PROJECT 10073 RECORD ~ 1. DATE TIME GROUP ' 22 June 1949 22/l610Z Fort, Bl :l.ss, Texas 13. SOURCE 10. CONCLUSION i Nilitaey AIRCRAFT (TARGET PLM1~) ~ 4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS 11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS s. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION i 2 Ydnutes 6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION j Ground-Visual Observer first observed 4 then 5 then 3 thm 2. Appeared .3 i~cl deep at distance. Silver on underside, reddish tinge on top. Square shape. Appeared to rock, but main ned al.titude. Object disappeared due to distance., J 9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE UNCLASSIFIE~ addr ess of obsurvera 12th AAA Group, rt LJliaa, Texas Occup~tion ~d hobbiosa 6.r;ny Offioer ( Hattery C"""''"' Appears reasonably intelligent and reliable. Comments of Interrogator r elative te intellig~nc0 and c haracte r of obser vcr(s ) l!ARRAi'IVE SID:IhiARYa UNCLASSIFIEg \:or..o:< Stu:l.nless s~eel ~nd bluish HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS REPORT OF INVESTIGATION REPORT MADE BY PHILIP F. HOOKER REPORT MADE AT 00 #5, V4/P AFB, Dayton, Ohio PROJECT "GRUDGE" PERIOD Incident -1 1/2 ~iles from Lake 23, 24 June 1949 Erie Shoreline near Point Flace arxi oFFICE o F oRIGIN Naval Al"mory on U. S. Route 25, be-DO #5, W/P A !''B, Dalton, Ohio tween Monroe, Yic higan and Toledo, Chio sTATus one this is an initial DISTRIBUTION Investigation requested by Director o Intelligence, Headquarters, USAF, Washington, D. c., thru Technical Intelligence Division, Headquarters, Air Materiel Command, Wrl t ton, Ohio. Information received t, Toledo, Ohio clajrns to have seen four strange o cts, one of which ed on an island 1 1/2 miles from shore in the vicinity of Point Place and the Na ory, u. s. Route 25, betlfeen Monroe, :tdchigan and Toledo, Ohio. tel'viewed, reiterated claim, drew sketch and gave de- scri objects, including dimensions. Toledo police records list AWOL from U. s. Navy on 30 October 19L,4 and ap \ .... o 20 Decem 1944. Toledo Veterans Administration records list sezvlc ected disability as 30% psychoneurosis, anxiety sta 10% frac'blre, left carpal navicular, post operative. Statements ver- if)ing this attached. ACTION CJ:)PY FORWARDED TO FIL STAMP CG, AMC ( MCIAXS) Coaanaooing General Air Materiel Conuuand wright-Patterson AFB Dayton, Ohio HQ OSI ( Incl) (Info) 2 File (Incl) 2 AFCSI FOIM 4 A.Ti'N t MCIAXS THOt.~S F. DISTRICT COMMANDER 1. This investigation is predicated upon a teleph0ne conversation between Mr. G. T. TOVaES, Technical Intelligence Division, Headquarters, Air Materiel Cormnand, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, D.vton, Ohio and Mr. JOHN E. MORRILL of 5th ~strict, Office of Special Investigations, regarding the claim of Mr. RALPH K. GASS, to the effect that he had seen four strange objects, one of which landed on an island extending 1 1/2 miles from the shoreline near Point Place and the Naval Armory on U. s. Route 25, between Monroe, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio. 2. On 23 June 1949, Mr. RALPH K. GASS, 812 North Erie Street, Toledo, Ohio was inte1viewed regarding strange objects he claims to have seen v1hile enroute from Monroe, Michigan to Toledo, Ohio and which he reported to the Research and Development Section, Department of the Navy on 23 June 1949. Mr. GASS stated in substance regarding the above mentioned incident with quotations as follows s a. After attending a gathering of his old shipmates at }ionroe, Michigan he was returning to his home in Toledo, Ohio on U. s. Route 25 when he happened to look to the rear of his car and noticed an in the air coming from a north-northeasterly direction. This object startled him and he looked again and then stopped his car, after llhich he three other similar objects. This occurred at 0432 hours on 23 June 1949. After stopping his car, he took his binoculars from the glove compartment and tried to the best of his ability to observe every detail ot the "crai't". Shortly after 0432 hours one of said "cra:rt landed on an unoccupied island which extends 1 1/2 miles from the shoreline into Iake Erie, between Point Place am the Naval Armory on U. s. Route 25. b. According to his obsezvation, the "craft" had a "long extension landing gear built like a tripod, but with two units forward of the main star and one art. The craf't that landed did not have wheels' but hoof-shaped gear in place of wheels, with one hoof on each hydraulic landing gear. Each nni t when extended seemed to be approximately eight feet long and while on the p-ound the craf't set approximately :five feet above the ground." c. "After the one cratt landed a hatch opened !loom the port side ot the craft" and two men were observed to get out of the craft, one seeming to be a military officer since he wore "shouldez boards" on his uniform; the nnj forms of the men appeared to be of a blue gray color, one man wearing an officer's cap and the other an overseas cap; and the men wore "Russian or llilita.ry type" boots. Upon alighting from the cra.ft, the man, observed by llr GASS to be an offlcer, held a sack which the second man filled with two handfUls of soil.", after which both men re entered the cra:ft and closed the hatch, which appeared to be "hydraulically operated" A.fter the hatch was closed the craft remaj ned still for 30 seconds and then took off. The craft on the ground for a total of 4 1/2 or 5 m1nutes. Mr. GA.SS said that IJNCLt<:StFtED PROJECT "GRUDGE" while the one craft was on the groWld he observed a "whiny" sound, but (.: uld not determine whether it came from the craft on the ground or the three cr.~ft hovering above. d. While the hatch was open he observed "a number of tubes running at an angle of 70 to 80 down to the bottom of t~ craft. The tubes were located inside the hatch and seemed to be reaction chambers of some type, or expansion chambers.'' e. The craft took of in a northwesterly di.rection with a 70 angle ot ascent and was slow at the beginning with a sudden burst of speed upward." Arter the craft had reached an a1. titude of "approximately 1200 feet" it joined the three other craft which had been hovering above the island while the first cratt landed and the four aircraft then flew of, continuing in t he northwesterly direction nat an approximate speed of 600-650 miles per hour, comparable to an American jet aircraft. 1'heir speed increased at a rate which could not be judged any further, but as a layman I judged the speed at approxi.D6tely 1600- 1900 miles per hour, or that of a super-sonic speed. The (four) craft dis- appeared above the horizon at an altitude of approximately 8000 feet, and were climbing at a steady rate" before they went out of sight. f. From his observation, two of the three craft in the air were made of stainless steel and the third was of a Ubluish" cast, while the fourth craft which landed was also made of stainless steel; the dimensions of these objects or craft were approxi rna te:Q-80 feet in length arxi 45 to 50 feet in width; the profile of the craft resembled a wing section of an aircraft, the thickness of which was eight to ten feet at the widest part", and the weight o the ai rcraf't was approximately 40 to f:JJ ton. , g. "The control of the craft from a propulsion st8.&'"'ldpoint was handled internally" and there was no external trace of any jet or recip- roca ting engines ... h. The weather ccnditions were clear and the clouds were high, with a ce1ling of approximately 4000 feet. 1. He bad called the city desk of the New York Daily Mirror, New York City, at 0530 hours, 23 JUne 1949 ani tried to relate his story to them was told that they were not interested in his story; he then called the Res and Developuent Section of the Navy at Washington, D. c. j. He held the rating ot Fireman 1/c in the Navy on an L.s.T. during the ; his serial number was 7232106; he was discharged on 3 December 1947 with a 40% duabllity which due to a nervou:e: condi ti'on: which he said had improved since that time. He is a general machinist by trade but is unemployed and 18 living on his disability pension ' During this interview, u:r. GlSS was requested by this agent to make a sketch ot tbe object or craft which he claims to have seen. Mr. GASS attempted UNCLASS!f"IED PROJECT n GRUDGE" to mke a sketch of the craft at this time, but apparently didn t seem satis- fied with his efforts and requested this agent to call back the ne~t morning for the sketch. Mr. GASS displayed the binoculars he used to observe the objects. They bore the following informations "Monarch, Made in Tokyo, Japan, g x 25, 4. This agent requested Mr. GASS to accompany him to the location where the strange object was supposed to have landed, and tentative arrangements were made. It was agreed that Mr. Gt\SS 'WOuld call this agent the next moxTting ( 24 Jnne 1949) when he was reacy to proceed to that vicinity. 5 On 23 June 1949, af'ter conducting the above interview w.i. th Mr. GA.SS, this agent made a check of the Bureau of Identification and Records, Toledo Police Department, Toledo, Ohio. Records revealed that RALPH K. GASS, 812 North Erie street, Toledo, Ohio was listed as AWOL from the u. s. Navy on 30 October 1944. Filed with the records were fingerprint card and U. s. Navy Circular requesting arrest as a deserter offering $50.00 reward and giving his serial number as 7232106. Also filed was another Navy circular stating that RALPH K. GASS was apprehended 20 December 19W+ by the u. s. NV7 Records also revealed that RALPH K. GASS was born 26 August 1924 at Toledo, Ohio. 6. At approximately 0300 hours, 24 June 1949, Mr. GASS made a telephone call to the Lorraine Hotel, 12th & Jefferson Streets, Toledo, Ohio and informed this agent that he l'ICuld not be able to accomplish the sketch as requested since he had broken the compass to his drawing set and l'iOuld not be able to replace it until the next mond ng. At this ti.me Mr. GASS inquired whether it woul,d be sui table to wear dungarees on the previously mentioned trip to the is land where the objects were supposed to have landed. 7 ()! 24 June 1949, at OS30 hours this agent again contacted RALPH K. GA.SS by telephone at his residence, S12 North Erie Street, Toledo, Ohio and d Mr. GASS that it would be impossible to nake the trip to the vicinity where the strange objects were supposed to have landed. During the conver- eation this agent asked Mr. GlSS if he had been able to nake a sketch of the object he claimed to have seen and Mr. GASS replied that he hadn t, but that he could have one reaey b;y 1130 hours that da;y. 8. On 24 June 1949, this agent interviewed Mr. L. E. GREm, Training Specialist, Veteran's Administration, 501 Huron Street, Toledo 4, Ohio regard- ing Mr. RALPH K. GASS. Mr. GREER stated that Mr. Gt\SS had been in mlisted atatua in the Navy from 10 November 1942 to 3 December 1947 and had spent two years of this time overseas; that Mr. ClASS had joined the Navy after com plating his tenth year of school; that his disability at the time of separ- ation from the Navy was 10%; that his Claim Number was 12173224; his Social Security Number was 271-20-1006; and that he had been receiving training at the University of Toledo Junior College wtder Public Law 346. Mr. GREER further stated tlat Mr. GlSS had enrolled 2 Februaey 194S at the University ot Toledo Junior College and was taking an engineering course (day school, 12 houra per day)J that his attendance at the school was bad; that he had PROJECT "Gm.JDGE" to be reinstated at two different times by two different professors; and that GA.SS finally left school at his own request on 15 April 1948 Mr. GREEJ~ referred this agent to Dr. H. A. RICHA.RDSON, Chief, Out-Patient Service, Veterans Administration, also at that address, .fbr further information. Attached is an extract from VA Form 7-1902i, dated 9 March 1948, regarding RALPH K. GASS, C-12-173-224, which was obtained from Mr. GREER. 9 On 24 June 1949, this agent interviewed Dr H. A. RICHARDSON, Chief, out-Patient Service, Veterans Administration, 501 Huron street, Toledo 4, Ohio, who reviewed his flles on RALPH K. GASS and found that Mr. GASS had a service- connected rating, dated 1 February 1949, by the Veterans Administration of Psychoneurosis, anxiety state; and 10% Fracture, left carpal navicular, post operative" Attached hereto is Veterans Administration letter dated 24 June 1949, signed by Dr H. A. RICHARDSON, bearing the reference number 66sRl.O, C-12 172 224, GA.SS, RALPH KENNETH, to that effect. 10. on 24 June 1949, this agent interviewed Dr CHARLES A. BOHNENGEL, Psychiatrist, Veterans Administration, 501 Huron Street, Toledo 4, Ohio, who r~viewed the files on RALPH K. GA.SS and found that Mr. GASS had a moderate psychiatric disability. Attached hereto is "Transcript of N. P. Examination Conducted at v.A.. Office on December 20, 1948 on RALPH K. GASS, Claim No. c-12 173 224, which was obWned from Dr. BOHNENGEI . ll. On 24 June 1949, at 1130 hours, this age."lt proceeded to Mr. GASS 's residence and upon arriving there foWld Mr. GASS had not mde the sketch as promised, and after much persuasive discussion Mr. GASS consented to prepare the a ketch which is -attached hereto. INCLOSURES a 1. Photostatic copy of sketch prepared by RALPH K. C'ASS, Sl2 North Erie S~eet, Toledo . 2. Photostatic copy of SUM:MA.RY OF MEDICAl. Dt\TA AVAilABLE IN C-FOLDER AND NOT OF RECORD ON RATING SHEET, extracted from VA Form 7-1902i, dated 3-9-48 3. Photostatic copy of veterans Adm:inistration Letter bearing RALPH I. ClASS's service connected disability rating dated 24 June 1949 4 Photostatic copy of TRANSCRIPI' OF N .P. EXAtn:NATION CONDUCTe:n AT V .A. OFFICE ON DECEMBER 20, 1948, regarding RALPH K. GASS. IN REf'LY ltEFER TO: WfO.S OCf 41 ISM DEPARTMENT OF THE A I R FORCE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WASHINGTON 51)-00I/PFH/ernb THE INSPECTOR GENERAL USAF 5TH DISTRICT OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVES TIGATION S WRI~HTPATTERSON AIR FORC E BASE. DAYTON, OHIO 2S June 1949 SUBJECTa PROJECT "GRUDGE" Incident - 1 1/2 miles from Lake Erie Shoreline near Point Place and Naval Armot7 on u. s. Route 25, between Monroe, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio SPECIAL INQUIRY Conmending General Air Materiel Cotmrsnd Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Dayton, Ohio ATTN: MCIAXS 1. Reference is made to Routing and Record Sheet, your office, dated 24 June 1949, requesting investigation be conducted on the "flying objects" at Toledo, Ohio. 2. Forwarded for your information are two ( 2) copies of the tinal report of Special Agent PHILIP F. HOOKF:R, or this office, dated 3 With the subadssion of this report, all logical investigati leada have been developed and repcrted. Rpt of SA. PHILIP F. HOOKF:R dtd 28 June 49 (in dup) Captain, USAF Acting District oon UNCLASSJ ::-1 En HEADQUARTERS ANTIAIRCRA" ARTILLERY AND GUIDED MISSILE CENTER \TnGonven"'.:iona l FORT BLISS, TEXAS TO: COiJ..anding ~ener~l Fourt h :~r:.1.y Fort Sara :foi.lst:;,n , ~ex~ts I n co::'.)lianc e .-d. t h letter, ~IGad~i.l,:: r ters Fo