Air Intelligence Information Report IR-149-52

This Air Intelligence Information Report (IR-149-52), dated 29 September 1952, details a sighting of an unidentified aerial object that occurred on 20 August 1952 in Fresno, California. The report was prepared by Captain Richard G. Blos of the 83d Bomb Wing at Castle Air Force Base. According to the document, two civilian witnesses observed an object at approximately 1830 hours. The witnesses were in the backyard of a private residence in Northwest Fresno when they first heard a loud, jet-like sound. Upon looking up, they observed an object approaching from the south with a high rate of speed. The object's movement was described as jerky and erratic; it paused, moved sideways, paused again, moved to the rear, and then moved back to the right before finally disappearing into the southern haze. The witnesses reported that the object appeared to have a fuselage and a pair of rotors tilted at opposite angles, leading them to describe it as having a helicopter-like appearance, though they could not definitively identify it. The color was estimated to be brown. The observation lasted approximately one minute. The weather conditions were clear with light, variable winds. An investigation was conducted, which included checking local air facilities for known air traffic in the area at the time of the sighting; however, the results were negative. The report notes that one of the witnesses was a civilian pilot with 150 hours of flying time and three years of Civil Air Patrol experience, and possessed an interest in aeronautical development. Another witness was a close friend and associate of the first, who held a degree in aeronautical engineering. The investigating officer remarked that he did not feel the witnesses were sufficiently impressed with the incident to notify the USAF had they made the observation by themselves, rather than in the company of the first witness. The document includes several enclosures, such as sketches of the object and a copy of a news item.