49 50n50 03w Atlantic — February 1951

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD 2. LOCATION \j 12. CONCLUSION$ Wos Balloon 49 50U 50.0~fll Atl:mtic 0 Probably B alloon 4. TYPE OF OiiSERYAT:::-:-::10:-N--------- 0 Pouibly Bolloon l. DAT!TIME GROUP Locel ----------,---0 Grou"ld Vi suol 0 Ground Rodor 0 Wo, Aircrof t 0 P raoobl y A i"toi t 0 Poubly Ai ruah 0 A ir-lntetc:e p t Rocior 6 Was A ttron-or11lc.ol ~tJ..fJO,t~ I 5. PmJToS 6. SOURCE 0 Probo'!.l y Astrono,..lc:ol PoHi bl y A,tronomlcol 7. LENGTH OF 09~EAVATION a. NUI.4iE~ OF 0 8 JECiS 0 lnsuHic:l anl Doto ;or E valuation 10. 8AIEfl SUMM.\AY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENiS Beli eved t o be .\urora displsy by Yello~nh light, like a f i r e in col or, a.p;>roach2.d the ob~erving ACFT a"ld grew ey bright and v ery large with a semi- circula r Ghape. I t sudde~y tur ned 180 deg a.."ld disJ.ppear ed over the horizon at te::"!"iffj~c ATJC POJfM 3%9 (REV Jtt U:P JJ) con3Ultinz ast~oncmer. P1J(E"l' LOGISTIC AIR '.tiDlG, ATIA'JTIC/CON TI:I~T.\L . AI:l TR.U~SPORT SQU.WROJ 0~ U. S. NAV..c\L AIR ST.\TI ON P .l':UGlT RIVER, M.:~'L~'ID !UNCt:.l\SSIEIED. . 10 Febl"'Ja r y .. MDIOlWIDUM B1IEOR! to Coual18ntli ng Ofticer Air Tr .nsport Squ.IJ.drr.>D. OL'lli F.eport ot Unv.:mal Sighting on Flight 125/9 Pebrua~ 1951 ,~ A.t OJ55Z on: l.Q.February.~95~l vhile se~ling as second Plane Commande:r on a '::>evil! flight, . I w s an eye witness to an un~ sighting of an U"" identii'19d ob j act . this occurrence tooic pla ce at appro:dmat.t;l~ 49-50 N aM 50-03 '~l, _whieb is a p pra:c)mately 200 r.dl c s north eas t of .1rg_e~tis., . tr.,.d'ot:ndl.a.'ld.,. ~le were a t lO,XO .feet altitud e cr.ds~ on a -true eour:se ot about 2..;00 a t tbe of i.~eid.dot. At t!me ot sighting I was occup,-ing the right hand (CoPilots) seat am ; the lett ham. (P.Uota) seat vaa oceu?ied by Lieutenant G. E. BEtHUNE Nj attentiOD was tinst called to the oceurwence by Mr. BE'l'HUN?., "ttbo . aaked :oe to look at an unu.w.el 1 tgbt vhieh vss to rq right. I then saw .. . that there vas a gloving light th a tb1n la;yer ot strato-fo:m clouds beneath us. This-light va s to .,.,-right 8nd dow at an angle ot about 450. ~s objaot sppear$1 to lie on the surface aod v a s throving a yellowish- orange gl:tre tbrougtl t~e clO'Jd deek. It a_?pe ared to be v ery large and I . .' .. at t1r:st "~ought that it cou ) d be a U!.rg~ ship completeJ., ilbmdllated. Nr. B~ and I w~t ~hed the object f~r several minutes in trying to detar:xdne ita nature. ~e then called oU:, N"lvigator, Liauteasnt N. J. ? KOGER to t he eockpi t to scrutJ ni.ze the object and render his opinion as to .~ ita nature. wnil e turtherobaetvlng ~.object I aav that it suddenl7 started aeeending . through the oloud h7ar aM it then became quite bright. The object waa -- V8!7large and.vu-circular vitb;a glo ra.nge_ ... ~aronnd ita outer edge. Thi object appe"tred to- be climbing and moving at a tremeDdous apee:l, -and it appeared to be on a more or less collision cours e '.dt.h our . aircraft. Whtm it appeared that there vas a poaaibilit7 of collision the otjeet ap pe2~d to make a 1800 turn and di34ppeared over the hor i zon at a terri!'i~ s~ed~ Do.rin( tne course of ev ents LTJ G A. L .. JO~GS had c ome to the coc!o i t am b e made a t"a.r..l in the diJte c t i on 0 1" heob.jec~ ant :.t went oat ot .3~gb t in ~ short pe r iod of tue. Due -~ t.dle f act tha~ this obj6Ct wa s see n over t,t'lter n.t ni5ht, i t ~.tou.ld be mo3t diff icult tor me to esti~te s d, size o r dis ee ~e w~r~ f~m it durL e coursa of e7eats. Howev~:, t h e speed w~s t mend?us d the ;1~8 :~3 1~ l:ast ~OQ JOO f~t 1D dia~tar. e vbiect w~s clos~ Df\lCD\SSlEiED suoort t a more detailed and c omolt:ta Upon request, I vUl attempt to report of r:I3 observations. -. Upon arrlva1 at-IUS~ Argentia, I vas contacted by Capt. D. H. PAlJLSSN, USAF, Yho i.:lterrogated me relative to _the su:,j ect . . :-~ ~ I s/1red w. ltiNGDON' LT, U. S. Navy. -UNCLASSIFIED D0\'1%I~s1FIED AFTER J 2 YE-\.R~ 0 ,\f~C:!\SSIEIEO FJ'.i<H:'.t LOGISTIC .\:R llU:JTIC/CONTI1J:~TAL MIII)RL~UM REPORt to J.Irt T JSPORI' SQU.fu)RC~J 0~3 U. S . ~Ul.\L AIR ST.\TION P.lTtJlE:lT ? . .IV3R, ~0 10 February 1 95J ....... ing Otticer Air Transport Squadron o:r:; Sahj s Report of UnusU&l. Sighting on Flig!tt 125/8, FebniAry 1951 1.:. :-. ~t 0055Z, 10 FeblWli7 1951, I vas the Plane Co..'DDWlder of Flight 125/C)9 B5D Bureau ~hmlber 56501, elll'::)ute :f'roa Kefiavik, Ic':Jland to .lrg9ntia, Bevf'onnd~and at 10,000 faet on an instrument flight plan. Cur posJtion at 10/oos;z 'W1.s 4~0 North, 50-0J Yeat, on a:-true heading of 2;00, g:-ound speed llJ knot3. Theveather\.1!15 clear vitb about 60 mi)~ ~ visibility and thin 3'traru3 cl.oa.ds at a bout 4,CDV a, I vas in the cabin ot the plane ehecldng the passengers vhen one ot tbe nanpton, Lieutenant N. J1'J P. KOGER, cae aft a nd )lPOiDted to this phenc:aena. I watched it for a cl."lUte and went forward to the cockpit to get a better vie'..t Upcm reaching the cockpit, I took the plane ott o the auto pilot and tur.1ed to a true hes.din6 of 29()0 in pursuit of the object. The obj eot lett on a beading ot about 2900 true and vent over the horizon in a ver,r tiho~ t~e. . . . 3. ! ~ould ;uass the speac! to be '.Jell over 1500 :1n~s per hour, au1 the di ... ter to be at leut 300 f eet. 4.. My ~;!xqt vie w or it r!3e11oled a huge f13r:f :ll"31lg8 disc on it:5 edg&. h it Ye~"t f'ur~her avay, t.ce center became dar~e~, aut tal! edge ~iJJ tbJew ott a !ie_ .. 7 ime. ~ it ven-.. OV=!r the borizo:l, to go frca a vsrcic1 ;!osition to a ~otrt~ 9()aition, .r:it.h anl 7 the trail!.z:g edge ~g ~ ~ Palf 9!!ect_ s~nce I vaa ~o~ +~e !!~st to see it, it vas going a.ila.j :0:-c'D the plane vhen I ..tas not1!'1eri. !";o?l.lot. T.ieuteo.e=rt G. E. B3JIBOI& ~as n:r1ng the ~ene a!1d Second Plane Lieutenant Fred iDIGDON wa.~ !l:ring em-the :1.gnt side at the t1 or the !ncident. s-.: .it 10/0104Z, I cal led Gander Tower on VH.V' and a 3ked them it' Ga:>der A. !. C. hP..d any :1ntoxMtion of an aircraft a t t hat :position a."'ld t i:r.e. 1'hey bad DO su.c~ in!'o1~tion and notif!ed the militarj of u r sigb~i::lg. '"'"hen "e landed q,f. .\r:sentia !It l'J/02!._02_, ,,~e vere in~arroge.ted by Ca?t J. B. ext.J,Jlee ~.?~-\1 :n:aneuverabill7.j, 1nd b rill iance of t:,e object ::tade ou.:- extL~tas ~3 to the distance ~d si=e very difficuJ~ !1!'JG, r;s. S. N'AVY DO\V~G~ADF.D _\ T 3 YE.\R ~TE:-'. t.~ I.S DECLA:5Stf IF.D .U'TER 12 YZA.RS FI.Rft LOGISTIC .\IR 'IDG, ATI.w\NTIC/CONT~lTAL .lL~ T~lS?ORT SQUADRON 0~ U. S . lUVdL AIR ST.\TION PATUDTT RIVER, ~ARYL.L'ID il:JNCD\SSIF.IED MDilR.L'IDUM REPORr to Coramanding otfieer Ai :-'l'ransport Squadron ONE . . Sttbj' Report ot ynu8\111l. Sight:Sng on P'ligbt 125/9 Pelmla17 1951 '" 1~ .. I vas naTigator on flight 125/09 f'rom Kefl.avii, Iceland to rus, lz'lecticl 2. A.t approx1matel.7 OOS0?;/10 Febru.a171951, I was reporting our pe.s~tion aDd ETA. Ar~!nt.ia. to the Pilot, Lieutenant KINGDON. At t!:at tilr.e '.:c vere on a tu.-e heai:U.ng r4 2.30, tr1e air a9eed 190 knots, alld a ground S!)ecd of 120 mots d '..le to a 70 loot head1Ji.Dd. 3. Liouteant EIBCDON pointed out an orange colored object about 0600 relativ-e, or 29()0, trae, saying it appeared like a raJ 1 village or a ship. Due to our position, I .raa certain it W!lsn t a village. 4. I had beeD looking at the object about th1rt7 seconds, which it appearad to vaa another demonstration ot the northern lights phenomena which oce11r. at that latitude, vhen the object suddenly started getting web brighte~, ta!<ing on shape aod coming in our direction at a great r3te of speed. B~fore getting a good v1e w ot t r e obj~ct, I l~rt the cockpit to inform LrJG J ONES. Due to the crovded cockpit, I did not get anothdr look. r , .. ' The best view l bed or t.'le object shoved it to be a circular, bright onn1e-red disc, vhich tiBs aP:Jroacb1ng ua at a vert great, undeterminable~ apead. . .UNCLASSIE!ED /s/ NOEL J. P. KOGER LT, U. S. NJ.VY ~CLOSUR:S (3) DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 y .~, YL!ft LOGISTIC AL"tt :~DG, sfT-L'i!IC/CONTn T..U .. .\IR TR.\NSPORT SGUADP.O~l CNE U. S. ?Ld V .U. AIR ST..\.TION P.iTU&i'iT R..TVER,_ M!RYI.AtiD 10 Februar.y 1951 MJH>RA.NDUM REPORr to Conwanding Ottieer, Air T:-ansport Sqnedron ONE 3eport ot Unusu.al Sighting on Flight 125/9 Febxua'7 1951 ~ ( I, Grah.m E.: BEtBUNZ, vas Co-Pilot on Flight 125 from Keflarlk, Iee1a.ud to val ..Ur Station, .l.%"3entia on the lOth ot Febrna.ry 1951. At 0<>55Z r signed s..~d obsened the .folloviDg object: ~lh119 flying in tbe lsft seat at lO,COO feet on a true course o! 230 degtees at a position of 49-50 North 5G-OJ ~est, I observed a glow of light belov the horizon about 1,000 to 1 500 feet above the vatar. Its bearing was about 2 O'Clock. There vas no overcast, t!lere 'Was a thin transparent group ot scuds at a bout 3,9QO feet al t.i tme. After examing the obj '3ct f~r 40 to 50 seconds I cal Jed it to the attention ot Liautenant . ltllfGDON in the right hand seat. It ,~as under tbe thin 3cuds at roughly 30 to 40 miles a.tay. I asked "',.bat is it, a ship J.tzbted up or a city, I lmow t be a cit7 because ve are over 250 miles out". 'We both obsel'Yed its course and motion ~or about 4 or 5 Ddnutes be.f'ora calling 1 t to the attention of the other crew members. Its first glo'-1 vas a dull yellov. We vere on an in tercept:ing course. Su.ddenl7 its angle ,.r a.twcll c!:w'lgeo, :1 ts sltitade n.."ld :;ize increase<! as though its speed .;as in e:xc~s~ of 1,000 miles per hou:r. It closed 1D so .f'a.st t:Jat th6 first feeling vas 'We~ ould coJJ..ide in md air. At this tilDe i t s angle changed ~-.a U:le eolor changed. It wa~ de!lnatel7 cL l2!" ed !"edish orsng!! en :!."Qs pr4...!1rlter. !t reversed 1-t. COU:3e :net tripled ~ts speed rmtll it wa!: :aat seen di aappe&rlng over ., d.::on. Because c4 ot!.r alti:t.tne and mi:dearling distance OYer '-later it i~ imos't i.:l'oo!ISible to est..: :'VIt,e :1. ts si:ze, dis1;ance and speed. .l rough e te .~rm:1 be a.t least JOO !~et in diamet.er:J ove:-l,OCO ;:riles per hour in apeed :u"'ld 11pproacW vitbin 5 .,iles ot tl:e aireratt. . /s/Grabam E. Naval Reserve. E:~CLOSURE (4) UNct:ASSlFlED DOW~GR.\DED AT 3 YF.AR f);Tl:.'!1.\'.-\LS DECL~ "IitiED .AFTER 12 YEARS. lJNCt:ASSIEIED . FLE:&f LOGISTIC .liR 'liNG, iTLLlTIC/CONTI:mlTaL T&L~SPORl' SQUl.DROU mm U. S. UA.VA.L AIR STATION . ~l'fQX:."Nt RIVER, MJ.~ID . iJfrCCASSlElED . 10 FebruBry 1951 MllllRANDUM RSPORl' to Couooanding Officer, Air Transport Squadron 0113 Ray:ort ot Unua:u.sl Sighting on Yllght 125/9 :Febtnacy 1951 On Febnary 10,, 1951 anroute trca letl.avik, Iceland to Jrgentia, New- tonndland as a crew memeer on flight 125 a stnnge sight v a s witnessed by Lieutenant KDlGDon and Lifluten~mt BE'l'HO!IE who were piloting the aircraft at the t in':e. I had lett the coc:tpit approx~matel.y 1 hour prior t.o t!rls sighting. The time ot the sighting vas 0055Z and the position of the aircraft v a s 4 9-501 tat and 50 O)V Logi tllli e. I was c l l ed to the cockpit b7 Lieutenant KIWGIIOJI to vi tness this scene -Whe~}I first saw the sight it vas tar away f'rom ua and rapidl7 disappearing over the bori~on. Bot being too famil1ar vith n,-l.ng in t r..is particular uea rq first impreaion vas the celestil setting ot the moon end the tact that stratus lqara were present to cauae the bright red glov and the halo at.rect that v~s apparent. I did no"t vi tnaaa 1.he ~m"tire proceedings a a did some ot the othe1 piJ ots, bnt txem tJhat litU.e I did see of it this vas tbe i.=l>ression I received. "' obj~t disappeared on a t :-ue course ot ?Prox-4mately 2900 ~ /8/Jobn H. ENCLOSORE (5) -y SS'El-D DQ\VNGTIADZD AT 3 YEAR I}."l'f."R r\JS UNCLA 1 _ c. nEcL-\.SsiFr~o AFTER 12 YEARs. , mTCCASSlFlED Ft.&&f LOGISTIC .liR VIWG, .!TI.w\."n'IC/CmlTim:NTAL T!WfSPO~ SQU::.DOOU OUE ... U. S. ~VAL AIR ST.\TION PA 'l'UXZN'1' Rlv ES, M.lR!L.\ND . MBIIliWIDUM REPORt to-.CawundiDg Ott1cer, Air Tn.Daport Squadron ONE Report ot m.: al Sightiq ~ Flight 125/9 F~bl"Wll'7 195l . .:.: \lhen fiight mll25 departed Iaf'lsrlk, Ieelend tor Argentia, Newfoundland . I b.d the first radio watch tor the first ~ or 6 hours. After being relined o'f tne' ..,atch by ~ed, M. !. , ..llu\.1 ! ...,ent !t 1:1 the P:.tsse!lgcr Ccapart:nent and vent to sleep. After being asl~ep for aJbiJ a I beard ~ne say someth,ng a bout an object or something to the sta::-board ot the ail"craft. I raised rq bead to tho windov and saw a round object which to looked like it vaa round wi t.h a color or fire. I didn t t see it onl7 tor a tev a econda it va gone... . / s/ C:Uen tiD R. SHIEVER, .U~, U. S. NAVY ~ICLOSURE ( ~) DO\VNGRADED AT 3' YEAR 1~TERV ALS. DECLASSIFIED AFTl~R 12- YEARS. ' .UNCL:ASSlEIED UNCLASSIFIED FJ',l&'f LOGISTIC AIR -.JING, A~'ITIC/CONTDlENT~ AD TR.UISPORr SQUAD~N ONI . u. S. NAVAL AIR STATION -P .1TUXENT BIVER, MA.RILAJID -DNCL.ASS\FJE.O _. . H!HJIWIDUM REPORI' to Co""aanding Of'f'ieer, J.ir Transport Squadron ONE Subj a Report of uzmaUal. Sighting on Flight 125/9 Februa17 1951 Ve 'Jere oft the coast or Newt'ound1and about 2 hours on f'light 125 fraa Iceland on the 9th ot Fabrua17 1951, when I \lent forward to f1.nd out Lr tbe pUota or crev would like any coffee, sou.:>, or etc. When I entered the cockpit,coraparteat the co-pilot called 'lilY attention to a light. at about 2 O'Clock and allght1y lower than us. It looked v eey much lika an ecllp .. or the SUD, vbich vas about tbree-f'our*ha ot total eclipse, in ai~e, shape, and color, bo.t the speed ot the light mn.st eave been at leaet 520 knots it not more. The distance the light seemed to bfl ,o~aa froa three-quarters to a mile awa:r. At that tille Mr. JONES C8DlO forward and I vent a.f't vith. the passengers. .. . .