The 1952 Sighting Wave
Radar-Visual Sightings Establish UFOs
As A Serious Mystery
By Richard Hall
(Revised version adapted from the Journal of UFO History for the NICAP web site.)
Map of sightings, courtesy of Larry Hatch's *U* Database
Created 15 Dec 2005. Updated: 29 June 2016
This is a very comprehensive and qualitative effort. Without the help of Rebecca Wise (Project Blue Book Archive), Dan Wilson (digging out the cases from my checklist), Brad Sparks' Comprehensive Catalog of Project Blue Book Unknowns, the entire project would have been impossible. And our thanks go to Jean Waskiewicz who created the online NICAP DBase (NSID) that helped make it possible to link from the cases to the reports themselves. Others who provided information are also noted with their contributions. (Items on the Chop clearance list are coded "CCL"). But none of this would be complete without the story behind the wave of 1952, as told by none other than Richard Hall.
On March 2, 1950, a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) meeting focused on establishing goals for a minimum air defense by 1952. The following month at a USAF Commanders Conference at Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, planners familiarized commanders with the thinking behind the plan of minimum defense as well as with its contents. Referred to as the Blue Book Plan, it stipulated that a minimum air defense could be in place by mid-1952. It was estimated that July 1, 1952, as the critical date when the Soviets would pose a dangerous threat. General Charles Cabell expected the Soviets to have between 45 and 90 atom bombs and 70 to 135 Tu-4 bombers (copied B-29s) by that time. Was there a nuclear connection between this threat and the massive UFO sighting wave of 1952 and the events over Washington in July?
The summer 1952 UFO sighting wave was one of the largest of all time, and arguably the most significant of all time in terms of the credible reports and hardcore scientific data obtained. Electromagnetic (EM) effects and physical trace evidence were more prominent in other waves, but 1952 (and 1953) featured recurring radar detection of UFOs, often from both ground and airborne radar, visual sightings by jet interceptor pilots sent up to pursue the mysterious objects, and cat-and-mouse chases in which the UFOs seemed to toy with the interceptors. Further, Air Force investigators who plotted the sightings noticed that they were concentrated around strategic military bases, and this clearly posed a threat to national security since their origin was unknown. Senior generals in the Air Force concluded that UFOs were interplanetary in origin, and broadly hinted this belief in LIFE magazine for April 1952.
The 1952 UFO Sighting Chronology
1952; London, Ont., Canada
Astronomer observed elliptical UFO with 2 bright body lights. [UFOE, VI]
1952, Date unknown; Washington, DC area
Night. LCDR E. E. Kligington, John Ford, Michael Krause, pilots at Naval proving Ground Dahlgren, VA, flying F4U5 and F7F. Flying fighter aircraft, one at NPG one over Washington area and one over Fredericksburg at about 10-15,000 feet. When Krause saw a light close in front of him, he dived to avoid it, and made a sweeping climb to inspect it. Realized it was a large object between Frederickburg and Quantico. Krause also saw the object and headed for it and finally the other pilot did also. They were approaching from N, S and E.at about 5 miles it put on burst of speed and disappearing to the W. Radar at Washington National and MCAS Quantico supposedly watched the action. (George Fawcett's UFO report form filled out by E. E. Kligington).
1952, Date Unknown; Jacksonville NAS, Florida
11:00 p.m. Four sailors standing watch observed a black spearhead shaped object suddenly appear approaching from Jacksonville traveling N to S. The reporting witness was the first to see it, then the other three. It stopped over NAS, with no slowing down, and then hovered for 15 seconds. While it hovered it looked like a dark spearhead in front of a dim yellow light. Two aircraft took off at the same time, however, the witness did not know if it was related to the object. Suddenly the object left at a high rate of speed to the S. Sighting was reported to the control tower that replied it was probably a weather balloon. (Reported in 2003)
Jan. 1952; Weston, Wyoming (BBU)10:30 p.m. 38-yearold rancher saw a "shooting star" suddenly stop in mid-air between him and a mountain, spinning clockwise, with one red window periodically facing the observer, went down toward the Little Powder River, come up again. He turned his car to send light signals, object seemed to respond by stopping its red window to face witness. Spinning resumed, object rose and came down. Similar object arrived, then both went into the deep valley out of sight. (Vallée Magonia 88)
Brig. Gen. William M. Garland, Assistant for the Production of Intelligence, wrote a memorandum for General Samford with the title (SECRET) "Contemplated Action to Determine the Nature and Origin of the Phenomena Connected with the Reports of Unusual Flying Objects." (Courtesy, Joel Carpenter)
Jan. 9, 1952; Kerrville, Texas
Cat 3. Odd "roaring" interference on radio as UFO circled town.
Jan. 16, 1952; Artesia, New Mexico (BBU 1037)
This case was incorrectly dated for years. A motionless dull-white, round object 5/3 larger than balloon. This incident occurred in 1951, not 1952. (See 1952 UFO Chronology for the reports and other details).
Jan. 20, 1952; Fairchild AFB, Wash. (BBU)
7:20 p.m. Three Air Force personnel, M/Sgt. Aluridus C. Holm, S/Sgt Robert T. Barnes, and T/Sgt Harry A. Gavagnaro (two of which were in Wing Intelligence) saw a large bluish-white spherical object with a long blue tail in the E about 2 miles away traveling N through the sky much faster than a jet aircraft. The object was.on a horizontal path estimated at 500 feet, was below and seen against solid overcast cloud cover at 4,700 ft, speed later estimated at 1,400 mph, no sound, disappearing in the W. (Sparks; Wilson, Ruppelt pp. 12-3; Saunders/FUFOR Index) 15 secs
Jan. 21, 1952; Mitchel AFB, N.Y. (BBU)
9:50 a.m. (EST). USN pilot Lt. James R. Zeitvogel, USN Special Devices Center, Long Island, flew USN TBM-3W bomber heading 45° (NE) at 160 knots (200 mph) at 6,000 ft shortly after takeoff from Mitchel AFB, sighted a 20-30 ft white circular domed or parachute-shaped, with parachute-like segmentation and dark underside, about 1/3 ratio thickness to diameter, which appeared to be about 1-1/2 miles to the WNW or half way between TBM and end of runway 30 at Mitchel AFB, silhouetted against the ground at a depression angle of about 45° at a very low altitude of 200-300 ft (consistent with ground range of 1-1/2 miles from TBM at 6,000 ft height). Pilot then chased object which was at first traveling about 300 knots (350 mph), by turning left in the TBM in a sharp 2-3 g turn, having to bank at almost 90° to see the low altitude object about 1- 1/2 mins into sighting when TBM about completed 360° turn, object cutting on inside of TBM’s turn apparently accelerating. Object at about 2 mins into sighting started climbing in altitude while still accelerating, disappearing suddenly not due to distance about 7 miles to the SW at 500+ knots (600+ mph) and about 10° above TBM’s horizontal level. (Sparks; GRUDGE Rpts. No. 3, p. 8, No. 4, pp. 9-11ff.; Project 1947; NICAP)
Jan. 22, 1952; Nenana, Alaska (BBU)
12:20 am.(AHST) Ground radar outpost and three airborne radar sets on F-94 interceptors tracked a distinct unexplainable target. USAF Lt. A. L. B. a CPS-6B radar operator at ADC radar site F-2, Murphy Dome AFS (about 19 miles WNW of Fairbanks), Alaska, tracked an inbound or outbound target at 210° azimuth at about 1,500 to 2,400 mph, and after 10-12 radar sweeps 12 secs each, urgently called twice (at 12:25 and 12:26 a.m.) for interception, and 2 USAF F-94 jets were scrambled [possibly multiple reversals of UFO direction in this time interval]. At 12:52-53 a.m., unidentified target was tracked inbound at 210° azimuth heading N at 45 miles range for about 1 min, first F-94 at 30,000 ft was vectored on 180° heading to attempt intercept at 20 miles projected range of target to radar site, but target reversed course over an 8-mile radius of turn (roughly 5 gs) and headed outbound at 1,500+ mph heading S and away from radar site and F-94. Pilot Lt. C. E. G. and radar observer Capt. V. D. R. on first F-94 tracked two targets, one strong one faint on. F-94 circled for an hour before getting another target at 12 o'clock low, dropped to 25,000 ft with 100-knot closure rate, no visual contact, had to pull up at 200 yards distance to avoid collision, F-94 released to return to base at 2:13 a.m. Pilot Capt. R. time also obtained radar lock on to a target at 12 o'clock high at 17,000 yards range for 2-3 mins. (BB Status Rpt 7; McDonald files; Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index; cf. Ruppelt)
Brig. Gen. William M. Garland, Assistant for (Intelligence) Production, and his staff at the Directorate of Intelligence, HQ USAF, were briefed on the status of the Project Grudge UFO Study. At this meeting Gen. Garland introduced a revolutionary new intelligence policy and methodology which emphasized the use of instrumentation for intelligence collection, including to detect and track UFO's (which would eventually be the basis for terminating Project BLUE BOOK as an intelligence function, converting it to a PR psych war propaganda function beginning in July 1952 over a 6-month transition period). As an interim last-chance measure to prove whether anecdotal sightings had any value, Gen. Garland approves of Ruppelt's publicity plan to draw in UFO reports from the public so that triangulations might be obtained, and this leads to Garland secretly backing the LIFE magazine article (plan backfires and is blamed for July 1952 flap).
On the same date, Jan. 29, Gen. Garland gave the welcoming address to the SECRET compartmented MIT Project BEACON HILL in Cambridge, Mass., where he gave the marching orders to the assembled scientists to study ways AF intelligence methodology can be revolutionized through use of technology. (Later Gen. Garland sent Ruppelt and Col. Sanford H. Kirkland of ATIC, and Lt. Col. William A. Adams of AFOIN, to brief BEACON HILL on UFO's on March 26 and in April 1952, respectively). (Credit Joel Carpenter for BEACON HILL.) (Brad Sparks)
Ruppelt Discovers AF Intelligence Has More UFO files
On this trip to the Pentagon to brief Gen. Garland, Ruppelt visits the offices of AF Intelligence (AFOIN) having collections of UFO files and discovers they have more complete files than does ATIC in Dayton, and he arranges to have copies made of the various missing files made for him at Project Grudge at ATIC (though multiple visits were required to obtain the copies and Ruppelt probably did not succeed in getting everything). These AFOIN offices with UFO files include the Technical Capabilities Branch (TCB) of the Evaluation Division (AFOIN-TCB or AFOIV-TC) and the Collection Control Branch of the Collection Division (AFOIN-CC or AFOIC-CC). (Brad Sparks)
Jan. 29, 1952; Wonsan, Korea (BBU)
11:00 pm. 30 miles SW of Wonsan, USAF crew of B-29 flying at above 20,000 ft and 148 knots (170 mph) ground speed saw an orange luminous rotating and pulsating 3 ft sphere [or disc?], with blue flame halo, follow the B29 at a distance of about 600 ft at the 8 o'clock position advancing forward to 9 o'clock then falling back to 8 o'clock [at one point almost withdrawing from view then returning?]. (LIFE Incident 9; Project 1947; Loren Gross)
Jan. 29-30, 1952; Sunchon, South Korea (BBU)
11:24 p.m. USAF crew of B-29 at 20,000 ft and 125 knots (144 mph) ground speed saw an orange sphere follow the B-29 at their level or slightly below [sunlike in brightness and 600 ft away?]. (LIFE Incident 9; Project 1947; Loren Gross)
The 1951 directive, "Reporting Information on Unidentified Flying Objects", which outlined reporting procedures for Project Grudge, was inadequate and was to be revised for Project Blue Book (Pg. 59 of Project Grudge Report No. 3, 31 Jan 1952). The new one requested that all reports be made by wire to ATIC, ADC, and V/TC, and that this wire report be followed up by an AF Form 112 direct to ATIC and V/TC. (V/TC = AFOIN or AF Intelligence, Evaluation Division, Technical Capabilities Branch, which had been tasked by Gen. Cabell in 1950 to conduct field investigations of UFO cases independent of AMC/ATIC Project GRUDGE, and which TC Branch now had Capt. Dewey Fournet assigned) (Francis Ridge)
Feb. 1, 1952; 10 miles W of Terre Haute, Indiana (BBU)
9:30 p.m. Military aircraft pilot saw a close group of moving lights changing color from blue to green to yellow. (Project 1947; BB files??)
Feb. 2, 1952; E. of Pusan, South Korea (BBU)
10:30 am. Radar track of 767 mph unidentified target. 2nd track from position 35°30' N, 129°40' E, at 10:40 of 1,257 mph unidentified target. (Jan Aldrich)
Feb. 2, 1952; E of South Korea (BBU)
7:35 p.m. USS Philippine Sea heading S 180° at 13 knots (15 mph) tracked approaching radar target from the N 0° azimuth at 25 miles, veered off in a wide left turn to the E radius about 12 miles (when visual observers spotted exhaust trails), reversing course on radar away from the aircraft carrier accelerating from 600 mph to 1800 mph at 52,000 ft altitude, split into 2 targets 5-12 miles apart on a slightly zigzag wavy course headed due N 0° to disappearance at about 110 miles. Visual observers sighted 3 exhaust flames at 30° azimuth [?]. (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 126-8)
Feb. 11, 1952; Pittsburgh, Penna. (BBU 1052)
3 a.m. USAF Capt. G. P. Arns and Maj. R. J. Gedson flying a Beech AT-11 trainer saw a yelloworange comet-shaped object pulsing flame for 1-2 secs in straight and level flight. (Berliner)
Feb. 12, 1952; Bet. Friendship Airfield and Baltimore, Maryland (BBU)
9:30 p.m. USAF MATS C-47 pilot and copilot saw a bright white object move slowly then speed away. Then at 10 p.m. they saw 10 miles S of Baltimore a similar object. (GRUDGE/BB Rpt; FUFOR Index)
Feb. 13, 1952; Granite City, Illinois (BBU)
10:30 p.m. The 3903rd Radar Bomb Scoring Group observed an unusual radar return while attempting to score a bomb run. It was assumed at the time that the "target" was an aircraft pacing the bomber on its attack run, but the unusual target reached a speed of 1090 MPH. (McDonald list; BB Rpt 6) adar. (McDonald list; BB Rpt 6)
February 1952, Fournet Becomes AF Intelligence "Project Monitor"Maj. Dewey J. J. Fournet in the AF Intelligence (AFOIN) Evaluation Division's Technical Capabilities Branch (TCB) replaces Lt Col Milton D. Willis as UFO investigation officer for AFOIN (in the June 1952 reorganization many assets in the Evaluation Division are transferred to the new Topical Intelligence Division, headed by Col. William A. Adams, including Fournet who is assigned to the Division's Current Intelligence Branch, headed by Col. Weldon H. Smith). Fournet also assigned as "Project Monitor" for ATIC Project Grudge in the wake of widespread publicity on the Korean UFO sightings. (Brad Sparks)
Feb. 16, 1952; About 60 miles E. of Pusan, Korea (BBU)
2:40 and 3:50 p.m. USMC GCI Sq 3 at Yongil (36° N, 129° E) CPS-5 radar tracking of unidentified target traveling at 4,320 knots (5,000 mph). 2nd track at 3:50 at position 36°30' N, 129°30' E (a few miles off the coast of South Korea) of large target equivalent of 6-8 jet aircraft, traveling 1,380 knots (1,600 mph) target heading 170°, faded momentarily, then continued on 120° heading until lost. Visual sighting of contrail in direction of radar track. (Jan Aldrich; McDonald files; FUFOR Index, Dan Wilson)
Feb. 17, 1952; 25 miles SE of Roswell, New Mexico (BBU)
1:45 a.m. (MST). USAF crew of B-29 bomber saw 3 ft [?] greenish-blue ball of fire flying straight at 15,000 ft. (Project 1947)
Feb. 20, 1952; Greenfield, Mass.
A pastor of a German Congregational church boarded a trainand took a seat near a window. Like most travelers he gazed at the scenery to alleviate the boredom of the trip. Flashes in the cobalt blue excited his eyes as a brilliantly reflective trio of saucer-shapes approached in V-format ion. The formation quickly slowed, the object in the lead braking faster than its companions so to form a line of three abreast when all of the objects finally came to a complete stop. After a ten second wait, the objects shot off to one side so fast they were out of sight in about six seconds. It was an astonishing performance.(NICAP UFO Evidence, VII)
Feb. 20, 1952; Mt. Diablo, Calif. (BBU)
11:30 p.m. USAF pilot Montgomery and copilot of B-25 bomber saw bright yellow light on collision course climb and accelerate. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)
Feb. 21, 1952; Sen. Russell letter to SAFWashington, D.C. Sen. Richard B. Russell, Armed Services Committee, letter to Secretary of Air Force requesting an official report on recent UFO sightings by combat airmen in the Far East.
Feb. 24, 1952; Antung, North Korea (BBU 1061)
10:15 [11:15?] p.m. USAF 345th Bomber Sq Captain/B-29 navigator saw a bluish cylinder, 3x long as wide, with a tail and rapid pulsations, come in high and fast, make several turns and level out under B-29 which was evading mild antiaircraft fire. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)
Feb. 26, 1952; New Albany, New York (BB)
11:10 local. CIRVIS report says that in the vicinity NNW of Albany, New York, at an altitude estimated at over 50,000 feet, an unidentified object of unknown size and shape was apparently observing the reporting Air Force aircraft at 20,000 feet on a 90 degree intersecting course for approximately 20 minutes. Two jets pilots (Barnes [Sylvia 51] & Olshefski [Sylvia 41]) verified visibility, good sky clear, 80 knot wind at 230 degrees. Another CIRVIS report amplifying details describes the same object, sighted observing the aircraft (pilot Hensley) and traveling an estimated 1,000 mph and observed from distance of approximately 60 miles. Object of indiscernible color left pencil-thin whitish gray vapor trail approximately straight 10 miles long under non-concurrent observation for 3 to 5 minutes. Object was theorized to be a possible meteor!!!!
Feb. 27, 1952; Ft. Stockton, Texas (BBU)
B-29 and radar. (McDonald list; BB Rpt 5) [See March 26. BB records show a date change on MAXW-PBB9-1126]
March 3, 1952- Dr. Walther Riedel ConvincedFormerly a German rocket scientist at Peenemunde, said: "I'm convinced saucers have an out-of-world basis." (Life Magazine, Apr. 7, 1952 issue)
March 4, 1952; 15 miles W of Ashiya AFB, Japan (BBU)
10:35 a.m. The pilot, 1st Lt. E.J. Weed, and crew, co-pilot 2nd Lt. T.G. Camidge and engineer S/Sgt. T. Dendy, of a USAF C-54 aircraft, 53rd Troop Carrier Squadron, observed a bright orange oval-shaped object. The object, approximately 50 to 100 feet in length and 50 foot thick, was flying at a terrific speed at an estimated altitude of 10,000 feet and was observed for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Lt. Weed further stated that the object was definitely not a jet aircraft. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)
1 a.m. USAF copilot of C-54 transport saw a bright light pass from right to left, lose altitude and blink out 3 times. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)
March 10, 1952; Oakland, Calif.
An engineering metals inspector watched two dark wing (or hemisphere) shaped objects pass overhead, swaying back and forth like a pendulum. (NICAP report.)
March 13, 1952; Keflavik, Iceland
7:12 a.m. Eight separate unidentified radar sightings were made by a GCA team while working a C-47 aircraft on practice runs at Keflavik, Iceland. The first of the eight objects appeared at 0712Z (7:12 a.m. local time). The last object was observed at 8:09 a.m. The estimated airspeed of the objects was 250 knots and at estimated altitude of above 8000 feet. One report stated that one object crossed the scope at a speed much faster than an F-86. (Dan Wilson)
March 14, 1952; near Hawaii
Evening. Navy Secretary Dan Kimball was flying to Hawaii when two disc-shaped craft streaked in toward his Navy executive plane. "Their speed was amazing," he told Keyhoe later, in Washington. "My pilots estimated it between fifteen hundred and two thousand miles an hour. The objects circled us twice and then took off, heading east." Note that Adm Arthur Radford was a witness in a second plane. (See details at link).
March 15, 1952; Sandia Mtns. [Kirtland AFB?], New Mexico (BBU)
4:30 PM MST, A dull aluminum object, shaped like a flattened oval and as large as a B-29 fuselage was observed by an Air Force officer. Estimated to be stationary at 10,000 feet over the Sandia Mountain range and later moving at 150-200 mph. Time in view: 15 mins.. (McDonald list; BB Rpt 7)
March 17, 1952; Ionia, Michigan
A wobbly, tipping object that resembled two saucers placed edge to edge, crossed the sky, flashing a silver light. (Gross, UFOs A History 1952, 99,. [Ionia, Michigan] Ionia Daily Sentinel Standard, 18 March 52.Vitello)
Mid-March 1952, AF Initiates TOP SECRET UFO Project
AF Intelligence (AFOIN) Assistant for (Intelligence) Production Brig. Gen. William M. Garland initiates a TOP SECRET compartmented project (to be designed and built by AF R&D) to establish a global instrumented UFO detection and tracking system that would obviate the need for non-technical anecdotal UFO sighting reports, eventually resulting in approval of an official AF policy to deemphasize or reject anecdotal UFO reports (July 28, 1952). (Brad Sparks)
March 20, 1952; Centreville, Maryland. (BBU 1074)
10:42 p.m. WW1/WW2 veteran A. D. Hutchinson and son saw a dull orange-yellow saucer-shaped light fly straight and level very fast. (Berliner) (This link/version may or may not be the right case, but appears to be).
March 22, 1952; 20 miles S of Yakima, Wash. (BBU 1076)
6:05 p.m. USAF pilot and radar operator of F-94 jet interceptor made 2 sightings of a stationary red fireball that increased in brightness then faded over 45 secs. Note: Project Blue Book Status Report #7 (May 31, 1952) says target was also tracked by ground radar at 78 knots (90 mph) at 22,500 ft and 25,000 ft altitude. (Berliner)
March 24, 1952; 60 miles W of Pt. Conception, Calif. (BBU 1077)
8:45 a.m. [p.m.?] B-29 navigator and radar operator tracked unidentified target on airborne radar at about 3,000 mph. (Berliner; Shough)
March 25, 1952. Project BLUE BOOK NamedGrudge was upgraded to a separate organization, the Aerial Phenomena Group, and the name was changed to Project Blue Book. According to Ruppelt this change was made because of the steadily increasing number of reports we [the Air Force] were receiving. (Ruppelt, p. 131.)
March 26 [?], 1952; Ft. Stockton, Texas (BBU 1079)
2:10 am. SW of Pecos, NW of Stockton, Texas and Arizona [8:30 and 10:13 p.m. ?] USAF pilots of 4 B-50D's [McClelland and 3 others] saw red and green running lights moving at high speed. 2nd sighting over Arizona at 10:13? Airborne radar scope photo. (Berliner; cf. Weinstein; FUFOR Index) (Fran Ridge: No longer an unknown)
March 26, 1952; Long Beach, California
Cat 3. Two yellowish discs passed by slowly, "as they passed the radio was agitated twice".
March 26, 1952, Ruppelt and Col. Kirkland Brief BEACON HILLGen. Garland sends ATIC Technical Analysis Division Chief, Col. Sanford H. Kirkland, and Project Blue Book Chief, Lt. Edward J. Ruppelt, to brief MIT's Project BEACON HILL on UFO's. (Brad Sparks)
March 29, 1952; 20 miles N of Misawa AFB, Japan (BBU 1082)
11:20 a.m. Lt. David C. Brigham, pilot of AT-6 trainer, saw a small, very thin, shiny metallic disc fly alongside the AT-6, then make a pass at an F-84 jet fighter, flip on edge, flutter 20 ft from the F-84's fuselage and flip in the slipstream. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)
March 29, 1952; Butler, Missouri
Chairman of Industrial Commission of Missouri saw cylinder-shaped, silver UFO, [UFOE, VII]
March 29, 1952; Elizabethville, Belgian Congo. (BBU)
Two fiery discs were seen over uranium mines gliding in curves, changing orientation many times thus appearing as plates, ovals and lines. Discs suddenly hovered then took off in a zigzag to the NE. Commander Pierre of Elizabethville airfield took off in a fighter aircraft in pursuit and came within 120 meters (400 ft) of one disc. (McDonald files; Jan Aldrich)
March 29 [April 24?], 1952; Glen Burnie, Maryland. (BBU)
10:45 p.m. Donald F. Stewart [Steward?] and George Tyler III saw 50 ft flat silver disc with cupola/dome to one side, a porthole and hatch on the dome, neon-like lighting around the edges [strangely pulsating?], approaching car from ahead to the NE about 60° elevation, then hovered and "wavered slightly" for 3 [2?] mins several hundred feet off the ground, whirring sound like a vacuum cleaner, car engine died while object hovered. Witness got out of car with Thompson submachine gun considering whether to shoot the disc, companion urged him not to. Object suddenly turned up on edge seeming to "roll across the sky" faster than a jet to the SW disappearing about 3-1/2 miles away. Witness claimed car wires "magnetized" and paint cracked. Secy. AF Finletter interest, AFOSI investigation. Hoax? (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 196-8; Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index; Loren Gross Jan-May 52 pg. 25)
This was a bargain day in the flying saucer department, and you get two stories for the price of one -- the first from a resident of western Massachusetts and the second from Navy Sec. Dan Kimball.
ADC in near frenzied state
By the spring of 1952, Air Defense Command was in a near-frenzied state over the potential of a Soviet sneak attack. Its eyes and ears, the Lashup radar network and the GOC, had proven discouragingly unreliable, and, lacking credible intelligence on Soviet capabilities and intentions, it had no real basis for assessing the nature of the threat. (see report linked above). Little more than two weeks later, the worst possibility seemed to have come true. (See April 17)
April 2, 1952, Lake Mead, Nevada (BB)
9:00 am MST. While on a fishing trip to Lake Meade with his wife and a friend, Master Sergeant Sheldon Smith observed a UFO. It was silver in color, very large and at a tremendous altitude. It was described as a B-36 without wings. Observed right after a flight of F-86's overflew the area at about 15,000'. His friend was also a M/Sgt Lester Gossett. After watching the hovering object for about an hour, which was much higher than the vapor trails from the F-86's, it suddenly disappeared. Smith filed his report with an intelligence officer in accordance with AF requests to report such observations. (Fran Ridge, AIR, BB files).
April 2, 1952, Ruppelt & Col. Kirkland Brief CSI-Los AngelesOn the eve of the release of the bombshell LIFE magazine article, Ruppelt and his boss, ATIC Technical Analysis Division Chief Col. Sanford H. Kirkland, give an extraordinary briefing, technically unclassified but in fact quasi-classified, to a group of aerospace engineers organized as Civilian Saucer Investigations, in Los Angeles, along with LIFE magazine reporters who give them advance copies of the article in exchange. (See extremely rare and revealing Transcript obtained by Project 1947.) (Brad Sparks)
April 3, 1952; Marana, Arizona. (BBU)
8:23 a.m. MST Pilot of a T-6 aircraft and six other pilots on the ground, saw a bright silver circular object 5 or 6 times the size of a B-29 at an estimated 55,000 ft. C. M Jasper, Squadron Commander & Flight Instructor, Marana AFB, sitting in a landed T-6 aircraft at the Benson Airport, took a fix on the object in relation to the top of the canopy at 0823. Paul Wilkerson, Flight instructor, Chauncey (Chick) P. Logan, Flight Instructor, Marana AFB, Cadet Plucinsky, Chuck (Skeet) Taylor, Airport Manager were some of the other witnesses. Jasper kept continous fixes on the object and it did not move the slightest fraction until 0914 when the object disappeared. Cadet Plucinsky flying above Benson airport, said when he spotted the object; "It looks like a flying saucer." Object hovered for over 51 minutes then suddenly disappeared. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index, BB files, Dan Wilson)
April 4, 1952, Ruppelt Briefs Rand Corp. Satellite ProjectGen. Garland arranges for the AF-Rand Corp. Satellite Project to receive a UFO briefing from Ruppelt on a visit to ATIC. Ruppelt meets and befriends Rand satellite engineer Jim Thompson. (Brad Sparks)
April 4, 1952; Duncanville, Texas (BBU 1095)
8:30 p.m. (CST) USAF Cpl. Billy D. Greer and PFC John W. Harrington of the Radar Maintenance Section, 147th AC&W Squadron, tracked unidentified target by FPS-10 radar first to the NW at 310°-315° azimuth at about 70 nautical miles (80 miles) moving at high speed of about 2,160 knots (2,500 mph) until it disappeared off the scope at maximum range of 260 n.mi. (300 miles). Height-finder reading not taken, estimated at 42,000+ ft due to radar beam coverage at max range. (Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)
April 5, 1952; Kadena AFB, Okinawa (BB)
12:00 a.m. local time (approx). A/1C P.T. Burnett, T/Sgt S. Ball, A/1C J.W. Johnston, and A/1C J.C. Holder of the 372nd Bomb Squadron, while in the tent area, observed an unidentified object flying an erratic course from the north horizon to the base area and then maneuvered over the base with violent high speed zig-zagging, stopping momentarily, and then maneuvering. Finally the object shot up out of sight to the west. All maneuvering was done at speeds higher that any conventional jet aircraft. The speed was estimated at 1000 knots. The object was a white steady noiseless light at an estimated altitude of 20,000 feet. The total time of observation was 10 minutes. (BB files, Dan Wilson)
April 5, 1952; Phoenix, Arizona (BBU 1096)
10:40 a.m. Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Ryan, R. L.. Stokes, and D. Schook saw a large, dull grey circular object, followed by 2 more, fly straight and level at high speed. (BB files, Berliner, docs only..no dir)
April 5, 1952; Miami, Florida (BBU 1097)
9:15 p.m. L. E. VanDercar and 9 year old son saw 4 dark circular objects with mostly fuzzy edges, cross the face of the Moon [in the S at 175° azimuth 77° elevation, 83% illuminated or almost full], each 1/2 the angular size of Moon. (Berliner)
April 6, 1952; Temple, Texas [Miller-Graughan AFB?]. (BBU 1099)
2:59 p.m. Herman L. Russell saw 50-75 greyish-white metallic disc-like shapes to the NNW about 30° 40° elevation in random arrangement within a circular formation covering area of only 1 Full Moon [hence each object probably <3 arcmins would have been too small to resolve disc-like details]. Objects would flash in unison every 12-15 secs for a period of 2 secs as if tilting on horizontal axis. After 2 mins cluster became less dense in the center and more dense at the outer rim. Formation estimated at distance of 15-25 miles [hence height about 50,000 ft] moved upwards in elevation by about 5° and laterally by 10° to 15° (direction not specified) until disappearing by fading into distance. [Possible shattered plastic fragments of Skyhook balloon fluttering in the sunlight.] (Sparks; BB Maxwell Microfilm Roll 9, pp. 1303-4; Berliner)
April 8, 1952; Nr. Big Pines, Calif.
Disc-like UFO observed by TV network engineer. [UFOE, VI]
April 9, 1952; Bet. Shreveport and Barksdale AFB, Louisiana (BBU)
2:30 p.m. (CST). USAF C-46 crew [pilot and copilot] flying E at 90° heading at 9,000 ft saw a 30-40 ft cream color disc-shaped object ahead of the plane at about 4,000 ft, object reversed course heading E [but was overtaken by C-46 and passed under it ??], C-46 and object both [?] made 360° turns, object climbing into clouds at 12,000 ft at 200400 mph. Similar sighting at 2:45 p.m. by another C-46 5-6 miles N of Barksdale AFB of an object disappearing on a N heading at 11,000 ft. (BB Status Rpt 6; cf. NARCAP)
April 9, 1952; 6 miles W of Pecos [near Lackland AFB?],Texas(BBU)
10:40 p.m. (CST). S/Sgt Victor H. Berthene, USAF, while watching a C-97 take off from Kelly AFB, observed a white sphere-shaped object with a short white trail traveling at a high rate of speed from SE to NW. The observer was in Barracks building 2162 at Lackland AFB, Texas, during the time of the sighting.(Hynek UFO Rpt p. 43; FUFOR Index)
April 12, 1952; North Bay CFS, Ontario, Canada (BBU 1108)
9:30 p.m. At 2230 local time, Warrant Officer E. H. Rossell and Flight Sergeant Reg McRae, observed a bright amber disc in the sky. The disc came in from the southwest and moved across the RCAF Station airfield at North Bay, stopped and moved off again in the reverse direction. It then climbed at an angle of 30 degrees at terrific speed and disappeared. (Berliner)
April 13 [12?], 1952; Moriarty AFS, New Mexico (BBU)
4:45 p.m. (MST). 4 USAF airmen saw silver disc-shaped object to the E traveling very erratically at high speed, then dove. [CPS-5 radar tracking?] (McDonald files; Jan Aldrich; BB Rpt 6; FUFOR Index)
April 14, 1952; LaCrosse, Wisconsin CIRVIS Report (BBU)
12:35 p.m. Unidentified CAL (Central Air Lines) pilot saw several light colored objects fly in V-formation. (Berliner) Objects sighted from ground, tremendous speed.
April 14, 1952; Memphis, Tennessee (BBU 1112)
6:34 p.m. U.S. Navy pilots Lt. jg. Blacky, Lt. jg. O'Neil flying on 18° (about NNE) heading at 2,000 ft over NAS Range Station saw to their left an inverted bowl glowing bright red, 3 ft long and 1 ft high, with vertical slots, approaching at high speed on 300° heading, straight and level at 2,000 ft, passing 300 ft from their aircraft and below overcast at 4,200 ft. [Red glowing trail?] (Berliner; McDonald files; Jan Aldrich; cf. NARCAP)
April 15, 1952; Santa Cruz, California (BBU 1115)
7:40 p.m. Mr. Hayes, brother of Master Sgt., saw 2 faint objects flying fast along the horizon through 20x spotting telescope. (Berliner)
April 16, 1952; Madison, Wisconsin (BB)
8:15 p.m. CST. A witness by the name of Mr. Dino Laurenzi observed 5-6 yellowish-white glowing semi-circular shaped objects in a semi-circular formation almost straight up. The objects were heading to the east at high speed. After a few seconds the objects made a sharp turn left to a NW heading and gained altitude rapidly. As the objects disappeared they seemed to fuse or come together. No sound was heard from the objects. F-80 and F-86 aircraft were sent to the area to investigate. A Mr. Arthur Prchlik also sighted the objects. (Dan Wilson, BB files)
April 16, 1952; Shreveport, Louisiana (BBU)
9:28 p.m. (CST). Senior USAF pilot Capt. Eugene R. Mathis, USAF, SAC Aircraft Commander, and Jack Touchstone, observed a brilliant circular object ten times the size of the brightest star flying overhead at an unbelieveable speed on a heading of 100 degrees. The object suddenly made a 180 degree turn. The object appeared to be flat, made no sound and and had no exhaust. The object was in sight for approximately 70 seconds. While the object was in sight it passed over the entire city of Shreveport. (Dan Wilson, BB files, Willy Smith pp. 25-29; FUFOR Index)
April 17, 1952; Nellis AFB, Nevada
Large group of circular UFOs. [UFOE, III]
April 17, 1952; 3 mi S [SW] of Yuma Test Station, Arizona (BBU 1127)
3:05-3:10 p.m. (MST). Large group of 9575th Test Station Unit, Yuma Test Station, 6th Army, consisting of Army and ex-USAF meteorological observers, including several graduate engineers, while on a hiking trip on the E bank of the Colorado River, saw a flat-white, non-shiny, circular object fly from nearly overhead about 80-90° elevation heading 60° (about ENE), with an erratic non-perfectly-linear trajectory emitting an intermittent non-persistent thin contrail or vapor trail about 1-2 object diameters in length. No sound. Weather CAVU. 2nd Lt. Bernard J. Gudenkauf with 11 year's experience in military meteorology, development of weather equipment, and upper air observation and balloon launches of different types and sizes, led the group on the hike. Cpl. Weiss spotted object overhead and called attention of the group (including Lt Gudenkauf), all of whom immediately spotted the object without difficulty, including former USAF flight engineer MSgt Lowell, graduate engineer with propeller design experience Cpl. McDowell, and graduate engineer PFC Slater, plus Sgt Linden, Cpl Bailey, Cpl Cannon, Cpl Wuerderman, Cpl Jones, Cpl Ueberroth, PFC Alfonso, and PFC Davis. Disappeared at or beyond horizon at about 6°-8° elevation (canal bank terrain obstacle). Moved too fast and erratically to use theodolite tracking had one been available on the hike. See next sighting by 2 of the same group. (Sparks; BB files; BB Rpt 6 wrongly conflates 2 cases April 17 & 18 as one; Berliner) 7 secs 13 witnesses 1 Full Moon
April 18, 1952; Yuma Test Station, Arizona (BBU 1127)
(at airfield ?). Daytime. Cpl. McDowell, graduate engineer with propeller design experience, and graduate engineer PFC Slater, Army meteorological observers at 9575th Test Station Unit, Yuma Test Station, 6th Army (from among group in preceding Yuma sighting) saw a similar dull-white, circular object fly an irregular trajectory heading E, but with no contrail. Attempted to track with theodolite but object moved too fast and erratically. See previous sighting. (Sparks; BB files; BB Rpt 6 wrongly conflates 2 cases April 17 & 18 as one; Berliner) 5-10 secs 2 witnesses 1 Full Moon?
On April 17, Air Force Intelligence warned Col Burgess, at ADC Headquarters, Ent AFB, that a classified source (possibly an electronic intercept) had provided an "indication" of ominous Soviet military activity.
April 17, 1952; Alaska / Atlantic
7:00 PM. Nationwide Air Defense alert triggered by vapor trails and radar detections indicated a possible Soviet attack. (Jan Aldrich)
April 17 , 1952; Longmeadow, Mass. (BBU 1124)
8:30 p.m. S. B. Brooks and chemical engineer J. A. Eaton saw a round, deep orange object fly fast and erratic, occasionally emitting a shaft of light to the rear. (Berliner)
April 18, 1952; Bethesda, Maryland (BBU 1128)
11:30 [1:30?] a.m. (EST). R. Poerstal [Parstel?], Mrage, Watkins and another man [Young?] saw 7-9 circular, orange-yellow lights in a 40° V-formation fly overhead silently from S to N. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)
April 18, 1952; Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada (BBU 1129)
4 [3:30?] a.m. Janitor C. Hamilton saw a yellow-gold object make a sharp turn, leaving a short, dark trail. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)
April 18, 1952; Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada (BBU 1131)
10:10 [9:40?] p.m. Reporter Chic Shave saw a round, yellow-gold object fly S then return. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)
12:07 p.m. [9:07 p.m.?] A radar operator tracked unidentified target at 2,700 [2,100?] mph. (Berliner; UFOR Index) (Chop clearance list shows this as April 19. A T-6 pilot, Lt. D.C. Brigham, reported to ATIC the sighting of a small disc shaped object closing in on a fighter, maneuvering around it.)April 20, 1952; Toronto, Canada
April 20, 1952; Flint, Michigan (BBU)
At around 11:00 p.m. local time, the Air Traffic Control at Cleveland Hopkins Airport received calls that objects were sighted west of Toronto heading west and leaving vapor trails. Toronto ATC requested Cleveland to call Niagara AC&W for indentification. At 11:18 p.m., calls came in from 3 RCAF aircrew members who saw four objects traveling east to west. At 11:21 p.m., Buffalo Tower saw vapor trails NW of tower headed SE. At 11:28 p.m., London, Ontario, Tower saw trails north of London and Centralia Tower operator estimated they crossed from horizon to horizon in 3 seconds at between 30,000 and 35,000 feet. At this same time there were approximately 15 RCAF F-51 and T-3 aircraft airborne and most pilots reported seeing these objects. Trans-Canada Airlines pilots also saw these objects. One pilot reported he was able to track 11 objects on his radar equipment. He said they flew from horizon to horizon in 3 seconds. (Canadian Dept. of National Defence documents; Dan Wilson)
April 22, 1952; Condon, Oregon (BBU)
12:15 p.m. AC&W installation received a phone call from a Condon housewife who saw 3 fast-moving saucer-shaped objects moving E, to the N of Condon, in formation with the largest in the lead and "revolving" (rotating). Gray-brown on the underside and shiny metallic on all other sides. 2 mins (Sparks; Loren Gross UFO History; BB files; NICAP website/Rich Vitello & Robert Powell)
April 22, 1952; Naha AFB, Okinawa. (BBU 1144)
Bt. 9 p.m. & 10 p.m. A B-29 Combat Crew on the ground observed an elliptical-shaped object at an altitude of 1000 to 1500 feet flying east to west. One minute later two more objects were observed flying on that same course. Five minutes later two more objects were observed flying in the same direction. All five objects observed were elliptical in shaped and approximately 2-3 feet in length.The objects had a brilliant white light that blinked at 1-2 second intervals as they performed erratic maneuvers.. The estimated speed of the objects was 1000 knots (Dan Wilson, BB docs, Don Berliner)
2:30 p.m. (EST) AF Cambridge Research Center, Radar Systems Lsb, Electronics Research Div, electronics engineers, Alfred P. Furnish and Herbert J. Brun, and MIT electrical engineering senior Joseph Page, were in an observation tower on top of Great Blue Hill saw to the NW 2 very thin flat, dull reddish orange squarish objects with no corners or ovals pulled in at the waist about 10-15 ft wide, with a lip around outer edges, fly wobbly in consistently undulating "swooping" motion in horizontal flight at about 2,000 ft altitude. Objects then climbed about 15° elevation at an estimated 240 mph, then flew away and disappeared due to distance. No trail or exhaust, no sound, visibility 70+ miles. [Unclear whether observers used 6x aircraft tracking telescope.] (Berliner; FUFOR Index; Loren Gross Jan-May 1952)
April 24, 1952; Clovis, New Mexico (BBU 1151)
8:10 p.m. USAF Flight Surgeon Maj. E. L. Ellis saw many orange-amber lights, sometimes separate, sometimes fused, behave erratically, varying speed from motionless to very fast. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)
April 24, 1952; Colorado Springs, Colorado
10:15 pm. MST. Civilian report in BB files but not a BBU. Project 10073 Record Card: "Dark (object) with luminous glow, swept wing, no fuselage. Straight and level maneuvers. Possibly conventional a/c except for the absence of sound. If object was large and report indicates it was, an a/c could be heard...Disappeared behind roof line. Viewed through bare tree branches - no sound. 10 times larger than jet a/c."
April 25, 1952; Darmstadt, West Germany (BBU)
9:15 pm. (2115 MT) Air Force instructor pilot and his co-pilot in a C-47 observed a brilliant white circular object at a point 2,000 over Darmstadt, West Germany. The pilot, Capt. Wienieski, took evasive action when the light appeared to be on a collision course with their aircraft. He contacted the main Rhein Tower and they in turn contacted Frankfort Airways and they reported that no other aircraft were in the area. The object was last seen climbing at a high rate of speed.in a northwest direction. (Weinstein; Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index).
April 25, 1952; San Jose, California
Cat 2. Scientists close encounter with small daylight disc. (NICAP, Richard Hall)
April 27, 1952; Waskish, Minnesota
7:20 p.m. (CST). Ground Observer Corps Area Coordinator Roy Auney sighted cigar-shaped object with no wings, no sound, reflecting sunlight like polished aluminum. Object traveled about 30 miles due N at estimated altitude of 10,000 ft [apparently below the 25,000 ft scattered cloud layer] during 1-minute period of sighting [= ~1,800 mph]. (Sparks; NICAP / Rich Vitello & Robert Powell; BB files; Loren Gross History Jan-May 1952) 1 min 1 witness
April 27, 1952. 1952; Roseville, Mich. (BBU 1160)
4:15 p.m. H. A. Freytag [Freitag?] and 3 male relatives, including a minister, saw an silver oval roll, descend and stop. 2 silver cigar-shaped objects appeared, one departing to the E, one to the W; 3rd silver cigar flew by at high speed. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)
8:30 p.m. Off-duty control tower operator M/Sgt. G. S. Porter and wife saw a bright red or flame-colored discs, appearing as large as fighter planes; 7 sightings of one disc, one of 2 in formation. All seen below 11,000 ft overcast. (Berliner)
April 28, 1952; Homewood, Illinois
5:00 pm. Two civilian witnesses reported to the Air Force that an object in the SE that resembled a white parachute was apparently circling a large airplane for about three minutes. Not listed in BB unknowns or Sparks CCPBBU.
The number of reports did take a sharp rise a few days later, however. The cause was the distribution of an order that completed the transformation of the UFO from a bastard son to the family heir. The piece of paper that made Project Blue Book legitimate was Air Force Letter 200-5, Subject: Unidentified Flying Objects. The letter, which was duly signed and sealed by the Secretary of the Air Force, in essence stated that UFO's were not a joke, that the Air Force was making a serious study of the problem, and that Project Blue Book was responsible for the study. The letter stated that the commander of every Air Force installation was responsible for forwarding all UFO reports to ATIC by wire, with a copy to the Pentagon. Then a more detailed report would be sent by airmail. Most important of all, it gave Project Blue Book the authority to directly contact any Air Force unit in the United States without going through any chain of command. This was almost unheard of in the Air Force and gave our project a lot of prestige.
April 29, 1952; Marshall, Texas (BBU 1167)
3:30 p.m. (CST). Private pilot R. R. Weidman [Weedsman?] saw a round, white object fly straight, with a side-to-side oscillation. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)
April 29 [28?], 1952; N of Goodland, Kansas (BBU 1168)
10 p.m. (CST). B-29 bombardier Lt. R. H. Bauer saw a white fan-shaped light pulsing 3-4 times per second. (Berliner; Project 1947)
Ruppelt's claim that at least some high level officers actually believed saucers were interplanetary is confirmed in an indirect way in a memorandum written on April 29, 1952. This document was written to justify a trip to Europe by Dr. Stephen Possony and Lt. Col. Sterling, both members of a special study group that had been organized to study "advanced delivery systems,"
April 30, 1952; Moriarty AFS, New Mexico (BBU)
7:40 and 7:46 a.m. (MST). CPS-5 radar tracking of 4,000 mph first target at 230° azimuth (about SW) at 149 miles range moving 11 miles per 10-sec sweep for 4 sweeps heading into the radar site. 2nd track at 7:46 a.m. of 4,000 mph target at 280° azimuth (about W) at 140 miles moving 11 miles per 10-sec sweep for 6 sweeps [toward the radar] until disappearing at about 70 miles range. (McDonald files; Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)
In May 1952, Project Blue Book received 79 UFO reports compared to 99 in April. It looked as if we'd passed the peak and were now on the downhill side. The 178 reports of the past two months...had piled up a sizable backlog....During June we planned to clear out the backlog, and then we could relax. But never underestimate the power of a UFO. In June the big flap hit....- Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt, (Ruppelt, pp. 138-39.)
Early May, 1952; Willow Grove, PA
Time not given. The Naval Air Station Ground Control Approach radar picked up a target in bad weather conditions near the center of the scope. By the next sweep (32 rpm) the target had moved almost five miles, indicating the object was moving approximately 3,600 mph. It was seen to move as the trace swept past it. (A similar evnt occurred at Washington National in July where the target "blossomed" on the scope.) By the fourth sweep the target had moved off to the ten mile limit of the GCA scope. Target was visible on two radar scopes, operating on two different fequencies, so this was no malfunction. Object was tracked the next day under similar weather conditions. (Project Interloper, Jan Aldrich)
May 1, 1952; Moses Lake, Washington (BBU 1174)
0532 PST, Civilian AEC employees observed a slow moving wingless silver object at 5,000 feet altitude in the Hanford area. Sighting lasted 1 1/2 minutes.
May 1, 1952; Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Ariz. (BBU)
9:10 am. Two shiny discs overtook a B-36 bomber as it passed over Davis-Monthan AFB in the morning, slowed and positioned themselves near the plane. One moved close alongside and was observed from the waist blister by the crew members. Witnesses on the ground also saw the objects, which were about 20-25 feet in diameter. After several minutes the objects departed at extremely high speed in a southerly direction. (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 109-112; FUFOR Index)
May 1, 1952; George AFB and Apple Valley, California (BBU 1176)
10:50 a.m. (PDT?). 3 men on the arms range, plus Lt. Col. Lyle Albert Silvernail 4 miles away in Apple Valley saw 5 flat-white discs about the diameter of a C-47's wingspan [95 ft] or length of P-51 [32 ft] fly fast about 1,000 mph at about 4,000 ft height, make a 90° turn in a formation of 3 in front and 2 behind, and dart around. Silvernail reported the sighting and was told radar was tracking the object(s) and fighters were being scrambled. Note: Recent informations suggests Silvernail confirmed a radar track. See link above. (Berliner; NICAP) 15-30 secs 5+ witnesses 2 Full Moons ? RV?
Morning. Two airline pilots and a Royal Australian Air Force officer watched a spectacular object that sped through the skies on a course between Parks and Sydney. Another version was related by a Mr. William Anderson who asserted he viewed the UFO from a location on the outskirts of Sydney with two companions. He described an "airship or flying submarine carrying winking colored lights" that exceeded an airliner in size by three to four times. (UP dispatch, Loren Gross, UFOs A History, pgs. 69 & 70/ ref 247 Holledge, Stephen, Flying Saucers Over Australia, Melbourne, Horwitz, 1965, pp. 31-32.
May 5, 1952; Tenafly, New Jersey (BBU 1183)
10:45 p.m. Mrs. M. M. Judson saw 6-7 translucent, cream-yellow objects, one moved in an ellipse, others moved in and out. (Berliner) The objects were observed for approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
May 7, Keesler AFB, Mississippi (BBU 1185)
12:15 p.m. (CST). Capt. Morris, a Master Sergeant, a Staff Sergeant, and an Airman First Class saw an aluminum or silver cylindrical object dart in and out of the clouds 10 times. (Berliner)
May 7, Barra da Tijuca, Brazil
Questionable UFO photos.
May 8, 1952; Atlantic, 600 miles E of Jacksonville, Florida (BBU)
2:27 a.m. (EST?) Pilot Capt. Cent and copilot 1st Ofcr Gallagher of Pan Am Flight 203 flying DC-4 airliner at 8,000 ft on 180° heading from NYC to San Juan, Puerto Rico, saw brilliant white approaching from the left below the solid overcast at 10,000 ft. and streak by the left [?] wing at 1/8 to 1/4 mile, followed by 2 smaller orange balls of fire. (NARCAP; McDonald list; Project 1947; Ruppelt pp. 133-4)
May 8, Washington, D.C. Secretary of the Air Force Thomas K. Finletter was briefed for an hour about the Project Blue Book UFO study. He listened intently and asked several questions about specific sightings when the briefing was finished. (Ruppelt, p. 138.)
10:30 a.m. 2 USAF F-86 pilots (Crown and another) in the air and a witness on the ground saw a round silver object. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)
May 10, 1952; Albuquerque, New Mexico (BBU)
3:00 p.m. MST. USAF Lt. Col. Maurice G. Bechtel and his wife in the yard of their home saw two silvery disc-shaped objects flying straight and level one after the other moving SW to NE at above 20,000 ft. The first object seemed to waver on axis or "flop over," second object followed similar path but at higher altitude. First object was described as being the size of a B-36 at high altitude. Officer alerted radar station but unable to track object(s). 5-10 mins (McDonald files; Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)
May 10, 1952; Paphos, SW Cyprus (BBU)
8:30 p.m. British scientist and others saw a luminous circular object rise from sea level, waver back and forth for an interval before fading from sight directly overhead. (Jan Aldrich)
May 10, 1952; Ellenton, S.C. (BBU 1198)
10:45 pm. Employees of DuPont Corporation at the Savannah River Plant, Atomic Energy Commission, saw four disc-shaped objects approach, then two other discs pass high overhead from different directions. They were luminous yellow-gold color, traveling at a high rate of speed. One disc approached at such a low altitude that it had to rise up to pass over some tall tanks at the facility. One witness reported that the objects were weaving from left to right while continuing on a steady course. (FBI report.)
May 11, 1952; George AFB, Calif. (BBU)
Grendilund. (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)
May 12, 1952; Roswell, New Mexico
8:45 PM (MST). Restricted document shows an unidentified flying object was sighted by Walker AFB Tech Sgt Raymond Bare in a car in downtown Roswell. The object was blue-green in color and its estimated altitude above the terrain was 20,000 to 30,000 feet, estimated distance of 40-50 miles over some (low) mountains E. of Ruidosa at about 270 due W.. The object traveled three times over approximately the same S-N, E-W swaying triangular course. Rate of speed could not be precisely estimated but was faster than that of jet aircraft. Intensity of color brightness varied with the objects altitude. (AF Form 112, Fran Ridge)
May 13, 1952; El Centro Naval Air Station, California (BB)
At 3:15 a.m. PST, an F9F pilot taking off from El Centro NAS saw what appeared to be a shooting star diving at an angle of 60 degrees. At around the same time there was a report from the El Centro Sheriff's Office of five "Flying Saucers" as large as B-36's with a light underneath. They disappeared to the southwest at terrific speed. All told there were four separate reports of unidentified aerial object in the El Centro area on this date. (Blue Book docs, Dan Wilson)
May 13, 1952; George AFB, California (BB)
At 2:25 p.m. PDST, a pilot and an observer in an T-6G aircraft flying at 10,500 feet altitude observed a white or silver round object at an estimated altitude of 45,000 feet. The passenger stated that he was looking at the object almost directly overhead when it disappeared very fast, almost like a light being turned off. The object was observed for approximately 30 minutes. (BB files, Dan Wilson)
May 13, 1952; National City, California
8:55 p.m. PDT. A meteor-like object was seen descending over the San Diego Bay area flying in a curving path to the northwest. Later the same or similar object was seen flying nearly the opposite course over the Bay Area.
May 13, 1952; Greenville, So. Carolina (BBU) Chop Clearance List Item # 15.
10:33 p.m. (EST). Richardson and 3 other amateur astronomers set up telescopes at dark area of Furman University when they saw a diamond formation of 4 oval reddish-yellow or reddish-brown luminous objects nearly overhead and disappeared after 3 secs motion through 12° arc [or at 12° elevation?]. Apparent size of half dollar at arms length, 1/4 turned and wobbling in flight. (BB Status Rpt; FUFOR Index) (Incorrectly listed on Chop Clearance as May 18, 1952).
1:05 p.m. (PST). [Same as May 13?] (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)
May 14, 1952; Mayaquez, Puerto Rico (BBU 1213)
7 p.m. Attorney and ex-USAF pilot Mr. Stipes and Sr. GarciaMendez saw 2 shining orange spheres: one was stationary, while the other darted away and back for 30 mins. (Berliner)
May 15, 1952; S of Changsong-ni and N of Nangnim Mountain, North Korea (BBU)
11 a.m. USAF Lt. McCarthy and another pilot flying two F-86E jets, 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, 25th FI Sq, at 30,000 ft, airspeed 500 knots, on 280° heading. Sighted a silvery ovalshaped object larger than a MiG jet airplane at 9 o'clock position below, to the S, at estimated altitude of 8,000-10,000 ft, about 1,200-1,500 mph, and about 20 miles away. Object on S to N straight flight path in a "rolling maneuver," disappeared at about 3 o'clock position to N. (Jan Aldrich)
May 15, 1952; S of Changsong-ni and N of Nangnim Mountain, North Korea (BBU)
6:35 p.m. USAF F-51 fighter pilot of 18th Fighter Bomber Group flying F-51 at 9,000 ft on 180° heading at 240 mph sighted 50 ft diameter silver object at 1 o'clock position moving to 3 o'clock at 1,000 mph at about the same altitude, which then started a steep climb, but at the top of the loop the object resumed a horizontal course (heading 360° or N) wavered momentarily, descended and disappeared into the haze which reached an altitude of about 7,000-8,000 feet. (Jan Aldrich)
May 15, 1952; Georgetown, Washington, D.C (BBU)
10:25 p.m. (EST) [9:35? 9:50? p.m. EDT?] USN Lt. H. W. Taylor and Lt. P. G. R. and two girls saw soft golden glowing oval object on straight level path heading S moved through 70° arc. (McDonald files; Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)
May 18, 1952; Greenville, S.C.; Chop [CCL Item # 15].
Four amateur astronomers observed a diamond-shaped formation, oval shaped objects, wobbled in flight.
May 19, 1952; 30 miles SW of San Angelo, TX (BBU)
7:48 p.m. (CST). USAF 31st Strategic Recon Sq pilot and crew of RB36 flying at 18,000 ft on a 301° heading at 214 mph TAS, Capt. Gerard A. Sharrock, Capt. Jack L. Bailey, Capt. Bernice O. Bowers, 1st Lt. Constantine G. Kollinzas, 2nd Lt. Norman V. Stewart, S/Sgt. John J. Fisher, S/Sgt. William O. Warr, A/1c Robert Schick, saw 7 bright white circular or doughnut shaped white contrails, like lenticular clouds, stacked vertically about 10°-20° elevation estimated distance 50-75 miles height ranging from 25,000 to 60,000 ft about 1 mile wide. Sighted through 6x binoculars and photographed in 6 frames with 35 mm camera by Bailey, also seen by radar station ground observer alerted by radio. Contrails persisted for at least 1520 mins possibly 1 hr. Last seen when RB-36 was at 30°53' N, 101°20' W. (Jan Aldrich)
May 20, 1952; George AFB, Calif. (BBU)
1:25 p.m. (PST). (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)
May 20, 1952; Houston, Texas. (BBU 1219)
10:10 p.m. Sighted from the ground. USAF pilots Capt. J. Spurgin and Capt. B. Stephan [Steven?] saw a bright or white oval object move from side-to-side while making a gradual turn. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)
Bet. 1 and 2 a.m. Top CIA official and several dinner guests, including a retired general, noticed noiseless red light approach from W at about 5,000 ft then suddenly climb almost vertically in the SE, stop, level out for a few secs, go into near vertical dive, level off, disappear to the E. (Ruppelt pp. 135-6; BB Status Rpt 7; Jan Aldrich).
May 23, 1953; Union of S. Africa
South African headquarters announced radar had tracked an unidentified object near the Cape at over 1000 mph. [Prescott Evening Courier, May 22; UFOE, VIII]. "Radar operators picked up an unknown object which passed over the Cape six times at a speed definitely exceeding 1,250 miles an hour. Each time it passed it was within radar range, for sixteen seconds at distances varying from 35,000 to 50,000 feet, and altitudes between 5,000 and 17,000 feet." (Michel/McDonald)
May 23, 1952; Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, New Mexico (BBU)
4:00-4:45 p.m. (MST). USAF CO of 135th AC&W Sq ADC radar site, Lt. Col. Orlando W. Stephenson Jr., and other staff of radar site, Senior Director Lt. William J. Hopkins, Capt. Clarence R. Holloway, Lt. Edwin G. Kenyon, Philco radar tech rep John B. Cooper, and at least one other witness (door guard), saw a silvery or aluminum color flat on the bottom, slightly rounded on top, the highest part off center to the left, in the W at 268° azimuth 2° elevation at an estimated height of about 1,000-3,000 ft at 10-20 miles distance, seen through transit telescope, 7x 50mm binoculars and possibly theodolite [?]. Object reflected sunlight at varying irregular intervals of brightness for 3 secs to 2-3 mins and then dark or invisible for similar periods, headed to the right descending below the horizon at 271° azimuth about 0° elevation. Radar and 93rd FI Sq F-86D fighter interception unsuccessful. (Jan Aldrich)
1:27 a.m. Pilot of TWA airliner Brass saw 2 reddish torpedo-shaped objects appear in front of the aircraft. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)
May 25, 1952; Tierra Amarilla AFS, New Mexico
9:58 a.m. An unknown object was detected on radar traveling 1800 mph, at Tierra Amarillo AFS, New Mexico. The object passed directly across the Los Alamos area. [See report below] (Dan Wilson)
May 25, 1952; Randolph AFB, Texas. (BBU)
9:27 p.m. (CST). USAF navigator in charge of navigation section of Combat Crew Training School, Capt. J. S. J., his wife, and pilot Lt. P. H., saw a group of about 12 orange-white tear-drop shaped lights, points forward, in 3 groups of 4 objects moving from W to E at high speed 2,000 mph at 10,000 ft at 70° elevation. Heard deep soft intermittent noise. (McDonald files; Jan Aldrich; cf. Ruppelt p. 140; FUFOR Index)
May 25, 1952; Walnut Lake, Mich (BBU 1227)
9:15 p.m. John Hoffman, his wife and 3 children, and friends Mr. and Mrs. William Mienk, saw a large white to yellow moon-shaped object having dark sections on its rim, fly straight and level slowly to the west, appearing red when behind a cloud. The object was estimated to be 200 feet in diameter and 20 foot thick. The party followed the object in a car for 1/2 mile when the object changed direction and headed north.The object was viewed for approximately 30 minutes when the object was lost and could not be found. [Same witness(es) as in April 27, June 18, 1952, cases??] (Berliner, Wilson)
May 25, 1952; Los Alamos, New Mexico
11:30 p.m. Radiation was detected. Earlier, at 09:58 hours, an unknown object was detected on radar traveling 1800 mph, at Tierra Amarillo AFS, New Mexico. The object passed directly across the Los Alamos area.
10:30 a.m. Many in crowd watching a ceremony saw a white-silver disc-shaped object fly straight and fast. (Berliner, Dan Wilson)
May 28, 1952; Albuquerque, New Mexico (BBU 1233)
1:45-2:40 p.m. (PST). City fire department employees Romero and Atterbury saw 2 circular objects, one shiny silver and the other orange or light brown, 3 times performing fast maneuvers. (Berliner)
May 28, 1952; E of Albuquerque, New Mexico (BBU 1233b)
8:10 p.m. MST. During a night refueling mission USAF crews of five B-29 bombers reported seeing green spherical objects. The primary sighting took place near Albuquerque and involved three B-29s flying at 15,000'. Another sighting was made at around 11:30 p.m. local time, at an area 10 miles southwest of Tulsa, Oklahoma. That crew was flying at 25,000'. Three hours later the final sighting took place near Enid, California, also with a B-29 at 25,000'. The aircrews making these reports expressed the opinion that the objects were not meteorites. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)
May 29, 1952; Near the Florida Keys
At approximately 1700 hours two elliptical in shape objects larger than a fighter type aircraft were observed from the USN aircraft carrier Oriskany CV-34. One observer watched the objects through a telescope. The Radar Officer viewed the objects on the radar scope. The objects appeared to have a bubble on the top. Each object was leaving a white vapor trail. The objects' course paralleled that of the carrier. (Blue Book Microfilm)
May 29, 1952; San Antonio, Texas (BBU 1236)
7 p.m. USAF pilot Maj. D. W. Feuerstein [Weinstein?], on ground, saw a bright tubular object tilt from horizontal to vertical for 8 mins, then slowly return to horizontal, again tilt vertically, accelerate, appear to lengthen and turn red. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)
May 30, 1952; Japan Sea, S of Oshima island, Japan (BBU)
7 p.m. 3 USAF crew members of C-54 transport plane saw a round black object first motionless then moving rapidly to the W. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)
May 31, 1952; S of Chorwon, South Korea (BBU)
3:45-55 a.m. Bright object to NE fell from about 3,500-3,600 ft to 2,000-2,600 ft height then ascended to 3,000-4,000 ft, headed E about 1/2 mile with jerky motion, stopped, reversed coursed to NE again at a speed of about 100-150 mph, reversed again heading E, climbed at 25° angle increasing to 45° angle away in 3-4 secs accelerating with jerky motion to disappearance. Second guard at different location Post 6 saw same but also heard "pulsating sound" and saw disc shape. Duration 2 mins. At about 3:50 a.m. 319th FI Sq F-94 interception of white-bluish round object on airborne radar for 9 mins at 500 mph at 6,000 ft height heading 90° initially, maneuvering down to 1,000 ft then up to 28,000 ft. disappearing on 45° heading. (Hynek UFO Report)
Through the first 5 months of 1952, the Air Force Project Blue Book investigators had noticed a build-up of UFO sightings. Then, according to project chief Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt, In June the big flap hit....The objects displayed intelligent control by circling, maneuvering, reacting to pursuit, and otherwise demonstrating extraordinary capabilities unlike any known technology or natural phenomenon, such as sharp turns, rapid vertical motions, and sudden reversals of direction. Radar repeatedly confirmed the presence of unidentified solid objects.
......the Air Force was taking UFOs seriously because a lot of good reports were coming in from Korea. Pilots were seeing silvery discs and spheres, and radar in Japan, Korea, and Okinawa all had tracked unidentified targets. (Ruppelt, p. 192.)
Summer of 1952; Albuquerque, New Mexico
F-86 Shooting incident. (Ruppelt, see Sept. 1952)
Summer 1952; MacDill AFB, Florida
USAF Colonel, B-29 pilot investigated radar target, saw glowing ellipse which reversed direction and sped away. [UFOE, III]
June, 1952; Tombstone, Arizona
Cat 11. Williams case (M)
June 1952 CIA Prepares Secret UFO Report
In the wake of mass public and governmental interest in UFO's kindled by the provocative LIFE magazine article, CIA intelligence experts Sidney N. Graybeal (Chief, Guided Missiles Branch, Weapons & Equipment Division, Office of Scientific Intelligence OSI) and Irl D'Arcy Brent (Chief, Ground Branch, W&E Division, OSI) prepare a summary of the UFO subject for the CIA/OSI hierarchy based on the past several years of OSI intelligence (and OSI predecessor documents going back to ghost rockets of 1946) and mentioning sightings go back to the Bible. Possibility of swamp gas in Michigan as an explanation for UFO's is suggested by Brent (foreshadowing the Hynek swamp-gas fiasco in Michigan in 1966). (Report has never been acknowledged or released by the CIA despite FOIA litigation. Report's existence and contents was revealed in Sparks interviews with Brent and Graybeal and other OSI officials in 1975-6.) (Brad Sparks)
At Hughes Aircraft Company, a crew of test section radar technicians were tracking what they thought was an airliner, when it suddenly climbed rapidly to 55,000 feet, leveled off and sped away. (Ruppelt)
June 1, 1952; Walla Walla, Washington (BBU 1245)
1 p.m. Ex-military pilot Reserve Maj. W. C. Vollendorf saw an oval object with a "definite airfoil" perform a fast climb. (Berliner)
June 1, 1952; Soap Lake, Washington (BBU 1246)
3 p.m. [+-?] Ray Lottman saw 3 glimmering objects fly straight and level. (Berliner)
June 1, 1952; Rapid City, South Dakota (BBU 1243)
6:00 p.m. local time. A/1C William Beatty saw two civilians looking and pointing at something in the sky. Beatty then also looked to the sky and saw five or more objects that he did not recognize as airplanes. They were long and slender silver colored objects flying in a box-like formation with a leader in front. The objects were traveling to the south at a high rate of speed with no sound or exhaust visible. Beatty watched the object for 15-20 seconds before they disappeared. Beatty was steadfast in stating that the objects were not conventional aircraft. (Berliner)
June 2, 1952; Bayview, Washington (BBU 1249)
5:02 p.m. Larry McWade saw a purple object for unknown length of time. No further information in files. (Berliner)
June 2, 1952. Fulda, West Germany (BBU 1250)
Time unknown. 1st Lt. John Hendry, photo-navigator on an RB-26C recon bomber, saw a porcelain-white object fly very fast for an unknown length of time. (Berliner)
June 3, 1952; Chicago, Illinois (BB)
9:27 a.m. CST. Six to 10 targets were detected on AN/CPS 6B radar of the 755th AC&W Squadron. These targets were at the GEO. REF. position of DM 3012, on a heading of 310 degrees at an altitude of 25,000 feet at an estimated speed of 450 mph. The controller on duty checked with C.A.A. and M.F.S. for flight plans, but they had no flight plans. These radar targets were then declared unknowns, and an F-86 aircraft was scrambled out of O'Hare Field. The F-86 flying at 29,000 feet was radar directed toward the unknowns and merged with the unknown track. The F-86 was unable to sight any aircraft at the position occupied by the unknown track. At 9: 46 a.m., the unknown track turned to a heading of 140 degrees and followed the lake shore to position CM 5542. The unknowns then turned to a heading of 90 degrees and maintained this until position DM 3545. Now the unknown turned to a heading of 120 degrees and faded out at 10:16 p.m. The target indication was very strong on the PPI scope. During this incident a total of eight (8) aircraft were scrambled from three (3) different bases but no interception was accomplished. (Dan Wilson)
June 4, 1952; Stuttgart, West Germany (BBU)
7:30 p.m. USAF pilot and copilot of C-47 transport saw a circular object with white lights on the leading edge. One witness was a Lt. Colonel Whitman who was shortly thereafter assigned to the Directorate of Intelligence, Headquarters, United States Air Force. The object/light crossed in front of the C-47 aircraft at about 7,000 feet, about 2,000 feet higher than the C-47. The object was on a heading of approximately 270 degrees at a speed as great or greater than a jet fighter at cruise. The object was estimated to be 1 to 2 miles west of the C-47 and at this time the object made a fairly tight turn of approximately 145 degrees. The pilot, Capt. Gerald M. Jones turned the aircraft to try and intercept the object. The object approached rapidly. At this time Capt. Jones was able to observer the silhouette of the object. It appeared to be circular with white lights on the leading edge. At this point the object made a sharp turn to the left on a heading of 270 degrees and disappeared under the nose of the aircraft. The estimated total time the object was observed was not more than 3 minutes. (Weinstein, BB files, Dan Wilson)
June 5, 1952; Lubbock, Texas (BBU 1255)
11 p.m. Dan Benson and Mr. Bacon saw a total of 8 yellow circular objects, like large stars, the first 2 in a trail formation, the others seen singly. (Berliner)
June 5, 1952 AF Intelligence Initiates Staff Studies on UFO'sAF Intelligence initiates a series of internal Staff Studies on UFO's, inspired by Gen. Garland's new policy emphasizing instrumentation, which are circulated within AFOIN and its field element ATIC. Staff Studies lead to policy and project plan approved by Director of Intelligence, Gen. Samford, on July 28. (Brad Sparks)
June 5, 1952; Albuquerque, New Mexico (BBU 1256)
6:45 p.m. S/Sgt T. H. Shorey, a member of the elite 4925 Test Group (atomic) at Kirtland AFB, saw a shiny round object fly 5-6 times as fast as an F-86 jet fighter. (Berliner)
June 5, 1952; Offutt AFB, Omaha, Nebraska (BBU 1257)
11 p.m. 2nd Lt. W. R. Soper, a Strategic Air Command TOP SECRET Control Officer, former AFOSI agent; and 2 others saw a bright red stationary object for 4.5 mins before speeding away with a short tail. (Berliner)
Early July 1952 Mysterious Dr. "X" Predicts UFO FlapA mysterious government scientist visits Ruppelt at Project BLUE BOOK and predicts the UFO flap, as hitting New York City or Washington, D.C. I have identified this Dr. "X" as Dr. Stefan T. Possony, Acting Chief of the AFOIN Special Study Group and top scientific adviser to AFOIN Director Maj. Gen. John A. Samford, who was also a leading military strategist and psychological warfare expert. Possony evidently studied the plans for the continental joint SAC-ADC operation Exercise SIGN POST planned for late July and deduced that the planned simulated SAC "attack" on either NY or Washington to test ADC air defenses would trigger false UFO sightings (and in fact SAC did "attack" Washington, but the simulated air raid was on July 23 not on the July 19-20 or 26-27 dates of Washington National UFO incidents). (Brad Sparks)
June 6, 1952; Kimpo AB, Korea. 8:42 a.m. (BBU missing)
Flight Sergeant saw cylinder-section flat disc-shaped object, width/diameter ratio 1:7, doing a series of erratic spinning and tumbling motions, level flight, hovering, shooting straight up, level flight, tumbling, changing course, disappearing into the sun in the E, reappearing back and forth across the sun. At one point an F-86 fighter passed in front of object. (Battelle Unknown No. 7)
June 7, 1952; Albuquerque, New Mexico (BBU 1260)
11:18 a.m. Crew of B-25 bomber #8840 at 11,500 ft saw a rectangular aluminum object, about 6 ft x 4 ft, fly 250-300 ft below them. (Berliner)
10:50 a.m. Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Markland saw 4 shiny objects fly straight and level in a diamond formation. (Berliner)
June 9, 1952 - Time Articleby Dr. Donald H. Menzel, "Those Flying Saucers," "Light reflections "given as explanation/
June 9, 1952; Minneapolis, Minnesota (BBU missing)
(Case missing) (Berliner)
June 12, 1952; Ft. Smith, Arkansas (BBU 1269)
7:30 p.m. U.S. Army Major and Lt. Colonel using binoculars saw an orange ball with a tail fly with a low angular velocity. (Berliner)
11:26 a.m. T/Sgt. H. D. Adams, using an SCR-584 radar set, tracked an unidentified target at 650 knots (750 mph) at 60,000+ ft altitude. (Berliner)
June 13, 1952, Fox Hill, Virginia, OSI UFO Report
10:30 a.m. An aluminum awning salesman observed an object described as similar to a discussed in athletics, about 25 to 30 feet in diameter hovering approximately 200 feet over a group of pine trees at Fox Hill, Virginia. The object made a slight whistling sound. After approximately 10 seconds the object tilted slightly, flew upward at an angle of 45 degrees and away from him at a tremendous speed.
June 13, 1952; Le Bourget; France (airport).
Control tower operators and pilot watched brilliant light source cross sky SW of field after hovering for about an hour. [UFOE, X]
June 13, 1952; Middletown, Pennsylvania (BBU 1273)
8:45 p.m. (EST). R. S. Thomas, Olmstead AFB employee and former control tower operator, saw a round orange object travel S, stop for 1 sec, turn E, stop 1 sec, and drop down. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)
June 15, 1952; Louisville [Boundsville], Kentucky (BBU 1285)
11:50 pm. Edward Duke, a former Navy radar technician saw an unidentified cigar-shaped object in the vicinity of Standiford Field. It had a light on either side of the fuselage and a reddish hue on the trailing end. The object appeared to be moving at about 400-500 m.p.h., and maneuvered around in several directions for 15 minutes, then descended and flew away to the northeast. (Dan Wilson, PBB files; Berliner; FUFOR Index)
June 16, 1952; Walker AFB, Roswell, New Mexico (BBU 1295)
8:30 p.m. USAF maintenance specialist S/Sgt. Sparks saw 5-6 grayish discs, in a half-moon formation, fly at 500-600 mph. (Berliner)
June 17, 1952; Cape Cod, Mass (BBU 1299)
1:28 a.m. USAF pilot of F-94 jet interceptor saw a light like a bright star cross the nose of the jet. No further information in the files. (Berliner)
June 17, 1952; McChord AFB, Wash. (BBU 1298)
Between 7:30 and 10:20 p.m. Many witnesses saw 1-5 large silver yellow objects flying erratically, stop and start. (Berliner)
June 18, 1952; Columbus, Wisconsin (BBU 1302)
9 a.m. R. Mr. A. Finger observed from the ground a cresent-shaped object in the sky resembling a new moon in size and shape. The object was motionless for a few seconds and then moved N and vanished almost instantaneously. Two jets were in the area at the time of the sighting on a camera gunnery mission, and were seen by Mr. Finger to the SSW. The object was at a lower altitude than the two jet aircraft. (Dan Wilson, Berliner)
June 18, 1952; Walnut Lake [Pontiac], Mich. (BBU 1305)
10 p.m. Marron [Marion ?] Hoffman and 4 relatives, using 4x binoculars, saw an orange light zigzag then hover for an unspecified length of time. [Same witness(es) as in April 27, May 25, 1952, cases??] (Berliner)
June 18, 1952; 100 miles E of March AFB, Calif. (BBU)
A UFO paced a B-25 bomber for 30 minutes. No explanation could be found for the object and it was classified as an unknown.(Ruppelt p. 146; etc.)
June 19, 1952; Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada (BBU 1308)
2:37 a.m. 2nd Lt. A'Gostino and unidentified radar operator saw a red light turn white while wobbling. Radar tracked a stationary target that suddenly enlarged then returned to previous size possibly a disc rotating to present wider reflective surface. (Berliner; cf. Ruppelt p. 146)
June 19, 1952; Yuma, Ariz (BBU 1310)
2 p.m. USAF pilot John Lane saw a round, white object fly straight and level. (Berliner)
June 20, 1952; Central Korea (BBU 1313)
3:03 p.m. A flight of 4 USMC Capts. and pilots of F4U-4B Corsair fighters with 7302nd Sq five Marine Corps on a mission spotted a silvery-white object passing below them, banking into a left turn. As the object circled around, the Marine flight leader dove toward the object, which appeared to be 10-20 feet in diameter and it flew away at an estimated speed of 1,000 m.p.h. and disappeared toward friendly lines. (BB files)
June 20, 1952; Near Paulette, Mississippi (BBU)
8:26 p.m. USAF pilot Lt. Milo Roberts and bombardier Lt. Julius Prottengeier with 308th Bomb Sq, 310th Bomb Wing, Forbes AFB, Kansas, flying a B-29 bomber (s/n 44-62204) at 190 mph at 17,000 ft saw a cone-shaped object approach on collision course from the 2 o'clock position, before evasive action object made sharp left left and disappeared, followed by a 2nd object [?]. Object's length/width ratio 3:1, about 8-10 ft long at 1,2001,500 ft away or 100 ft if at 15 miles away. (NARCAP; BB files??)
June 21, 1952; Kelly AFB, Texas (BBU 1319)
12:30 p.m. T/Sgt. Howard Davis, flight engineer of B-29 bomber at 8,000 ft altitude, saw a flat object with a sharply pointed front and rounded rear, white with a dark blue center and red rim, trailing sparks as it dove past the B-29 at a distance of 500 ft, in 1 sec. (Berliner)
June 21 [23?], 1952; Oak Ridge [Marxville?], Tenn. (BBU)
10:58 p.m. GOC post spotted target, confirmed by ADC radar, followed by F-47 fighter interception of a 6-8-inch white blinking light which made ramming attacks on the F-47 from 10,000 to 27,000 ft. (Ruppelt p. 43)
June 22, 1952; Pyungthek, South Korea (BBU 1323)
10:45 p.m. 2 U.S. Marine Sgts. saw a 4 ft diameter orange object dive at a runway from the N dropping from 800 ft to 100 ft altitude over W end of runway, shooting 2-5 ft red flames, then head W at about 300-450 mph for 2-3 secs, hover briefly over a hill, turn 180° in 45-60 secs, flash, head E 1/2 mile, flash again and blink out. No sound. (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 82-83)
June 23, 1952; Oak Ridge, Tenn. (BBU 1334)
3:30 a.m. Secretary Martha Milligan saw a bullet-shaped object with burnt-orange exhaust fly straight and level. (Berliner)
June 23, 1952; Location unknown, but information came via Japan Hq CV 4359 (BBU)
6:08 a.m. USAF pilot Wermack of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Group saw a black coin-shaped object, 15-20 ft in diameter, at 6,000 ft approach to within 1,500 ft, then make an irregular descent. (Berliner; Project 1947)
June 23, 1952; Near Owensboro, Kentucky (BBU 1335)
10 a.m. National Guard Lt. Col. O. L. Depp saw 2 objects looking like giant soap bubbles reflecting yellow and lavender colors, fly in trail. (Berliner)
June 23, 1952; Spokane, Wash (BBU 1331)
4:05 p.m. Airport weather observer Rex Thompson saw a round disc with a metallic shine flash, and flutter like a flipped coin. (Berliner)
June 23, 1952; McChord AFB, Wash (BBU 1332)
9 p.m. 2nd Lt. K. Thompson saw a very large light fly straight and level. No further information. (Berliner)
June 23, 1952; Kirksville AFS, Missouri (BBU)
7:30 or 7:35 p.m. USAF ADC radar operators Lt. A. N. Robinson, Jr., and Airman Ray H. Foote, plus 5 other controllers, officers and maintenance technicians, tracked one (two?) unidentified target with a clear sharp return about the size of a B-29's (or B-50 or B36) suddenly appear 80-85 miles NNW of radar site moving at a constant speed of about 3,600 mph [to 4,300 mph] on a straight path of about 120-125 miles headed 357° or almost due N to disappearance off scope. (Hynek-CUFOS files)
June 25, 1952; Tokyo, Japan. (BBU 1340)
June 25, 1952; Michigan (BBU)
June 25, 1952; Japan-Korea area. (BBU 1347)
Military witness(es). Case missing [?]. (NARA)
June 25, 1952; Chicago, Illinois (BBU 1344)
8:30 p.m. Mrs. Norbury and Mr. Matheis saw a bright yellow-white, egg-shaped object, sometimes with a red tail, make 7 circles. (Berliner)
June 26, 1952; Terre Haute, Indiana (BBU 1348)
2:45 a.m. USAF 2nd Lt. C. W. Povelites saw an un-described object fly at 600 mph then stop. No further information in files. (Berliner)
June 26, 1952; Pottstown, Penna (BBU 1351)
11:50 p.m. Assistant manager of airport Mr. Wells made 3 sightings of flashing lights: (1) 2 lights separated by 2 miles, with the leader flashing steadily and the other irregularly; (2) 2 similarly flashing lights, but with 1 mile separation; (3) Finally a single light. Speed estimated at 150-250 mph. (Berliner)
June 27, 1952; Topeka, Kansas (BBU 1355)
6:50 p.m. Forbes AFB USAF pilot 2nd Lt. K. P. Kelly and wife saw a pulsating red object change shape from circular to a vertical oval as it pulsed, first stationary then moving. (Berliner)
June 28, 1952; Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, New Mexico (BBU)
1:20 p.m. 2 observers with CARCO air service saw 2 silvery disc-like objects high in the sky moving slowly to the S, noiseless, suddenly climbed nearly vertically at high speed, one going SSE the other almost due E. (Hynek UFO Exp ch. 6, case DD7)
June 28, 1952; Lake Koshkonong, Wisc. (BBU 1361)
6 p.m. G. Metcalfe saw a silver-white sphere become an ellipse as it turned and climbed away very fast. (Berliner)
June 28, 1952; Nagoya, Japan (BBU 1363)
4:10 p.m. Capt. T. W. Barger, USAF Electronics Counter Measures officer, saw a dark blue elliptical-shaped object with a pulsing border fly straight and level at 700-800 mph. (Berliner)
10:50 p.m. USAF C-47 pilot saw a very bright light pass across the flight path from left to right. (Project 1947)
June 29, 1952; O'Hare Airport, Chicago, Illinois. (BBU 1364)
5:45-6:30 p.m. (CDT). 3 USAF air policemen, 83rd Air Base Sq, Air Police Detachment, S/Sgt. Lopez, A/1c Weber, and A/3c Korkowski, saw a bright silver, smooth surfaced, flat oval 30 ft object at about 500 to 1,000 ft height about 2-3 miles away reflecting sunlight surrounded by a blue circle of haze for the first 20-25 mins, hovering, appeared between radio towers for stations WGN and WBBN 7 miles away to the WSW at about 2° elevation and to the left and S of the setting sun (which was at 284° azimuth 20° elevation at 6:30), then move very fast to the right and left, and up and down relative to the radio towers, moving almost instantaneously and much faster than any jet fighter. Object rocked on its longitudinal axis, appeared oval (major/minor axis ratio about 2.2) when oriented vertically, thin and difficult to see when horizontal. Object receded at high speed then disappeared like shutting off a light. No trail, no noise. Independently witnessed by Chicago firemen several miles away. (Jan Aldrich; unpublished Ruppelt manuscript).
June 30, 1952; Columbia, Missouri (BBU)
1:46-3:54 a.m. (CST). U.S. Weather Bureau observer tracked by theodolite an object at extreme distance irregularly changing color from red to green, seeming to move away, to the NNE making only "small" angular movement in the 14 recorded measurements of position in 2 hrs. (Jan Aldrich)
June 30 [July 1?], 1952; Phoenix, Ariz. (BBU)
Gaudet [and Wolf?]. (Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)
June 30, 1952; Sea of Japan (BBU)
7 p.m. 3 USAF crew members of C-54 transport saw circular object
flattened on top and bottom. (Weinstein; BB files??)
On March 2, 1950, a Joint Chiefs of Staff; (JCS) meeting focused on establishing goals for a minimum air defense by 1952. The following month at a USAF Commanders Conference at Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, planners familiarized commanders with the thinking behind the plan of minimum defense as well as with its contents. Referred to as the Blue Book Plan, it stipulated that a minimum air defense could be in place by mid-1952. It was estimated that July 1, 1952, as the critical date when the Soviets would pose a dangerous threat. General Charles Cabell expected the Soviets to have between 45 and 90 atom bombs and 70 to 135 Tu-4 bombers (copied B-29s) by that time.
On 1 July, nine wing B-36s (5-H and 4-F) departed Carswell to take part in a high altitude formation radar camera attack on New York City. Three aircraft were from the 9th, three from the 436th, and three from the 492nd Bomb Squadron. The nine B-36s flew to the orbit area at Cape St. Francis, Newfoundland, Canada, then flew the scheduled attack on New York City. From there the bombers flew to Montgomery, Alabama, and recovered at Carswell on 2 July. Following this, the wing presented the Meritorious Achievement Award Plaque to the Outstanding Tactical and Support Units in the wing. The 9th Bomb Squadron and 7th Maintenance and Supply Group received the awards on 5 July 1952.
July 1, 1952; Lynn & Bedford, Massachussetts (BBU)
7:25/7:30 a.m. (EDT). 2 F-94's scrambled (at 7:25?) to intercept UFO that a GOC spotter saw heading SW over Boston, no radar contact and F-94's searched area found nothing. Erwin W. Nelson and wife at Lynn (9 mi NE of Boston) at 7:31-7:34 noticed two vapor trails from the climbing jets, looked around, saw in the W a bright silver "cigar shaped object about six times as long as it was wide" heading SW over Boston at a very high altitude, speed a little faster than the two jets. An identical UFO was following the first some distance back. No vapor trails. Witnesses watched the F-94's search back and forth far below the UFO's. At 7:30 AF Capt. Robert E. Metcalf, Petroleum Officer, 6520th Supply Sq, 6520th Test Support Wing, and USAF air policemen MSgt James Stiner and MSgt Joseph R. Bosh, 6520th Air Police Sq., near Hangar B, Hanscom Field, Bedford, Mass. (15 mi NW of Boston, W of Lynn) saw the two jets, looked for what they were intercepting and saw to the E [?] a 100 ft long silvery ellipse “fatter than a cigar” traveling SW but did not spot the 2nd UFO. At two points object seemed to hover for a few secs, then continued at about 40,000 ft. Object path intersected contrails of the two jets heading SE. Metcalf lost sight of object on his way to the Tower after a few (2-3?) mins then caught sight again at about 7:40, noting it had increased distance “considerably,” but lost it at the Tower and unable to see it with unaided eye or 7x50mm binoculars. (Sparks; Maxwell BB Microfilm Roll 11, pp. 485ff.Ruppelt) 15+ mins 7+ witnesses
July 1, 1952; Lexington, Ma (BBU)
7:30 AM. Capt. Metcalf observed a milky white object shaped like an "elongated oval" but "fatter than a cigar", about 100 feet in length or slightly larger than a four-engine airliner, having indistinct outlines at the rear resembling either a very short exhaust or a blurred tail section, with a narrow ridge along the top side, but without wings or any other aerodynamic features. (BB Files, Sparks)
July 1, 1952; Fort Monmouth, New Jersey (BBU)
9:30 am. The objects moved south along the East coast and hovered near Fort Monmouth, N.J., for about 5 minutes at 50,000 feet. As radar at Fort Monmouth detected the objects, they put on a burst of speed and headed southwest toward Washington, D.C., confirmed visually. At about noon, a physics professor in Washington reported seeing a grayish UFO hovering and arcing back and forth across the sky. (Ruppelt, pp. 200-202, Dan Wilson)
Without injecting any imagination or wild assumptions, it looked as if two "somethings" had come down across Boston on a southwesterly heading, crossed Long Island, hovered for a few minutes over the Army's secret laboratories at Fort Monmouth, then proceeded toward Washington.
Richard Hall continues:
While driving through Utah in July, a Navy chief (later warrant officer) saw a formation of unidentified flat circular objects maneuvering in the sky, stopped and took color motion picture film of them. The objects defied conventional explanation when analyzed by the top Air Force and Navy photogrammetric laboratories.
July 2, 1952; Tremonton, Utah
Navy photographer Delbert C. Newhouse and his wife, while driving across the state, saw a group of 12-14 shiny silver objects milling around in the sky. Newhouse stopped and retrieved his 16 mm camera and filmed extensive footage of the objects. He and his wife both reported seeing some of the objects relatively close-up and they were shaped like one plate inverted atop another. When the film was returned to Newhouse following Navy and Air Force analysis, the frames showing the discs close-up had been deleted.
July 3, 1952. Selfridge AFB, Mich.(BBU 1380)
4:15 a.m. Witnesses not identified (civilians?) saw 2 big lights, about 20 ft diameter, fly straight and level at tremendous speed. (Berliner)
July 3, 1952; Chicago, Illinois (BBU 1382)
11:50 p.m. Mrs. J. D. Arbuckle saw 2 bright pastel green discs fly straight and level very fast. (Berliner)
July 5, 1952; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska (BBU)
July 5, 1952; Hanford Atomic Works, Richland, Wash (BBU)
6 a.m. Conner Airlines C-46 pilot Baldwin, another pilot and 2 copilots saw a perfect circular white disc above the Hanford site. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)
July 5, 1952; SSE of Norman, Okla. (BBU 1390)
7:58 p.m. Oklahoma State Patrolman Hamilton in State Patrol airplane saw 3 dark discs [at 4,000 ft?] hover then fly away, silhouetted against a dark cloud. 15-secs. (Berliner)
Early July 1952 Mysterious Dr. "X" Predicts UFO Flap
A mysterious government scientist visits Ruppelt at Project BLUE BOOK and predicts the UFO flap, as hitting New York City or Washington, D.C. I have identified this Dr. "X" as Dr. Stefan T. Possony, Acting Chief of the AFOIN Special Studies Group and top scientific adviser to AFOIN Director Maj. Gen. John A. Samford, who was also a leading military strategist and psychological warfare expert. Possony evidently studied the plans for the continental joint SAC-ADC operation Exercise SIGN POST planned for late July and deduced that the planned simulated SAC "attack" on either NY or Washington to test ADC air defenses would trigger false UFO sightings (and in fact SAC did "attack" Washington, but the simulated air raid was on July 23 not on the July 19-20 or 26-27 dates of Washington National UFO incidents). (Brad Sparks)
July 6-12, 1952; Governors Island, New York [Elizabeth, NJ?] (BBU 1397)
11:00 p.m. Charles Muhr [and Neff?] took 4 photos of some indistinct light admittedly not seen visually. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)
July 9, 1952; 1 mi N of Ent AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado (BBU)
12:45 p.m. (MST). USAF senior pilot Maj. Claude K. Griffin, Budget Office, Hq ADC, saw an object shaped like an airfoil less its trailing edge, luminous white, move slowly and erratically like a corkscrew, estimated 100 ft size at 15-20 miles away at 30,000 ft, at about 45° [20°] elevation heading NW. Griffin stopped car. USAF senior pilot, Major E. R. Hayden, ADC Personnel Services Office, and wife came out of their house and observed object in 4x rifle scope, described as rectangular, silver on one side black on the other. fluttering as it moved, heading slowly NNW above 20,000 ft at about 20 miles distance, then steadied while gaining altitude, gradually diminished to a black dot,then accelerated to high speed and disappeared. (Sparks; NICAP website; BB files; Berliner) 1/10 Full Moon [4/10 in 4x scope]
July 9, 1952; Rapid City, South Dakota (BBU)
3:35 p.m. MST. A sergeant and three airmen of the 717 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing reported that three milky white discs were between 30,000 and 40,000 feet. The airmen were lying on there backs off the edge of the East-West runway when they observed the objects moving faster than any jet aircraft they have seen. Direction of travel: Northerly. The objects were seen one at a time with approximately one minute between sightings. Each object was observed for approximately 5 seconds. (BB files, Dan Wilson, FUFOR Index)
8:18 p.m. Pilot of National Airlines Flight 42, a C-60 aircraft, saw a very bright amber glow, stationary then climbing slowly till disappearance. (Project 1947)
The crew of the Canadian destroyer Crusader saw two shiny discs and tracked them on radar.
July 10-17, 1952 Dr. Kaplan Visits ATIC Project Blue BookUCLA Geophysics Prof. Joseph Kaplan, a member of the AF Scientific Advisory Board previously involved with a highly secret compartmented UFO tracking project in 1949 leading to Project TWINKLE, visits ATIC and Project BLUE BOOK, advising on plans for a top scientific panel to establish the importance and credibility of the UFO problem within the scientific community (a later distorted version of the plan is forced on the CIA by the AF as the Robertson Panel and intentionally designed by the AF to fail spectacularly). The Battelle Memorial Institute scientists are deemed not prominent enough to secure support within the scientific community, but will continue with statistical studies of BLUE BOOK's case files (ordered by Gen. Samford in Dec 1951 to specifically verify Ruppelt's sighting pattern analysis, showing UFO concentrations around atomic weapons bases, after his briefing disturbed Samford). Battelle also continues special lab analyses of alleged UFO physical evidence from time to time. (Brad Sparks)
July 12, 1952; Annapolis, Maryland (BBU 1431)
3:30 p.m. Insurance company president William Washburn saw 4 large, elliptical-shaped objects fly very fast, stop, turn 90° and fly away. 7-8 secs. (Berliner)
July 12, 1952; Northern Illinois
8:05 p.m. Report of unusual flying objects (Reference to July 12, 1952, Arlington, Illinois [BBU]) Air Intelligence Information Report from 755th AC&W Squadron, Williams Bay, Wisconsin. Mr. J. M. Stark, Chicago, reported that at 2005 CST he saw a greenish object traveling in horizontal flight. Object came to stand-still, then moved away at a very high rate of speed. Mr. L Matheis, Chicago, sighted object going east then turned westward, yellowish in color. Mr. L. Schrenk, Chicago, sighted object going north, weaving at low altitude, reddish in color. Mr. A. Cressy, Chicago, saw an object going north, turned west, not a jet type aircraft. Received call from 31st Division through ADCC, radars picked up strange objects heading west and north at 3000 mph and above.
July 12, 1952; Williams Bay, Wisconsin
8:30 p.m. Air Intelligence Information Report describes radar tracks by three different radars. 31st Division through ADCC reported that Mastiff (AN/FPS-3), Orgin (FPS-10), and Cousin (AN/6PS-6B) radars had picked up strange objects in several areas heading west and north at different altitudes, 3000 mph and above. (Dan Wilson)
July 12, 1952; Belleville, Illinois (BB)
8:30 p.m. Five radar observations of unidentified objects were made at the 798th AC&W Squadron beginning at 8:30 p.m CST. Object one: 8:30 p.m., 355 degrees at 200 NM, speed 1600 knots. Object two: 8:35 p.m., 30 degrees at 20 NM, speed 1700 knots. Object three: 8:47 p.m., 6 degrees at 190 NM. Object four: 8:49 p.m., 330 degrees at 180 NM. Object five: 9:20 p.m., 280 degrees at 175 NM. Visual Sighting at 2110Z At 2110Z three airmen of the 798th AC&W Squadron, Belleville, Illinois, observed one very large round object of intense reddish orange color flying a straight course horizontal to the earth surface. The speed of the object was faster than any known aircraft. The object was observed for 20 seconds. One aircraft scrambled for observation purpose. The time given in the teletype (2110Z) may be incorrect. At around 2100 hours CST (9:00 p.m.), a large fireball-type object was seen by many witnesses in the Belleville/ St. Louis area. The object traveled in a straight line parallel to the ground from SE to the NW. (Reference: Edwardsville Intelligencer, Illinois, July 14, 1952, page 1) (Dan Wilson)
9 p.m. Many radar controllers who were military officers saw several big radar blips tracked at 1,500 knots (1,700 mph). No visual sighting. (Berliner)
July 12, 1952; Arlington, Illinois (BBU)
9:04 p.m. USAF pilot of F-86 fighter in a flight of 2 F-86s with 62nd FI Sq after coming out of a right turn saw [and radar tracked?] an oblong yellowish lighted object with a trail flying in a straight course heading 240° about 15 miles away at 22,000 ft traveling 700 knots. F-86 pursued at max speed but object pulled away. Both pilots heard a strange radio transmission on their restricted comm channel during the pursuit saying the name of the pursuit pilot, Casey, in eerie tone. 20 secs. (Project 1947)
July 12, 1952; Near Greenfield, Indiana (BBU)
9:05 p.m. American Airlines Convair pilot and copilot saw an object paralleling the plane then dropping down. (Project 1947)
July 12, 1952; Chicago, Ill.
Air Force weather officer, many others at Montrose Beach saw large red object with small white lights on side reverse course directly overhead. [UFOE, III]
July 12, 1952; Dayton, Ohio (BBU)
9:13 p.m. (EST). USAF pilots of 2 F-86's flying at 20,000 ft heading 180° at 250 knots, Capt. Clifford Winters and 1st Lt. A. W. Sanders, both with 97th FI Sq, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, saw 2 extremely brilliant round white lights hovering at 21,000 ft about 2 miles away to their 2 o’clock position which then disappeared like “somebody turned out a light.” (Sparks; BB files; Project 1947) 20 secs 2 witnesses
July 13, 1952. 60 miles SW of Washington, D.C. (BBU)
4 a.m. (EDT). National Airline Flight 611 Capt. William Bruen piloting airliner heading N from Jacksonville, Fla., saw round ball of bluish-white light hovering to the W then ascend to airliner altitude of 11,000 ft, then parallel course off left wing at about 2 miles distance, took off upwards at 1,000 mph when Bruen turned on all aircraft lights. (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 9091; NARCAP)
July 13, 1952; Osceola, WI
674th AC&W Squadron. Eleven unidentified flying objects tracked on radar at speeds of 12,000 to 20,000 knots. (Knot = 1.15 mph)
Time not given. At the 797th AC&W Squadron at Fordland, Missouri, one object was observed on radar, very large at times, varied in size up to 3 degrees in width and at an estimated speed of 180 mph to 600 mph The object appeared to stop maneuvering as long as two minutes. The unknown object was carried from west to east and back west towards Kansas City and faded.
July 14, 1952 Ruppelt-Maj. Herman Briefing of CSIRuppelt and ATIC Maj. Isidore H.. Herman present the second ATIC briefing on UFO's for the private CSI group in Los Angeles. (Brad Sparks)
July 14, 1952; 20-25 miles N of Norfolk, Va (BBU 1444) [CCL Item # 24]
9:12 p.m. (EDT). Pan American Airways FO William B. Nash, Second Officer William H. Fortenberry, in a DC-4 airliner at 8,000 ft heading 200° magnetic, sighted a total of 8 large, round, glowing red coinshaped objects, 100 ft diameter 15 ft thick, maneuvering in two groups of 3 then joined slightly after by another 2. Objects approached head on at high speed estimated at about 12,000 [27,000] mph at about 2,000 ft altitude [about 2° depression angle] silhouetted against the ground, to a position almost directly below their airliner, in a stack formation then suddenly making a 150° hairpin turn like balls bouncing off a wall, joined by 2 more identical but much brighter red objects which came from behind on the right under the aircraft at about the same 2,000 ft altitude as the first 6 objects joining formation by falling in behind, all silhouetted against the black background of bay water, with one moment when all 8 objects blacked out then reappeared. At about 10 miles S of Newport News objects ascended as a group in fixed formation in an arc to the right towards Newport News to about 10,000 ft altitude [about 0.4° above level or about 2° above horizon line] out to disappearance by blinking out randomly, after covering a total distance of roughly 90 miles from start to finish (35 miles on approach, 55 miles to departure). Possibly 7 ground observers. (Sparks; McDonald; Tom Tulien; Joel Carpenter)
July 14, 1952; near Okinawa
10:10 p.m. local time, at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, S/Sgt Eugene K. Chalmers and 2nd Lt. Phillip Galtieri, observed a spherical object to the north of the base. The object was moving straight down, but its course changed immediately as it moved to the northeast across the sky. When change of course occurred, the object appeared to slow down and almost stop in midair. The object then picked up considerable speed and vanished.
July 14, 1952; Holloman AFB, New Mexico (BB)
10:20 MST. Unidentified objects were observed over the missile test range at Holloman AFB, during a Hughes Aircraft project mission. Two hundred feet of 35mm. film was taken of two maneuvering objects at a high elevation angle to the NNE. Two other witnesses that were watching the B-29 on the mission through 6 power binoculars saw an object cross in front of the B-29 with about the same size and apparent speed as the project F-86 would have, but the object was not the F-86 which overtook the B-29 shortly thereafter. Mr. H. R. Morris and Mr. Floyd Fannon, on X-Band radar for the project observed something on their "A" scope which appeared like a jet going the opposite direction from the B-29. A bright object was observed passing through the field of vision by an optical tracker using a 20 power monocular scope near the radar site. The object was observed above the B-29 and going the same general direction, but much faster. The "Pip" on the radar "A" scope on X-band modified SCR-584 was about the size and apparent speed as a jet fighter would give at 35,000 feet, and was observed for a few minutes. (Dan Wilson)
July 14, 1952; 20 miles S of McChord AFB, Wash (BBU)
11:50 p.m. (PDT). USAF pilots of 2 fighters from 318th FI Sq saw a strange object with red and green lights slowly rolling between the aircraft. (Project 1947)
July 15, 1952; Pendleton, Oregon
2055 zulu. Many civilians in 5 cars and an Oregon State Trooper observed a spherical-shaped object, 35-100 feet in diameter, silver in color, flying very fast at an estimated altitude of 4,000 feet. Object was moving eastbound and appeared to be dipping in flight. Object upon last visual contact at 2100Z, was heading due north. At 2155Z a strike force of six B-36 aircraft were over Pendleton, Oregon, heading north.
July 15, 1952; West Palm Beach, Florida (BBU 1451)
10:10 p.m. J. Antoneff and 2 others saw a discus-shaped object, grayish, except when hovering, when it appeared muddy. Hovered over Palm Beach International Airport, then followed an SA-16 twinengined amphibious aircraft and flew away. 40-60 secs. (Berliner, Dan Wilson, BB files)
July 16, 1952; Beverly, Mass (BBU 1501)
9:35 a.m. U.S. Coast Guard photographer Seaman Shell R. Alpert saw several bright lights through a window screen (no glass) from his position inside the air station photo lab while cleaning a camera, watched them for 5-6 secs, called out to another Coast Guardsman, Hospitalman 1st Class Thomas E. Flaherty from sick bay to see. Objects dimmed then brightened suddenly, Alpert grabbed a camera and filmed 4 roughly elliptical irregular blobs of light in formation through the screen, on Super XX cut film 4 x 5 inch format, lens set at infinity, aperture f/4.7, 1/30 sec exposure. (Berliner; etc.)
July 16, 1952; Hampton Roads, Virginia (BBU)
8 p.m. NACA aeronautical engineer Paul R. Hill saw 2 amber-colored objects approach fro the S, turn W, reach overhead, begin a maneuver to revolve around a common center, change to a vertical plane [?] after a few orbits, were joined by 2 more objects and flew off to the S. (McDonald list; Tom Tulien)
A document with an impressive collection of CC recipients. But also a confirmation that the Nash and Fortenberry observation involved another aircrew who also saw objects
July 17, 1952; near Lockbourne AFB, Ohio
Bt. 1:00 and 4:00 a.m. William W. Stevenson and William O. Havens, observed a circular object with an orange and green glow at an estimated 5000 feet in altitude 10 miles north of Lockbourne AFB, Ohio. The object would move from side to side and remain stationary for long periods of time. Both Stevenson and Havens were recently discharged from the USAF.
July 17, 1952; Batesville, Mississippi
1:07 p.m. CST. State Highway Patrolmen observed two or three round blue fluorescent colored objects approximately 100 feet in diameter. One object was at approximately 11,000 feet in altitude, and the other object was at 3000 to 5000 feet in altitude. The objects seemed to stand still and then they made a gradual back and forth movement north to south. The objects were observed for approximately 30 minutes.
July 17, 1952; Rapid City, South Dakota (BBU 1479)
Military (USAF?) witness(es).
July 17, 1952; White Plains, New York (BBU 1502)
3:10 p.m. Mrs. Florence Daley saw 2 round objects, bluishwhite with brighter rims, fly in formation, making a sound like bombers, only softer (witness later said she heard many feminine voices coming from the objects). (Berliner)
July 17, 1952; Tsuiki Air Base, Kyushu, Japan
6:00 p.m. A/2C Lyle R. Drenth, USAF, launched a 100 gram White balloon for a scheduled Pibal run. For the first 30 minutes the balloon moved in an easterly direction and then came back over the field in a south and westerly direction. This was observed by a theodolite. Drenth then turned over the theodolite to his helper. After recording the weather Drenth looked at the balloon again through the theodolite and observed a formation of twelve circular luminous objects moving in the same direction as the balloon.
July 18 [17?], 1952; Lockbourne, Ohio (BBU 1476)
9:10 p.m. T/Sgt. Mahone and A/3c Jennings saw an amber-colored, elliptical-shaped object with a small flame at the rear, periodically increasing in brightness, move very fast giving off a resonant beat sound. 1.5 mins. (Berliner)
July 18 [17?], 1952; Lockbourne AFB, Ohio (BBU 1482)
11 a.m. Air National Guard employees saw a light like a big star that disappeared when an aircraft approached. Also seen the night[s?] of July 20, 22 and 23. 3-hours. (Berliner)
July 18, 1952; Miami, Florida (BBU 1483)
11 a.m. E. R. Raymer and daughter saw an opaque, silvery bubble fly very fast at a right-angle to the wind direction. 10 secs. (Berliner)
July 18, 1952; Patrick AFB, Florida (BBU 1485) [CCL Item #16])
9:45 [10:45 ?] p.m. (EST). 3 USAF officers and 4 enlisted men saw a series of hovering and maneuvering red-orange lights moving in a variety of directions. (Sparks; BB Status Report 8, Dec 1952, p. 26; Berliner; Saunders/FUFOR Index)July 18, 1952; Denver, Colorado
American Airlines pilot watched unidentified lights speed back and forth. [UFOE, V] Carpenter Case (AL)
July 18, 1952; Lac Chauvet, France
Cat 8. Fregnale Photos.
July 19, 1952; Aiken, Savannah River Plant, South Carolina
McDonald Case 13. Hundreds of employees from AEC witnessed UFO cavort. (McDonald, Ridge)
July 19, 1952; Porto Maldo, Peru
Photograph of oval UFO taken by customs official. [UFOE, VIII]
July 19, 1952; River Edge, N.J.
Associated Press reporter Saul Pett about midnight saw an intensely glowing, non-blinking orange ball of light moving steadily overhead from the northwest to the southeast for 1-2 minutes. He said that it was moving too fast and too steadily for a balloon.
July 19, 1952; Washington, D.C.
Famous photo of lights over Capital. Exact date is not known and this appears to have been a non-event. (Fran Ridge)
July 19, 1952; location??? (Probably Centerville, VA. BBSR14 didn't give a location). (BBU)
12 midnight. Part-time farmer and hired hand saw 2 cigar-shaped objects, one hovering the other moving to the E then come back, both ascending vertically until disappearing. Both objects transparent (translucent?), lit from within, and emitted an exhaust from one end. Object shapes possibly more like elongated footballs. 3-4 mins. (Battelle Unknown No. 4)
July 19, 1952; Williston, North Dakota (BBU 1492)
2:55 a.m. Experienced civilian pilot saw an elliptical-shaped object with a light fringe, descend fast, make a 360° then a 180° turn. 5 mins. (Berliner)
July 19, 1952; Baltimore, Maryland
6:28 a.m. Mrs. Carolyn Smith, on duty as a volunteer ground observer aircraft spotter, observed two flying saucers heading northeast at 2000 feet altitude. The objects suddenly shot upward and went out of sight. Duration of the sighting was approximately 20 seconds. Saucers were large, round, bluish in color and emanated a blue jet exhaust.
July 19, 1952; Elkins Park, Penna. (BBU 1494)
11:35 p.m. USAF pilot Capt. C. J. Powley and wife saw 2 star-like lights maneuver, hover and speed. 5-7 mins. (BB files, Berliner)
July 19-20, 1952; Washington Nat'l Airport, Washington, D.C. (BBU) [CCL Item 23]
11:40 p.m.-6 a.m. (EDT). Numerous visual, radar and radar-visual sightings by ground observers and pilots in the air. 6 hours 20 min. (Sparks).
Shortly after midnight civilian radar operators at National Airport began tracking a group of 7-10 unidentified targets southwest of the city, moving about 100-130 m.p.h. An individual object would disappear from the scope at intervals, then another target would appear. This continued for about 6 hours, while airline pilots in the area reported sighting unidentified lights in the positions where radar detected unexplained targets. They were not any known aircraft.
Senior air route traffic controller Harry G. Barnes:
"There is no other conclusion I can reach but that for six hours on the morning of the 20th of July there were at least 10 unidentifiable objects moving above Washington .... I can safely deduce that they performed gyrations which no known aircraft could perform. By this I mean that our scope showed that they could make right angle turns and complete reversals of flight."
July 20, 1952; Andrews AFB, Maryland (BB)
After midnight. At around midnight various people in the Andrews Tower were talking about flying saucers. At this time T/Sgt John P. Izzo went up to the tower and heard Washington Center call the tower on the intercom advising that they had 5 unidentified targets over the Andrews range. Nothing appeared on the Andrews radar. A/1C William B. Brady gave the statement that Airman Goodman called the tower at around 12:05 a.m. and advised for him to look to the south immediately. When Brady looked he saw an object like an orange ball of fire trailing a tail at about two miles south and one half of a mile east of the Andrews range. The object made a circular movement and then took off at an unbelievable speed. Seconds later Brady saw another such object that made an arc like pattern and then disappeared. Later, Capt. Harold C. Way reported that Washington Center called and ask if Andrews radar had a target 3 miles north of Riverdale. Way checked the radar and there was a motionless target at the place Washington Center had indicated. It remained for about 25 to 30 seconds and then disappeared completely. (Dan Wilson)
July 20, 1952; Andrews AFB, Maryland (BBU)
At 4:15 a.m. Approach Control picked up one unidentified target on radar. The target was on the scope for thirty seconds before fading.
July 20, 1952; Herndon, Virginia (BB).
At 3:00 a.m. a Capital Airlines flight approaching Washington National Airport reported that an unidentified light was following it. Air Route Traffic Control radar tracked the UFO to within about 4 miles of the airport before it disappeared. (Dan Wilson)
July 20, 1952; Lavalette, New Jersey (BBU 1504) and Elk Park, Penna.(BBU 1494)
12:20-12:25 a.m. 3 independent groups of witnesses, including Seton Hall Univ. chemistry professor Dr. A. B. Spooner (on a yacht in the Delaware River near Philadelphia), saw 2 large orange-yellow lights with some dull red color fly in trail, turn and circle observers. First seen to the S at about 40° elevation, then E, N, W, and S again but at elevation 80°. Stellar magnitude about -3 to -5. AF pilot in Elk Park estimated 10°/min angular velocity accelerating up to 2°/sec. No sound. 5-6 mins. (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 73-77)
July 20, 1952; Andrews AFB, Maryland.
In mid-evening Air Force radar tracked up to 10 UFOs for 15-20 minutes. The objects approached the runway, scattered, made sharp turns and reversals of direction. (Air Force weather observer report to NICAP.)
July 21, 1952; Dobbins AFB, Georgia (BBU)
10:40 EST. An unidentified blip made passes on a wind-finding target (balloon?) being tracked by a ground radar unit. The target was moving slowly at 52,000 feet when a second blip appeared on the radar and was seen moving towards the wind-finding target and passing through it. This happened three times as if the the new signal was playing with the wind target. Finally the unknown object stopped for a period of 3 to 5 minutes and then moved away. (Dan Wilson)
July 21, 1952; Baltimore, Maryland (BB)
1:03 pm. EDT. Ground observers, Jacque Ayd & John Neuman, reported an object the size of a four-engine aircraft estmated at 15,000 to 20,000 feet, cone-shaped, brilliant orange. Object dove to 2000 feet with terrific speed toward the SW. Time in sight: One minute Comments: No known aircraft in the area at the time of sighting. (BB files, Dan Wilson & Fran Ridge)
July 21, 1952; Randolph AFB - Converse, Texas (BBU 1522)
4:30 p.m. Wife of USAF Capt. J. B. Neal saw an elongated, fuselage-shaped object fly straight and level, make a right-angle turn, fly out of sight at 300+ mph.3-5 mins. (Berliner)
July 21, 1952; Wiesbaden, West Germany (BBU 1514)
6:30 p.m. USAF pilot Capt. E. E. Dougher and WAF Lt. J. J. Stong, separated by miles saw 4 bright yellowish lights, seen by Dougher to separate, with 2 climbing and 2 flying away level in the opposite direction. Stong saw 2 reddish lights fly in opposite directions. 10-15 mins. (Berliner)
July 21, 1952; Rockville, Indiana (BBU 1533)
8:10 p.m. Three men of the 782 ACW Squadron, observed an aluminum, triangular-shaped object the approximate size of a C-47 aircraft. The object had one triangular fin or rudder. The object flew at an altitude of 500 to 1000 feet at approximately 0-60 MPH on a straight level course, but stopped and hovered in on spot 1/2 mile from the NW corner of their radar station for 1/2 minute before disappearing in the haze to the N. Time observed approximately 3 minutes. (Berliner, Sparks) [UFO probably too slow to be picked up by their radar if running MTI (moving target indication) equipment.]
July 21, 1952; Beluga Lake, Alaska
2120Z. According to a brief statement included in the Project Blue Book files, Captain Henry S. Anthony, Jr., and First Lieutenant John T. Larkins were airborne in the Beluga Lake area when the first contact was made at 18,000 yards. Lock-on was accomplished at 12,000 yards and an intercept started. Target was level with the aircraft's speed greater than 100 knots to 6,000 yards. At this point the target disappeared and could not be re-established. Pilot did not make visual sighting. A little less than an hour later, they made another attempt to contact the target. They had remained in the area searching for the UFO (Kevin Randle)
July 21, 1952; San Marcos AFB, Texas (BBU 1516)
10:40 p.m. Lt., 2 Staff Sgts. and 3 Airmen saw a blue circle with a blue trail hover then accelerate to near-sonic speed (700+ mph) after 1 min. (Berliner, Wilson, Ridge)
July 21 [22?], 1952; Holyoke, Mass (BBU 1524)
After midnight. Mrs. A. Burgess saw a round, yellow, flashing light fly downward. No further information in files. (Berliner) Two other witnesses, Mrs O'Neil and Mrs. Kana, observed an object in the sky after 2400 hours on the same night. Both described the object substantially the same - an orange-yellow light that flashed downward to the northwest.
22, 1952; Los
July 22 [?], 1952; Stafford, Virginia (BBU 1654)
12 p.m. USAF pilot of C-54 transport saw a bright ovoid object hover then move in stops and starts, first approaching the plane then paralleling it. (Berliner; Loren Gross)
July 22, 1952; Brookley AFB, Mobile, Alabama (BBU)
2 p.m. USAF Tech Sgt. and a civilian employee saw a barrel-shaped black object 3.5-4 ft diameter, emitting black smoke trail and a black puff of smoke flying about 5,000 ft above ground 1 mile away heading E then flying "perpendicular" (vertical?). 2 mins. (Hynek-CUFOS-Willy Smith files)
July 22, 1952; Uvalde, Texas (BBU 1536) [CCL Item # 30] (BB)
2:46 p.m. local. At 1446, Mr. Don Epperly, weather observer and station manager Trans-Texas Airlines, observed a large round silver object at an estimated altitude of 20,000 feet. The object was approximately 50 feet in diameter and had tremendous speed, esimated at being well over 1000 miles per hour.The object was observed for approximately 45 seconds before it disappeared. (Berliner)
July 22, 1952; New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
5:45 p.m. Cat 11. A private pilot, alerted by his wife, saw a hovering metallic-appearing disc at about 5:45 p.m. After about 10 seconds, the disc abruptly shot away climbing at a steep angle and disappeared. (NICAP report form.) (Based on a newspaper story it says, "A private pilot and his companion while flying along the coast...." - Dick )
July 22, 1952. 12 miles E of Peterson Field, Colo. (BBU)
6:45 p.m. USAF ADC personnel in Cessna 140 and the pilot saw a round silver object disappear into clouds. (Project 1947)
July 22, 1952; Near Braintree, bet. Boston and Provincetown, Mass.(BBU 1556)
10:20 and 10:47 p.m. (EST). USAF pilot and radar operator of F-94B jet interceptor saw a large round spinning object throwing off a blue light. At 10:47 p.m., same or different F-94B jet fighter chased bluegreen or green object circling at high speed, with airborne radar tracking and lock on. Another [?] F-94 intercepted 2 objects with flickering white light and swishing circling blue light which passed the jet, with airborne radar tracking and ground visual observation. [Confusion with Misawa case below??] (Berliner; cf. Weinstein)
July 22, 1952; Boston, Mass (BBU)
10:25 p.m.. F-89 crews attempted to intercept UFO observed visually. No radar contact. Afterburners used with no success. (BB files; FUFOR Index)
Several aircraft plant employees saw a bright silvery elliptical object that moved northwest, then stopped and hovered. Two small discs emerged and circled around the area before rejoining the mother ship. The object then climbed straight up out of sight at tremendous speed.
July 23, 1952; Nahant, MA
2:15-218 a.m. A Seaman on watch at Nahant Coast Guard Station observed two (2) bluish lights approximately 5 feet in diameter, appearing as flat, disc-shaped objects having no aerodynamic features and moving without sound or exhaust trail at a speed faster than a four-engine airliner at an altitude of 1,100 to 2,000 feet. When they were at a distance of approximately 1 1/2miles from the point of observation, they executed an extremely sharp turn, described by observer to be similar to the path of a ball bouncing off a wall. (BB files)
July 23, 1952; Santa Cruz, California (BB)
4:10 a.m. Three or more circular lights were seen high in the sky changing colors from blue to red to purple. Two of the objects circled overhead and then sped away at high speed then returned to hover overhead. The lights were observed from 4:10 to 4:54 a.m. Page two of the teletype message states: (3) "Visual with possible GCI radar sighting PD". (Dan Wilson, BB files)
July 22-23, 1952; Trenton, New Jersey (BBU 1572)
10:50 p.m. 12:45, 1:28-3:47 a.m. Crews of several USAF F-94 jet interceptors from Dover AFB, Del., made 13 visual sightings and one radar tracking of blue-white [orange?] lights. White, green and blue lights were seen by ground observers and F-94 pilots moving in arcs and blinking out suddenly. F-94 crew got radar lock on at 30,000 ft away of object the size of an F94, at 9,000 ft away the object made a sharp right turn, suddenly dropped in height and disappeared. Other sightings in the Dover-Trenton area. 2 hrs. (Berliner; Loren Gross)
July 23, 1952; Jamestown, Rhode Island (BBU)
7:36 a.m. USN radar tracked high speed target heading N at 42,000 ft and confirmed by ADC radar at Camp Hero, N.Y. F-94's and F-86's scrambled unsuccessfully. (McDonald list; Loren Gross, Dan Wilson)
July 23, 1952; Jamestown, Rhode Island (BBU)
At 0736Z, Jamestown Navy Radar detected an unidentified flying object moving north at a very high speed at 42,000 feet. The AC&W Squadron 773 at Camp Hero, NY, made radar contact with object and vectored an airborne F-94 to it, no joy. Two F-86's from Westover AFB, Mass., were scrambled, no joy. (McDonald list; Loren Gross, Dan Wilson)
July 23, 1952; Pottstown, Penna (BBU 1554)
8:40 a.m. 2-man crews of 3 USAF F-94 jet interceptors saw a large silver object, shaped like a long pear with 2-3 squares beneath it, fly at 150-180 knots (170-210 mph), while a smaller object, delta-shaped or swept back, flew around it at 1,000-1,500 knots (1,1501,700 mph (Berliner)
Fran Ridge: In November of 1961 an interview took place. It was taped. Frank Edwards reported this in his book, "Flying Saucers
July 23, 1952; Alexandria, Virginia
9:00 p.m. A red object, size undetermined, was sighted southwest of Alexandria, Virginia. The object hovered for 10 minutes, then disappeared in a westerly direction at a high rate of speed. The witnesses were a County Policeman, two airmen and a civilian. (BB docs) (Note: The Alvin Moore "Fragment" was found at Vienna, Virginia, which is WNW of Alexandria. Alexandria is where the red object was seen on July 23, 1952. The object was last seen moving to the west).
July 23, 1952; Nr. Washington, DC
9:00 p.m. Air Force jet shoots at UFO. Wilbert Smith (Canadian Project Magnet) admitted that a number of fragments from UFOs had been recovered and analyzed by his research group, including one that had been shot (by AF jet) from a UFO near Washington (Alvin Moore fragment). Said Smith: "I was informed that the disk was glowing and was about two feet in diameter. A glowing chunk flew off and the pilot saw it glowing all the way to the ground. He radioed his report and a ground party hurried to the scene. The thing was still glowing when they found it an hour later...." (See Frank Edwards audiotape)
July 23, 1952; Altoona, Penna (BBU 1567)
12:50 p.m. 2-man crews of 2 USAF F-94 jet interceptors at 35,00046,000 ft altitude saw 3 cylindrical objects in a vertical stack formation fly at an altitude of 50,00080,000 ft. 20-mins. (Berliner)Bt. 8:05 and 10:15 p.m. two lights, some described them as white globes, were seen high in the sky. Jet aircraft were seen near where the lights were seen and later it was learned that the 97th Fighter Squadron had scrambled some of its planes and they were investigating the incident. At 8:05 p.m. (2055), Major A. S. Griffin, Base Comptrollers Office, called in a report that while he was at the scout camp near Yellow Springs, Ohio, at almost dark, he had seen three lights high above the Springfield Municipal Airport. He watched the object through field glasses and he said there were two jets that appeared to be investigating.
July 23, 1952; Long Beach, California (BB)
1:50 p.m. local. The witness Collinson located at the Naval Ship Yard observed a orange red oval elliptical shaped object overhead moving at a high rate of speed. The object at an estimated altitude of 4,000 feet did a zigzag maneuver and was in view for about 16 seconds. The object appeared as large as a nickel held at arm's length. (Blue Book files/Dan Wilson)
July 23, 1952, near Springfield, Ohio
July 23, 1952; Lockbourne AFB, OH
This case was investigated by OSI. Numerous witnesses observed four (4) objects hovering in the vicinity of the Lockbourne AFB, Columbus, Ohio. The objects were round and fluorescent white in color. Two F-84 jets were dispatched from Lockbourne AFB, but were unable to identify the objects. Approximately 90 per cent of the personnel at the base observed the objects. Later through means of triangulation the objects were determined to be at 75,000 feet in altitude.
July 23, 1952; E of Misawa AFB, Japan (BBU)
8:20 p.m. USAF pilot flying F-94 jet fighter chased blue-green fireball. (Weinstein)
July 23, 1952; South Bend, Indiana (BBU 1578)
11:35 p.m. USAF pilot Capt. H. W. Kloth saw 2 bright blue-white objects flying together, then the rear one veered off. 9 mins. (Berliner)
July 23, 1952; Braintree, Mass
Cat 9. G,A,V
July 24, 1952. Carson Sink, Nevada. (BBU 1584)
3:40 p.m. (MST). USAF HQ Directorate of Operations Lt. Cols. John L. McGinn (Deputy of Ops, Fighter Br) and John R. Barton (AFOOP-OP-D) flying E in a B-25 bomber at 11,000 ft and 185 knots airspeed saw 3 silver white, delta-shaped or arrowhead-shaped objects at their 1 o'clock position slightly larger than the size of F-86's (40 ft), each with a ridge along the top, in Vformation, cross in front of and above the B-25 from right to left (S to N) at about 1,200 to 2,400 ft away at about 1,800+ mph. (Berliner; NARCAP; cf. Ruppelt pp. 10-1; NICAP)
July 24, 1952; Travis AFB, Calif. (BBU 1588)
10:45 p.m. USAF pilot and copilot of bomber with 364th Bomb Sq saw high speed object over MacDill AFB tracked by ground radar. (Project 1947; McDonald list)
July 24, 1952; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
11:20 p.m. (0820Z July 25). 1st Lt. Jones, pilot, and 2nd Lt. Aubrey M. Brenner, radar observer, while flying in an F-94 SE of Talkeetha, Alaska, made radar contact which appeared larger than an F-94 at 14,000 yards. Lock-on was accomplished at this time with a target speed of 40 knots greater than of the aircraft. Aircraft speed was increased to 350 knots in a 4200 feet per minute climb. The target was still pulling away at over 100 knots. After a climb to 18,500 feet the target appeared to level off and increase speed. The chase was broken off at this time.
July 24, 1952; Clovis, New Mexico
2130 hours. 140th Fighter-Bomber Wing. First page of document states that unidentified flying objects similar to types reported seen over "Operation Desert Rock" (Oct. 30, 1951) were observed by an officer of this wing on July 24, 1952.
In late July the 1952 wave reached some kind of a peak, with fantastic sightings happening one after the other. All across the United States from July 25 through early August, Air Defense Command radar detected unknown objects flying through the skies, and jet interceptors scrambled to pursue them saw unidentified luminous objects exactly where both ground and airborne radar showed them to be. These sightings had profound implications for national defense, and accordingly were treated with great urgency. A lot of the details were kept secret from the public, but the cat was out of the bag on publicity because too many highly credible people were reporting sightings and the news media were looking for answers.
July 25, 1952; Manassas, Virginia (BB)
At around 12:00 a.m. EST, a bright light was observed in the sky east of Manassas by members of the 647th AC&W Squadron. The object was extremely bright. The object was in view for approximately 4 hours. Two F-94 pilots from the 148th Fighter Interceptor Squadron were scrambled to intercept an object. The two F-94 pilots sighted the object but estimated the altitude to be far beyond the capability of their aircraft. Number of observers: At least 2 from the air/ several (11) from the ground. (Dan Wilson)
July 25, 1952; Wilmington, Delaware (BBU)
Afternoon. VA employee saw 2 discs reflecting light in a climb.
July 25, 1952, Osceola, Wisconsin (BB)
Numerous unidentified objects were picked up on radar by the 674th AC&W Squadron in the morning. Speeds varied on the radar scope between 14,400 knots and 20,000 knots. There was correlation between these electronic sightings and visual sightings made by pilots of the 109th Fighter Squadron from Minneapolis, Minnesota. [Electronic Interference - Brad Sparks] (BB files, Dan Wilson)
July 26, 1952; Kirtland AFB, New Mexico (BBU 1637)
12:05 a.m. The Air Intelligence Information Report was filled out in accordance with AFL 200-5. It states that Airman 1st Class J. M. Donaldson was standing near the Service Club when he saw 8, 9, or 10 bright orange objects flying in a triangular formation, with the wedge appearing to be open. At ground level they were at 30-degree elevation, north of his position and moving W to E. The speed of the objects was faster than any aircraft he had ever seen and he observed them for about 3 or 4 seconds. He never saw any exhaust or trail. Ceiling was unlimited, visibility approximately 50 miles, winds N at 16 mph. Reliability of witness considered excellent. Listed as Unidentified. (Berliner)
July 26, 1952; Hampton, and bet. Newport News and Langley AFB, Virginia (BBU)
12:15-12:45? a.m. Ground observers saw a brilliant luminous alternately bright silver, red and green object hovering over the James River Bridge at about 1,500 ft for 1/2 hour, then ascend towards the E where seen by Langley AFB tower. USAF crews of 2 F-94's and ground observers saw 4 round silver/bluish objects in Vformation shoot straight up and disappear at 5,000 ft, one tracked by USN ground radar at Norfolk and by airborne radars. (Weinstein; Project 1947? Condon Committee?)
July 26, 1952. Kansas City, Missouri. (BBU 1628)
12:15 a.m. USAF Capt. H. A. Stone, men in control towers at Fairfax Field and Municipal Airport, saw a greenish light with red-orange flashes descend in the NW from 40° to 10° elevation. 1 hr. (Berliner)
July 26, 1952; Langley, VA
At 1430 hours, Capt. Daniel G. Moore and T/Sgt Edward W. Reamer (Reemer?) of the 1907-7 AACS Det., Langley AFB, observed an unidentified target on a radar scope approaching Langley AFB from the south from a distance of 15 miles. Speed of the target was determined to be 2,600 miles per hour at an altitude below 5,000 feet. At 1450 hours an unidentified target was observed on a radar scope. The target stopped and hovered for 2 minutes and then resumed its flight at an extremely high speed.
July 26, 1952; Williams, Calif. (BBU Missing)
5:15 p.m. (PST). [N Calif. F-94C intercept case involving large orangeyellow object moving fast and slow, tracked by airborne and ground radars?? (Weinstein)] Air Defense Command radar detected a UFO, F-94 jet interceptor scrambled, locked onto the object with its radar, crew saw a yellow-orange light. As confirmed by ground and airborne radar, the UFO played tag with the F-94, alternately accelerating away when it got close, then slowing down until it caught up again. (Ruppelt, pp. 222-223.)
July 26, 1952; Plainview, Texas (BBU)
7:17 p.m. The observers in a T-33 were Maj. Eldon A. Klapal and 1st Lt. Jack Chadurgian on a flight from Kelly AFB to Denver, Colorado. The object illuminated a brilliant white light while hovering and when moving flickered orange and/or bluish color.
July 26, 1952; Plainview, Texas (BBU)
7:17 p.m. USAF pilot and copilot of T-33 saw a stationary object move in a slight descent changing color from white to blue. (Project 1947)
The spectacular radar-visual sightings at Washington, D.C., on the weekend of July 19/20 were repeated with some new twists on the following weekend.
July 26-27, 1952; Andrews AFB and Washington National Airport, Wash., D.C. (BBU 1661)
8 p.m. [9:50? p.m. EDT] until after 12 midnight [1:00? a.m. EDT]. Radar operators at several airports, airline and F-94 fighter pilots, sighted and tracked many unidentified blips and/or lights all over Washington area, at varying speeds. 3 hrs. 10 mins. (Berliner)
"I saw several bright lights. I was at my maximum speed, but even then I had no closing speed....Later I chased a single bright light which I estimated about 10 miles away. I lost visual contact with it [at] about 2 miles." -- Lt. William Patterson, F-94 pilot who chased UFOs over Washington, D.C.
July 26, 1952; Atlantic 200 miles S of New York City, New York (BBU)
8:30 p.m. USAF B-29 gunner, 301st Bomb Wing, saw 3 amber edged [?] white flashing objects traveling at Mach 1. (Project 1947)
July 26, 1952; Florence, South Carolina (BBU)
10:04 [10:10?] p.m. Eastern Airlines Flight 606 Constellation pilot and 2 crew members saw a steady white light traveling at high speed in a straight line at 22,000 ft. (Project 1947)
JOINT SAC/ADC EXERCISE. The next flying exercise took place on 27 July, as the wing launched 21 B-36s (7-9th, 7-436th and 7-492nd Bomb Squadron) from Carswell, as part of a joint SAC/ADC attack on Detroit, Michigan. En route to Detroit, the bombers were intercepted by Air Defense Command North American F-86 and Lockheed F-94 fighters. The North American F-86 Sabre was the Air Forces first swept-wing fighter, entering operational service in February 1949. The Lockheed F-94 Starfire was the first jet-powered all-weather fighter to enter service with the Air Force and first to feature a speed-boosting afterburner. It became operational in May 1950 with the Continental Air Command. Fighter opposition was considered ineffective as all bombers attacked the target then returned to Carswell the same day.
July 27 [25?], 1952; Wilmington, Delaware (BBU 1664?)
At 2300Z Mr. James R. Thomas observed one cylindrical object with a domed top and bottom moving northwest to southeast. The object appeared to move in an upright position. The object disappeared suddenly. Sighting lasted for approximately 90 seconds.
12:05 a.m. USAF pilot & crew chief of B-25 with 3 Pentagon Colonels on board saw a white light with 4 flashing lights stationary then move. (Project 1947)
10:05 a.m. 3 B-29 bomber crewmen on ground saw many round, white objects fly straight and level, very fast. Two at 10:05, one each at 10:10, 10:15, 10:20. (Berliner)
July 27, 1952; Ann Arbor, Mich
Biologist reported "flotilla" of rocket-like UFOs. [UFOE, VI]
At 6:35 p.m., a group of eight witnesses including pilots and engineers observed a large silvery object moving rapidly at high altitude, then making a turn. As they watched, the object separated into seven discs which then formed into groups, circled, and sped out of sight. It appeared as if a stack of coins had smoothly separated, the pilot told investigators. (Air Force Intelligence report.)
July 27, 1952; Belleville, Illinois (BB)
Bt. 7:20 p.m. and 8:30 p.m CST. Four objects were observed on ground radar equipment (FPS-3) of the 798th AC&W Squadron. The objects were eliptical in shape and the target return was comparable with B-50 or B-36 echos. The speed of the objects was estimated at 2,800 to 3,200 knots and the direction of travel was from south to north and north to south. (Dan Wilson)
July 27, 1952; Washington, D.C.
At 7:30 p.m. Both Air Force personnel and National Airport employees observed a large round object reflecting sunlight as it hovered over the U.S. Capitol Building. After about one minute the object ...wavered then shot straight up disappearing from sight. Air Force intelligence report.)
July 27, 1952; The Pentagon, Washinton, D.C.
2000 hours on July 27 and 0200 hours July 28, 1952, Mrs.XX observed a white light immediately over the Pentagon, then it made a direct descent toward the Pentagon, stopped and veered off.
July 27, 1952; Wichita Falls, Texas (BBU 1684)
8:30 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Ellis saw 2 disc-shaped objects, illuminated by a phosphorus light, fly at an estimated 1,000 mph. (Berliner)
July 28, 1952; Baltimore, Maryland
0031 to 0237 Hours. FLYOBRPT. Mr. S. Robert Tralins observed 17 shooting lights moving in varied directions at extremely high speed. The observer holds a private pilot's license.
July 28, 1952; McChord AFB, Wash (BBU 1708)
2:15 a.m. T/Sgt. Walstead and S/Sgt. Calkins of the 635th AC&W Sq ADC radar site saw a dull, glowing, bluegreen ball, size of a dime at arms' length, fly very fast, straight and level. (Berliner)
July 28, 1952; Hallock, Minn. (BBU)
July 28, 1952; McGuire AFB, New Jersey (BBU 1707)
6 a.m. GCA radar operator M/Sgt. W. F. Dees, and persons in the base control tower. Radar tracked a large cluster of very distinct blips. Visual observation was of oblong objects having neither wings nor tail, which made a very fast turn, at one time in echelon formation. 55-secs. (Berliner)
July 28, Washington, D.C. Daily newspapers headlined a United Press story from Washington reporting that the Air Defense Command had ordered its pilots to pursue and, if necessary, shoot down UFOs sighted anywhere in the country.
July 28, Washington, D.C. President Truman phoned CIA Director Gen. Walter B. Smith and asked him to investigate the AF's mishandling of the Washington National cases and its general approach to the UFO subject.
July 28, 1952; Osceola, Wisconsin
Wisconsin-Minnesota. Ground Control Intercept radar, Air Force pilot, plane spotter of G.O.C., tracked several UFOs. [UFOE, VIII]
July 28, 1952; Heidelberg, West Germany (BBU 1700)
10:20 p.m. Sgt. B. C. Grassmoen and WAC PFC A.P. Turner saw a saucer-shaped object having appearance of light metal giving off shafts of white light, fly slow, make 90° turn and climb away fast. 4-5 mins. (Berliner)
July 28-29, 1952; 20 miles W of Port Huron, Mich (BBU) [CCL Item #17]
9:40-10 p.m. (EST). An Aircraft Control and Warning Station in Michigan, July 29, 1952, reported an extremely important case: Ground Control Intercept tracked UFO by radar, target speed 550 knots. Chased by F-94s; one got a radar lock-on; bright flashing light seen at the same time, same position. Although numerous incidents involve clearer, closer encounters, this was one that convinced a lot of people simply because of what the UFO apparently did. (See Digesting the Data below) This was item # 17 on the Chop clearance list. Surprisingly, the case is not listed among the Blue Book "unknowns", but there were no less than six "unknowns" on that very day. Two days prior to this was the Selfridge ADC attempted intercept mission. Less than a week later, the Port Huron case was upgraded to SECRET.
July 29, 1952; Osceola, Wisc. (BBU 1731)
1:30 a.m. Radar operators on ground and pilot of F-5l Mustang in flight. Several clusters of up to 10 small radar targets and one large target. Small targets moved from SW to E at 50-60 knots (60-70 mph), following each other. Large target moved at 600 knots (700 mph). Pilot confirmed one target. 1 hr. Dummary says photos were taken. (Berliner)
July 29, 1952; Washington, D.C.
CAA radar in the early morning tracked 8 to 12 UFOs at a time traveling about 100-120 m.p.h. in a 10-mile arc around the Nations Capital. When an Eastern Airlines pilot tried to check on the radar targets at CAA request at 3:00 a.m., he saw nothing. The targets disappeared from CAA radar screens when the airliner approached, then came back in behind him after he passed through the area.
July 29, 1952; Walker AFB, Roswell, New Mexico (BBU)
4 weather observers including base weather officer sighted several high-speed discs through theodolite. (Hynek UFO Rpt. pp. 114-5)
July 29, 1952; Los Alamos, New Mexico (BBU) [CCL Item #18]
10 a.m. Several Los Alamos Scientific Lab and other witnesses saw white object moving E to W, about 1.8°/sec angular velocity, with gyrating or fluttering motion. 2 jet interceptors from Kirtland AFB arrived about 5 mins later chasing object W to E, all 3 leaving contrails. At 10:57 a.m. light-brown eggshaped object with wings was sighted hovering then shot off to the NW disappearing in 3 secs. 30 secs. (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 61-64)
July 29, 1952; Albuquerque, New Mexico [CCL Item # 19]
9:15 p.m. Witness saw a flight of luminous objects, at least 10, pass over Albuquerque. "Whatever they were, they made a “flying saucers” believer out of me. They resembled nothing I has seen before. Their flight was soundless and graceful. At first they appeared overhead.They were clustered together in no apparent pattern, heading north.Then they shifted to a perfect V. the shift was done with precision. The formation resembled a flight of geese. Within a few seconds they formed a new pattern two rows with the objects in front spaced at exact intervals. The “saucers” in the second row were spaced evenly between those in the first row." (Dan Wilson)
What was characterized as the largest Air Force press conference since the end of World War II was held, with Maj. Gen. John A. Samford, Director of Air Force Intelligence, presiding. He attributed the radar-visual UFO sightings to weather effects, temperature inversions that caused radar mirages. 41-second sound byte (Courtesy, Wendy Connors and the Faded Disc Archive)
12:35 p.m. USAF shop employees Douglas and Hess at Municipal Airport saw a bright white circular object with a flat bottom fly very fast then hover 10-15 secs over the Cessna Aircraft Co. plant. 5 mins. (Berliner)
July 29, 1952; Langley AFB, Virginia (BBU 1732)
2:30 p.m. USAF Capt D. G. Moore, military air traffic controller, tracked an object on an AN/MPN-1C radar set for two minutes below 5,000 ft altitude, heading toward the air base. It was approaching Langley from the South from a distance of approximately 15 miles. The unidentified target was moving extremely fast and disappeared from the radar sccope at 8 miles south of Langley AFB. Speed was determined to be approximately 2,600 miles an hour (speed determined by seven (7) sweeps of the radar scope. (Berliner)
July 29, 1952; Ennis, Montana (BBU 1747)
3:40 p.m. MST. USAF personnel, alerted that UFO's were coming from the direction of Seattle, saw 2-5 flat disc-shaped objects, one hovered 3-4 mins, while the others circled it. Sighting length of 30 mins not explained further. Sgt. Boden at Great Falls AFB, Mont., heard a transmission from McChord AFB, Seattle, Washington of 'flying saucers' hovering there and that the saucers were headed towards Great Falls AFB, Montana. The transmission was over Plan 62 Voice Circuit Several people heard this transmission which was cut off right after 'flying saucers' was mentioned. Later McChord AFB denied making such a transmission. There were about 50 witnesses to this event. 30 mins. (Berliner)
3:44 or 4:35 p.m. Herbert Mitchell and employee saw a dark, discusshaped object, trailed by a silvery light 2 lengths behind, tipped on its side, dive, hesitate then circle very fast. 2 min. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)
July 29, 1952; Miami, FL
9:30 PM. Mayher movie Ralph Mayher, using 16 mm film exposed at 24 frames per second, obtained good footage of a high speed UFO. Retaining a few frames for personal study, Mr. Mayher submitted the main portion of the film to the Air Force for analysis. The film was never returned and no analysis report was ever released. Enlargements of a few frames show a fiery looking roughly circular object, symmetrical, with two small peaks or projection on opposite sides of the disc. [UFOE VIII, BB docs, see full report directory]
July 29, 1952; Port Huron, Michigan
9:40 p.m. CST an Air Force radar station plotted an unidentified target moving at 550 knots. An F-94 in the area was asked to investigate, and its airborne radar locked onto the UFO which appeared as a bright flashing colored light. The object, showing on ground radar along with the F-94, outdistanced the interceptor.
July 30, 1952; San Antonio, Texas (BBU 1758)
10:00 a.m. George and Everett Nye observed one round object giving off a bright luminous color like a glittering diamond. The object hovered directly overhead at approximately 5,000 feet and upon approach of a C-97 aircraft it made a rapid ascent to approximately 10,000 feet. The object then moved off laterally at a tremendous rate of speed many times faster that conventional aircraft. The observers also stated that the object was larger than a conventional aircraft. The object was observed for approximately 30 minutes (Berline, Dan wilson)
July 30, 1952; Atlanta, Georgia (BBU)
July 30, 1952; Albuquerque, New Mexico (BBU 1755)
11:02 p.m. Kirtland AFB USAF 1st Lt. George Funk saw a stationary orange light. No further details in files. 10 mins. (Berliner)
July 30, 1952; Keesler AFB, Mississippi
At 11:55 p.m. CST, Capt. Eugene P. Daspit and T/Sgt James E. Hansen sighted an unusual object on the PPI scope of an AN/CPS-5 radar set at Keesler AFB, Mississippi. The radar target was teardrop shaped and was first sighted at an azimuth of 335 degrees approximately 43 miles distant. The target moved very slowly south for approx. two minutes, then it stopped for approx. four minutes. It then began to move slowly north for three minutes, then stopped for two minutes and disappeared. After approx. three minutes the target reappeared and began moving north at a more rapid pace and disappeared completely at a distance of 50 miles from the radar site. (Dan Wilson)
July 30, 1952; Holloman AFB, Alamogordo, New Mexico (BBU)
Bt. 9:10 and 9:20 p.m. MST. A/1C Scott C. Owen observed a bright white light, the intensity of which changed from bright to dim to bright and made a 180 turn in a wide arc. The light was moving ESE flying straight and level until approximately 80 degrees of the turn was made. The object then came to almost a complete stop momentarily, gained speed, started climbing , leveled off and faded from sight. No sound was heard from the object. The speed of the object appeared to be faster than a jet aircraft. The length of the sighting was approximately 1 minute. (FUFOR Index, Dan Wilson)
July 31, 1952; 15 miles E of Yokota AFB, Japan (BBU)
10:10 p.m. USAF pilot Leach and copilot Kato of C-47 with 548th Tech Recon Sq saw an object at 7,000 ft off their left wing. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)
July 31, 1952; 15 miles E of Yokota AFB, Japan (BBU)
10:10 p.m. USAF pilot Leach and copilot Kato of C-47 with 548th Tech Recon Sq saw an object at 7,000 ft off their left wing. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)
Aug. 1952; Skylight Mtn., Washington County, Ark. (BBU)
3:30 p.m. Inverted tin colored saucers, 4:1 width/thickness ratio, darted in and out of cloud bank, in 5 mile circles in 5 secs [3,600 mph]. 5 secs. (Berliner)
Aug.1952; Skylight Mtn., Washington County, Ark. (BBU)
3:30 p.m. Inverted tin colored saucers, 4:1 width/thickness ratio, darted in and out of cloud bank, in 5 mile circles in 5 secs [3,600 mph]. 5 secs. (Berliner)
Aug, 1952; Falls Church, Virginia [CCL Item # 39]
This report is case #39, on the official clearance list of 41 formerly classified Air Technical Intelligence UFO reports cleared for Maj. Donald E. Keyhoe by Albert M. Chop, Air Force Press Desk. Falls Church, Va. Preliminary report on a sighting in August, 1952; rotating light UFO seen by ground observers including police. When police officer tilted scout car spotlight upward, object seemed to descend toward it. Light was hurriedly turned off, and object rose to former height, continued rotating. No documents were found. (Chop list, Fran Ridge)
Aug. 1, 1952; Lancaster, Calif. (BBU 1771)
1:14 a.m. Sheriff's deputies and others, one named Mallette, saw 2 brilliant red lights hovering and maneuvering. 5 mins. (Berliner)
Aug. 1, 1952; Vincennes, Indiana
10:38 a.m. Three miles south of the town, on a farm, three men were painting a farrowing barn. There was a jet-like roar. All the witnesses (one later was to become a Catholic priest) agreed it was a flying saucer that stopped in mid-air and began to lower itself toward the ground like a helicopter. Then it stopped, remained there for 20-seconds, ascended to original height and went west, then east, then west, each time making a loud sonic boom, and swept toward the southwest with extreme speed. (UFO Filter Center files).
Aug. 1, 1952; Near Troy [radar at Bellefontaine], Ohio (BBU) [CCL Item # 20]
10:51-11:13 a.m. (EST). USAF ADC radar site 664th AC&W Sq at Bellefontaine atop Campbell Hill at 1549 ft elevation (40°22'20" N, 83°43'10" W). tracked target 20 miles NNW of Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, traveling 400-450 knots (500 mph) on a heading of 240° about WSW and vectored 2 F-86's piloted by Major James B. Smith and Lt. Donald J. Hemer, located 10 miles SW of the UFO. Jets made visual contact in 4 mins at 10:55, climbed to 48,000 ft, fell off, climbed again to 48,000 ft and Smith got a weak return on his radar gun sight, shot gun camera film of the 24-40 ft white round object or silver-colored sphere or disc estimated at 60,00070,000 ft and filmed by gun camera a white round object [which then took off at high speed ?]. F-86s broke off intercept at about 11:05 or 11:13 a.m., apparently about 100 miles WSW of Dayton. Film reportedly shows UFO image in the upper right of the frames with noticeable motion to the lower left. 22 mins. (BB Rpt 8; cf. Ruppelt pp. 174-6; Keyhoe 1953 p. 107)
Aug. 1, 1952; Sharonville, Ohio
Brilliant white disc observed at low altitude. Others reported oval object. [UFOE, XII]
Aug. 1, 1952; Albuquerque, N.M.
At 9:50 p.m. a Scripps-Howard reporter saw a cluster of glowing white objects overhead. The objects shifted around into various patterns, including a perfect V at one point. Their shifts in position were incredibly swift and fantastically violent, he said. "They made a flying saucer believer out of me." (New York World-Telegram, Aug. 2, 1952.)
Aug. 2, 1952; Lake Charles, Louisiana (BBU 1783)
3 a.m. USAF 1st Lt. W. A. Theil and enlisted man Edwards saw a red ball with blue flame tail fly straight and level. 3-4 secs. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)Aug. 3, 1952; Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (BBU) [CCL Item 21] (BBU)
Aug. 2, 1952; Lubbock, TX
8:57 a.m. to 9:03 a.m. Five civilian men observed a metallic looking spherical shaped object hanging in the air. The only apparent movement was a quivering motion. The object after about six minutes moved straight east until it disappeared into a cloud bank. One witness, Mr. Gibbs, was very familiar with weather balloons and he was positive that the object was not a balloon of any type. Reese AFB was located just west of Lubbock, Texas. (PBB files)
Aug. 2, 1952; Houlton, ME (BBU)
9:55 p.m. Smart and another witness on a wharf saw 21 objects traveling 200-600 mph. 35 mins. Objects were disc-shaped and seen to the north and northeast. Witnesses were Jack Smart and his wife Patricia Smart. (Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)
10:20 p.m. Civilian engineer