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. rebuilt but not checked for links and content, 20 Jan 2019, updated 11 April 2019.

Fran Ridge:
This is a very comprehensive and qualitative effort. Without the help of Rebecca Wise (Project Blue Book Archive), Dan Wilson, Brad Sparks, Jean Waskiewicz, Bill Schroeder and others, this could not have been done. (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?

Richard Hall:
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.

1952_01-05_History.pdf
1952_01-05_HistorySN.pdf
1952_06_07-20th_History.pdf
1952_06_07-20th_HistorySN.pdf
1952_07-21st_07-31st_History.pdf
1952_07-21st_07-31st_History_2ED.pdf
1952_07-21st_07-31st_HistorySN.pdf
1952_08_History.pdf
1952_08_HistorySN.pdf
1952_09_10_History.pdf
1952_09_10_HistorySN.pdf
1952_11_12_History.pdf
1952_11_12_HistorySN.pdf

JANUARY

NARA-PBB1-45 - January Sightings

1952; London, Ont., Canada
Astronomer observed elliptical UFO with 2 bright body lights. [UFOE, VI]

Early 1952; Goose Bay, Labrador
10:42 pm. A fiery, spherical object made a right-angle turn during an observation by a C-54 crew flying from Westover to Goose Bay. It was also seen from the ground by the control tower and by two men who plunged to the earth when the object made a low pass at them. It went away at 10:47 pm. (Quincy)

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)

January 3,1952, SECRET Memo

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)

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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)

Jan. 29th, 1952 Briefing mentioned in Grudge Status Report No.3

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)

NARA-PBB85-612

Jan 31, 1952; "AFOIN-C/CC-2 To Be Revised"

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)

FEBRUARY

NARA-PBB1-46 - February Sightings

Ruppelt Briefs ADC

In early February Capt. Edward Ruppelt briefed General Benjamin W. Chidlaw, then the Commanding General of the Air Defense Command, and his staff, telling them about our plan. They agreed with it in principle and suggested that I work out the details with the Director of Intelligence for the ADC, Brigadier W. M. Burgess. General Burgess designated Major Verne Sadowski of his staff to be the ADC liaison officer with New Grudge."

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)

February 19, 1952; Letter to Col.John G. Ericksen

Col. Ericksen, , Chief of the Technical Capabilities Branch, received this letter from: Albert E. Lombard, Jr. Chief, Research Division, Directorate of Research and Development. Re: Declassification of Project TWINKLE denied because Green Fireballs considered man-made.

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 SAF

Washington, 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

NARA-PBB1-47 - March Sightings

March 3, 1952 - Dr. Walther Riedel Convinced

Formerly 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)

March 7, 1952; Bet. Claremore and Tulsa, Okla.(BBU)
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 19, 1952; Ruppelt Briefs ADC

Ruppelt: "I briefed General Benjamin W. Chidlaw, then the Commanding General of the Air Defense Command, and his staff, telling them about our plan. They agreed with it in principle and suggested that I work out the details with the Director of Intelligence for the ADC, Brigadier W. M. Burgess. General Burgess designated Major Verne Sadowski of his staff to be the ADC liaison officer with New Grudge."

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 Named

Grudge 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 HILL

Gen. 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)

March 30, 1952, Editorial Page of Boston Traveler Magazine

"Have You Heard", by Bill Schofield. 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.

APRIL

NARA-PBB1-48-50, April Sightings

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 Angeles

On 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 Project

Gen. 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 5-6, 1952; Kadena AFB, Okinawa (BBU 1144)
2400 hrs [just past 11:59 p.m. = April 5, 12:00 a.m. April 6]. Crew of B-29 bomber, on ground saw erratic maneuvers at estimated speed 1,000 kts. (Sparks; NICAP website/Dan Wilson; BB files – BB Record Card / File wrongly conflates 2 cases April 5 & 22 as one; Berliner; Randle)

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 7, 1952: Life Magazine article, "Have We Visitors From Space?

When newsmen began asking him whether the article was Air Force inspired, Ruppelt replied that they had furnished Life with some raw data. My answer was purposely weasel worded, he said, because I knew that the Air Force had unofficially inspired the Life article... [and also knew that the strongly implied answer that UFOs were interplanetary] was the personal opinion of several very high-ranking officers in the Pentagon - so high that their personal opinion was almost policy. (Ruppelt, p. 132.)

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

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
Described as round or elliptical objects, yellow-gold in color, at estimated altitude of 2,000 ft, speed about 500 mph heading NE. (Sparks; NEAC History; NICAP, Jan Aldrich; Berliner; Saunders/FUFOR Index) Sept 1952; History of the NE Air Command

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)

April 18, 1952; 50 miles NW of Kyushu, Japan (BBU 1130) [CCL Item # 29]
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 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?

April 19, 1952; U.S. Planes Alerted

April 20, 1952; Flint, Michigan (BBU)
9:15-9:40 p.m. (EST?) Naval aviation student and wife and several others at a drive-in movie saw about 20 groups of 2-9 aircraft-shaped objects fly over enveloped in a red glow, mostly on straight-line course, except for occasional standard aircraft-like turns. (Battelle Unknown No. 2; FUFOR Index)

April 20, 1952; Toronto, Canada
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)

April 24, 1952; Bellevue Hill, Vermont (BBU 1147)
5:00 a.m. Crew of USAF C-124 transport plane saw 3 circular, bluish objects in loose fingertip formation, 2 flying parallel to the plane. [See more details in dir] (Rich Vitello, Berliner; Project 1947)

April 24, 1952; Great Blue Hill near Milton, Mass. (BBU 1148)
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. Thule Air Base, Greenland (BBU)
1 a.m. (AST). USAF Lt. Kenneth R. Boyle, Thule Air Base Operations, and a civilian USAF Arctic Rescue expert, Jorgen Busch, sighted vapor trail estimated at 30,000 ft above the base, emitted by an unseen object which could not be resolved in binoculars by Busch. Arctic daylight CAVU conditions. No known aircraft in area capable of generating vapor trail. (Sparks; BB files)

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)

April 27, 1952, Pontiac, Michigan
10:45-11:15 [10:06?] p.m. Family of 4 of Mr. [John ?] Hoffman in a car saw a brilliant white round-flat object with 2 tiers of windows descend from the NE, hover with rocking motion at about 15° elevation, stop and start at 100 mph drifting to NW. Witnesses pursued in car, lights went off and on 4 times changed color to white­orange, got 4 other witnesses, called police, Detroit Times newspaper and Selfridge AFB. Object disappeared over treetops to NW. [Same witness(es) as in May 25, June 18, 1952, cases??] (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 70-73; FUFOR Index)

April 27, 1952; Yuma, Ariz. (BBU 1163)
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.

April 29, 1952, AFL-200-5

Ruppelt:
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)

Bruce Maccabee:
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)

MAY

NARA-PBB1-51-52 May Sightings

Ruppelt:
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?

May 3, 1952; Sydney, Australia (METEOR)
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)

Ruppelt:
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.)

May 9, 1952; George AFB, Calif. (BBU 1194)
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; Investigation Requested With Top Priority

The investigation of the Glen Burnie, Maryland, sighting was requested by Col. Cook for General Ackerman and was to be given top priority. (See March 29)

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.

1952: VC-35 and the "Bomb", the Aircraft Carriers, and the UFOs - Dan Wilson

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).

May 14, 1952; George AFB, Calif. (BBU)
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)

May 22, 1952; Falls Church [or Alexandria], Virginia (BBU)
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)

May 24, 1952; Zuni, New Mexico (BBU)
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.

May 26, 1952; North Korea (BBU)
3:20 a.m. local. USAF pilot and radar observer flying in an F-94C jet fighter saw and radar tracked a bright white object that accelerated to high speed, and tracked by ground radar. (Weinstein; FUFOR Index)

May 28, 1952; Saigon, French Indo-China (BBU 1232)
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)

Richard Hall:
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.

Ruppelt:
......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.)

JUNE

NARA-PBB1-53-55, June Sightings

Summer, 1952; Itenhaem, Brazil
3:00 am. A woman was awakened by a thunderclap and a strong bluish light. As she got out, she saw a large number of hovering disk-shaped machines resembling "inverted soup plates" 200 m away at an altitude of about 1 m. She observed them for 30 min, saw two figures standing on one of the craft and looking at the sky. They went back inside, and shortly thereafter the "fleet" took off, one object at a time. (FSR 68,1)

Summer, 1952; Martin County, Texas
Mrs. Rogers saw an object descend slowly and pass across a pasture at 7 m altitude. She stopped her car and observed it was "wobbling" in mid-air, was shaped like a turtle, and showed three oarlike protrusions that moved slowly. Estimated dimensions: 5 by 4 m, 1 m thick. It was greenish-gray in color, emitted a blue flame, but showed no other light. (Barker 78)

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)

June 1, 1952; Los Angeles, California
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; Centre, Chartiers, France
6:45 pm. Witnesses at church, large disc with 2 smaller ones, left vertically. (Loren Gross)

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's

AF 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)

June 6, 1952: Kimpo AB, Korea (BBU)
8:42 a.m. (Missing BBU docs found) 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)

June 8, 1952; Albuquerque, New Mexico. (BBU 1263)
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 Article

by 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)

June 12, 1952; Marrakech, Morocco (BBU 1270)
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 discus 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; Magneville, France
Men at work in the forest saw large, circular objects similar to parachutes coming down. Half a dozen witnesses. (France-Soir Jun. 18, 52)

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, Arizona (BBU 1310)
2:30 p.m. MST (2130hrs UTC). USAF pilot John Lane, who was in a swimming pool, sighted an object in the sky, using his naked eye. When he looked up, he saw one, white, round object [based on a comparison to the Moon – estimated angular size was 0.1 degree] travelling in a straight line from west to east. He estimated it was initially seen at 45-degree elevation; it then passed across the face of the Sun and was then visible on the other side, and lost to sight at an estimated 30-degree elevation. Total duration was 10 seconds. Sky was clear blue; with little or no wind. A telex says the object’s true heading was about 70 degrees. (Greenwood, Basterfield, Fold3; Sparks PBB unknowns; Berliner. ) [Note by Keith Basterfield. At UTC 1952-06-19 21:30 the Sun was at an elevation of 64 degrees, at azimuth 255 degrees. Sources: Your Sky Fourmilab; Heavens Above.]

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 20, 1952, 10 mi NNE of Maryville, Tenn. (BBU)
10:58-11:15 p.m. (EST). Oak Ridge GOC post spotted target, confirmed by ADC 663rd AC&W radar [?], followed by F-47 fighter on combat air
patrol protecting Oak Ridge AEC base (USAF Lt James W. Wilson) of a 6-8-inch [?] white blinking light which made ramming attacks on the F-47 at 10,000 or 15,000 ft (?) to 22,000 ft by dropping down 4,000-5,000 ft, F-47 indicated air speed ~290 mph. Final attack run from UFO came from estimated 28,000 ft down to F-47 at 22,000 ft. Attempted BB explanation of lighted weather balloon “dog-fight” failed as the lighted 100-gram pilot balloon was launched from McGee-Tyson Airport near Maryville at 10:00 p.m. and was tracked by weather observers until light failed at 10:15 p.m. at 16,000 ft (43 mins before the UFO sighting) who saw no F-47 or UFO or “dog-fight.” (Sparks; BB Maxwell Microfilm Roll 10, pp. 1481-1497; Ruppelt pp. 43-44; Menzel 1963)

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)
(Berliner)

June 25, 1952; Michigan (BBU)
(FUFOR Index)

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; Padloping Isle., Canada
Uninhabited island in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada, located in DavisStrait's Merchants Bay off the eastern coast of Buffin Island. A weather station reported an unconventional flying object. First noticed when it entered a a weather observer's field of vision as he was tracking a pibal balloon with a theodolite. Object was silver and of peculiar shape. Alternately described as elliptical shaped, pear-shaped, and an oblong and flat object.Observed by three members of the weather station and viewed through theodolite for approximately 5 minutes. Sept 1952; History of the NE Air Command

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; Thule AFB
GCA picked up three blips, possible aircraft, which appeared to be in close formation 35 miles due south of Thule at an estimated 6,000 to 0,000 feet. Operator estimated the blips as the size of a C-54. Sept 1952; History of the NE Air Command

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)

June 28, 1952; Pacific bet. Hawaii and Calif. (BBU)
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??)

JULY

NARA-PBB1-56-71, July Sightings

Dan Wilson:
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.
See Air Defense in 1952

Joel Carpenter:
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)

Ruppelt:
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 1, 1952. Washington, DC. (BBU)
George Washington Univ. Physics Professor saw “dull, gray, smoky colored” object in the NNW sky hovering motionless about 30°-40° above
horizon, whicxh occasionally moved through arc of about 15° right or left, and gradualy descended from the sky until hidden by buildings on skyline. Angular size ½ of a quarter (coin) at arm’s length [=1°]. He estimated at least 500 other witnesses in the streets, confirmed by brief newspaper reporting. (Sparks; Ruppelt)

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)
(FUFOR Index)

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, 1952. Berkeley, Calif. (BBU)
9:30 a.m. (PDT). Dr. Henry Ehrenberg saw an elliptical object the size of the Full Moon hovering in midair with no sound, about 40° elevation in the West about 5,000 ft over Golden Gate Race Track about 5 miles away. Object faded away without apparent motion. (Sparks; Maxwell BB Microfilm Roll 11, pp. 567-570)

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)

July 9, 1952. Kutztown, Penna. (BBU)
6:30 p.m. Farmer John Mittl saw an aluminum, oval-shaped object change direction and attitude, finally tipping on end then departing. Case file includes three vague photographs. (Sparks; Berliner)

July 10, 1952; Near Quantico, Virginia. (BBU)
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)

July 10, 1952; Korea (near)
The crew of the Canadian destroyer Crusader saw two shiny discs and tracked them on radar.

July 11, 1952; Hasselbach, Germany
Oscar Linke, former Wehrmacht major, and his daughter Gabrielle, 11, had to leave their motorcycle when they had a flat tire. Inside the woods the girl noticed two men in silvery suits examining the ground in a clearing near a pink disk-shaped object, 8 m in diameter, showing a double row of openings around the rim and a black turret on top. One of the men had a flashing box. Both men went inside, and the disk vibrated, rose along the turretlike cylinder, then spun faster and rose out of sight. (Guieu 52)

July 10-17, 1952 Dr. Kaplan Visits ATIC Project Blue Book

UCLA 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)

July 12, 1952. Montrose Beach, Chicago, Illinois (BBU)
8:42 p.m. (CDT). O’Hare AFB weather observer AF Capt. W. J. Shea and a civilian Jane Morrison sighted 3 lights, main red light with smaller white lights on each side, traveling 500 mph at 40,000 to 50,000 ft from the WNW, accelerate and to the S make a 180° turn, heading NNW when disappeared. Sighted by 400+ people, with 14 others making reports to 4706th Defense Wing. (Sparks; BB files)

July 12 (13?), 1952; Kirksville, MO (BBU 1436)
9:00 + 9:15 + 9:20 + 9:30 +11:04 + 11:07 p.m. (CST). Many FPS-10 radar controllers at 790th AC&W Sq tracked large radar blips at 1,500+ knots (>1,700 mph) to 4,800 knots (5,600 mph) [actual speeds about 5,000 to 6,000 mph in all 6 tracks] inbound and outbound on nearly identical straight-line azimuths in about the 124-293 mile range [suggestive of real objects below about 20,000 ft within the Vertical-Lower beam of FPS-10 but not caught within higher-aimed Vertical-Center or Vertical-Upper beams limited to >2° elevation angle]. 6 single targets each tracked at following azimuths (at times listed above) coming to/from 142°-134°, 001°-354°, 220°-202°, 321°-320°, 320°, and 004°, with none crossing to other side of scope, a classic interference pattern except none extended to center of scope or to outer edge but disappeared like a real object in and out of radar blind zones. Checks with regional radar stations found none with antennas "in opposition" (matching direction of Kirksville radar antenna at the same moment). No visual sighting, or other confirmation of targets by other radars [apparently not even by the other component radars within the FPS-10 operating on different frequencies, such as the Slant-Lower beam which would have given height data,none reported, which suggests interference or selective radar emissions or ECM]. Radar targets registered only every other sweep (every 30 secs of the 4 RPM sweep rate) suggesting interference by a 2 or 6 RPM sweep rate radar. Possible IFO non-real radar interference. (Sparks; Berliner; BB files)

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)

July 13, 1952; Fordland, Missouri
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 CSI

Ruppelt 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)

July 16, 1952: OSI Message McDill OSI Message McDill AFB

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)
1 hr

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).

Richard Hall:
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; Dai-el-Aouagri, Morocco
12:30 am. Approximate date. Man named Petijean saw a luminous object, 20 m diameter, on the ground. It gave off bluish flashes as it took off, leaving a smell of burning sulphur. (Quincy)

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.

July 22, 1952; Los Alamos, New Mexico (BBU 1538)
10:50 a.m. Control tower operator Don Weins and 2 CARCO pilots saw 8 large, round, bright aluminum objects fly straight and level, then dart around erratically. 25 mins. (Berliner, Wilson & Ridge)

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)

July 22, 1952. Quincy, Mass (BBU 1556)
From 10:45 to 10:48 p.m. (EST) Officer of the Day, Navy Lt Cdr W. J. Adams, with Marine Air Detachment S/Sgt Anthony Di Nallo, at Squantum Naval Air Station, Quincy (and Navy Seaman Rolf Hellum 1 mile to S and possibly 1-2 other base personnel) received calls from 6 civilians in
area (total duration 7-8 mins apparently beginning about 10:40 p.m.) then looked and saw 2 blue-green lights brighter than magnitude +1 stars maneuvering and passing over base, possibly at 800-900 mph at 40,000 to 50,000 ft, first seen in SE at 45° elevation then moved directly overhead [90°] reversed course back to SE to 45° elevation without noticeable turning, then again passed overhead this making wide arc to NE without changing altitude. Not dimmed by distance, disappeared suddenly as if switched turned off one light then the other at 10:48 p.m. (EST).

July 22, 1952. Quincy, Mass (BBU 1556)
At 10:47 p.m. (EST) 2nd UFO sighting by USAF pilot Lt Charles R. Hearn and radar observer Lt Charles E. West in F-94B jet fighter at 35,000 ft and 210 knots IAS heading 180° (at 42°10’ N, 71° W) sighted green object with visual for about 30 secs then pilot kept eyes on instrument panel, kicked in afterburner to chase, got airborne radar tracking of F-94-sized target for 4 mins starting at about 10,000 to 12,000 yards range (about 6-7 mi) with 50 knot closure rate keeping UFO at 5° high and 5° to left then got radar lockon but at 3,000 yards (about 2 mi) UFO broke lock with hard right downward turn and disappeared. (Sparks; BB & AFOSI files; Berliner; cf. Weinstein)

July 22, 1952. MacDill AFB, Florida (BBU)
10:30 p.m. (EST). MacDill AFB air traffic control tower operator sighted for ½ hour a red-greenish-blue object to the WSW at about 45° elevation with 2 other [similar?] objects to the N of it, smaller and/or farther away and lower in elevation angle (?). Tower operator sighted another object to the SSE about 30° elevation at 11:30 p.m. MacDill AFB Detachment 21, 3944th Radar Bomb-scoring Sq (RBS),radar tracked object at 12:03 a.m. (July 23) at azimuth160° range 65,000 yards (37 mi) at 41,200 ft altitude on a heading of 310° True [almost directly towards MacDill AFB] speed 462 knots [532 mph]. Tampa Radar Bomb-scoring Sq also tracked object at 160° azimuth [about SSE] altitude 41,000 ft [reportedly, in 1998 account, Navy and CAA radars also tracked object]. At 12:08 a.m. USAF pilot and copilot of B-29 bomber with 364th Bomb Sq on landing approach were vectored by MacDill tower operator to investigate, saw high speed object at 40,000 ft heading towards MacDill AFB on a heading of 308° traveling faster than the B-29. 4 airmen at MacDill AFB radar site sighted object as it passed close [nearly overhead?]. (According to 1998 report of B-29 pilot, an AF Lt Col, they were flying at 20,000 ft; the B-29 fire control radar locked on to object at 40,000 ft and prepared to fire when UFO changed course and disappeared at 4,000 knots speed.) MacDill RBS lost object on radar at range 145,000 yards [82 mi] azimuth 310° (about NW) [at about 12:15 a.m.]. Civilians near base sighted object(s) visually. (Sparks; Robert Klinn; Project 1947; McDonald list; BB files; NICAP; NUFORC)

July 23, 1952; Culver City, Calif.
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. Near Boston, Mass (BBU)
1:15-1:18 a.m. (EST). Watch duty CG Seaman Henry Arnpriester, Nahant Coast Guard Station, sighted 2 bluish flat disc-shaped objects side-by-side estimated 5 ft in diameter (at 1,100 to 2,000 ft altitude?) in the SE at about 45° elevation descending and headed NW towards him until reaching distance of about 1-1/2 miles when suddenly reversed direction like “a ball bouncing off a wall” returning to SE and climbing without any change in apparent speed until gradually disappearing due to distance. [See July 22 sightings near Boston / Braintree, Mass.] (Sparks; AFOSI files; Saunders/FUFOR Index)

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; 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, Schroeder)

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)

Map Showing Sightings Matches Area of Recovery

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)

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
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; 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; Vico, Italy
A man who was fishing in the Serchio night River saw a disk hovering for 10 min. From it hung a hose that plunged into the water. The object was 20 m in diameter, with five propellers in the rear and a dome with something like blades on top. An orange glow could be seen through slits along the deck. A man wearing a diving helmet looked at the witness through a window, and he received a kind of electric shock as a "green ray" hit him. He looked up with difficulty, in time to see the object fly away toward the east. Six days later a stranger with a foreign accent contacted the witness and intimidated him. (FSR 69,1)

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)
(NARA)

July 24, 1952; MacDill AFB, Florida. (BBU)
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 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 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.

The Washington Invasion, July 26/27, 1952 - Richard Hall

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)

Joel Carpenter:
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.

July 27, 1952; 10 miles SSW of Columbus, Ohio (BBU)
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)

July 27, 1952; Selfridge AFB, Mich. (BBU 1680)
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]

July 27, 1952; Manhatten Beach, Calif. (BBU) [CCL Item #31]
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)
(FUFOR Index)

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
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; Enid, Oklahoma
Sidney Eubank went to the Enid police station and told Sergeant Vern Bennell that an enormous disk had buzzed his car as he drove between Bison and Waukonis on Highway 81. The rush of air made the car leave the road while the object flew west very fast. (Anatomy 134)

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)

July 29, Washington, D.C., Press Conference

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)

July 29, 1952; Wichita, Kansas (BBU 1739)
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; Ennis, Montana
Bt. 2:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. MST. The sighting at Ennis, Montana was made by Ben Shaffer and about 11 other witnesses. At a time between 1400 and 1500 hours MST, Shaffer saw an object hovering over a mountain while driving his car. He stopped the car. The object then formed a cloud around itself. Shortly after three smaller disc like objects came bursting out of the cloud from different angles at an estimated 200 mph. The objects accelerated into an arc and disappeared. Shaffer had eight-power binoculars when he was watching this action. Shaffer stopped two other cars, one from Ohio had 50-power binoculars. Now there were about 12 observers watching with the naked eye and through binoculars. After the 3 disc like objects had left the cloud 5 objects appeared on the right side of the cloud in V formation traveling slowly and then each of these objects formed a small cloud around themselves. Then these objects one at a time entered the big cloud one behind the other. There were no other clouds visible in the sky within range of vision. During this time Shaffer took colored moving pictures with a Bell and Howell camera and still pictures with a Kodak Retina camera. Shaffer turned the undeveloped films over to Major McCarthy of the 29th Air Division at Great Falls AFB, Montana. After watching this phenomenon for about 30 minutes another cloud formed to the left of the highway and the same phenomenon occurred with objects leaving and returning.

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)

July 29, 1952; Merced, Calif. (BBU 1738)
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, Florida
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)
(FUFOR Index)

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)

The Press, July 22 to Aug 4

AUGUST

NARA-PBB1-72-80, August

Newspaper Articles in BB Files for the period (pdf file)

AIR INTELLIGENCE DIGEST

Sometime in August the article by Captain Edward J. Ruppelt for the AIR INTELLIGENCE DIGEST, which went to high commands around the world and was classified.was, slated for release. So far the evidence indicates the article was never printed or appeared on another date. In any case all we have is the first draft found in Project Blue Book files above.

Aug, 1952; Seat Pleasant, Maryland
About 9:30 p.m. Mrs. Suzanne E. Knight, a young housewife and mother, saw a UFO at close range with what appeared to be an occupant aboard. On that hot summer evening, Mrs. Knight was in her kitchen when she heard a peculiar "bzzt" noise, apparently against the screen of the kitchen window. The noise was repeated several times and thinking it was a large insect, she went to the window and looked out. [See detailed version below *] ( NICAP New Look, Section VII)

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. 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)

Aug. 3, 1952; Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (BBU) [CCL Item 21] (BBU)
10:20 p.m. Civilian engineer Anderson saw 3 light­green cylindrical objects hovering at 45° elevation in inverted-V formation, switching to echelon when one object moved, with a rolling motion along its long axis. Disappeared by rapidly rising vertically. 9 mins. (BB Rpt 8; FUFOR Index)

Aug. 3, 1952; Hamilton AFB, California [CCL Item #33]
4:15-5:30 p.m. (PDT). Two AF pilots Capt. L. R. Hadley and Lt. D. A. Swimley, and AF Capt. W. T. Perske, saw visually and with binoculars two circular or spherical silvery objects 60-100 ft diameter at 12,000 and 18,000 ft drifting E to W on a 15-mile track passing overhead, darting and dog fighting at estimated 400-450 mph, the upper object dropping from 18,000 to 12,000 ft, at the end joined by 8 more similar objects appearing in pairs in the W about 15-20 miles distant. No sound. 1 hr 15 mins + ? 3 witnesses.

Aug 3, 1952; Kirtland AFB, New Mexico (BB)
10:20 p.m. MST. A CAA engineer in SAC Station observed three oblong translucent objects in an inverted V-formation in the sky to the north at 40 degrees elevation. The speed of the objects was near sonic and no sound was heard. The objects were in conventional maneuver except for one flip flop or tumble which showed one of the objects as plate shaped. Duration: 9 mins. (Dan Wilson, BB files)

Somethings' Over The Capital Are Traced On Radar (Life Magazine, Aug. 4, 1952)

Aug. 4, 1952; Phoenix, Ariz. (BBU 1812)
2:20 a.m. USAF A/3c W. F. Vain [and Parker?] saw a yellow ball which lengthened and narrowed to plate shape, fly straight and level. 5 mins. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)

Aug. 4, 1952; Mt. Vernon, New York (BBU 1813)
11:37 a.m. Woman and 2 children saw an object, shaped like a lifesaver or donut, emitting black smoke from its top and making a 15° [?] [reciprocating?] arc in 1.5 mins. 2 hrs. (Berliner; cf. Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Aug. 5-6, 1952; Washington, D.C. area
During the night two to ten unidentified objects flying at speeds from 30 to 40 miles an hour were seen on radarscopes at Civil Aeronautics Administration headquarters at Washington National Airport. The blips were also reported on radar at nearby Andrews AFB, where an aircraft was sent up to 15,000 feet to investigate but returned because of the overcast. (Dan Wilson)

Aug. 5, 1952; Bet. Lima and Huacho, Peru (BBU)
5:13 a.m. Panagra DC-3 pilot Sullivan and crew saw 3 saucer-shaped objects in a V-formation maneuver around the plane. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)

Aug. 5, 1952; Baltimore, Md.
Experienced amateur astronomer observed two copper-like discs. [UFOE, VI]

Aug. 5-6, 1952; Haneda AFB, Japan (BBU 1827)
11:30 p.m. USAF F-94 jet interceptor pilots 1st Lt. W. R. Holder, 1st Lt. A. M. Jones, and Haneda control tower operators. Airborne radar tracked a target for 90 secs. Control tower operators watched 50-60 mins while a dark shape with a light flew as fast as 330 knots (380 mph), hover, fly curves and perform a variety of maneuvers, at one point splitting into 3 targets [?]. 50-60 mins. (Berliner)

Joel Carpenter:
On 6 August 1952, a unit simulated combat mission was flown against Philadelphia by 19 wing B-36s (7-F and 12-H), nine of the 9th Bomb Squadron, five of the 436th Bomb Squadron and five of the 492nd Bomb Squadron. After launch, the bombers flew to Maine and encountered several Air Defense Command F-84, F-86 and F-94 fighters in the northeastern United States. From Maine the bombers attacked Philadelphia. Following this, the aircraft landed at Carswell on 7 August. Fighter opposition was very small during the mission, and did not affect the mission's effectiveness. Overall, the mission was considered very successful.

Aug. 6, 1952; Tokyo, Japan (BBU 1841)
Continuation of Haneda AFB sightings. (NARA)

Aug. 6, 1952; Belleville, Mich. (BBU 1843)
Military witness(es). (NARA)

Aug. 6, 1952; Port Austin, Mich. (BBU 1845)
Case missing. (NARA)

Aug. 6, 1952; Andrews AFB, Maryland (BB)
10:00 p.m. An unidentified object was observed on the radar scope at a distance 2 1/2 miles away on a bearing of 116 degrees, moving in a southerly direction. At 2223 hours three unidentified objects were observed on the radar scope. The first object was at 4 1/2 miles away at a bearing of 80 degrees. The second object was at 3 miles at a bearing of 100 degrees. The third object was at 4 1/2 miles at a bearing of 113 degrees. At 2232 hours one object was observed at 5 miles away at a bearing of 93 degrees. At 2239 hours two targets appeared on the radar scope at a bearing of 53 degrees. At this time a B-25 aircraft was returning to Andrews AFB and when the B-25 approached the unknown radar targets they disappeared. Earlier at 2115 hours a civilian man observed two bright objects high in the sky over SE Washington D.C. The two objects were flying towards Andrews AFB, one in a straight course and the other circling the first. The objects were circular in shape and appeared to be the size of a fifty cent piece. According to the witness the objects were flying faster than any jet he had ever seen. The Andrews AFB case is not listed in the Project Blue Book Master Index. (Dan Wilson)

Aug. 6/7, 1952; Kerkrade, Holland
Marine engineer designer saw two disc-shaped objects with superstructures. [UFOE, X]

Aug. 6-7 [7?], 1952; Port Lyautey [Mina Hassam Tani?], French Morocco (BBU)
7:51 p.m. Control tower personnel and 3 USN officer pilots [one named Dobos?] while flying R5-D saw a brilliant white disc-shaped luminous object with red blinking light, leaving a smoke trail, traveling straight and level at high speed then shut up vertically to 15,000 ft at high speed, then hovered, descended. When aircraft tried to climb towards object it started moving at high speed and chase was abandoned. (Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)

Aug. 7, 1952; San Antonio, Texas (BBU 1855)
9:08 a.m. Mrs. Susan Pzuhl observed 4 round, unidentified flying objects that gave off color similar to white-hot metal. Objects appeared approximately 18" in diameter, actual size, and all 4 objects similar. Objects were observed singularly with exception of 2, and at intervals of approximately 20 minutes. No aerodynamic features were noted. No trail, exhaust, or visible propulsion system was noticed. Speed unestimated but observer stated, that with the exception of 1 object that moved slowly, the speed must have been 3 times as fast as a prop driven aircraft. No sound was heard. Maneuver consisted of radical directional change by first object; straight and level flight by second object, slight directional change by third object and fourth object navigated a large circle. An aircraft passed under the fourth object with no apparent reaction by plane or object. Object disappeared by vanishing suddenly, like an extinguished light. 70 mins (Berliner; FUFOR Index)

Aug. 8, 1952; Warren AFB, Wyoming (BBU)
7:48 p.m. Pollack and another witness saw an object immediately stop without appearing to decelerate. 2-1/2 mins. (Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)

Aug. 9, 1952; Lake Charles AFB, Louisiana (BBU 1870)
10:50 a.m. USAF A/3c J. P. Raley while walking to work saw a disc-shaped object fly S at 5,000 ft at high speed, turn W then [?] hover for 2 secs. 5-6 mins. (cf. Hynek­CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldric)

Aug. 9, 1952; K-3 area E. of Pohang, Korea (BBU)
8:57PM. The pilot of Richman 18 (USMC aircraft) reported that he had sighted a long streamer of flame with a ball of fire at the front. This object passed him 500 yards off his starboard wing, and 1000 feet above. The pilot requested that Lt. Nagrodsky, the officer reading the radar scope at a radar ground station to verify his sighting by radar. Lt. Leo N. Nagrodsky did observe blips of the object on the scope and he estimated that the speed of the object to be 600-800 miles per hour. (Dan Wilson, Project 1947; FUFOR Index)

Aug. 10, 1952; Japan (BBU)
9:45 p.m. USMC Major flying aircraft saw an object moving downward from 8,000 to 1,500 ft then hovering and abruptly vanishing. (Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Aug. 11, 1952; Rockford, Ill.
"Speedy Jets Are Alerted In Vain Hunt". Many "flying saucers" were sighted streaking over Rockford Sunday evening by at least 14 persons. Two U.S. air force F-86 Sabre jet interceptors based at O'Hare International Airport near Chicago came here seeking the strange objects, but the pilots didn't see them. (Rockford Register-Republic)

Aug. 11, 1952; Hampton, Virginia (BBU)
9/10 p.m. USAF Capt. and wife driving to town saw a series of 7 yellowish-orange low-flying objects climb away. 5 mins. (Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Aug. 12, 1952; Near Cape May, New Jersey (BBU)
5:43 a.m. USAF pilot of F-94B saw stationary glowing object lose brightness and diminish in size. [Star?] (Weinstein; BB files??)

Aug. 12, 1952; Big Spring, Texas (BBU)
4:49 p.m. USAF pilot of T-6 saw a light flying at 500 mph and 15,000 ft pass his aircraft. (Project 1947)

Aug. 12, 1952; 70 miles W of Wink, Texas (BBU)
10:48 p.m. [?] USN? pilot and copilot of SNB aircraft saw several pie-pan-shaped aluminum colored objects pass ahead of their aircraft and ascend. (Project 1947)

Aug. 13-14, 1952; Washington, D.C.
7:57 p.m. Suddenly, a group of seven strong stationary targets became visible in an area about 15 miles north-northeast of the radar antenna. During the next two or three antenna revolutions, the area on the scope between Washington and Baltimore became heavily sprinkled with stationary targets in a belt about 6 miles wide. A group of additional targets became visible in an area approximately 10 to 15 miles south of the radar antenna. For the next four and one-half hours, many unidentified targets were carefully plotted with a grease pencil on the face of the Type VG scope. The time for each was entered on these plots in order to calculate ground speeds. To secure a permanent record, time data and track plots were transferred from the scope face to a sheet of frosted acetate. Targets disappeared at 0030 Aug 14. (Dan Wilson)

Aug. 13, 1952; Tokyo, Japan (BBU 1889)
9:45 p.m. U.S. Marine pilot Maj. D. McGough saw an orange light fly a left orbit at 8,000 ft and 230 mph, spiral down to no more than 1,500 ft, remain stationary for 2-3 mins and went out. Attempted interception unsuccessful. 2-3 mins. (Berliner)

Aug. 13, 1952; Dallas, Texas
Airlines Chief Pilot chased maneuvering light. [UFOE, V] Cat 11. Jacoby/McNaulty (AL)

Aug 13, 1952; Tucson, Arizona
Air Force officer reports formation of bright UFOs. [UFOE, III] Cat 11, Stanley Case (M)

August 14, 1952; Kelly AFB, Texas (BB)
3:45 p.m. CST. Seven Air Force employees observed a round object that appeared to be of aluminum construction flying over Kelly AFB. Maneuvers consisted of slow sweeping turns and reversing direction. The speed of the object was estimated at 1500 mph at an estimated altitude of 20,000 to 30,000 feet. The object was observed over a period of 30 minutes. The object appeared and disappeared at times. (Dan wilson, BB files)

Aug. 15, 1952; Napa, California (BB)
5 p.m PDT. A GOC observer saw a silver colored cigar-shaped object the size of a large aircraft overhead at an estimate altitude of 10,000 feet moving on a SW course at an estimated speed of 800 -1000 mph. The winds in the area were from the SW. No sound was heard from the object. The object was observed for 30 seconds. (Dan Wilson, BB files)

Aug. 17, 1952; W of Athens, Alabama (BBU)
12:47 p.m. USAF pilot of T-6G saw an intensely bright bright white round object hovering then disappear suddenly. (Project 1947)

Aug. 17, 1952; E of Abilene, Texas (BBU)
4:49 p.m. CST. Capt. James H. Perry flying a T-6 aircraft at 8000 feet observed an object that appeared to be of highly polished metal, oblong in shape traveling at a terrific rate of speed well over 500 mph just below the clouds and was climbing. The object was slightly smaller than a B-25 aircraft. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)

Aug. 18, 1952; Fairfield, Calif. (BBU 1920)
12:50 a.m. 3 policemen saw an object change color from red­green-orange-blue, shaped like a diamond, and change directions [?] traveling in a straight line "sideways" [?] gaining altitude. Military witnesses [?]. 30 mins. (Berliner; cf. Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Aug. 18, 1952; Duncanville, Texas (BB)
8:45 p.m. CST (19/0245Z). Ground visual sightings were made of a slow moving object and reported to Carswell AFB. Red and green lights changing to white were noted. Object moved up and down, hovered and then moved off at a rapid rate of speed. At 8:47 p.m. CST, objects were picked up on radar by the 147th AC&W squadron, at Duncanville, Texas. The objects were at approximately 265 degrees at approximately 28 miles distance and in the same direction as the visual sightings. The object changed directions several times and had an estimated speed of 300 mph. The objects were observed for approximately 40 minutes. (Dan Wilson, BB files)

Aug. 18, 1952; West Palm Beach, Florida
Cat 6. Desvergers Case/Florida Scoutmaster. Probable hoax, but with some degree of strangeness.

Aug. 19, 1952; West Palm Beach, Florida
Evening. Ronny Desvergers saw a large, round, dark object above him in a clearing. It had a turret on top. Red balls of light were emitted by the object and burned him. He also observed a "hideous" creature aboard the craft. Grass roots were scorched at the site. (Ruppelt 222; Magonia)

Aug. 19, 1952; Red Bluff, Calif. (BBU 1928)
2:38 p.m. GOC observer Albert Lathrop saw 2 objects, shaped like fat bullets, fly straight and level, very fast. 25 secs. (Berliner)

Brad Sparks:
Blue book listed both these cases under the same number even though five hours apart.

Aug. 19, 1952; Boron, Calif. (BBU 1928)
8 p.m. (PDT). Pilot of USAF aircraft saw tailless object greatly accelerate away to the E and disappear, with airborne radar tracking [?]. No ground radar tracking due to ground clutter. (Berliner; cf. Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Aug. 20, 1952; Dayton (WPAFB), Ohio
Cat 8. More gun camera photos or wrong date? NICAP files.

Aug. 20 [19?], 1952; Neffsville [Lancaster?], Penna. (BBU 1938)
3:10 a.m. Bill Ford and 2 others saw an un-described object flying at 500 ft altitude. No further data in files. Sev. mins. (Berliner; cf. Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)

Aug. 20, 1952. W Fresno, Calif. (BBU)
6:30 p.m. (PDT). Aeronautical engineer DeMay and civilian pilot Paxton, commercial artist, heard loud jet-like sound, saw object at relatively high speed approach from S with fast “jerky” motions. 1 min. (Sparks; BB files)

Aug. 20, 1952; Congaree AFB, S. Carolina
10:00 p.m. Air Defense Command radar tracked UFO 60 miles from base, speed 4000 mph. One "ball" was observed by military witnesses at an airfield. [UFOE, VIII].

Aug. 21, 1952; Dallas, Texas (BBU 1944)
11:54 p.m. Jack Rossen, ex-artillery observer, saw 3 blue-white lights hover then descend, 1.5 mins [30 secs?] later one [2?] of them descended further. 1.5 mins. (Berliner; cf. Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Aug. 22, 1952; Ontario, Calif. (BBU)
3 p.m. Pilot Irvin of aircraft saw 2 teardrop shaped objects cross his flight path 1/2 mile away in high speed straight level flight creating severe turbulence that rocked his aircraft. 2 secs. (Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Aug. 22, 1952; Elgin, Illinois
USAF jets, guided by Ground Observer Corps, chased a pulsating yellowish light. [UFOE, VII]

Aug. 23, 1952; [not out of order by GMT/UTC]. Sinuiju, North Korea (BBU)
1:04 a.m. USAF 19th Bomber Group weather recon B-29 crew saw an orange-red cigar-shaped object. (Weinstein; BB files??)

Aug. 23, 1952; Akron, Ohio (BBU 1956)
4:10 a.m. USAF 2nd Lt. H. K. Funseth, a ground radar observer, and 2 U.S. Navy men saw a pulsing amber light fly straight and level. 7 mins. (Berliner)

Aug. 24, 1952; Frontenac, Kansas
6:00 am. A man driving through a woods encountred a strange object and stopped to observe it. It looked like two turtle shells glued together, about 25 m long, with a humanoid creature in what ap peared to be a control cabin in front. Windows lighted by an intense blue light and a throbbing sound were also reported. The object was oscillating and suddenly flew straight up with a strong humming noise. The middle section supported what looked like propellers. The object hovered 3 m above ground. (Atic)

Aug. 24, 1952; Bet. Hermanas, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas (BBU 1961) [CCL Item # 32]
10:15 [10:20?] a.m. Georgia Air National Guard F-84G jet fighter pilot Col. G. W. Johnson saw two 6 ft silver balls in abreast formation, one turned grey rapidly, the other slowly. One changed to long grey shape during a turn. 10 mins. (Berliner)

Aug. 24, 1952; Tucson, Ariz. (BBU 1964)
5:40 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. George White saw a large round, metallic, white light with a vague lower surface, fly slowly, then fast with a dancing, wavering motion. 1 min. (Berliner)

Aug. 24, 1952; Levelland, Texas (BBU 1969)
9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Sharp saw an object, shaped like a spinning top, changing color from red to yellow to blue, with a fiery tail, hover for 20 mins with whistling [shrill?] sound, then fly away on a NNW course in 3 mins. Same or similar object returned 1 hr later repeating maneuvers. 23 mins. (Berliner; cf. Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Aug. 25, 1952; Frontenac-Pittsburg, Kansas (BBU 1972)
5:35 a.m. (CST). Radio station musician William Squyres saw 70-75 ft inverted platter-shaped dull aluminum color object to right side of road about 40° elevation and 750 ft away with a "man" inside visible in a window. He stopped the car and got out to look from 300 ft away, object had "rocking motion" and deep throbbing sound, series of 6-7-inch "propellers" then after 1/2 min rose vertically at high speed from 10 ft height and disappeared in a gap of broken clouds but not behind clouds. Later found 60 ft circle of grass matted down in the field. 1/2 min. (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 200-3; Battelle Unknown No. 12; Vallée Magonia 98)

Aug. 25, 1952; Delaware, Ohio (BBU 1915)
Stanger. (NARA; FUFOR Index)

Aug. 25, 1952; Holloman AFB, New Mexico (BBU 1979)
3:40 p.m. Civilian supervisor Fred Lee and foreman L. A. Aquilar saw a round silver object fly S, turn and fly N, make a 360° turn, fly away vertically. 3-5 mins. (Berliner)

Aug. 26, 1952; Lathrop Wells, Nevada (BBU 1986)
12:10 a.m. USAF Capt. D. A. Woods saw a large spherical very bright object with a V-shaped contrail, a dark cone in the center, approach at 1,000 mph, hover briefly, make an instant 90°-180° turn, then a gentle climb and final sudden acceleration leaving blue-white contrail which evaporated immediately. No sound. (Berliner; cf. Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Aug. 26, 1952; Biloxi, Miss. (BBU 1987)
(NARA)

Aug. 26-27, 1952; Veracruz, Mexico (BBU 1994)
2:15 a.m. Many witnesses of object traveling in straight line out to sea with buzzing noise. Sighting on Aug. 30. 8 secs. (Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Aug. 27, 1952; Lamberton, North Carolina
A saucer-shaped craft, 3 by 2 m, landed on the witness's property after hitting a chimney. A little man, about 70 cm tall, emerged and was asked whether he was hurt, but he did not answer. The craft took off with a whistling sound. (Wilkins A 268)

Aug. 27, 1952; Pittsburg, Kansas [CCL Item #25]
ATIC states basic details and soil sample forwarded from town where sighting occurred. Object reported hovering over open field; bluish lights seen through ports; swift ascent when observed. Soil sample broken up, unable to analyze for radioactivity. (Chop clearance list)

Aug. 28, 1952; Chickasaw & Brookley AFB, Mobile, Alabama (BBU 2006)
9:30-10:20 p.m. 3 civilians in Chickasaw reported to duty officer USAF Capt. at Brookley AFB seeing multiple red stationary and maneuvering objects to the S and one moving from S to W, all over the direction of Brookley. AFOSI agent arrived in Chickasaw at 9:50 to investigate and saw the same 4 objects to the S and SW estimated 8-12 miles distance, one fiery red object stationary for 15 mins then drifted 15°-20° to the right then stationary again. Radar operator visually spotted red-green object over Chickasaw to the N. USAF duty officer and control tower operators saw one object to the SW at 240° azimuth to the right and lower than the moon [which was at about 214° azimuth 22° elevation], and another object to the W at 280° azimuth at 10°-20° elevation the latter was confirmed by GCA's MPN-1 radar as a stationary target at 280° azimuth 4 miles range 4,000 ft altitude [= 11° elevation]. AFOSI officer, and others saw one object explode, one do a figure-8 maneuver, etc., 4­ 6 objects larger than a star or planet varying from fiery red, red-blue, red-green and sparkling diamond appearance, a civilian AF employee saw a flat oval shape. 50-mins. (Berliner; cf. Hynek-CUFOS-Willy Smith files).

Aug. 28, 1952; Le Roy, New York
Disc circled airliner vertically. [UFOE, II]

Aug. 28, 1952; Atlanta, Ga.
Police watched maneuvering UFO. [UFOE, VII]

Aug. 29, 1952; W of Thule, Greenland, N. Atlantic (BBU) [CCL Item # 2]
10:50 a.m. 2 U.S. Navy pilots flying a P4Y-2 patrol plane saw 3 white disc-shaped or spherical objects hover, then fly very fast in a triangular formation. [May be same as Aug. 1952 sighting by P4Y-2 crew at 10,000 ft, pilot Lt. John C. Callaghan, copilot Lt JG Bill O'Flaherty, Merchant, following Skyhook balloon where 3 silvery discs briefly clustered on the Skyhook instrument package at 90,000 ft for several minutes then flew off with a vertical banking then climbed to disappearance in 3 secs. Naval History Magazine Oct 2004, web version.] (Berliner) 2-3 mins 2 witnesses [3?]

Aug. 29, 1952; Villacoublay, France
Unidentified bright blue light observed through theodolite; once appeared as luminous white bar edged with black. [UFOE, X]

Aug. 29, 1952; Colorado Springs, Colo. (BBU 2013)
8:35 p.m. Military [? USAF?] pilot C. A. Magruder saw 3 objects, 50 ft in diameter, 10 ft high, aluminum with red­yellow exhaust, fly in trail about 1,500 mph. 4-5 mins. (Berliner)

Aug. 30, 1952; Santa Monica, Calif. (BBU)
8, 11:30 p.m. Hehr and another witness sitting in a park saw many horizontal bar-shaped objects appearing and disappearing, forming a formation, traveling laterally at 1,500 mph. 2nd sighting of light near moon. 10 mins. (Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)

Aug. 31, 1952; Pennsylvania, exact location unknown
Herbert Long saw an object land 15 m away from the road. He made a drawing of it. (Wilkins A 257)

Fall, 1952; NY to Puerto Rico
Three Pan American Airways pilots watched UFO hover, speed away. [UFOE, V]. Zammett/Harris/Hutchins (AL)

Aug-Sept, 1952; Delft, Netherlands (BB)
Hoax UFO photo by Luuk Nyhof (Nijhof). Date uncertain, several possible dates Aug. 5, 26, or 28, or Sept. 2, 1952.

SEPTEMBER

NARA-PBB1-81-83, September Sightings

Sept 1952; History of the NE Air Command

Period covered, 1 Jan to 30 June, 1952

Sept. of 1952, Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Afternoon. Radar detected a 700 m.p.h. target near Kirtland AFB which slowed to 100 m.p.h.. Two F-86's were scrambled. One fired on the UFO. Report ordered destroyed. Exact date unknown. (Ruppelt)

Sept. 1, 1952; Atlanta, Georgia (BBU)
9:43 p.m. Mrs. William Davis and 9 others saw a light, similar to the evening star, move up and down for a long period of time. (Berliner)

Sept. 1, 1952; Marietta, Georgia (BBU 2022)
10:30 p.m. Mr. Bowman (ex-artillery officer) and 24 others saw a red, white, and blue-green object which spun and shot off sparks. An unidentified witness using binoculars saw 2 large objects shaped like spinning tops with red, blue and green colors, fly side by side, leaving a sparkling trail for 30 mins. 15-30 mins. (Berliner)

Sept. 1, 1952; Marietta, Georgia (BBU)
10:50 p.m. Ex­AAF B-25 gunner saw 2 large white disc-shaped objects with green vapor trails fly in trail formation, merge, fly away very fast. (Berliner)

Sept. 1, 1952; Yaak, Montana (BBU 2023)
4:45 a.m. Visual sighting by 2 USAF enlisted men, radar tracking by 3 men using FPS-3 radar set. 2 small, varicolored lights became black silhouettes [of "dark, cigar-shaped object"?] at dawn, flew erratically. 1 hours. (Berliner; cf. Ruppelt p. 194)

Sept. 2, 1952; Angmagasalik, Greenland
Danish colonists reported an unidentified aircraft travelling from west to east. Sept 1952; History of the NE Air Command

Sept. 2, 1952; Tokyo, Japan (BBU)
Beginning at 2015 hours unidentified flying objects were picked up by the GCA unit at Haneda AFB and later contacted by GCI at Shiroi AFB. When first observed the target was 9 miles north of Haneda traveling at 40 to 60 mph on a heading of 90 degrees. During the next hour sightings were made on radar of targets ranging in number from 1 to 3. The targets produced a clearly visible echo on the PPI scope and about the size caused by a C-124 aircraft. (McDonald list)

Sept. 2, 1952. Midway Airport, Chicago, lllinois (BBU 2025)
12:01-7 a.m. (CST). CAA radar controllers Robert L. Terneuzen (GCA), Ralph L. Frick, Dale E. Warner, Warren J. Weber, and Radar Mainenance Technician Gordon R. Coplenad, at Midway Airport tracked as many as 30 targets simultaneously, flying in various directions, “average” speed of 175 mph at about 2,000 ft ASL. ADC 755th AC&W radar station, Williams Bay / Elkhorn, Wisc., claimed Midway Airport Tower Supervisor called at 2:50 a.m. saying there were 40 targets plotted by Midway Airport radar from 3,000 to 6,000 ft, speed 120-150 mph, azimuths 180° to 300° (Midway Tower claimed the 755th was not alerted by Midway until 5:14 a.m., and that it was indirect, through Chicago ARTC). Targets were the size of blips from “light planes” or larger (best target quality in the 6-10 mi range) and moved in no particular pattern except, sometimes “erratic” and sometimes in straight lines up to 15 miles long and in at least one instance of “flying formation” with an aircraft. [See more details at link above] (Sparks; BB files; Martin Shough; Berliner)

Sept. 3, 1952; Tucson, Ariz. (BBU)
9:00 a.m. Mr. Donald L. McCraven, an instructor pilot at Marana Air Base, and Mr. N. D. Thomas, observed an elliptical shaped object, dark in color which freely reflected sunlight. The object made three well-coordinated turns and made no perceptible sound. Tremendous speed was shown by the object while in a slight climb. The object was observed for approximately one and a half minutes. Project Blue Book evaluation: UNIDENTIFIED. (Berliner, Dan Wilson)

Sept. 6, 1952; Lake Charles AFB, Louisiana (BBU 2045)
1:30 a.m. T/Sgt. J. E. Wilson and 2 enlisted men saw a bright star-like light move about the sky. 2 hrs. (Berliner)

Sept. 6, 1952; Tucson, Ariz. (BBU 2048)
4:55 p.m. Ex-Congresswoman Mrs. Isabella King and Bill McClain saw an orange teardrop-shaped object whirl on its vertical axis, descend very fast, stop, retrace its path upwards, while whirling in the opposite direction. 1.5 mins. (Berliner)

Sept. 7, 1952; San Antonio, Texas (BBU 2049)
10:30 p.m. Chemist J. W. Gibson and others saw an orange object or light (color temperature 2,000° F.) explode into view. 3-20 secs. (Berliner)

Sept. 7, 1952; San Antonio, Texas (BBU 2052) (NARA)
No details.

Sept. 9, 1952; Rabat, French Morocco (BBU 2062)
9 p.m. USAF Intelligence civilian illustrator E. J. Colisimo saw a disc with lights along part of its circumference, fly twice as fast as a T-33 jet trainer, in a slightly curved path. 5 secs. (Berliner)

Sept. 9, 1952; Portland, Oregon
Two oval objects observed in searchlight beam. [UFOE, XII]

Sept. 12, 1952; Allen, Maryland (BBU 2077)
9:30 p.m. GOC observers Mr. and Mrs. David Kolb using binoculars saw a white light with red trim and streamers fly NE. 35 mins. (Berliner)

Sept. 12, 1952; Flatwoods, West Virginia
Sunset. 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. (Humanoids 52)

Sept. 13, 1952; Near Allentown, Penna. (BBU 2085)
7:40 p.m. Private pilot W. A. Hobler, flying a Beech Bonanza at 10,000 ft from Allentown to the Caldwell-Bright Omni station, saw a 3 ft object, shaped like a fat football, flaming orange-red color, at his 11 o'clock high position about 450-600 ft away descend at a 30° angle on a collision course, Hobler made a sharp climb to avoid it, object then pulled up in a 65° climb in front of Hobler's airplane, Hobler made a rapid 180° right turn but lost the object traveling at about 700 mph. 15 secs. ? (Berliner; NARCAP)

Sept. 13, 1952; Frametown, West Virginia
8:00 PM. The car of a married couple with their daughter suddenly stalled. They saw a bright light in the woods and smelled sulphur or ether, which made them feel nauseated. After leaving the car to check the immediate surroundings and finding nothing, they were returning to it when a 10-foot tall humanoid appeared nearby. The humanoid inspected their car, then left slowly, after which time the light rose into the sky, leaving a glowing trail. The car could be restarted then. (Passport to Magonia, Vallee)

Sept. 13, 1952; SW of Enterprise, Utah (BBU 2093)
9:35 PM (MST). Pilot of Flying Tiger Airlines airplane N67977 saw a blue light fly very fast on a collision course with the airliner. (Sparks BB files) 1 witness

Sept. 14, 1952. Olmstead AFB, Penna (BBU)
-3:35 a.m. (EST). Civilian guards at Olmstead AFB saw blue watermelon-shaped object maneuvering like a helicopter, headed S. (Sparks; BB files) 3 mins, 2 or 2+ witnesses

Sept. 14, 1952. Santa Barbara, Calif. (BBU 2086)
8:40 p.m. USAF C-54 transport pilot Tarbutton saw a blue­white light travel straight and level, then fly up. 30 secs. (Berliner)

Sept. 14, 1952; North Atlantic between Ireland and Iceland. (BBU 2087)
Military personnel from several countries aboard ships in the NATO Operation MAINBRACE exercise. Sightings include a blue-green triangle flying 1,500 mph and 3 objects in triangular formation giving off white light exhaust at 1,500 mph. (Berliner, Wilosn, Ridge, BB files)

Sept. 14, 1952; White Lake, South Dakota (BBU 2089)
7 p.m. GOC observer L. W. Barnes, using binoculars saw a red, cigar-shaped object, with three puffs behind it, fly W, then S, then was gone. 30-40 mins. (Dan Wilson, Don Berliner)

Sept. 14, 1952; El Paso, Texas. (BBU 2092)
At 11:30 p.m., three civilians (1 engineer) observed six groups of luminous spherical or disc-shaped objects traveling in an arc to an inverted "Y" formation at an estimated speed of 4,000 mph at an estimated altitude of 10-12 miles. Maneuvers were erratic and included hovering and extremely high speed. Project Blue Book Evaluation: UNIDENTIFIED.

Sept. 14-15, 1952; Ciudad Jaurez, Mexico (BBU)
11:30 p.m. - 1:20 a.m. Consulting engineer R. J. Portis and 3 others saw 6 groups of 12-15 luminous spheres or discs, which flew in formations varying from arcs to inverted-Y's, very fast. 1 hr. 50 mins. (Berliner)

Sept. 16, 1952; Portand, ME (BBU 2099)
6:22 p.m. Crew of U.S. Navy P2V Neptune patrol plane saw a group of 5 lights in circular formation at the same time a long, thin blip was tracked on radar. Note: Possible USAF KC-97 airplanes involved in a refueling operation. 20 mins. (Berliner)

Sept. 16, 1952; Warner-Robbins AFB, Georgia (BBU 2100)
7:30 p.m. 3 USAF officers and 2 civilians saw white lights fly abreast at 100 mph. 15 mins. (Berliner)

Sept. 16, 1952; Belle Glade, Florida. Circular object with row of lights on underside passed low overhead; cattle bolted. [UFOE, XII]

Sept. 17, 1952; Tucson, Ariz. (BBU 2105)
11:40 a.m. Mr. and Mrs. Ted Hollingsworth saw 2 groups of 3 large, flat, shiny objects fly in tight formations, the first group slow, the second faster. 2 mins. (Berliner)

Sept. 20, 1952; Denmarrk & Norway (BBU)
4:00 p.m. +. Spherical UFO photographed from U. S. Navy aircraft carrier participating in "Operation Mainbrace," NATO maneuvers. [UFOE, XII] Personnel of the U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt, an aircraft carrier participating in the Mainbrace maneuvers, observed a silvery, spherical object which was also photographed. (The pictures have never been made public). The UFO was seen moving across the sky behind the fleet. Reporter Wallace Litwin took a series of color photographs, which were examined by Navy Intelligence officers. The weather man aboard said a balloon was launched at 3:30 p.m. and it rose up and out of sight in the overcast in about 50 seconds. (Richard Hall, Dan Wilson) [incorrect date in UFOE as Sept. 19]

Sept. 20 [19? 21?], 1952; Topcliffe RAF Station, Yorkshire, England, UK. (BBU)
10:53 a.m. [4:14 p.m.?] Operation MAINBRACE Meteor jet fighter (flown by Flight Lt. John W. Kilburn and Flight Lt. Cybulski ?) was descending to land at 5,000 ft when they saw a slow-moving circular silver [or white?] object about 5 miles behind them at about 15,000 ft following a similar course then swinging like a "falling sycamore leaf" or pendulum and began descending. As the Meteor turned towards Dishforth the object followed, then stopped falling leaf motion and descent, began rotation on its axis, suddenly accelerated at "incredible speed" faster than a meteor to the W then turned to SE [and disappeared]. Ground ? observers included Flying Officer Paris, Master Signaller Thompson, Higgins ? and 5 other aircrew [on the ground?]. (Jan Aldrich; Ruppelt pp. 195-6; 15-20 secs + ( NICAP; FUFOR Index)

Sept. 21?, 1952; North Sea near England, UK. (BBU)
Operation MAINBRACE sighting by 6 British pilots in a formation of Meteor jets who pursued shiny spherical object but lost it in 1-2 mins then it reappeared following one of the jets which turned to pursue but the object outmaneuvered the jet. Several mins. (Ruppelt p. 196; BB files??; FUFOR Index ?)

Sept. 22, 1952; Fairfax County, Va.
Police observed 3-4 UFOs maneuvering erratically. [UFOE, VII]

Sept. 23, 1952; Gander Lake, Newfoundland, Canada (BBU 2119)
No time shown. Pepperrell AFB operations officer and 7 other campers saw bright white light, which reflected on the lake, fly straight and level at 100 mph. 10 mins. (Berliner)

Sept. 24, 1952. Aurora, Colo. (BBU)
3:15 p.m. USAF T/Sgt. B. R. Hughes saw 5-6 circular objects, bright white but not shiny, circle in trail formation. [Same as Denver Sept. 30 case?] 5-6 mins. (Berliner)

Sept. 24, 1952; Charleston, West Virginia (BBU 2124)
3:30 p.m. Crew of USAF B-29 bomber saw a lot of bright, metallic particles or flashes, up to 3 ft in length, stream past the B-29. 15 mins. (Berliner)

Sept. 24, 1952; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (BBU)
7:45-8:10 p.m. (EDT). USN crew of TBM bomber, pilot William N. Straughan, and G. W. Turnbow and Alan Morris, chased a maneuvering white light with greenish tail, changed color to red on rapid ascent from 25,000 to 35,000 ft, appearing as “brilliant white light” 15 ft diameter at closest approach [less than ½ mile?] when it was “so close that the bright light blanked out all view of the lights on McCalla Field.” At 8-10 miles distance appeared to be size of SNB aircraft (48 ft wingspan). ~25 mins (Sparks; BB Maxwell Microfilm Roll 16, pp. 150ff.; Weinstein; Ruppelt pp. 43-44; Menzel 1963)

Sept. 26, 1952; 400 miles NNW of Azores Islands (BBU 2126) [CCL Item # 22]
11:16 p.m. Pilot, copilot, engineer and aircraft commander of USAF C-124 transport plane saw 2 distinct green lights to the right and slightly above the C-124, at one time seemed to turn toward it, the lights alternated leading each other. 1 hr + (Berliner)

Sept. 27, 1952; Hempstead, Texas (BBU)
2 USAF T-33 pilots saw a white-silver circular flat disc flying erratically at 600-700 mph. (Weinstein)

Sept. 27, 1952; Inyokern, Calif. (BBU 2128)
10 p.m. 2 couples, using a 5x telescope saw a large, round object, which went through the color spectrum every 2 secs, fly straight and level. 15 mins. (Berliner)

Sept. 28, 1952; TsuShima Island, Japan (BBU)
[34:24N; 129:20E] Carlton L Hall, USAF was a scope (TPS-1B plan 12 and 7) operator at Tsutsu Seki, Japan. He reported that between 2035 and 2209 hrs local time, on six separate occasions, each time for a duration of 2-4 sweeps, he noted unusual scope presentations. Specifically, that on two separate outbound tracks from Itszuke AFB [33:18N; 130:27E], a series of targets appeared directly behind aircraft, when entering the area 050 to 070 degrees from Tsutsu Seki. The objects appeared as normal aircraft, but rounder in shape, trailing about 2-3 miles to the rear of the aircraft. The weather was CAVU, scattered clouds. Warren D Grovenstein, USAF observed four of these anomalies, with Hall. Grovenstein stated that the scope was normal with minor sea clutter and visual PE. The PBB conclusion was ‘appears to be due to atmospheric changes caused by passage of the target aircraft through this particular area, resulting in ionization and extraneous echoes.’(Basterfield, Fold3; Sparks; McDonald list.)

Sept. 28, 1952; Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada (BBU)
An object resembling an aircraft traveling north to south at approximately 120 mph, was seen on GCA radar as it passed 1 1/2 miles east of runway 27. The object had to be at an altitude of less that 4000 feet due to the limitations of the GCA unit. The signal on the scope was strong and clear. (McDonald list)

Sept. 29, 1952; Denmark
Large cigar with several disc shaped objects below it. (Source unknown)

Sept. 29 [?], 1952. Aurora [Denver?], Colorado (BB)
3:15 p.m. USAF T/Sgt. B. R. Hughes saw 5-6 circular objects, bright white but not shiny, circle in trail formation. 5-6 mins [Same as Denver Sept. 30 case?] (Sparks; Berliner)

Sept. 29, 1952. Rochester, England, UK [?]. (BBU 2136)
3:55 p.m. Witnesses unknown, but report came via the Rochester Police Dept., of 2 flat objects hovering then speeding away. 3 mins. (Berliner)

Sept. 29, 1952; Southern Pines, North Carolina (BBU 2140)
8:15 p.m. U.S. Army Res. 1st Lt. C. H. Stevens and 2 others saw a green ellipse. with a long tail, orbiting. 15 mins. (Berliner)

Sept. 30, 1952; Edwards AFB, California
Aviation photographer, others, observed two discs alternately hovering and darting around. [UFOE, VI]

Sept. 30, 1952; Denver, Colo. (BBU 2138) Same as Sept. 29 Aurora case?] (NARA)

OCTOBER

NARA-PBB1-84-85, October Sightings

Oct. 1, 1952; Shaw AFB, South Carolina (BBU 2142)
6:57 p.m. USAF 1st Lt. T. J. Pointek, pilot of RF-80 recon jet, saw a bright white light fly straight, then vertical, then hover, then make abrupt turn during attempted intercept. 23 mins. (Berliner)

Oct. 1, 1952; Pascagoula, Mississippi (BBU 2143)
7:40 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. C. C. McLean and another heard a loud blast and saw a round, milky-white object, shaped like a powder puff, hover for 5-10 mins then fly away very fast in an arc. 22 mins (Berliner)

Oct. 7, 1952. Provence near Draguignan, France (BBU)
7:28 p.m. Air France pilots Francis Cavasse and in flight sighted white egg-shaped object, larger thn transport aircraft [200 ft?] in level flight traveling NE to SW in 230° heading pass about 3 km above traveling estimated 2,000 to 3,000 kph (1200 to 1800 mph) with bluish-white exhaust trail about 25x length of object. 30 secs.

Oct. 7, 1952; Alamogordo, New Mexico (BBU 2150)
8:30 p.m. USAF Lt. Bagnell saw a pale blue oval, with its long axis vertical, fly straight and level covering 30° of sky. 4-5 secs. (Berliner)

Oct. 10, 1952: Germany, Sweden, Norway
A cigar shaped object with smaller discs in attendance. (Last two Flying Saucer Review, Vol 2 #4)

Oct 10, 1952; North Atlantic
A Pan American Airways pilot reported a sighting of an unidentified aircarft at 16,000-17,000 feet on a SE heading. As the two a/c closed, the unidentified aircraft performed a 180 turn and disappeared in a NW direction. Sept 1952; History of the NE Air Command

Oct. 10, 1952; Otis AFB, Mass. (BBU 2155)
6:30 p.m. USAF S/Sgt and 2 other enlisted men saw a blinking white light move like a pendulum then shoot straight up. 20 mins. (Berliner)

Oct. 11, 1952; Newport News, Va.
Ground Observer Corps spotter saw disc-shaped UFO with "dome". [UFOE, XII]

Oct. 12, 1952l Palo Alto, Calif.
V-formation of six apparent discs. [UFOE, V]

Oct. 13, 1952; Oshima, Japan
Air Force pilot and engineer saw round object in cloud formation; object became elliptical in appearance, sped away disappearing in seconds. [UFOE, III]

Oct. 14, 1952. Zuni, New Mexico, to Winslow, Ariz. (BBU)
9:50 p.m. (MST). Pilot Col. [deleted], Deputy Director, Office of Legislative Liaison, Office of Secretary of Defense, pilot Col. [deleted], USAF HQ, Chief, Senate and White House Liaison, and copilot Lt. Col. Albert L. Cox, USAFR contract pilot with Travis AFB, while flying in B-25 at 190 knots TAS (~220 mph) at 10,000 ft heading 260° sighted bright white-metallic dirigible shaped luminous object ~30° to the left (at 230° azimuth [or 30° right at 290° azmith]) elevation 40° above aircraft level, possibly 500 ft in size with 2 red lights attached, at 50-500 miles distance possibly 30,000 to 60,000 ft altitude, making zigzag flight path at high speed 1000-2000 mph, forcing aircraft to change course to 200°. Object disappeared in NW at 320° azimuth 20° elevation above flight level. 35 mins. (Sparks)

Oct. 15, 1952; Le Vigan, France
7:10 pm. Approximate date. Figures with and masks were seen through lighted windows inside a bright yellow, cigar-shaped object on the ground. Length 30 m, diameter 6 m. Forward section was rounded, and a sort of fog was noted at both ends of object. (Quincy; Anatomy 62)

Oct. 15, 1952; Ashiya, Japan (BBU)
11:00 p.m., 15 October and at 2:00 a.m., 16 October, unidentified objects were sighted on GCA radar scopes at Ashiya Air Base. The objects presented targets similar to light planes traveling from north to south at 50-70 mph at altitudes from 200 to 500 feet. The objects appeared at a distance of two miles or less north or west of the runways. As many as as five targets appeared at one time. The objects were observed with radar set AN/MPN-1 (GCA) on both the two and ten mile precision scopes. (McDonald list)

Oct. 17, 1952; Taos, New Mexico (BBU 2171)
9:15 p.m. 4 USAF officers saw a round, bright blue light move from N to NE at an elevation of 45° then burn out. 2-3 secs. (Berliner)

Oct. 17, 1952; Killeen, Texas (BBU 2172)
10:15 p.m. Ministers Greenwalt and Kluck saw 10 lights, or a rectangle of lights, move more or less straight and level. 5 secs. (Berliner)

Oct. 17, 1952; Tierra Amarilla AFS, New Mexico (BBU 2173)
11 p.m. Military witness [at USAF radar site] saw a white streamer move at an estimated 3,000 mph in an arc. No further details in files. 20 secs. (Berliner)

Oct. 19, 1952; Momence, Illinois (BB)
At 10:15 a.m. CST, a CAP pilot and observer while on a search mission saw a round silver ball flying at great speed at 1000 feet altitude. (BB files, Dan Wilson)

Oct. 19, 1952; San Antonio, Texas (BBU 2177)
1:30 p.m. Ex-USAF aircrewman Woolsey saw 3 circular aluminum objects, one olive-drab colored on the side, fly in a rough V-formation. One object flipped slowly, another stopped. 3-4 mins. (Berliner)

Oct. 19, 1952; (Pacific) 500 miles S of Hawaii (BBU 2175)
6:58 p.m. Crew of USAF C-50 transport plane saw a 100 ft diameter round yellow light, with a red glowing edge, fly at 300-400 knots (350-450 mph). 20 secs. (Berliner)

Oct. 21, 1952; Knoxville, Tenn. (BBU 2179)
No time given. Witnesses at airport weather station saw 6 white lights fly in a loose formation, make a shallow dive at a weather balloon. 1-2 mins. (Berliner)

Oct. 21, 1952; Nr. Gloucestershire, England
RAF Meteor encounters UFO which was tracked by ground radar. 'They were circular and appeared to be stationary. But as we continued to climb they did in fact change position arid to make sure of that we very carefully checked and these things moved across to the right-hand side somewhere. The higher we got, [the more] they lost this circular effect [which appeared] when looking at them from underneath. As they came down to your level they lost the circular effect and took on a ""flat plate" appearance.' (Ridge/Aldrich)

Oct. 22, 1952. Laurinburg-Maxton AFB, North Carolina (BBU)
10:10 p.m. Air policeman Airman 2nd Class Bernard F. DeMonte sighted large 100-150 ft football-chaped object with 2 steady red lights in front, 8-12 steady green lights in rear, approaching from the S then pass overhead as DeMonte guarded height-finder radar of 757th AC&W Sq (no detection) then circle around for another pass [map shows distances of ~1-2 miles], heard loud unfamilar droning noise of “ear-splitting pitch.” Object disappeared in SW [SE?] at “terrific speed.” Two other airmen, A/1C [deleted] and A/2C Frank L. Donnelly, heard unfamiliar noise and saw red/green lights from about 2 miles away. sev mins. (Sparks)

Oct. 23, 1952; RadTelex

A BB UFO briefing for the entire Los Alamos Scientific Lab. Afterwards Dr. Crew pulled together a group of Los Alamos personnel to meet privately with Ruppelt and Col. Bower to discuss radiation UFO evidence and info they had from Palomar, Los Alamos, and Oak Ridge on possible and actual UFO radiation incidents there. (See also Dec. 2 memo)

Oct. 24, 1952; Elberton [Elberta?], Alabama (BBU 2184)
8:26 p.m. USAF Lt. Rau and Capt. Marcinko, flying a Beech T-11 trainer, saw an object, shaped like a plate, with a brilliant front and vague trail, fly with its concave surface forward. 5 secs. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)

FBI Memo dated Oct 27, 1952: Newhouse film "extremely credible".

Oct. 27, 1952; Gaillac, France
Hundreds of citizens saw 16 UFOs in formation surrounding a cigar-shaped object. "Angel's hair" fell. [UFOE, VIII]

Oct. 27, 1952; Marignane Airport, France
2:03 am. Customs officer Gabriel Gachignard observed a cigar-shaped object land briefly on the airfield 100 m away, producing a dull sound. The object was dark with four lighted windows. It took off with a "swish" and a shower of sparks when the witness ran toward it. (Challenge 6)

Oct. 29, 1952; Erding Air Depot, Germany (BBU 2196)
7:50 a.m. USAF S/Sgt. Anderson and A/2c Max Handy saw a round object, silhouetted against a cloud, fly straight, level and smooth at 400 mph. 20 secs. (Berliner)

Oct. 29, 1952; Hempstead, Long Island, New York (BBU)
2 a.m. 2 USAF F-94 jet fighter crews saw a white luminous object maneuvering at high speed, tracked on airborne radar. (Weinstein; BB files??)

Oct. 29, 1952; Richmond, Virginia
Venezuelan Airlines pilot watched luminous UFO speed past plane. [UFOE, V]. Rivas Case (AL)

Oct. 31, 1952; 4 miles S of Fayetteville, Georgia (BBU 2200)
7:40 p.m. USAF Lt. James Allen saw an orange, blimp-shaped object, 80 ft long 20 ft wide, appear to the N at treetop level about 600 ft away, traveling towards him about 60-70 mph, cross over his car (when his radio faded out) at about 500 ft height. He got out of the car and watched object linger overhead about 20 secs, then point its nose at 45° angle, accelerate and climb to disappearance in 30­40 secs to the E and slightly to right of the full moon (96° azimuth 35° elevation) at tremendous speed.1 min. (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 191-2)

Oct. 31, 1952; Fayetteville, Georgia
7:40 p.m. Lt. Col. Charles Smith, Jr. observed a strange "air blimp" while driving towards Atlanta. It was an orange-colored object which came down close to the road. As Smith's car passed underneath, the car radio went dead--no static, no noise of any kind. He stopped his car to observe the UFO, which hovered overhead for 20 seconds and then climbed out of sight in 30-40 seconds. (Rodeghier, Blue Book)

NOVEMBER

NARA-PBB1-86 87, November Sightings

Nov., 1952; Dublin, Ireland
A child was burned when a strange disk, 25 cm in diameter, landed near Dublin. (Personal)

Nov. 3, 1952; Laredo AFB, Texas (BBU 2202)
6:29 p.m. AF 1923-9 AACS Detachment Control Tower Supervisor A/1c William R. Malloy and Tower Operator A/2c Charles A. LeMaster, viewing through open tower window, saw a long, elliptical or rounded football shape, about size of medium bomber [150 ft], shiny metallic or bluish-white-gray light with fuzzy/blurred edges at an estimated altitude of 4,000 ft approach very fast from the SW or 200°-210° azimuth (about SSW) elevation about 10°-20° possibly 10-20 miles away. LeMaster saw it first, in front of a dark cloud bank. Object slowed and paused to the S at about 180° azimuth 5°-10° elevation, and then increased speed to disappear in the SE or 140° to 175° (155°-165° in diagrams) azimuth (about SSE) elevation about 10°-20°. (Sparks; BB Files; Berliner)

Nov. 4, 1952

Capt. E. J. Ruppelt and Lt. R. M. Olsson visited Col. Hood, Chief of Nuclear Powered Aircraft Branch of WADC. Col. Hood had contacted ATIC in regard to certain sightings of UFO's at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in which he and a Naval officer had attempted to obtain correlation between sightings and peaks in radiation backgrounds.There are indications that there may be some correlation present between unknown radar pickups and rises in radiation

Nov. [Dec.?] 4, 1952; Congaree AFB, Columbia, South Carolina (BBU)
(McDonald list)

Nov. 4, 1952; W Hokkaido, Japan (BBU)
(FUFOR Index)

Nov. 4, 1952; Caribou, Maine (BBU)
5:28 p.m. (EST). USAF pilot of T-6G at 2,500 ft heading 360° Mag, 1st Lt. Charles E. Young, rear cockpit pilot Capt Leon H. Pagan, both of 74th FIS, Presque Isle AFB, Maine, saw a slow moving light changing colors behind them. Young sighted light in the W above low bank of clouds at about 10° elevation, changing colors from red to blue to white, notified Pagan in the back who also saw it, and described it as a white light like aircraft navigation light or star or planet, about 25° elevation. T-6 was turned into direction of light for about 40 miles and pilots noted 250° Mag azimuth from Limestone AFB and 245° Mag azimuth from Presque Isle AFB, before they returned course. Senior Control Tower Operator, A/2c Earl S. Goldsen, 1974th AACS Sq Detachment 1, notified at 5:36 p.m. and sighted light in the W that stopped and moved to the NW. Northwest Airlines Flight 12 landing at Presque Isle AFB also reported seeing the “star.” (Sparks; BB files; Project 1947)

Nov. 4, 1952; Vineland, New Jersey (BBU 2206)
5:40 p.m. Housewife Mrs. Sprague saw 2 groups of 2-3 whirling discs of light fly toward the SE. 30 secs. (Berliner)

Nov. 8, 1952; Tierra Amarilla AFS, New Mexico (BBU)
At 6:05 p.m. MST, an unidentified radar target first appeared at 143 degrees and 45 miles from the radar station of the 767th AC&W Squadron heading outbound to a point 100 miles from the station. The object was traveling at an estimated speed of 600 to 1500 mph and an estimated altitude of 40,000 feet. The object then returned on the reciprocal heading to a point 65 miles from the station. The object then stopped and hovered for approximately 2 minutes and then proceeded outbound to a point 100 miles from the station. At this point radar contact was lost. The radar was an FPS-3 radar. The object was under radar surveillance for approximately 10 minutes. (McDonald list, FUFOR Index, Dan Wilson)

Nov. 12, 1952; Los Alamos, New Mexico (BBU 2219)
10:23 p.m. AESS security inspector saw 4 red-white-green lights fly slowly over a prohibited area. 15 mins. (Berliner)

Nov. 18, 1952; Castelfranco, Italy
Nello Ferrari, 41, a farmer, found himself flooded with a reddish light and saw a large plate 10 m above him, between gold and copper in color. At the center of the bottom surface, 20 m in diameter, was a cylinder of 5 m diameter made of rapidly rotating parts, producing a noise similar to that of an electric motor. On the upper surface was a turret inside which three occupants were visible, looking directly at the witness. They looked perfectly human, wore rubber coveralls and transparent face masks. They spoke a few words, which were not understood; a loud metallic noise was heard; and the top part of the object lowered itself toward the lower plate. The sound gained intensity, and the craft flew vertically at very high speed. (102)

Nov. 13, 1952; Ophiem, Montana (BBU 2220)
2:20 a.m. (MST). Crew of USAF 779th AC&W station tracked an unidentified target on FPS-3 search radar at altitude 15,000 ft [typo in teletype reading 158,000 ft was not caught by BB which did not investigate] at distance 85 NM (98 miles) at 47°48’N, 108°05’W [to the SW from the radar station] traveling at 210 knots (240 mph) heading straight ESE [actually closer to E] until disappearance at 47°38’N, 105°05’W [also about 100 mi range] at 2:48 a.m. [not the 3:48 a.m. and mistaken 1+ hr duration that BB did not catch as another major typo in the Opheim AFS teletype]. Apparently was an unscheduled civil aircraft (IFO) flying from Kalispell, Mont., to Fargo, ND, or Duluth, Minn. (flight path is a close match to the radar target). 28 mins (Sparks; BB files)

Nov. 13, 1952; Glasgow, Montana (BBU 2220)
2:43 a.m. U.S. Weather Bureau observer Earl Oksendahl saw 5 oval-shaped objects, with lights all around them, fly in a V-formation for about 20 secs. Each object seemed to be changing position vertically by climbing or diving as if to hold formation. Formation came from the NW, made a 90° turn overhead, and flew away to the SW. 20 secs +. (Berliner)

Nov. 15, 1952; Near Pyongyang, North Korea (BBU)
USAF pilots flying T-6 aircraft was circled 3 times by a 10 ft silvery sphere. (Weinstein)

Nov. 15, 1952. Washington, DC (BBU)
2:40 a.m. (EST). AFOSI Special Agent, 4th Dist., pilot Capt. Martin J. Dawson, and wife, Frances C. Dawson, heard the sound of what seemed to be a flight of a half dozen jets at very low altitude, but when looking out the window they saw a much higher altitude single white / pale-blue light at an estimated 4,000 ft heading S [SW?] which passed nearly over their home slightly offset path to the E at high speed, faster than ever seen before, with none of the green, red or white running lights or wing lights required on night flights. After 7-8 secs, the light made a normal left turn to the S then an “abnormal” climb at about a 45 angle then the light went out. 7-8+ secs (Sparks; BB files)

Nov. 15, 1952; Wichita, Kansas (BBU 2224)
8:25-8:33 p.m. (CST). USAF senior pilot Maj. Robert L. Wallander, CO of B-47 Transition Section, 3520th Flying Training Sq, Air Training Command, and Capt. Ammon L. [G?] Belleman, B-47 airborne observer, A/3c Dewey J. Phipps, were standing near the Kansas National Guard Hangar, Wichita Municipal Airport, when they saw an elliptical object, blue-white when stationary, moving erratically from 290°-295° True azimuth 20° elevation, traveling on a heading of about 45° (NE) to disappear at 360° azimuth 50° elevation, about 1 mile away, red-orange-glow trailing end of object when moving. Phipps estimated object was about 3 ft size at about 1,400 to 1,500 ft above center of runway, as it made jerky 40 ft upward sweeps with 10-15 sec pauses; with each leap an orange trail appeared behind the object. Moved at high speed then stopped, reversed direction then stopped again NNW of Wichita at azimuth 350° elevation 40°, for 2 mins, then moved 10° to North 360°-005° then climbed to disappearance at 50° elevation. 8 mins. (Sparks; BB files; Berliner)

Nov. 15, 1952; Wichita, Texas (BBU)
8:25 p.m. USAF B­47 crew and passengers saw an elliptical blue-white object with orange or red tail, moving erratically. (BB Status Rpt?) [Same case as above??]

Nov. 15, 1952. McAndrew AFB, Newfoundland (BBU)
9:15 p.m. (AST). Officer-of-the-Day (OD) Lt and Tech Sgt sighted brilliant white egg-shaped object approach rapidly from the SW, then make a sharp flat 90° degree turn when nearly overhead, with no noise, then an “angling” turn climbing back to the SW while making a rapidly undulating, bouncing or skipping motion “like a bobbing cork,” until disappearing. Tech Sgt covered his face at one point to brace for impact (according to Ruppelt also the OD “ducked”). 5-6 secs. (Ruppelt papers; BB files)

Nov. 16, 1952. McAndrew AFB, Newfoundland (BBU)
1:15 a.m. (AST). Air Police Airman/3C Smith on guard duty at the AF Dock at McAndrew AFB sighted bright green oval object moving N to S then made a sharp turn to the E and dropped from sight. (BB files)

Nov. 16, 1952; Nr. Landrum, S. C.
Hundreds of people saw a huge disc, watched through binoculars by air-traffic controller. (UFOE)

Nov. 20, 1952; 10 miles E of Salton Sea, California (BBU)
8:05 p.m. MST. A USAF pilot flying a B-50 at 16,000 feet on a heading of 275 degrees sighted an object at 11 o'clock to his position. The object was stationary and was ranging in color from white to red to green. The object then started in motion in a NW heading and disappeared like turning out a light. (Project 1947)

Nov. 21, 1952; Belle-Ile, France
At a place alled "La Butte" a luminous sphere, which seemed to spin, its color changing from orange to white, was seen at low altitude. It oscillated left and right, then took off toward the southwest, according to the witness, Mr. Gauci. (Challenge 56)

Nov. 21, 1952; Carribbean Sea (BB)
5:10 a.m. EST. A large object, light red in color, too large and too bright to be another aircraft flew parallel to plane (Lacsa Airliner?) same altitude and air speed and disappeared after about 20 minutes. A CIRVIS Report was made. (BB files, Dan Wilson)

Nov. 24, 1952; Annandale, Virginia (BBU 2246)
6:30 p.m. L. L. Brettner saw a round, glowing object fly very fast, make right angle turns and reverse course. 1 hr. (Berliner)

Nov. 25, 1952; White Sands, New Mexico (BBU)
(McDonald list)

Nov. 25, 26, 1952; Panama Canal, Panama [CCL Item # 41] (BB)
6:06 P.M. to 11:47 p.m. Two objects traveling at an estimated speed of 275 mph were detected by radar attached to antiaircraft guns. The objects remained over the Canal Zone for 5 1/2 hours. Three Air Force bombers and a Navy patrol plane were sent up but were unable to catch the elusive objects. Maneuvering from 1000 feet to 28,000 feet in altitude. [NARA-PBB92-585; UFOE, VIII].

Nov. 26, 1952; Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada (BBU)
5:56 p.m. (AST) USAF 59th FIS, Goose Air Base, F-94B chased maneuverable object that changed color from white [orange?] to red, heading 180° (S) to SW. Brief F-94 radar lock-on. 15 mins. (Sparks; BB files; BB Report 9, p. 45; McDonald list; NICAP; Project 1947)

Nov. 27, 1952; Albuquerque, New Mexico [S of Prescott, Ariz. ?] (BBU 2249)
12:10 p.m. Pilot and crew chief of USAF B-26 bomber saw a series of 20 ft black smoke bursts (4-3-3-4-3), similar to antiaircraft fire. 20 min. (Berliner)

Nov. 30, 1952; Washington, D.C (BBU 2253)
12:30 a.m. (EST). CAA Senior Airways Specialist Austin M. Stapf (not a radar operator or controller) at Washington National Airport CAA Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) claimed that numerous slow-moving 90-100 mph radar targets appeared on the MEW VG-2 radar. Suggestive of anomalous propagation, but contrary to Stapf and BB, were not “similar” to the July 19/26, 1952, unexplained radar targets: They were unlike the July 1952 cases since there was no visual confirmation, no other radars confirming, and no fighters scrambled. Pilot at 6,000 ft at 12:30 a.m. saw nothing. Stapf claimed “same” thing was observed at same time previous night (12:30 a.m. Nov. 29??) and that Andrews AFB watch supervisor could not visually confirm targets over Andrews displayed on the ARTCC radar scope. Military witness(es) [?].5 hrs ?? (Sparks; Berliner; Saunders/FUFOR Index; BB files)

DECEMBER

NARA-PBB1-88 89, December Sightings

December 2, 1952; CIA Memo

An EOTS Moment for the CIA. Chadwell told Brad Sparks they concluded that UFO's were extraterrestrial -- that was what he was telling the CIA Director in this Dec. 2, 1952, memo.

Dec. 4, 1952; Colorado Springs, Colo. (BBU)
Bet. 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. USAF Sgt and civilian sighted round aluminum colored object traveling E to W, made several right-angle turns while overhead without slowing, then changed shape as it disappeared in the W. 1 min. (Sparks; BB Status Report 10, Feb 1953, p. 13; McDonald list; Saunders/FUFOR Index)

Dec. 4, 1952; Congaree AFB, South Carolina
At 8:42 a.m. EST, an object was sighted on an AN/MPS-5 radar set. The object was approx. 100 miles NE of Congaree AFB and traveling at 6,000 mph on a southern course. The object stopped for one minute and then came directly back in the path it was moving, according to a statement by A/1C Clarence W. Ives. The length of the observation was 5 minutes. (Dan Wilson)

Dec. 4, 1952; Laredo, Texas (BBU) [CCL Item #1]
8:46-8:56 p.m. (CST). USAF pilot Lt. Robert O. Arnold, 3640th Pilot Taining Wing, Laredo AFB, flying T-28 trainer aircraft at 6,000 ft and 180 knots air speed saw a bright bluish-white glowing object below him at about 1,500-2,000 ft rapidly climbing to his level, showing no navigation lights. Arnold tightened his left turn to keep object in view, object suddenly climbed to 9,000 ft in several secs then dropped down to his altitude again headed E to 6 miles SE of AFB where it stopped and hovered. Arnold pursued on SE heading but after 2 secs object suddenly headed towards him on collision course at high speed at 8:53 p.m., wavering slightly at about 300 ft as if determining which side to pass the aircraft then heading off Arnold's left wing at 150 ft distance, at which point he could see object as a blurred reddish-bluish haze smaller than his T-28, all of which happened too fast for evasive action. Object rapidly ascended to 15,000 ft then circled left as if positioning for another pass at T-28. Arnold in fear turned off running lights, spiraled down to 1,500 ft while keeping object in sight as object continued to head towards him in a dive then pulled up and climbed S out of sight. Lighted weather balloon launched at 8:53 p.m. from Laredo AFB but was not observed by US Weather Bureau observers near any aircraft. 8 mins. (Sparks; BB files; NARCAP; BB Report 10, Feb 1953, p. 15 [BB date error Dec. 5]; Project 1947)

Dec. 5, 1952; Lackland AFB, Texas (BBU)
8:48 p.m. USAF pilot of T-28 saw a blue light maneuver in a counterclockwise orbit then climb. BB date and location error; case is duplicate of Laredo AFB case above. (Sparks; Project 1947)

Dec. 6, 1952; About 100 miles S of Louisiana in Gulf of Mexico (BBU) [CCL Item #8]
5:25-5:35 [5:37?] a.m. (CST). USAF crew of B-29 bomber, based at 3510th Flight Training Wing (Medium Bomber), Randolph AFB, Texas, radar observer 1st Lt Norman Karas, radar observer/Instructor Navigator 1st Lt. William W. Naumann, Jr., Staff Sgt B. R. Purcell, Staff Sgt. William J. De Rause, 2nd Lt. Robert J. Eckert, Staff Sgt. Harry D. Shogren. B-29 flying at 20,000 ft, course 320° true ground track (315° heading with wind from 276° 24 knots), 186 knots (214 mph) ground speed, 204 knots true air speed, tracked on radar one or a few high speed targets at a time moving in a straight line at about 5,240 stat. mph, followed by more targets [one or one new group about every minute for 5 minutes] also moving SE [ESE] typically at about 5,000+ mph. Initial targets, about 4 small blips in a group, approached from 330° true on a SE [ESE] heading moving 12-14 NM per 2.25 sec radar sweep [about 22,000 to 26,000 mph] passed B-29 at 15-20 (naut.) miles range at 70° true azimuth when stopwatch timing began, and disappeared at true azimuth 150° at a timed speed of 5,240 mph [apparently slowed]. (See more details at link above)

Dec. 6, 1952; Angoon, Alaska (BBU)
At 1915 hrs Z, (10:15 a.m. local) an Air National Guard pilot (surname Spain?), near Angoon, Alaska reported an object travelling south in clear sky. It was described as consisting of two shiny globes connected by a solid rod. At times, it assumed a flattened shape. There were no lights, no vapor trail and no exhaust smoke. The pilot chased it, until it accelerated away and disappeared in the Sun, at 8 degrees’ elevation, 158 azimuth (about the SSE.) The object was at about 2,000 feet, doing 150 knots; at an estimated distance of 1-2 miles. Size comparable to a Grumman Goose aircraft (wingspan 49 feet), making the angular size about the full Moon. Total duration was three minutes. (Basterfield, Fold3; Sparks; McDonald list.)

Dec. 8, 1952; Ladd AFB, Alaska (BBU 2266)
8:16 p.m. Pilot 1st Lt. D. Dickman and radar operator 1st Lt. T. Davies in USAF F-94 jet interceptor (s/n 49-2522) saw a white, oval light which changed to red at higher altitude, fly straight and level for 2 mins on 240° course, then climb at phenomenal speed on an erratic flight path. After landing object could still be seen moving erratically, no noise, for 3 mins then took up 160° heading gaining speed while descending, becoming brighter red. 10 mins. (Berliner; cf. Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Dec 8, 1952; Chicago, Illinois
Aircraft paced by row of unidentified lights. [UFOE, V]. Thorpe/Plowe (M)

Dec. 9, 1952; About 10 miles S of Madison, Wisc. (BBU 2267)
5:45 p.m. Capt. Bridges and 1st Lt. Johnson in USAF T-33 jet trainer saw 4 bright lights, in diamond formation, fly at 400 mph heading 130° or about SW at about 8,000 ft. They followed objects at 450 mph until passing (overtaking) them near 10 miles NE of Janesville, Wisc. (at 42°47' N, 88° 55' W) at 5:50 p.m., at which time they radioed the ADC 755th AC&W radar site "Soapberry," which could not detect objects, only the T-33. Objects continued on 90° E heading and T-33 followed until breaking off due to low fuel at 5:55 about 10 miles W of Racine, Wisc. (at 42°45' N, 88° 0' W). No silhouette visible even when objects seen against Milwaukee city lights. 10 mins. (Berliner; cf. Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Dec. 10, 1952 - CIA Followup Memo

Natural and manmade explanations were eliminated and UFO performance was beyond earth technology. The Director was unhappy with the skimpy evidence in these memos and wanted more documentation, according to recently released TOP SECRET CIA meeting minutes. As Chadwell was quick to tell Brad Sparks, the Robertson Panel "overturned" his ET conclusion the following month, in Jan 1953. (See Dec. 2 memo)

Dec. 10, 1952; Pope AFB, South Carolina (BBU)
9:20 a.m. (EST). USAF Capt Albert F. Perna, Chief Controller, controller Capt Duane Ulstad, and radar operators MSgt R. DeGordin,Capt Ralph E. Coburn, and Capt Stephen Lesko, at 728th AC&W Sq using CPS-5D (1250 MHz) search radar, and height-finding MSQ-1 (2730 MHz) and MPQ-10 radars tracked almost stationary target of ordinary aircaft shape and size on the scopes, at 8,700 ft slowly descending to 4,400 ft and 8½ miles S of station (or at 155° azimuth?) not eliminated by movingtarget indicator (MTI). F-51 and 3 other aircraft investigated but found nothing; 8 transient flights saw nothing. Same (?) target observed on Dec. 11; also on Dec. 9 but at about 7 miles range ~170° azimuth. 7 hrs 55 mins. (Sparks; BB files; McDonald list; Saunders/FUFOR Index; BB Report 10, Feb 1953, p. 20)

Dec. 10, 1952; Hungnam, Korea (BBU)
USN pilot flying aircraft in near-collision with orange fireball. (Weinstein; BB files??)

Dec. 10, 1952; Odessa-Hanford, Wash. (BBU)
7:15-7:30 p.m. (PST). F-94 crew spotted a light while flying at 26,000-27,000 ft and approached to identify it. Object appeared large, round and white with reddish light coming from two "windows," came at F-94 on collision course, F-94 banked to avoid impact, radar contact and/or lockon made multiple times on airborne ARC-33 radar. 15 mins. (Ruppelt p. 43; NARCAP)

Dec. 11, 1952. Leonardo, NJ (BBU)
11:43 p.m. (EST). Two schoolteachers with military backgrounds at Croydon Hall Academy, Francis J. Auermuller and Elmer W. Inglesby, were observing the constellation Orion in the S and sighted a red metallic sphere from the right of Orion headed left into the sword of Orion at about 45° elevation about due S at 180° azimuth, pass through to about 135° azimuth then reverse course with almost no turn radius then gradually lower elevation to 35° till reaching 180° azimuth and disappearing due to distance. Estimated size possibly 200 ft at 25,000 ft distance traveling 2,000 mph [45° azimuth or about 30° arc at 45° elevation, at 25,000 ft range in 15 secs, is about 600 mph]. 30 secs. (Sparks; BB files)

Dec. 12, 1952

Brad Sparks:
Top CIA officials (Chadwell, Robertson, Durant) visited ATIC Project BLUE BOOK to obtain the withheld UFO investigation reports that Ruppelt indicated in phone conversation with CIA missile intelligence officer Frederick C. Durant III on Dec. 9 were being held back from CIA by orders of his boss ATIC Technical Analysis Division Chief, Col. Donald L. Bower, evidently acting at the behest of the AF Intelligence leaders, Gen. Garland and Dr. Stefan Possony. In other words an AF coverup to help conceal evidence of UFO reality from the CIA.

Col. Bower was blocking Ruppelt's planned visit to CIA in Washington, DC, to prevent him from delivering these reports showing them to be sensational cases (movie film, theodolite triangulation, landing case with burn injuries) but IFO's and not UFO Unknowns or best of the best, as the AF had falsely claimed in the briefing given to CIA on Nov. 25. Ruppelt's investigative reports would have undone too soon the false pro-UFO impression the AF had given to CIA -- the false "UFO" reports were intended to be revealed as IFO's at the CIA Robertson Panel to embarrass the CIA to stay out of AF business, and not sooner. Col. Bower himself had given the deliberately misleading AF briefing to CIA on Nov. 25, falsely promising CIA the AF's "full cooperation," and bringing along the lower-ranking pro-ETH advocate Maj. Fournet whose participation was calculated to reinforce pro-ETH conclusions on the CIA. The AF briefing convinced the leaders of CIA/OSI (Office of Scientific Intelligence) that UFO's were extraterrestrial spacecraft.

Ruppelt gave the CIA team led by Dr. H. Marshall Chadwell (director of CIA/OSI and now convinced of the ET origin of UFO's) dozens of additional "best UFO" reports to study but in fact they were all IFO cases designed to blow up in CIA faces at the Robertson Panel. Ruppelt completely withheld from CIA, and concealed the existence of, his special file of more than 63 Best Unexplained UFO cases, no doubt by direct orders of Col. Bower, whose name keeps popping up in the story of devious AF coverups on UFO's in 1952. (Brad Sparks)

Dec. 12, 1952. McGuire AFB, Trenton, NJ. (BBU)
12:25-12:31 a.m. (EST). Two airmen in the 568th Motor Vehicle Sq, McGuire AFB, sighted object to the ESE heading WSW towards the base until passing overhead then change course heading S, observed 1+ min until it disappeared, then regained it at 12:30 a.m. in the ENE headed towards base course to WSW, observed 40-50 secs. (Sparks; BB files)

Dec. 14, 1952; Charlottesville, Virginia (BBU)
11:45 a.m. (EST). Aeronautical engineer former test pilot saw a light orange elliptical shaped object, hovering then move NE at extreme speed, 1,000+ mph estimated. Object gave off discharge that changed brightness when object moved; debris lofted in the air apparently by the object. (Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Dec. 15, 1952; Memo For The Record

Capt. E. J. Ruppelt's call to Homer T. Gittings, Jr. concerning visual sightings of UFOs and radiation of unknown sources, reference to Mt. Palomar. A Mr. W. W. Carter of Los Alamos, New Mexico, was the person who knew people at Mt. Palomar who had seen unidentifed aerial objects at the same time they had detected some radiation.

Dec. 15/16, 1952; Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada (BBU) [CCL Item #7]
Dec. 15, 1952. 10-20 mi W of Goose AB, Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada. 7:15-7:40 p.m. (AST). After alert by Goose Bay GCA radar, USAF 59th FIS, Goose Air Base, F-94B pilot Capt. E. T. Johnson and radar observer Lt. H. S. Norris, chased maneuverable object at a speed of 375 knots [430 mph] on a heading of 270° to 280°, altitude of 14,000 to 24,000 ft. Object changed color from white to red, was tracked on airborne radar 1 minute with momentary lock-on. Unable to overtake object. T-33 crew also sighted it. 25 mins (Sparks; BB files; BB Report 10, Feb 1953, p. 27; NICAP; Saunders/FUFOR Index) [This was a USAF Intelligence Report and was item #7 on the official clearance list of sightings to Major Donald Keyhoe from Al Chop, Air Force Press Desk - Fran Ridge]

Dec. 15, 1952; Honshu, Japan (BBU)
8:54 p.m. local time. An unidentified track appeared on the Early Warning Ground Radar Site #24. It was a large blip and estimated to be more than one target. The estimated speed of the target was 1320 mph. The radar being used was the AN/TPS-1C. The target was seen on the first, second and fourth sweeps of the antenna. The antenna speed was 2 rpm. (Dan Wilson, McDonald list)

Dec. 15, 1952; Greensboro [Hartsville), South Carolina (BBU)
9:15 a.m. (EST). Major Ruffin W. Gray, USAF pilot of RF-80, 363rd Tactical Recon Group, Shaw AFB, headed W at 300 mph at 15,000 ft saw a bright circular or spherical silvery object about 10+ miles away at 11 o’clock High position, at 30,000+ ft, losing and gaining 3,000 ft altitude at rate of about 5,000 ft/min [ft/sec]. 10-15 secs (Sparks; BB files; BB Report 10, Feb 1953, p. 25; Project 1947; Saunders/FUFOR Index)

Dec. 15, 1952. Greensboro, North Carolina (BBU)
9:25 a.m. (EST). Lt. Robert H. Williams, USAF pilot of RF-80, 363rd Tactical Recon Group, Shaw AFB, plus flight leader of the other RF-80, heading N at 300 mph at 25,000 ft saw a bright circular or spherical silvery object with 2 projections on top, which circled around them from 11 o’clock to 6 o’clock position. 45 secs (Sparks; BB files; BB Report 10, Feb 1953, p. 26; Project 1947; Saunders/FUFOR Index)

Dec. 17 (approx), 1952; Philadelia, PA
3:05 AM EST. Again a color change from one color to metallic. Some similarities to the April 1943 incident at Long Beach, CA. One person report. However, in this case, the color change was due to a change in aspect from the witness point of view. (Jan Aldrich) 5-mins

Dec. 17, 1952; San Diego, Cal. (BBU)
Four members of the U.S. Navy Electronics Laboratory at San Diego, observed two or more objects described as cigar or disc shaped that emanated bright light in smooth flight. The speed of the objects was described as being from the speed of a present day jet aircraft to 1500 miles per hour. One witness said he saw later five of six of these things orbiting in a small area.

Dec. 18, 1952; Itazuke AFB, Japan
8:28 a.m. local time. Five plots were observed on an AN/MPS-5 radar scope with an average speed 710 knots. The course from initial plot was 270 degrees varying to 312 degrees. The target size was approximately that made by a B-29 type aircraft. Successive tracks indicated an increase of speed ranging from 300 knots on initial pickup to an estimated 1040 knots on the 4th pickup. The length of the observation was 9 minutes. (Dan Wilson)

Dec. 18, 1952; Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Cat 9. Radar-visual (NICAP source)

Dec. 18, 1952

Brad Sparks:
Dr. H. Marshall Chadwell, director of the CIA Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI), notifies the DCI (Director of Central Intelligence) Gen. Walter Bedell Smith, that the Robertson Panel was being postponed (indefinitely or to at least March 1953 or later) in order to give the AF contractor Battelle Memorial Institute enough time to complete its statistical study of all of Blue Book's UFO case files. In meeting with Chadwell at Blue Book on Dec. 12 Battelle's Dr. Howard Cross had pleaded with CIA to postpone the Robertson Panel so Battelle would have time to finish its study and Chadwell and Robertson agreed to do so. (But within days, evidently after getting pressure from the AF, the DCI overruled the postponement and put it back on the fast track for the AF-manipulated rush to judgment.) (Brad Sparks)

Dec. 19, 1952; Anderson AFB, Guam (BBU)
6:50 [8:50?] a.m. USAF crew of B-17 bomber and ground witnesses saw a silvery cylindrical object. (BB Status Rpt)

Dec 22, 1952

Brad Sparks:
Ruppelt found out the CIA Robertson Panel was back on again after being shelved the previous two weeks. Apparently under pressure from the AF which was setting a trap to embarrass the CIA with sensational IFO cases dressed up as "best" Unknown UFO cases, the CIA Director, Gen. Walter Bedell Smith, reversed CIA/OSI's decision to postpone the Panel meeting till March 1953 or later. DCI Smith ordered the Robertson Panel to be carried out immediately (as the AF had ordered through the IAC). Thus a rush-to-judgment Panel would have no time to reflect on the AF trickery involved in the IFO's-as-UFO's deception and would just react in dismissive skepticism that there was no scientific evidence for UFO reality, and hence no reason for CIA to intrude into the AF's jurisdiction over air intelligence matters such as unidentified aerial threats (UFO's). Ruppelt called ADC (Air Defense Command) to say that he would not be able to conduct the ADC UFO briefing tour as previously scheduled, due to the CIA meeting now tentatively set in early Jan. 1953 (he confirmed the call by teletype Dec 23). (Brad Sparks)

Dec. 22, 1952; Larson AFB, Moses Lake, Wash. [??] (BBU)
7:30 p.m. Instrument technician stopped his car to watch a hat-shaped glowing object rising vertically in odd spurts right and left, then level off at high speed, glowing white with a red side when rotated, and halfway through a roll no light, then held stationary in the sky with jumpy movements, S of Jupiter (which was to the SSE at about 151° azimuth 53° elevation). 15 mins. (Battelle Unknown No. 6)

December 23, 1952 Letter

Letter from Office of Naval Research, Pasadena Branch to Chief of Naval Research. Details on old report of unusual phenomena concerning erratic equipment behavior at Palomar.

Dec. 24, 1952; Camp Carson, Colorado (BBU)
4:17 p.m. MST. Three airmen observed a silver circular object hovering at an estimated altitude of 2,000 feet at an estimated 4 miles distance for approximately 2 or 3 minutes. The object then disappeared at a high rate of speed. All three airmen were assigned to the 3924 Air Police Squadron. (McDonald, Dan Wilson, BB files)

Dec. 24, 1952; Dallas, Texas
At 12:15 p.m. CST, an object was observed on an AN/APG-41 gun laying radar and AN/APS-23 navigation radar on an airborne B-36 aircraft at 40 miles east to 80 miles NE of Dallas, Texas. The target was detected on both north and south headings at 40,000 feet and on a descent to 15,000 feet. The target was tracked at a distance of 2000 to 4000 yards. The AN/APS-23 presentation of the phenomenon was similar to recent release of PPI photographs of sightings made over Washington D.C. The AN/APG-41 radar was instrumented with an 0/15 camera. Film was taken, although not clear, it does indicated the presence and trackability of the phenomenon. The Air Intelligence Information Report on this incident states, "Its behavior of attempting to remain 2000 to 4000 yards in front of the B-36 during descent from 40,000 to 15,000 feet was unexplainable, and seemed to indicate that something intelligent was guiding it." The total length of observation was 30 minutes. The operator of the AN/APS-23 radar said on several occasions he detected other targets and they were very sharp. (Dan Wilson, BB Files)

Dec. 27, 1952; Borger, Texas & Albuquerque, New Mexico (BBU)
10:09 p.m. (MST). Military pilot saw an elongated cigarlike object the size of a medium bomber traveling E to W. Probable near-simultaneous meteor IFO with severalminute clock time errors. 4-20 secs (Sparks; BB files; BB Report 10, Feb 1953, p. 34 [erroneous BB date Dec. 28]; Saunders/FUFOR Index)

Dec. 28, 1952; Franklin, Indiana and other cities
Starting very early in the morning (at about 4:48 AM?) and lasting about four hours and 15 min, three objects were observed by many witnesses, including police from Edinburgh, Columbus, Connorsville, Seymour, Fort Wayne and Madison, Indiana. One object was reportedly larger than the other two. The area over which the objects were seen and the period of time observed indicates a logical explanation of the astronomy category. [Letter 521228 Franklin IN.pdf handwitten after the event and transcribed by Lara Elliott] (Mike Swords, Robert Marler, Lara Elliott)

Dec. 28, 1952; Marysville, Calif. (BBU 2302)
Civilian witness(es). Case missing. (NARA)

Dec. 29, 1952

Subject: Preparation for trip to Los Alamos, N.M., and the West Coast. Capt. Ruppelt had called Lt. Col. Paul H. Butman, Division of Military Applications, Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, D.C. Col. Butman had previously been briefed on the possible correlation between detection of radiation from unknown sources and unidentified flying objects by Capt. Ruppelt during a visit to AEC. Col. Butman was requested to contact Los Alamos laboratories and request that Mr. Carter, Mr. Gittings, and Mr. Simmons come to Albuquerque for an interrogation.

Dec. 29 [28?], 1952; Chitose AFB [Misawa AFB? Hokkaido?], Japan (BBU) [CCL Item#13]
7:30 [7:39? 7:48?] p.m. USAF crews of B-26 (Ashley and Wood) and F-84G (Col. Howard Blakeslee) saw object emitting 3 beams of light and tracked on airborne radar. 7 mins. (Weinstein; FUFOR Index)

Dec. 29, 1952; 35 miles W of Amarillo near Vega, Texas and ESE of Tucumcari, New Mexico (BBU)
9:05 p.m. (CST). USAF Capt. William T. Bowley and Capt. Herbert T. Lange, both of Perrin AFB, Texas, piloting a B-26 on a training flight headed W at 257° at 6,000 ft altitude and 250 knots (300 mph) saw a extremely large and intense bright round bluish-white light with frequent green tints, no trail or exhaust or aerodynamic features, about 3x the size of a C-54 (or about 350 ft) at a distance of possibly 40 miles at their 11 o'clock position paralleling their course at about the same altitude 6,000 ft heading forward but closing with the B-26. After 5 mins object suddenly climbed vertically 7,000 ft in 5 secs [1,400 ft/sec average, or peak velocity about 2,000 mph at about 17 g's] to disappear in thin broken overcast clouds at 13,000 ft and causing the clouds to glow as if lit by searchlight. Bowley radioed the CAA controller in Tucumcari, N.Mex. Shortly after, the object reappeared under the clouds, the CAA controller was told to look for it but couldn't see it [probably because he was told to look in the wrong direction, to the SW, or it was obscured by clouds], after 2 mins it climbed to the W and disappeared. 7-10 mins. (Jan Aldrich)

Dec. 30, 1952; Terrigal, New South Wales, Australia (BBU)
12 noon. RAAF Wing Commander Tomkins and wife and child [Alexander?] saw an extremely brilliant carbon-arc bright object to the E about 7.5° elevation in very slow level flight to the left or N for about 1 min over about 8° of arc, estimated at about 2,000 ft height and 2 miles away. Object suddenly turned E and departed away from the observers at high speed disappearing in about 20 secs. 1 min 20 secs. (Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)

Dec. 31, 1952; NE of Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico. (BBU)
4:45 a.m. local time. An Aircraft Commander, Capt. Robert P. Gennrich, the First Pilot, 1st Lt. John C. Moore, and the left scanner, A/1C Anthony A. Eakovich, of RB-36 #2007, sighted an unidentified flying object. The object was first seen by the Aircraft Commander and First Pilot on the horizon and was observed to approach the aircraft which was flying on a course of 73 degrees at 8,000 feet altitude. The object was spherical in shape and reddish-orange in color and approximately 8 feet in diameter. It appeared to pass over the the left wing of the aircraft at a distance of approximately 300 feet or greater and travel away from the tail of the aircraft at a high rate of speed and then commence to climb until out of sight. The left scanner, A/1C Anthony A. Eakovich, stated then when he saw the object it was directly behind the RB-36 at a distance unknown, and it veered off to the right and began to climb sharply at a high rate of speed until it was out of sight. At the time of the sighting the aircraft was flying straight and level. (Weinstein; FUFOR Index

Winter of 1952-1953; Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada
11:00 PM+- A target appeared on the radar screen. It was located about ninety miles out and approaching from the north at an approximate speed of ninety mph. The radar in use was not equipped with any method of measuring altitude, so the height of the target could not be determined. The fact that the target was approaching from due north (0 degrees on the radar screen) was very unusual since no military or civilian airfields were located in that direction. Its slow speed of travel was equally strange. Most aircraft that approached Goose Bay from a northerly direction were flights coming in from Thule, Greenland. where the United States was building an air base and radar site. The azimuth direction of such flights, as displayed on the radar screen, was about 045 degrees. (RADCAT)

Source:

http://www.nicap.org/chronos/1952FIXED.htm