UFO Sighting, 1 Aug 65, East of Topeka, Kansas

On August 1, 1965, a TWA aircraft (a 707) flying from Kansas City toward the West Coast encountered an unidentified radar phenomenon. While in the vicinity of Topeka and Garden City, Kansas, the flight crew—consisting of a pilot, co-pilot, and engineer—observed 12 to 15 objects on their radar scope. The objects were described as flying at high speed and in formation, moving toward the aircraft. The crew switched from a 50-mile scope to a 20-mile scope and continued to track the objects in formation. Despite passing the objects at a reasonable distance, the crew was unable to observe them visually. The crew, described as very reputable, requested that their names remain confidential and that the sighting receive no publicity. The incident was reported to the Foreign Technology Division of the Air Force Systems Command. Following an evaluation of the radar data and the circumstances, the Air Force concluded that the objects were likely false targets. The official explanation attributed the radar returns to anomalous propagation, specifically the bending or reflecting of radar waves caused by atmospheric "bubbles" or strong temperature inversions in the area. The case file includes radar film documentation.