Map 1950 - 23 January 4:35 a.m. about 62 miles S of Kodiak Island

Witnesses:

Lt Causer and Lt Barco

Lt Paulson, ADI, plane captain Patrol Squadron One





Summary:

Sighted object on an ascending westerly for 10 minutes. No radar contact. Unable to close at 170 knots. A pulsating orange-yellow projectile-shaped flame, with a regular period of 3 to 5 seconds. Later as the object increased in range the pulsations increased to 7 to 8 seconds.

Source: Navy Intelligence Report found within FBI UFO files

Gross, 1950



Naval Air Station, RI - 1950 - February - Day - About 10 miles North of Quonset PointNaval Air Station, RI - Google Map

Witnesses:

Retired CDR (name on file), at the time student at the General Line School, Newport, RI





Summary:

Flying at 10,000 ft noticed 3 objects through thin wisp of cirrus cloud in perfect formation, the middle one slightly ahead of the others, disc-shaped passing overhead at great speed. Called Quonset Pt. Tower, but first time they asked for another call, the second they did not answer. Estimated that the objects were 150 ft in diameter with a dark spot in the middle. From the spot triangular light-colored (aluminum type color) thin triangles extended out to the circumference. Upon landing pilot went to tower. They informed him that the called had been heard, but they were dealing with an emergency and ignored it. On consulting with class leader and another senior officer they advised such report would not be good for career.

Source: Statement to CAUS (Larry Fawcett)



Key West, Florida - 1950 - 22 February - Night - Boca Chica Naval Air Station,Key West, Florida - Google Map

Witnesses:

Ground personnel

Pilots

Radar





Summary:

“On February 22 two similar glowing objects were seen above Boca Chica Naval Air Station at Key West. A plane sent up to investigate was hopelessly outdistanced; it was obvious the things were at a great height. Back at the station, radar men tracked the objects as they hovered for a moment above Key West. They were found to be at least fifty miles above the earth. After a few seconds, they accelerated at high speed and streaked out of sight.”

— (Keyhoe, Flying Saucers Are Real, page 12)

They were glowing objects too high for pursuit.

Sources: Project Blue Book files

Keyhoe I

Hall II



1950 - 7 March - Day? - Dallas Naval Air Station, Texas - Google Map

Witnesses:

C.E. Edmundson, control tower operator





Summary:

Edmundson, according to NAS commander, Capt. M. A. Nation, saw an object similar to the later sighting by Charley Lewis. Edmundson estimated its speed at 3,000 to 4,000 miles an hour. No sound. Capt. Nation said there were no jets in the area at the time.

Sources: Hall II

Gross, 1950

The Dallas (Texas) Morning News, 18 March 1950





- Google Map 1950 - 10 March - 11:35 - about 12:00 a. m. - Las Vegas, New Mexico

Witnesses:

LT Robert Hilgers, USNR

Corroborated by:

Carl Bruening

E. R. Daughtery

Mrs. Ford Edwards

Jack Parsons

Fred Lewis



Summary:

An object which appeared to be round, shiny, and giving off smoke seemed to be flying circles in the southwestern sky. After circling it appeared to zoom upward and out of sight.

Sources: Las Vegas, New Mexico Daily Optic, 18 March, 1950

Gross, 1950





- Google Map 1950 - 16 March - 11:28 a.m. - Dallas Naval Air Station, Texas

Convair B-36 Peacemaker Bomber

Witnesses:

C. P. O. Charley Lewis

Jack Lawler, Lewis' brother-in-law and a former Air Force

Major and Mrs. W. B. Webb



Summary:

Oblong, flat, disc-shaped object rapidly approached a B-36, followed under it briefly for a second or two and then left at a 45 degree angle. He shouted to the other two, and they had time to see the object. “I guess the whole thing took no more than 15 seconds. I've been in aviation for 18 years and I've never seen anything like it. I don't mind telling you it shook me up plenty,” Lewis told the Dallas Morning News.

He immediately reported the sighting to his superiors. He said the object appeared to be about 20 to 25 feet in diameter. Its height he estimated between 10,000-15,000 feet.

“I just stepped out of my car and heard the B-36. When I looked up, I saw a very bright object racing at it at an incredible speed. It got under the bomber and seemed to hang there for a couple of second or so. Its color by then looked cream or light tan…It was smooth; there were no wings or projections from it, and it could have been a jet or a rocket ship because there was no fire.” The object made no sound.

Capt. M. A. Nation, NAS commander told the press this was the second phenomenon observed at the NAS in ten days. He said there were no jets in the area at the time, and Love Field Weather Bureau observer A. M. Hamrick said there were no balloons in the air at the time.



Gross, 1950

The Dallas (Texas) Morning News, 18 March, 1950:

http://www.project1947.com/fig/1950a.htm#dallas Sources: Hall IIGross, 1950The Dallas (Texas), 18 March, 1950:



- Google Map 1950 - 23 March - between 0900-1000 hours - Pensacola, Florida

Witnesses:

Eight Navy enlisted men at Saufley Field and

A group of paper mill workers

Summary:

“On 23 March 1950 two groups of persons in Pensacola, Florida, reported sighting the 'mysterious objects.'

“A group of eight Navy enlisted men, ground crew members at Saufley Field were reported to have viewed the object through binoculars for about half an hour. A group of paper mill workers were reported to have seen the same or a similar object for about the same period.

“Both sighting were between 0900 and 1000 hours.

“The object sighted by Navy personnel was reported to be silvery flat round, and flying east at an estimated speed of perhaps 300 miles per hour.

“Navy officials are reported to have indicated that the object was not a weather balloon and pointed out that the object was flying directly against the winds of high velocity.”

Sources: Pensacola, Florida News Journal, 24 March, 1950

Gross, 1950

1950 - April - Off Northern and Central California

USS Colahan DD-658 pre 1960

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

USS Colahan, DD-658





Summary:

Sent to investigate 9 separate reports by fishermen, Coast Guard stations Coast Guard patrol planes. No subs sighted in 5 day search, but contacts indicated high speed underwater craft operating in the coastal Eureka area.

Source: Modesto (CA) Bee. 10 Nov, 1950

1950 - 24 June - Day - Near Daggett, California - Google Map

Witnesses:

Crews of two airliners and a Navy transport





Summary:

A Navy pilot in a transport plane alerted other aircraft in the area

Source: Hall II

McDonald's paper

1950 - 4 July 0530Z - berthed at Sasebo, Japan- Google Map

USS Cavalier APA-37 off Hong Kong, 1959

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

Capt. Victor Stoyanow, USMC, one of 4 members on watch the USS Cavalier, APA-37





Summary:

A light of great intensity appeared over the harbor and under an overcast at about 30,000 feet, brighter than a star, about the size of a planet like Venus. Dawn had broken and this was the only light in the sky. It hovered for 5 minutes, wobbling eccentrically, at times making lateral movements. Then the light shot rapidly behind the horizon. Viewed through glasses showed no shape or other features.

Source: Interview with Major Dewey Fournet, Unclassified Operation Interloper Incident #17

1950 - 11 July - Day - Near Osceola, AR - Google Map

Witnesses:

LTJG J. W. Martin, pilot

R. E. Moore, enlisted pilot

G. D. Wehner, electronic technician

and the crew of another Navy aircraft





Summary:

The object first appeared as a round ball, ahead and to the left of their planes. As it crossed their flight path, disappearing in the distance to the right. It was caught on radar at its closest point. It resembled “a World War I helmet seen from the side, or a shiny, shallow bowl turned upside down.”

Source: Hall II

1950 - September - 7:00 a.m. - Korea - Google Map

Witnesses:

3 Carrier-based fighter-bombers



Summary:

While observing the ground for the day's target, a truck convoy, two pilots observed two large circular shadows coming along the ground from the NW at a high rate of speed. The pilot in the third plane flying north saw the disc-shaped objects chasing the other two.

The objects “suddenly seemed to halt, back up and began a jittering, or fibrillating motion.” When they prepared to fire on the objects “the radar went haywire.” The screen bloomed and became very bright. Calling the carrier, the radio was affected by a strange buzzing sound which prevented communication. Changing frequencies did not work. The new band was clear for a moment then the buzzing resumed.

The object matched the speed of the aircraft and continued its jittering motion. The objects began maneuvering around the planes above and below. They were at least 600 feet in diameter and “had a silvered mirror appearance, with a reddish glow surrounding them.” Their shape, “somewhat like a coolie hat with oblong ports from which emanated a copper green colored light which gradually shifted to pale pastel-colored lights and back to the copper-green again.” Above the ports was a shimmering red ring which encircled the top portion.

When the objects maneuvered above them the bottom became visible. “ In the middle of the underside was a circular area, coal black and non-reflective.” The objects continued to jitter while maneuvering. The objects then departed the way they had come.

Haines I

Hall II (EME Catalogue)





Illinois - 1950 - 6 September - 5:40-5:50 p.m. - Edison Court, Waukegan,Illinois - Google Map

Witnesses:

Dr. John J. Robinson, Histopathologist at Naval Medical Research Unit 4, Great Lakes, Illinois and An unnamed acquaintance



Summary:

“On September 6, 1950 I was at Edison Court, Waukegan, Illinois about 5:40 to 5:50 PM. The day was perfectly clear, no clouds in the sky at that time, and a slight south wind blowing. I saw an object in the sky over the northern part of Waukegan which I have not seen been able to identify. It was sausage-shaped, measuring perhaps 20 feet in diameter or greatest length, and perhaps 15 to 20 feet in center thickness. When first seen, it was possibly 5,000 to 7,000 feet north at about 75 degree angle. It was nearly stationary but had a constant revolution of about 15 to 20 revolutions per minute, with a motion of rotation end over end and about a central axis. The object was very clearly visible and I could have made a good picture had a camera been available. It was entirely silent. The outer or convex part was a silvery color with a peculiar light appearance different from sun reflection and suggestive of luminescence; the concave or under side was a light gray color.

“My first thought was that it must be a peculiar large balloon-like object, but I wondered at its large size, constant speed of rotation, and strangely bright appearance. It hovered in nearly one location for about 2 to 3 minutes and then abruptly traveled westward in the direction of the Waukegan airport which lies NW of Waukegan a few miles. It traveled very rapidly toward this airport, with a speed I would judge to be that of a jet plane ocassionally seen here.

“As it traveled, it continued to be perfectly silent and also maintained its continual, slow rotation about its central axis. No flashes of light from an exhaust were visible. When it reached a position perhaps 2-3 miles south of the Waukegan airport, it again slowed down and became nearly motionless. At the time a friend of mine arrived and I pointed this object out to him, which was equally puzzling to him.

“After remaining rather localized for a few minutes, it again began a fast, westerly movement and in a few seconds rapidly passed beyond sight. When last seen, it had a remarkable fast speed which might have been several hundred miles per hour faster than any aircraft I have seen.”

It was not a balloon which the University of Chicago released that day as that landed at Lake Forest, Illinois between 3 and 4 PM. It was reported to the Medical Officer in Charge, CDR John R. Seal, MC, USN, Naval Medical Research Unit 4.

Source: Letter to USAF Intelligence, 10 July, 1952 in USAF HQ, Director of Intelligence file (NARA)

Gross, 1950

1950 - 30 September - 12:37 p.m. - Seoul, Korea - Google Map

Witnesses:

LT E. J. Ambrosia, USMC MP

SSG Robert J. Bowden, USMC MP

SSG Franklin Ryerson, USMC MP

And other members of the patrol

Summary:

At 12:37 p. m., LT Ambrosia and others in his detail observed a silvery object flying west to east at about the height of bombers observed during the conflict. They reported the sighting to 5th Marine Regiment S-2 (intelligence) officer.

Source: Baltimore, Maryland, Sunday Evening Sun 1 October, 1950



on Route 71, Minnesota - 1950 - October - about 8 p.m. - Between Browerville and Clarissaon Route 71, Minnesota - Google Map

Witnesses:

George W. Christie, Jr., USNR pilot, associate editor of the Red Lake Falls Gazette, and son of George Christie, publisher, and Eva Lindbergh, daughter of Charles Lindbergh

His wife, Peggy Christie

Summary:

Driving on a southeasterly course George Christie sighted a light source out of his left front window rather high in the sky. At first he thought it was a meteor, but it lasted too long for that. As they continued traveling at 65 mph the light appeared to be on a converging course with the car. It crossed in front of the car about 100 feet high and about 300 feet ahead and a speed of about 100 mph.

Once it crossed the highway the engine failed just as if it had been switched off. There was no other traffic on the road. The light was bright, circular and whitish and there was no noise during its passage.

Sketch of The Christies' UFO Sighting by the witnesses

Both husband and wife had knowledge of astronomy. A short account was written for the newspaper. Much later Ted Bloecher wrote the newspaper for a copy of the article, but his letter was never answered.

Project 1947 comment: The year 1950 had many accounts of low level approaches, close encounters and buzzings. Mostly the incidents were reported in small newspapers. The USAF investigation effort at this time was minimal so few accounts survive in the Project Blue Book files. Naval Intelligence put out a release seconding the Air Forces' position. Only the Army intelligence actively collected material during this period.

True magazine had printed an exposé of the Frank Scully Behind the Flying Saucers story, and Keyhoe following the lead of his employers, adopted a similarly conservative view of reported low-level sightings. Only later did a survey of newspapers reveal a surprising number of such incidents.

Source: Report to CSI-LA.



Portsmouth, NH - 1950 - 14 October - 8:13 p.m. - Atlantic Ocean, 22 miles OffPortsmouth, NH - Google Map

USCG Yankton WYT-72

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

USCG Yard Tug Yankton, WYT-72





Summary:

Several crew members observed a bright cigar-shaped craft that also appeared to others as a disc with a flat bottom and a glowing red top pass overhead. Observed for 8 seconds to one minute, by crew at various positions.

Source: Project Blue Book files

1950 - 7 November - 7:15 p.m. - East of Lakehurst, NJ - Google Map

US Navy Douglas AD-4Q Skyraider

Grumman F9F-2 Panther

Witnesses:

LTJG Robert Haven piloting Douglas AD-4Q Skyraider aircraft and an F9F-2, Panther jet pilot





Summary:

At 3500 feet heading W saw a steady white light to his right at 4000 feet 5 miles away heading SE. Pilot made a climbing turn to get behind object. Object made a head-on pass at aircraft. 5 more such passes made as object climbed about 2000 feet/minute to 11,500. When jets arrived, object at about 25,000 feet.

Source: Project Blue Book Case #: Balloon

Hynek UFO Report pp 68-70

Keyhoe II (based on Special Delivery letter from LTJG Robert Haven to Keyhoe now lost)

1950 - 10 November - Off Southern California Coast

USS Blue DD-744, date unknown

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

USS Blue, DD-744 (stationed in San Diego)





Summary:

Destroyer has unidentified radar contact. Ship keeping contact with the unidentified object. Navy PIO did not give out information on the type or nature of contact.

Source: Modesto (CA) Bee. 10 Nov, 1950

San Diego (CA) Union 10 November, 1950

San Diego (CA) Union 11 November, 1950

San Diego (CA) Union 3 December, 1950



Station, Key West, Florida - 1950 - 14 November - 2000 hours - Near Boca Chica Naval AirStation, Key West, Florida - Google Map

Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat night fighter with AN/APS-6 radar pod under right wing

Witnesses:

Ground radar personnel

Pilot of Grumman F6F-5N - Night fighter version of the Hellcat, fitted with AN/APS-6 radar





Summary:

“Tuesday, 14 November 1950, approximately 2000 at 15,000 feet 30 miles north of NAS, Key West. (Unknown) aircraft picked up tracked intermittently by ground radar. Ground speed 480 miles per hour, heading 180, made turn to right and faded from scope. F6F-5N picked up aircraft on radar one and one half miles range. Unable to close for visual contact. Weather clear visibility excellent clear night. At approximately 2015 unidentified aircraft sighted by pilot of F6F-5N near NAS, Key West, traveling at high speed.”

Source: Gross, 1950

Project Blue Book files Naval Speed Letter. To: Commander Fleet Air Jacksonville. U.S. Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. From: S.J. Lawrence, Commanding Officer.

Fleet All Weather Training Unit, Atlantic. U.S. Naval Air Station, Boca Chica Field, Key West, Florida



Station, Key West, Florida - 1950 - 15 November - 2100 hours - Near Boca Chica Naval AirStation, Key West, Florida - Google Map

Witnesses:

Two Grumman Hellcat F6F-5N night fighter pilots

Ground Control Intercept radar personnel





Summary:

“Wednesday, 15 November 1950, at 2100 at 15,000 feet aircraft picked up by ground radar within 3 miles of two F6F-5Ns on GCI flight, bearing 270 degrees distance 42 miles from NAS, Key West. One experienced VF(N) pilot made a visual contact on aircraft with long silver fuselage, no lights. The unidentified air craft followed the F6F-5Ns being controlled by GCI [Ground Controlled Interception] radar. Return on radar twice the size of radar return of F6F. Aircraft speed estimated as more than twice as fast as F6F cruising at 160 knots.”

Loren Gross Comment: The reference to “warning area” may be violation of territorial waters or some other restricted air space. It's possible this report has a conventional explanation but it was sent to Fleet Air HQ. Fleet Air was notified of two incidents of contact with an unidentified “aircraft” operating with no lights in the warning area assigned to FAWTULANT [Fleet All-Weather Training Unit, Atlantic], NAS, Key West, Florida. In both cases Military Flight Service knew of no aircraft scheduled or flight plan for operations in the area.

Source: Gross. 1950

Project Blue Book files Naval Speed Letter. To: Commander Fleet Air Jacksonville. U.S. Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. From: S.J. Lawrence, Commanding Officer. Fleet All Weather Training Unit, Atlantic. U.S. Naval Air Station, Boca Chica Field, Key West, Florida. 21 November 50.



- Google Map 1950 - December - Day - Steaming up the channel from Incheon, Korea

USS Gardiners Bay AVP-39, seaplane tender, in 1957

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

Crew members from the seaplane tender, USS Gardiners Bay, AVP-39





Summary:

Two mysterious smoke-trailing objects stuck the water at tremendous speed off the ship's port bow. “Two huge columns of water rose to about 100 feet in height at the point of contact. No aircraft could be sighted by radar or visually overhead although the ceiling was unlimited. Identification remains a great mystery.”

Source: Naval Aviation News, February 1951

1950 - 18 December - 0820-0830 - Oak Ridge, Tennessee - Google Map

Witnesses:



NEPA: http://www.project1947.com/gfb/gasser.htm



Group One:

Lt. Col. John R. Hood, USAF

Cdr. Edward W. Hribar, USN

Maj. Walter L. Carss, Jr. USAF

and three other civilians who did not observe the UFO.

They were riding to work at the NEPA Division, Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corp. in the S-50 area at Oak Ridge, TN, one mile from the White Wing Entrance and Y-12 plant.



Group Two:

Dr. A. J. Miller

Mr. J. Frank Coneybear

Mr. A. O. Monneyham

Mr. F. T. Bly and one other who did not see the UFO.

They were also riding to work on a turnpike within the Controlled Area toward the NEPA Project about one mile short of the “Y” cutoff to the White Wing entrance and Y-12.



USAF McGhee Tyson Air Force Radar Station



Witnesses: 2 Groups in 2 automobiles going to work at Nuclear Energy Propulsion for Aircraft (NEPA) Project.NEPA:Lt. Col. John R. Hood, USAFCdr. Edward W. Hribar, USNMaj. Walter L. Carss, Jr. USAFand three other civilians who did not observe the UFO.They were riding to work at the NEPA Division, Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corp. in the S-50 area at Oak Ridge, TN, one mile from the White Wing Entrance and Y-12 plant.Dr. A. J. MillerMr. J. Frank ConeybearMr. A. O. MonneyhamMr. F. T. Bly and one other who did not see the UFO.They were also riding to work on a turnpike within the Controlled Area toward the NEPA Project about one mile short of the “Y” cutoff to the White Wing entrance and Y-12.USAF McGhee Tyson Air Force Radar Station

Summary:

Group One at about 0827, while riding SW just outside the restricted area observed an object which “appeared only as the bright reflection of the sun from an apparently metal surface, much as might be expected at a great distance.” It appeared to the WSW of the Oak Ridge Townsite at an elevation of 25 degrees. It was lost from sight when the car turned as the side windows were frosted, and when the car again turned in the direction of the object, it could no longer be seen.



Group Two saw a light in the shape of a circle, with an intensity greater than a bright moon. The observers’ impression was that there was a form in connection with the light rather than just a point source. The light was 15 to 20 degrees in elevation in the W and NW and appeared to travel in a northwesterly direction. No trail was observed. Part of the perimeter of the circular light appeared to partially darken until the light was concentrated in part of the upper position, at which point it appeared like a large star. Radar showed contact at 0839; fighter interception attempted with negative results.

Source: 111th Army Counter Intelligence Command, Knoxville, TN

Report by Plant Protection Manger, Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corp, Oak Ridge, TN.



(The Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, Korea) and Not Later

Than (NLT) Christmas - Afternoon - North Island, Naval

Air Station, San Diego, CA - 1950 - About 20 December (No Earlier Than (NET) 16 December(The Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, Korea) and Not LaterThan (NLT) Christmas - Afternoon - North Island, NavalAir Station, San Diego, CA - Google Map

WAVE Aerographer's Mate 3rd Class on theodolite platform, circa 1944-45.

Witnesses:

Aerographer 3/c (later a sales engineer at Zinsco Electrical Products, Los Angeles) William Albert Broka

Aerographer Driscoll

Aerographer (later Chief) Jim Rose

The Watch Chief (later Chief Warrant) Barich

Commander (later Capt.) Chandler, Station Commanding Officer

The Meteorological Officer from Holtville Naval Auxiliary Air Station in Imperial Valley, CA

Other aerographer

Navy pilots

A number of Air Force pilots who had participated in evacuating frostbitten Marines from the Chosin Reservoir Battle

Control tower personnel





Summary:

Broka and Driscoll tracking a pilot balloon (pibal) when Broka saw something cross through the theodolite’s field of view. Objects were seen singularly, in pairs or in threes and fours traveling at high speed over Point Loma to the northwest. The objects were teardrop-shaped or like a cross section of an aircraft wing, grayish white with a cottony white tail which seemed to wave, but not grow larger. The trails were unlike jet contrails. They reported the incident which no one believed until Chief Barich came up and looked. Then, everyone came. The objects could not be seen with the naked eye nor binoculars brought from the tower.



The objects traveled from north to south and then made a high speed turn and disappeared. They kept reappearing as if they were making a circular track out to sea and back. The sighting went on for about one-and-a-half hours. Radar supposedly tracked them at 100,000 feet. Commander Chandler saw one which was not moving. Many had a look at it through the theodolite. Commander Chandler saw a sudden white puff of smoke from the bottom of the still object and it shot up out of sight. He said it looked like someone had dropped a bag of flour out of the bottom and it was gone. The other objects stopped appearing. They looked for their return over the next few days, but they were not seen again. A complete report was made, but there was no feedback.



Listed in Project Blue Book as “Not a case. Information only”

http://www.bluebookarchive.org/page.aspx?PageCode=MAXW-PBB8-731 Source: Letter from William Broka to Jacques Vallée, 10 August, 1965.Listed in Project Blue Book as “Not a case. Information only”

1951 - 20 January - 9:20-9:26 p.m. - Sioux City, IA - Google Map

Witnesses:

Airline Capt Lawrence W. Vinther

Co-pilot James F. Bachmeier (LCDR, USNR) and 1 passenger

Aide to Col. Matthew Thompson, Offut AFB who investigates unconventional aircraft reports And 2 tower personnel





Summary:

Cigar-shaped object with bright body light approached, reversed direction climbed away. First civilian UFO CIRVIS report through the revised directive JANAP 146B. When the airliner reached Kansas City, Col. Thompson and the other USAF officer from Offut AFB questioned the crew.



Article in

Hall II

United Press, 2 January, 1951 Source: Project Blue Book Case #Article in “Flying” Magazine, June, 1951 Hall IIUnited Press, 2 January, 1951



from Keflavik, Iceland to Naval Air Station Argentia,

Newfoundland, Canada, at about 49°50'N, 50°03'W

- Google Map 1951 - 10 February - 0055Z (9:55, 9 February local time) - Enroutefrom Keflavik, Iceland to Naval Air Station Argentia,Newfoundland, Canada, at about 49°50'N, 50°03'W

U.S. Navy Douglas R5D-3 (C-54Q) Skymaster assigned to

Naval Air Station Argentia, Newfoundland

Witnesses:

LTJG A. L. Jones, flight commander

LT Fred W. Kingdon, Jr. second flight commander

LT Graham E. Bethune, USNR, co-pilot at the time

LT John M. Meyer

LT N. G. P. Koger

ALO Quentin R. Shiever

AE3 Gerald R. Daniels

Other members of the crew, the relief crew and passenger aboard the aircraft.

Dr. McDonald later interviewed LT William D. Bridge

Paul Abrams, USNR (Bridge recalled he might have been on the flight)





Summary:

A US Navy VR-1 Squadron Douglas R5D (C-54Q) Skymaster aircraft, (Bureau # 56501), was at 10,000 feet, enroute from Keflavik, Iceland, to Argentia, Newfoundland. Pilot LT Bethune saw a light glowing in the distance beneath a thin layer of strato-form cloud which appeared to be the lights of a completely illuminated large ship or a small city. He alerted co-pilot LT Kingdon who confirmed the sighting. As they observed the light it started ascending through the cloud layer and became "quite bright".

The object appeared circular with a glowing yellow-orange ring - “like fire in color” - around the outer edge. It was on a true course of 125 degrees with the plane on a true course of 225 degrees. As it approached the plane, it suddenly turned about 180 degrees and disappeared rapidly over the horizon. Its speed "was terrific."

Click image for larger version

Various explanations for the incident were offered:

Project Blue Book: Aurora

Others: Mis-identification of the moon which was near setting at the time (crew did not mention the moon in their statements). The moon was supposedly mistaken for the initial sighting and an “auroral meteor” was responsible for the illuminated receding object.

Richard Hall comment: I must say that after reading the BB file, the notion that they saw the moon seems absurd. It is very clear that the object approached from one direction, then (à la Nash-Fortenberry) reversed direction at a very sharp angle and disappeared over the horizon in quite a different position. Quite an "illusion!"

Project 1947 comments:

Note the similarity with Lt George P. Williams' account of 21 February, 1951. Is this another version of the above earlier incident, or an entirely separate case? Note that Williams mentions the moon as full while during the other incident it would have been almost a quarter. Major Fournet, the Pentagon USAF UFO monitor, received LT Williams' account during his visit to the Naval Intelligence Class #9. He did not make it part of the official USAF files, but rather kept this account and two others received from Class 9 Naval and Marine officers in an unclassified collection entitled: “Operation Interloper”. The purpose of this collection is not known, but it might have been used to discuss UFOs with people who did not have sufficient clearance to study UFO reports.

Fournet had access to the Feb 10 incident, but he apparently made no comments to his superiors or to ATIC about the similarity between the two accounts.

Keyhoe learned of the 10 February incident in 1959. He used it in his book "Flying Saucers: Top Secret" changing the date, aircraft type and crew names to protect their identities. He considered this incident as his most important "NICAP hidden case" and he nominated Bethune as a potential star witness for his hoped-for Congressional hearing into UFOs.

Over the years some details of Bethune's account of the incident have changed. His account in Naval Aviation News mentions radar tracking of the object from Newfoundland, but not the EME effects. His later account authored by Robert Durant mentions both. The Project Blue Book files mention neither.

The reported electromagnetic effects consisted of the main compass – which was on the center frame separating the two cockpit windows – rocking back and forth. LT Kingdon commented that when the object was closer the effect was more pronounced, with the compass spinning more erratically. It was considered highly unusual for any external source to influence the instruments in this way. The radio direction finder's “needles were jumping all over the place.” There was another magnetic compass connected to sensors on the wing tips which also behaved abnormally. The vacuum-driven gyro compass remained unaffected and the other compasses returned to normal when the object departed.

Some doubt has been cast on whether LT William D. Bridge was actually on the same North Atlantic flight as Bethune.

In both Bethune's interview with NICAP's Stuart Nixon in February, 1970, and Dr McDonald's interview with Bridge in April 29, 1970, mention was made of a “skeptic psychiatrist” who was on board the flight. He refused to look at the object because he said he did not believe in flying saucers. This unique aspect of both testimonies would seem to indicate that Bridge and Bethune were on the same flight that witnessed the UFO sighting.

Most accounts of this incident state that Bethune, Jones and Kingdon later learned that there had been radar confirmation of the UFO. Essentially, it can be said that there is no official confirmation of any radar detection. The sighting occurred too far from Gander's radar installation for the object to have been tracked initially, however, the UFO's departure might have been tracked as it left the area. Bridge claims he was told when they landed that there had been no radar trace of the object.

Bethune stated that Keyhoe wanted him to testify before Congress on his sighting during possible hearings about 1960-1963. The hearings never materialized.

Bethune writes:

“Keyhoe wanted me to go public with my story, and to participate in planned congressional hearings. I declined, seeing no sense in becoming a celebrity and attracting ridicule from the press and possibly from military colleagues.

“But Keyhoe did produce a story in his 1960 book Flying Saucers – Top Secret,” and submitted a summary to the Congress along with much other data showing that the UFO problem was very real, indeed. It was not until 1970 that I learned of the book. I was told about it by Stuart Nixon, who worked closely with Keyhoe on the NICAP publication. Keyhoe was a real gentleman, and used a pseudonym instead of my real name.”

Keyhoe apparently never had any direct contact with Bethune when the report was first received at NICAP and during the run up to Congressional hearings. It appears that all communication was through intermediaries.

In Aliens from Space, page 100, Keyhoe says to one of his contacts, who had interviewed one of the Navy pilot crewmembers who was reluctant to testify:

“If he was really one of those witnesses he could be a big help. He might get in touch with some he knew personally and ask them to join in. The congressmen who told me about this said he’d guarantee immunity.”

On page 101-102, speaking on Bethune testifying before Congress:

The main reason was a suggestion by Admiral Fahrney, in 1959, that we plan to use this startling case and the Navy air crews’ testimony when we got congressional hearings. We were both confident that the Navy department would produce these witnesses without resisting a congressional committee summons.”

The suggestion was made that Admiral Hillenkoetter's influence would offer protection for the witnesses as well.

Keyhoe also relates a lurid tale in which he asks a friend who was not associated with UFO research to call the Navy to try to get Bethune’s address. This was at the time when Bethune was still on active duty. Keyhoe said after his friend made the request, two agents who worked for the CIA questioned him about the reason for his inquiry. When he told them about Keyhoe’s plan for Congressional hearings, he also mentioned the expectation of possible assistance from Admiral Hillenkoetter, the former Director of Central Intelligence.

Project Blue Book documents at this time discuss methods of avoiding any Congressional hearings into UFOs and the possibility of neutralizing Hillenkoetter. Hillenkoetter resigned from NICAP shortly after this.

In Bethune’s account of the sighting, he mentions that “the navigator was so frightened and astonished by the onrushing UFO that he lost his balance, fell and struck his head against the navigation table. The radioman’s arm was hurt during the melee.”

We have no confirmation of this from any other source, official or otherwise. However, it should be pointed out that beside the crew and the relief crew, there were a number of passengers on board who had also observed the object. Despite this large pool of witnesses, almost no one came forward to publicly talk about the UFO incident.

As Durant stated in his report, Bethune had absorbed certain fringe UFO theories in the years since his sighting and had written about them in an obscure publication. It remains important, however, to remember that the totality of this incident does not depend on the account of any one witness.



Project Blue Book files

Hall II

Keyhoe IV

Keyhoe V

NICAP files

McDonald papers

Personal conversation with Bethune at the MUFON conference

Naval Aviation News, June, 1973

NICAP website compilation

Haines, Richard F. and Dominique Weinstein, “A Preliminary Study of Fifty Seven Pilot Sighting Reports Involving Alleged Electro-Magnetic Effects on Aircraft Systems”, NARCAP, Boulder Creek, CA, 2001

See: http://www.narcap.org/reports/emcarm.htm

“Final Text”, Graham Bethune and Robert Durant (The Durant Report) Sources:Project Blue Book filesHall IIKeyhoe IVKeyhoe VNICAP filesMcDonald papersPersonal conversation with Bethune at the MUFON conferenceNaval Aviation News, June, 1973NICAP website compilationHaines, Richard F. and Dominique Weinstein, “A Preliminary Study of Fifty Seven Pilot Sighting Reports Involving Alleged Electro-Magnetic Effects on Aircraft Systems”, NARCAP, Boulder Creek, CA, 2001“Final Text”, Graham Bethune and Robert Durant (The Durant Report)



Keflavik to Newfoundland about 60° N, 33° W - 1951 - 21 February - About 3:00 a.m. - Atlantic En route fromKeflavik to Newfoundland about 60° N, 33° W - Google Map

US Navy Douglas R5D Skymaster



Witnesses:

LT. George P. Williams USN piloting a Navy Fleet Logistics Air Wing Douglas R5D Skymaster and 9 crewmen





Summary:

3 hours out of Iceland at 10,000 feet with an almost full moon and thin layer of broken cumulus below with tops at 3000. Viewed a bright light through the clouds ahead. Thinking it was a ship called co-pilot forward. Light rose up from beneath the clouds at a terrific closing rate and disappeared off port quarter. It was flat elliptical or cigar-shaped by side view and seemed to be spewing a ring of red-orange exhaust all along the periphery. It appeared larger than the R5D.



Incident #26 - Source: Interview with Major Dewey Fournet, Unclassified Operation InterloperIncident #26 - http://www.project1947.com/fig/1951a.htm#26

See also the remarkably similar Bethune-Gander incident:

http://www.project1947.com/fig/1951a.htm#gander



New Jersey - 1951 March - about 11:30 p.m. - about 125 miles off Cape May,New Jersey - Google Map

USS Dyess DDR-880, date and location unknown

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

LT CDR Robert Wood (later professor astronomy at Brevard Community College)

Ships personnel of the USS Dyess, DDR-880





Summary:

While on picket duty for an air defense mission, a strange target was picked up on radar approaching the ship from the east. When it closed within 30 miles it stopped dead. It had approached at a speed of about 80 to 90 knots.

Initially the height finder radar was not on, but once enabled it determined the object was at approximately 4000 feet. The return of the target was about the size of a large aircraft like a DC8 or DC9. After the Captain was informed he ordered the ship to head in the direction of the contact. They closed to within about 15 miles when the object took off at a high rate of speed. When it was about 35 to 40 miles south of Nantucket, it suddenly went straight up and disappeared. It was reported up the chain of command, but Wood heard of no follow up.



http://www.project1947.com/fig/1951a.htm#dyess

Gross, 1951 Robert Pratt interview with Robert Wood:Gross, 1951



- Google Map 1951 - 2 March - 2030M - 12°10' N 63° 21' E - (Arabian Sea)

USS Moctobi ATF-105 Fleet Tug circa late 1960s

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

USS Moctobi, Fleet Ocean Tug ATF-105





Summary:

"Unidentified radar target on screen for 6 minutes. Course 220, speed 18, distance 11 mi. from ship."



OPNAV Evaluation: Doubtful, Index # 370

Source: Director of Naval Intelligence, Report of Submarine Contacts, 29 May 1951



- Google Map 1951 - 10 March - 1040Z 22°06'N, 86°29'W - (Off British Honduras)

USNS Sgt George Peterson T-AK-248

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

USNS Sgt George Peterson, T-AK-248





Summary:

“Master and crew saw low black or gray hull superstructure with two short masts amidships.”

NAVOP Evaluation: Doubtful, Index # 379

Source: Director of Naval Intelligence, Report of Submarine Contacts, 29 May 1951



(now Taiwan) - 1951 - 19 March - 0049Z - 27°06' N, 121°35'E - (North of Formosa(now Taiwan) - Google Map

Lockheed P-2V-2 Neptune of VP-22

Witnesses:

Crew of Navy Lockheed P-2V-2 Neptune of Squadron VP-22





Summary:

"Radar contact, distance 23 mi. Swirl sighted 4 minutes after disappearance of contact.

OPNAV Evaluation: Doubtful, Index #378

Source: Director of Naval Intelligence, Report of Submarine Contacts, 29 May 1951



South America - 1951 - 3 June - 0100R - 12°14'N, 73°42'W (50 miles off Columbia,South America - Google Map

USS Tappahannock (AO-43) South China Sea 1 August, 1969

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

USS Tappahannock (AO-43)





Summary:

"Radar contact - definite submergence."

OPNAV Evaluation: Doubtful, Index #403

Source: Director of Naval Intelligence, Report of Submarine Contacts, 4 October 1951



New York - 1951 - 21 June - 1430R - 700 yards off Eatons Neck, Long Island,New York - Google Map

Witnesses:

Chief Leroy Johnson





Summary:

"Part of submarine coning tower sighted.

In view of shallow water 700 off Eaton Neck, evaluation non-sub."

OPNAV Evaluation: Non Sub, Index #406

Source: Director of Naval Intelligence, Report of Submarine Contacts, 4 October 1951

1951 - 1 July - 2250K - near Seoul, Korea - Google Map

Vought F4U-5N Corsair (top) and Grumman F7F-3N Tigercat Night Fighters



Witnesses:

4 night fighter pilots of the 1st Marine Air Wing





Summary:

"…pilots in different areas simultaneously reported a large green ball, very bright, and trailing streaks of red which soon turned blue, passing overhead at 10-15,000 feet on NNE heading. Pilot's location at time of sighting were as follows. One F4U-5N 2 miles N of Seoul, one F4U-5N at CT 1070, one at CT 4020, one at CT 4020, one F7F-3N at CU 2010. Pilots concur that object was moving with tremendous velocity."

— Air Technical Intelligence Liaison Office, Korea, IR 33-52

Source: Project Blue Book: Meteor

Haines, II

1951 - 17 July - 1130Z - 58°55' N, 151°58'W - (Alaska) - Google Map

USNS Mission San Francisco T-AO-123, date and location unknown

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

USNS Mission San Francisco (T-AO-123)





Summary:

"Radar contact tracked at 14 kts, disappeared."

OPNAV evaluation as non-submarine. Incident index #441

Source: Director of Naval Intelligence, Subject: Report Submarine of Contacts, 29 May, 1951

1951 - August - Night - near Norfolk, VA - Google Map

Vought USMC F4U-4 Corsair of the Korean Era

Witnesses:

Major H. Covington, USMC pilot flying a Corsair aircraft

Control tower personnel





Summary:

Flying in the vicinity of Norfolk, Covington saw a pair of orange lights about 3000 feet below him cruising at about 1/3rd his speed of 380 mph. Believing they were the exhaust glow of another aircraft he was unconcerned until one of the lights turned and departed the area at very high speed. Covington then went into a diving turn toward the other light which executed a 90-degree turn, changed its coloration and then vanished.

After losing sight of the light, Covington turned back towards base, but while glancing in his rear view mirror he saw below and to his rear a 50 foot disc flashing neon-like pink, orange, red, and very bright white. He attempted to evade the object with violent twists and turns but the object stayed with him.

With his plane low on fuel, he headed for base, asking for landing instructions and informing the tower of the presence of the object. Tower personnel also viewed the object which stopped and hovered for a time before departing.

Source: Charlotte, NC, Charlotte News, 5 December, 1966

Gross, 1951

1951 - August - 1830hrs - Alexandria, Virginia - Google Map

Witnesses:

LT William G. Neville, Jr., OPNAV 342Y1, Pentagon





Summary:

LT Neville reported to the Pentagon Command Post the sighting of an oval-shaped silvery object over Alexandria. His report was forwarded to ATIC.

Source: DF to Chief, ATIC, from AFOIN (Air Force Intelligence, Subject Unidentified Flying Object, dated 7 September 1951 with Memo for Record 24 August 1951

Project Blue Book files

1951 - About August to May 1952 - off East Coast of Korea

USS Essex CV-9 in 1952

Click photo for additional images

Witnesses:

Electronic Repair Officer,

and LT Robert Houston,

others in CIC, USS Essex, CV-9





Summary:

“The radar contacts were...operating at altitudes and speeds greater than any known aircraft.” The contacts were reported to the Navy in Washington. Polaroid photographs and pictures of radar targets were submitted to Navy HQ. Called several times to check radar and look at pictures. Speed report at 3000 mph and at 75,000 feet; higher and faster than aircraft at the time.

Source: Letter to Dr. Hynek, 25 June, 1975, confirming earlier verbal discussion with Dr. Hynek.



Tennessee - 1951 - September - about 1800 - Naval Air Station - Memphis,Tennessee - Google Map

Witnesses:

Crews and students of two Navy radar planes

Running exercises with ground station

Summary:

While flying at 5,000 feet the lead pilot called the attention of all on board to a silver object flying off the port side at about 1200 to 1500 feet. The pilot tried to make a slow port turn towards the object which immediately moved off at right angles to its course in excess of 5000 mph.

Upon landing the two planes were met by the Public Relations Officer who had alerted the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper. The story late