Incident Report: Radar Sighting at Dobbins AFB, July 21, 1952

This document consists of a military teletype report and associated meteorological data charts regarding an unidentified radar target observed on July 21, 1952, at Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta, Georgia. The report, originating from the 35th Air Division, details a sighting at 21:10 hours. According to the report, a wind-finding target was being tracked by ground radar when a second, unidentified signal appeared at a greater slant range. This second signal reportedly moved toward the wind-finding target, passed through it, and returned to the target, appearing to 'play' with it. The unknown object then remained stationary for three to five minutes before moving away. The observation was made on an SCR-584 radar unit by a radar technician, T Sgt Cheresnowsky, who was described as very reliable with two years of experience on the equipment. The sighting was witnessed by Lt. W. L. Rishel and S Sgt Jack Myers. The report provides specific technical details, including an azimuth of 306 degrees, an elevation angle of 60 degrees, a slant range of 20,000 yards, and an altitude of 53,000 feet, with a speed estimated at not over 50 knots. The document includes an evaluation by R. James, who stated that additional radar data was necessary to properly evaluate the target. James suggested that if the unidentified target was on the exact same line of sight as the wind-finding target, a malfunction of the radar set would be a possible explanation. The file also contains several pages of meteorological data, specifically adiabatic charts and data blocks, which appear to be related to the wind-finding balloon tracking conducted at the time of the incident. The document is marked as unclassified.