USA, Washington, D.C. Perhaps the
best-documented UFO incident in history:
July 13. National Airlines plane en route to National Airport, about 60 mi. SW
of the city observed a blue- white ball of light hovering to the west. Object
then "came up to 11,000 ft. and then maintained a parallel course, on the same
level, at the same speed, until the aircraft pilot turned on all lights. Object
then departed from the vicinity at an estimated 1000 mph. Weather was excellent
for observation." The crew said the object "took off up and away." No other air
traffic was reported in the area at the time.
July 14. Newport News, Virginia: Southbound Pan American Airways plane at
8,000 ft. nearing the Norfolk, Virginia., area observed six glowing red,
circular objects approaching below the airliner; objects flipped up on edge in
unison and then sped from behind and under the airliner and joined the in-line
formation, which "climbed in a graceful arc above the altitude of the airliner."
"Then the lights blinked out one by one, though not in sequence." Next day the
crew was thoroughly interrogated and advised that they already had seven other
reports of red discs moving at high speed and making sharp turns.
July 16. Hampton Roads, Virginia: A Government aeronautical research engineer
observed two amber-colored lights approaching from the south at about 500 m.p.h.
These slowed and made a U-turn, revolved around each other at a high rate of
speed, then joined by two other objects from different directions, the four sped
off to the south at about 500 m.p.h. "They moved jerkily when moving slowly.
Their ability to make tight circling turns was amazing."
July 18. Washington, D. C. Radio station chief engineer observed 6-7 bright
orange discs moving in single file. Each in turn veered sharply upward and
disappeared.
July 19. National Airport began picking up unidentified targets on radar.
July 20. Herndon, Va. Capital Airlines flight from National Airport called by
control tower to check on unidentified radar targets saw three objects, and
three more between there and Martinsburg, W. Va. "like falling stars without
tails [which] moved rapidly up, down, and horizontally. Also hovered." Chief CAA
air traffic controller Harry Barnes later said in a newspaper interview: "His
[the pilot's] subsequent description of the movement of the objects coincided
with the position of our pips [radar targets] at all times while in our range.
July 20. Andrews AFB, Maryland, (Nr. Washington, D.C.). Five witnesses
visually observed three reddish-orange objects moving erratically.
July 20. Capital Airlines flight incoming to National Airport reported that an
unidentified light followed his airliner from the vicinity of Herndon, Virginia,
to within about 4 miles west of the airport, confirmed on radar.
July 20. Additional unidentified targets appear on radar at National Airport.
July 20. Air Force radar operators at Andrews AFB weather tower tracked 10
UFOs for 15-20 minutes. Objects approached runway, scattered, made sharp turns
and reversals of direction.
July 26. Sharp UFO targets on radar at National Airport. Civilian pilots saw
glowing white objects on four occasions, including a United Airlines pilot near
Herndon, Va., and two CAA pilots over Maryland. National Airlines pilot near
Andrews AFB at 1700 ft. saw a UFO "flying directly over the airliner."
July 26. Radar at National airport tracked a UFO on radar ("big target"),
confirmed by Andrews AFB radar.
July 26. Radar at National Airport tracked "solid returns" of "four targets
in rough line abreast," and eight others scattered over the radarscope.
July 26. Andrews AFB, Md., surveillance radar tracked 10-12 UFOs in
Washington, D.C. area.
July 26. National Airport, 10-12 objects on radar.
July 26. "Good sharp targets" of 4-8 UFOs on ARTC radar at National Airport.
July 26. Air Force Command Post notified of unidentified radar targets. Two
F-94 jet interceptors scrambled from New Castle AFB, Delaware, to investigate.
July 27. Major Fournet, (Project Blue Book Officer in Pentagon), and Lt.
Holcomb, (Navy electronics expert), arrived at National Airport Center. Observed
"7 good, solid targets." Holcomb checked on temperature inversions, but they
were minor and could not explain what was going on. He so advised AF Command
Post, requesting interception mission. By the time the F-94 jets arrived from
Delaware, no strong unidentified targets remained and no visual contacts were
made.
July 27. F-94 jet interceptors scrambled from New Castle AFB, Del., to
investigate Washington, D.C., radar- UFOs. One F-94 pilot made visual contact
and appeared to be gaining on target; both F-94 and UFO were observed on radar
and "appeared to be traveling at the same approximate speed." When the F-94
pilot tried to overtake the UFO, it disappeared visually and on radar. The pilot
remarked about the "incredible speed of the object."
July 27: Air Force Lieutenant at Andrews AFB saw a dark disc moving slowly
northeast with "oscillating rolling motion." Clouds were moving southeast. UFO
entered base of clouds.
July 27. Air Force personnel and others at National Airport saw a large round
object reflecting sunlight, apparently hovering over the Capital Building. After
about a minute, the object "wavered then shot straight up disappearing from
sight."
July 28. Daily papers headlined a United Press story from Washington, D.C.,
that the Air Defence Command had ordered its jet pilots to pursue, and if
necessary "shoot down, " UFOs sighted anywhere in the country.
July 29. Many unidentified targets tracked by CAA radar, 8-12 on the
radarscope at a time, moving southeast in a belt 15 miles wide near Washington,
D.C.
July 29. Eastern Airlines pilot asked to check on radar targets, reported
seeing nothing. CAA official said the targets disappeared from the radar screen
when the plane was in their area, "then came back in behind him."
July 29. Air Force pilot sighted three round white UFOs 10 miles southeast
of Andrews AFB. Other UFOs tracked by radar during the afternoon.
July 29. Air Force press conference at which the sightings were attributed to
temperature inversions causing "radar mirages," typically ground lights
reflected in the sky under freak atmospheric conditions. Also announced new
scientific program to evaluate sightings.
USA, West Virginia, Flatwoods: A group of
young people saw a "meteor" land on top of a hill and went to the site with
Kathleen Hill and three men. They observed a globe as large as a house making a
throbbing or hissing sound and a huge figure with glowing orange eyes nearby.
About 4 m tall, the figure had a red face and "floated" toward the witnesses,
who fled in terror. A lingering smell and skid marks were found.
USA, West Virginia Frametown: Mr. and Mrs. George Snitowski and their little
girl suddenly found their car stalled, and an unpleasant smell (ether mixed
with sulphurous smoke) filled the air. Mr. Snitowski thought a chemical plant
might be burning in the area and walked toward a strong light visible in the
woods, in spite of the nauseous smell. Coming near it, he felt pricklings
throughout his body, had to stop, lost his balance several times as he returned
to the car where he found his wife terrified, pointing to a giant creature (3 m
tall), human-shaped, 10 m away. They locked the car as "it" inspected the
vehicle, glided away and went into the woods. Soon afterward, the sphere of
light was observed to rise gradually, to swing like a pendulum, and to leave a
luminous trail.
USA, Wyoming, Weston: A 38-year-old rancher saw a "shooting star" that
suddenly stopped in mid-air between him and a mountain. It was seen spinning in
a clockwise direction. It had one red window periodially facing the observer. It
went down toward the Little Powder River and came up again. The witness turned
his car to send light signals, to which the object seemed to respond by stopping
its red window facing the witness's location. Spinning resumed, the object rose
and came down. A similar craft arrived and both went into the deep valley, out
of sight.
W. Gordon Graham, astronomer saw an UFO "like a smoke ring, elliptical in
shape, and having two bright pinpoints of light along its main axis move
overhead from west to east.
James Bartlett, astronomer saw during the daylight observation of Venus a
flight of two disks with a diameter about 30 minutes of arc; passed overhead and
turned east, followed by two more disks with dome-like protrusions in center.
1952 Project Blue Book Unknowns
Azores. 26, 1952; 400 miles NNW of Azores
Islands. 11:16 p.m. Witnesses: pilot, copilot, engineer and aircraft commander
of USAF C-124 transport plane. Two distinct green lights were seen to the right
and slightly above the C-124, and at one time seemed to turn toward it. The
lights alternated leading each other during more than 1 hour of observation.
Canada April 18, 1952; Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada. 4 a.m. Witness:
janitor C. Hamilton. One yellow-gold object made a sharp turn and left a short,
dark trail during l minute sighting.
Canada April 18, 1952; Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada. l0:l0 p.m.
Witness: Reporter Chic Shave. One round, yellow-gold object flew south and
returned during 1.5 minute sighting.
Canada Sept. 23, 1952; Gander Lake, Newfoundland, Canada. No time shown.
Witnesses: Pepperell AFB operations officer and seven other campers. One
bright white light, which reflected on the lake, flew straight and level at 100
m.p.h. for 10 minutes.
Canada June 19, 1952; Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada. 2:37 a.m. Witness: 2nd Lt.
AGostino and unidentified radar operator. One red light turned white while
wobbling. Radar tracked a stationary target during the 1 minute sighting.
Canada April 12, 1952; North Bay, Ontario, Canada. 9:30 p.m. Witnesses: Royal
Canadian Air Force Warrant Officer E.H. Rossell, Flight Sgt. R. McRae. One
round amber object flew fast, stopped, reversed direction, climbed away at 30
angle during a 2 minute observation.
England Sept. 29, 1952; Rochester, England. 3:55 p.m. Witnesses unknown, but
report came via the Rochester Police Dept. Two flat objects hovered for 3
minutes, and then sped away.
French Morocco Sept. 9, 1952; Rabat, French Morocco. 9 p.m. Witness: E.J.
colisimo, a civilian illustrator with USAF Intelligence. One disc with lights
along part of its circumference, flew twice as fast as a T-33 jet trainer, in a
slightly curved path for 5 seconds.
Greenland Aug. 29, 1952; west of Thule, Greenland (77 N., 75* 15 W.) 10:50
a.m. Witnesses: two U.S. Navy pilots flying a P4Y-2 patrol plane. Three white
disc-shaped or spherical objects hovered, then flew very fast in a triangular
formation, in 2-3 minutes.
Iceland Sept. 14, 1952; North Atlantic, between Ireland and Iceland.
Witnesses: military persons from several countries aboard ships in the NATO
Operation Mainbrace exercise. Among the sightings: one blue-green triangle
was observed flying 1,500 m.p.h; three objects in a triangular formation gave
off white light exhaust at 1,500 m.p.h.
Japan Aug 5. 1952; Haneda AFB, Japan. 11:30 p.m. Witnesses: USAF F-94 jet
interceptor pilots lst Lt. W.R. Holder and 1st Lt. A.M. Jones, and Haneda
control tower operators. Airborne radar tracked a target for 90 seconds.
Control tower operators watched 50-60 minutes while a dark shape with a light
flew as fast as 330 kts. (380 m.p.h.), hovered, flew curves and performed a
variety of maneuvers.
Japan - Korea June 25, 1982; Japan-Korea area. Case missing from official
files.
Japan April 18, 1952; 50 miles northwest of Kyushu, Japan (129* 51 E., 34
19 N.). Witness: one radar operator. Tracked unidentified target for 1 minute
at 2,700 m.p.h.
Japan March 29, 1952; 20 miles north of Misawa AFB, Japan. 11:20 a.m.
Witness: Brigham, pilot of AT-6 trainer. One small, very thin, shiny metallic
disc flew alongside the AT-6, then made a pass at an F-84 jet fighter, flipped
on edge, fluttered 20 from the F-84s fuselage and flipped in the
slipstream...all in 10 seconds.
Japan June 28, 1952; Nagoya, Japan. 4:10 p.m. Witness: Capt. T. W. Barger,
USAF electronics countermeasures officer. One dark blue elliptical-shaped
object with a pulsing border flew straight and level at 700-800 m.p.h..
Japan Aug. 6, 1952; Tokyo, Japan. This is a continuation of the Haneda AFB
sightings.
Japan Aug. 13, 1952; Tokyo, Japan. 9:45 p.m. Witness: USAF Marine Corps
pilot Maj. D. McGough. One orange light flew a left orbit at 8,000 and 230
m.p.h., spiralled down to no more than 1,500, remained stationary for 2-3
minutes and went out. An attempted interception was unsuccessful.
Japan June 23, 1952; Location unknown, but information came via Japan Hq. CV
4359. 6:08 a.m. Witness: USAF pilot of the l8th Fighter-Bomber Group. One
black coin-shaped object, 15-20 in diameter, made an irregular descent.
Korea June 20, 1952; Central Korea. 3:03 p.m. Witnesses: four Marine Corps
Captains and pilots of F4U-4B Corsair fighter planes. One 10-20 white or silver
oval object made a left-hand orbit at terrific speed for 60 seconds.
Korea June 6, 1952; Kimpo AFB, Korea. Case missing from official files.
Korea June 22, 1952; Pyungthek, Korea. 10:45 p.m. Witnesses: Two Marine
Corps Sergeants. One 4 ft. diameter object dove at a runway shooting red
flames, hovered briefly over a hill, turned 180 , flashed twice and was gone.
Mexico Sept. 14, 1952; Ciudad Jaurez, Mexico. 11:30 p.m. to 1:20 a.m., Sept.
15. Witnesses: consulting engineer R. J. Portis and three others. Six groups
of 12-15 luminous spheres or discs, which flew in formations varying from arcs
to inverted-Ys, very fast.
Mexico Aug. 24, 1952; Hermanas, Mexico. 10:15 a.m. Witness: Georgia Air
National Guard F-84G jet fighter pilot Col. G.W. Johnson. Two 6 silver balls
in abreast formation, one turned grey rapidly, the other slowly. One changed to
long grey shape during a turn. Sighting lasted about 10 minutes.
Morocco June 12, 1952; Marakesch, Morocco. 11:26 a.m. Witness: T/Sgt. H.D.
Adams, operating an SCR-584 radar set. One unidentified blip tracked at 650 kts.
(750 m.p.h.) at greater than 60,000 altitude.
North Korea Feb. 23, 1952; over North Korea. 11:15 p.m. Witness: Captain/B-29
navigator. One bluish cylinder, three times long as wide, with a tail and rapid
pulsations, came in high and fast, made several turns and levelled out under
B-29 which was evading mild antiaircraft fire. 45 second sighting.
Okinawa April 22, 1952; Naha AFB, Okinawa. 99 p.m. Witnesses: crew of B-29
bomber, on ground. One elliptical object, followed by two and then another two,
each with a white light that blinked every 1-2 seconds as they performed erratic
maneuvers for 10 minutes.
Puerto Rico May 14, 1952; Mayaquez, Puerto Rico. 7 p.m. Witnesses: Attorney
and ex-USAF pilot Mr. Stipes, Sr. Garcia-Mendez. Two shining orange spheres:
one was stationary, while the other darted away and back for 30 minutes.
USA, Alabama Aug. 28, 1952; Chickasaw and Brookley AFB, Alabama. 9:30 p.m.
Witnesses: USAF control tower operators, officer from USAF Office of Special
Investigations, and others. Six objects, varying from fiery red to sparkling
diamond appearance, hovered, flew erratically up and down for 1 hour and
l5minutes.
USA, Alabama Oct. 24, 1952; Elberton, Alabama. 8:26 p.m. Witnesses: USAF
Lt. Rau, Capt. Marcinko, flying a Beech T-ll trainer. One object, shaped like a
plate, with a brilliant front and vague trail, flew with its concave surface
forward for 5 seconds. USA, Alaska Dec. 8, 1952;
Ladd AFB, Alaska. 8:16 p.m. Witnesses: pilot lst Lt. D. Dickman and radar
operator lst Lt. T. Davies in USAF F-94 jet interceptor (s/n 49-2522). One
white, oval light which changed to red at higher altitude, flew straight and
level for 2 minutes, then climbed at phenomenal speed on an erratic flight
path. Sighting lasted 10 minutes.
