?.:.c.iar On-.::ra tors Sir.~lar ccnt~ct r.~cc n6xt day on radar mD.de During :"i:-st con~act F6f-5N pilot visual observutior.. r:o furthur l.n .. orma ~o~ UNCLASSiriED FD'11I ENOORSl!lIEH'l' on oo, FA\oJ'l'ULANT Rest spdltr. ser 988 of 21 Nov 19SO Frans Commander Fleet Air Jacksonville Toa Fleet All-l-leather Training Unit Atlantic, NAS Key 'vest, Florida Subj 1 unidentified a:J rcraft reported lh, 15 NO'Iember 1950 1. Forwarded for appropriate action. /s/ Allen Smith Jr AJJ~ SlliTH Jr. Chief' or Staff UNCLASSIFiED a. Wlt.b ret:aN to ad aape, ta. pip vu tlw' ~ a B :S. h t..at..lt, of tJae p1p VU to that ~ -,, so. ub1l.e ta tba YlNDStr or tn~. VU makin(l IUDS OD tM Vhioh VM vitb W pGUa) 'tJwt, jeU aN ar CD a ..., tu\ up q\d.te w11 .... --to M1dlll ft1DI - drl,. ~t.t.w'; u. IV-5W t~aat .-. t.M ft8Da1 a. b'l.aak.i w\ fw tbe F6F-51 ..S. tile I'Cdal' J.baM\tdij ~ \1QS male -the ~ .. u. FGF-511 bo'~ 81eJlted -U. tan1,e\ F6Fw51. ._.. _, t.-nd8r a per1oc1 or UNtLASSIFif~ Z. I. BISSU UN CLASS IF IL! - Am 1'"uemtiClL :Uft'l~I,X.TQi11CZ CDrtlll, Wni'AFD, DQtoD rot Director ot Into111aonoe, Bq USAF, Amta AFO~V/'tC, a JUL 1951 :tntormaticm caaLoJmd 1D tba bcaio Cl'lallnloation, ond tl10 6th~ doroc:~nt, itlic:ltE)S too aubjoct un:l.dODtifiod a1rcrart which w:~ do toctod b7 air ow.l ~ rad--rr, and ~ b7 an airborne obtaol~ (pilot) \DB J3031; probaiVy, a .friotvl~ oircr&tt as 8UC{1)1tod 1n tho 2d Indoroo:D'lt. bro 1s DO aubrvant.W ovidcmca tba.t tbe 1m dont11'1od oir- :r--l craft lllD ot tiD WWCIIV'Ontiozal tQl)ee M S CXIIwmlm Ul'YICGRI ll""' .. Jrll \.Z FEllellJO Colonol, USAF Ch1ar, 'l'oclt:d~'ll ~ DivisiOD A1r ~chniOBl Intol11t~ ,Contoz- JlOWNGRAD AT DIPAITMINT OF THI All FOICI HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE 51)-oBI,Iaa./f)n:n WAIHINGTON ftll .... ICfOI erllrtU, nu lftl -llftttiCf OfnCI Or .,ICIAL lllniMUIOIII 28 FebruaJ7 1950 G!D~ Si&htinc ot Rooket on North, 141 We at, by Lta am Reoon Sq (VLR) Weather, llan AFB, California SPIOI.AL INQpiRY CozunaDU ng General Air llater1el Comnam teraon Air Force Baae ATTila IICIAXS Inclosed tor )'0\U' 1ntorJJ&tion and tile are tuvo copies of report ot 1nvesti&ation by Special Agent TliOl:IAS J. SCANLAli, DO #19, Fairfield- Suisun Air Force Base, California, d~ted 30 January 1950, subject as ~ cltd ~Jan~ ANALYSIS DIVISION FILE J.Al.~ x. o co ~ mJJ. Lt Colonel, USAF Diatriot Commander UNCLASSIFIED UNCLAS~!Fit.i HIADQUAITin UM1TIO STATU All POICI DAti omftaeljiCI,.. Of IMVIITIOATIONI OF INVE5nOATION Slptiq ot Roobt oo 18 leoon 8q (VIA) Air J'oroe loOlellaa, Cllfomla OffiCI Of OIIOIM DIS11JIUTION !bree Ottioera ot the 3?4tb Reoonnalaauoe Squadron (VLR) Weather, McClellan Air Foroe lloOlellan, California, reported eight inl what appeared to be a rooket at 0240 houra Greenwiob Central TiM, 1840 hour a Paoitic standard Time, on 18 Nowaber 1949. Prom an a1rcratt f'l71ng at an altitude ot 000 teet, the object waa aighted at appro:dateq 49 clegreea north latitude, 141 depeea weet longitude, tranliq on a alight deaoent, at a 1reat rate ot epeed on a head1ftc ot 2?0 degree lben tirat obae~ it waa at an altit\de ot approxillateq 19 000 teet and cliaappeared in a 1&Jer ot clouda with toP8 at ~ 14,000 teet. !be ob3ect appeared to lea.,. a traU ot tire about 50 teet 1D leqtb, 40 teet in di&Mter, nd n.e 1D view tor approxi '-17 10 aeooDda. lfo unuaual 41eturbanoee 1D radio ion or reoeptiOD. not operatinl at tiM of aightinl OIDSBD COPY IOIWAIDID TO fiLl ST~ OG, AIIC(l incl) Bq, OSI ( 1 incl) 2 oo, suu& (1 incl) 2 Pile (1 incl) 2 eo-nd1D1 General Air Materiel Wright-Patterson AF Baa Dqton, Ohio .lH'ENTIOif a 14CIJI03 19D OBI 24-40/16 UNCLASSIFIED 4. 21 lober 1949 firat Lieutenant, Pllot, Reoonnaieaanoe (VLR) leather, MaClellan ASr Force Baee, lloCl.ellan, California, tbe tollow1q eta tellent relatiw to an unuual ailbtiDI OD 18 Roeaber 1949 OD the 18th of Jfowaber 1949 during a routine Lark Dol Weather 1eaion, I witDeeaed an ununal aipt. At about 1840 howe Pacific TiM 1D tbe ewnins, a brUliant lipt aroed throqh the eq troa a headiDI ot approxtatelJ 2700. !be airoratt at the , wu headinl ot 1400 f171nl on pUot. Lt. , the weather obaerr, wae the tiret tbe unueual phenomena and called Lt. attention to it, who in turn notified me. When I did look out the window, I eaw a brilliant light ehaped eowhat like a larce cigar on a downward path heading toward the ooean, however 1D a tew aeconde (approxilnatel.T 10 the light wae abruptl7 extinsuiehed. I haw no idea ot what the liaht ur ba.e been. !t tiret I thought 1 t lllight haft been a talling etar, but the phenona laated auch a long ti and the li1ht wae eo large 1n relation to falling atare or aeteore I .. en, I diemieaed the poeeib1lit7 ot 1te beiDa a atr. 5. On 3 J 19SO, Ser1eant, , DropaODd Operator, (VLR) Weather, McClellan Air Force Baee, , California, atated be had been on Lark Dog ai.aeion on 18 HoYeaber 1949, but oould 1nJror tiOD relative to the object aipted bJ Lieutenant. >Da poeition ie located 1D the rear preeauriaed coapartment ot aS.roratt. !here are blletere located OD both eidee ot the compart.ent aDd one on top, but no forward Yie1bili t7. 6. On 13 Jan~ 19 Starr Sergeant, , ... "" Operator, Reoonna1aaance ) \'leather, McClellan Air Force Baae, McClellan, Calitornia, etated be bad been on Lerk Dog mieaion on 18 NoY eaber 1949, no intoru. to the object eighted b7 Lieutenan ted turtber tba t there bad beeD no WlUaual or radio tranaieeion or reoeption duriq the tllpt. "BOJ.'It 'l'be radio operators nt is located art ot the engineer's position aD! torw.zd ot the connecting tunnel. There are no rlndows or blisters in the compartment ? On 17 Januat7 1950 I!Lrler Sergeant, Radio Operator, onno. sso.nco Squadron (VI.tt) \~eather, ......... Force Base, McCle n, California, Etated he had been on Lark Dog ad.ssion on 18 November 1949 but could no intoi"IIIlt to the object sighted b7 Lieute stated tbat radar equipment is ueed infrequently eequent to leaving the coast on Lark Dog misoion and nas DOt operatins at the time of alleged sighting On 19 1950, First Lieutenant is sa nee Squadron ~leather f.~ Clellan f.tcClellAn, California stated he had been on I.ark Mi,;sion 18 November 1949, but could ive no tion relative to the object sighted 'b7 Lieutenants stated he had plotted the position ot the aircraft at the time or sighting but due to hie crew position which is located att ot the pilots, had not seen the object reported -C1'J\S'FD - ODe (1) copy ot Essential Elements or Information UMCLI\SS\f\tD ISSIM!IAL llsii!DITS or IDORMA!'IOI 1. Date ot aiptiDI 18 1949 2. tiM of ilbtiDI -0240 QC'l'J 1~0 PS! 3. Objeot wu aiahted tr011 an aircratt at 49 deateeea north latitude, 141 de,reee weat 1ona1tude flrinl at an altitude of 18,000 teet. Objeot waa approxt.ately one (1) aile trom aircraft. V1e1b111ty waa limited b)' failinl llpt. Underoaet at 14,000 teetJ aoattered cilTUa alott. 4. One objeot. Object itlt wae Dot "en olearq but appeared to be a te to aooount tor eiptinc . anct uneatiaated. ?. ID elaht approx1Mteq 10 eeooDCla. 8. Color, ehape, oonetruotion and else ot cbject could not be determined to approach1nl niihttall. 9. Object OD beadina ot 2?0 decr 10. Object tirat aipted at approxiJDateq 19,000 teet traYelina on alight deaoent at peeat rate ot apeed. 11. Object lett a atead7 trail ot whl te to oranae colored SO teet 1D lnctb and forty (40) teet in diter ap~ox1Mtel.7 12. Appeared to dlNppear into oloude of approxiaateq 1.4,000 teet. 13. lo 11&bta ab .. rved. 14. . lfo npport obtlened. 15. Otber tbaD traj] of' n .. , DO Malll of propl].liOD observed. 16. No ~an of ooDtrol or at&blllt7 obeerved. 18. baot apeed vDknown uneetaated. 19. No IOUD4 noted.. UNC\J\SS\f\0 loul Airerat\ &!!Ia llr. J.J. Rodpr1 UNCLASSIFH:.~ 1. letereace 18 aade to tbe a\taobed latter. 2. !be radar lntoraation regarding the detection ot unidentified aircraft on the al&bt ot 14 aDd 15 Nonaber 195i &f. pearl to be poe1lbl.T correct. Honnr, there f!re m indication ot weather et'tect1 enterlna into the detection ot radar tar pta. 3. In pral, lnauttlclent lntoraatlon 11 oontalaed ln tbe attached report to allow a wlltouDded evaluation to be made or the radar targets. It ia B\li&eted that tbe 1ouroe ot tbe baalo report be asked to submit another aore eoplete and ooordi!lllted report and to aake lt ol\lar to the exact radar target intormation, whlcb 161-511 picked up a terl8t on ita radar, which F6F-SM pilot obtained Yleual elghtinga, and wbat "" tbe radar target condition Rt the tl the tarpt. Men v1euall7, &tc. In eumaer7 a aore coaplete aDd coordinated report i1 dlred 1 Incl JOHN E. LlBIER! RLJ/dw Ltr, 2) Deo SO tr EADF, Major, USAr S5170 AFB, Hewburgb, R.I., W pt ot Chi&t, llectroniea ~ection B 263A Unidentified !ott (CONF) 'l'ecbnice.l Analysis Division P .l.-17 DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS; pBCJ.ASSlFIED AFTER 12 YEARS. UNCLASSIFI~:.;1 UNCLASSlFlED. .... or Drautl!ICII ( OODt > Yin or 41eappear into ol.ou4e. .&11 tbree ObMrnre are rated peroanel with DO pbJ'aioal defeota. At tiM ot aigbtlna, obMrYera bad beeD in tbe air approxblateq Dine (9) boura, but bad not beeD OD dutr tor the tull tlipt "" aaeerted tbq wre well reeted aDd not fatigued in anr aanner. Aircraft radio 414 not e'ri.denoe at1J unueual dieturbanoea ancf aircratt radar wu not operatilla at tiM of eipt.ina. Latitude end looai tude plotted placed ob~eot oer tbe Pao1tio OoeaD approxillateq 800 ail flsoa tbe ooaat UNCLASSIFIED 8UIWieta Poedble UNCLASSIFIED IAITIIN All DIFINII POICI S!~}G!WWM.T AIR FORCG BASC, NEW VORK onal Alrcrat\ Colaardinl a.n.-&1, Air Mat. .. lel C..ucl, WrightPa\t.ereoD AFa, D.,Wn, Qhlo . Afti2U'loNa 'ftae at.taohect ropor\.OD un1dent1t1ecl' dror&ft. receiTed troa Collaander PJHt. Air, .Jackeonrllle, Florida, Ia forwarded u poaeibl.J' in& uQder hMdlnl ot unconwnt.lODal aircraft. . Rpt of Unidentified lato OJ t~ lAVAL SPEED LE'l'tER lJNCV.SJ';-; TO: Fleet Air Jacksonville u.s. Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Flordia UNCLASSIFIED FAWTU/A9-8/A8 November 21 1950 TWO INCmENTS COR:!ERBING UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT OPERATING WITH NO LIGHTS IN WARNING AREA ASSIGNED TO FAWTULANT, NAS, KEY WEST, FLORIDA. FIRST---TUESDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 1950, APPROXIMATELY 2000 AT 15,000 FEET 30 MILES B NORTH NAS, KEY WEST. AIRCRAFT PICKe:o UP TRACKF:ll INTERMITrENTLY BY GROUND RADAR. GROUND SPEED 48o MILES PER HOUR, HEADING 180, !W>E TURN TO RIGlfl' AND FADED FROM SCOPE. F6F-5N PICKe:n UP AIRCRAFl' ON RADAR ONE AND ONE HALF MilES RANGE UNABLE TO CLOSE FOR VISUAL CONTACT. WEATHER CLEAR VISIBILITY EXCELlENT CLEAR NIGHT. AT APPROXIMATELY 2015 UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT SIGH'l'ED BY PILOT OF F6F-5N NEAR NAS, KEY WEST, TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED. SECOND--WEDNESDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 1950, AT 2100 AT 15,000 FEET AIRCRAFI' PICKE!D UP BY GROUND RADAR WITHIN 3 MILES OF TWO F6F-5Ns ON GCI FLIGHT, BEARING 270 DEGREES, DISTANCE 42 MIIES FROM NAS, KEY WEST. ONE EXPERIENCED VP(N) PILOI' MADE A VISUAL CONTACT ON AIRCRAFT WITH LONG SILVER FUSElAGE, BO LIGHTS. THE UNIDENTIFIED "AIRCRAFT FOLLOWED THE F6F-5Ns BEING CON- TROLlED BY GCI. RE'IURN ON RADAR 'NICE THE SIZE OF RADAR RETURN OF F6F. AIRCRAFT SPEED ESTIMATED AS MORE THAN TWICE AS FAST AS F6F CRUISING AT 16o KNCYl'S. BAS, KEY WEST, OPERATIONS CHECKED MILITARY FUGlfl' SERVICE WHO REPORTED BO KNOWN AIRCRAFT SCHEDULED OR FLIGHr PLAN FOR OPERATIONS IN THIS AREA. ComA.irLant Sender's Mailing Address Commanding Officer Fleet All Weather Training Unit, Atlantic u.s. Naval Air Station JOca Chica Field Key West, Florida UNCLAS~lE!~D UNCLASsiFIED 1\r Hq Eaatena Atr Defenae Foree, Stewart. APB, l.wburdl 50, to co, AXe, w-P AFB, ~n, Ohlo, toaa1ble UDconYeutJ.onal 18t. lnd MClAXJ..lA/JJR/r-1 Wrl&b\-Pat.t.eraoa Air Force 8aM a Dlreot.or ot Int.ell.lgeDCe Aftla AFOD-V/TC, Waablrwton 2S H .. dquartera UJAF, 1. fhia co-..d hal reYieved the lnclosecl rt. and lt 1 con~idered the lntonaaU.oa regarding the radar det.eot.ion of unidentltlect aircro.tt the nl{)hta of 14 and lS Ncwabw 19SO appear to be pooaibl.Y correct. , there are ao in11oat.iona ot wather effects aaterlng into the ot radar target& 2. In general, inoutticient. intONation ia contained in th'e &ttachccl JOI"' t,o allow a vel.J.-toundecl eYal.uatiOD to be made of \he radar target:~. ::::-::--l t is au.cgeatcd that \be source ot the basic report. be reque a ted to submit r more complete and coordinated report.. Answer to tho tollowint; etiona aro deal a l4 llo.-ber 19, Incident. (1) Did the radar ecope pip ot the unidentified target det.ect.ecl b7 the ground radar aet. reHruble t.bat of OODYentlonal aircraft? lt eo, vhat type or ld.ze oonftntional alroralt.. (2) C. a track ot the unldentit1ed hi-get be supplied to thia aomand? It no\, gl ve complete detalla as poaa1bla regardiqg NQge m1 ot t