Air Intelligence Information Report: Sighting of Unidentified Aerial Object, 12 October 1952

On 12 October 1952, at approximately 2100 hours, a US Marine Corps F7F aircraft, piloted by Major E. Carr with Radar Observer CWO L. D. Young, was flying an escort Combat Air Patrol (CAP) over the water off Hungnam, North Korea. While executing a port turn to a heading of 230 degrees, the crew observed a reddish-orange ball of light, estimated to be six to eight inches in diameter, appearing at their four o'clock position at an altitude of approximately 7,500 feet. The object appeared to be at the same altitude as the aircraft. Major Carr attempted to intercept the object, increasing speed to approximately 220 knots, but the object descended and moved away to the North at a speed estimated to be twice that of the F7F. The Radar Observer attempted to track the object on the aircraft's radar, but the return was negative. The object remained visible for approximately five minutes before fading away. The crew noted that the object did not resemble any type of flare they were familiar with, nor did it exhibit any aerodynamic features, exhaust trails, or propulsion means. The weather conditions were reported as CAVU (Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited) with exceptionally good visibility. The crew had observed ground lights in the area before and after the sighting, but they explicitly stated that the unidentified object did not resemble these ground lights. The D/I FEAF (Directorate of Intelligence, Far East Air Forces) commented that the estimates of size, distance, and altitude were vague due to a lack of reference points. They suggested that a conventional jet tail glow might have been visible under the observers during their turn, or that the object might have been outside the radar cone during the attempted interception. The report includes statements from both Major Carr and CWO Young, as well as a map overlay of the incident area.