PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD 12. CONCLUSIO N$ 0.. Vo s Boll oon 0 G ... "" d. VI uef 0 GreuuRodef 0 Wet Ai. croft 0 Probobly A iruoh ::::====:-h~:'C);~III,..VIIIUe! 0 Alrlf'ltere_,.t Rodor 0 Possihly 1-.lruoft 6; SOU~i'Cl' -= 0 Was Astto n . ,..ic::.l I. NUMI!It 0,. OIJc:TS 9. COUAS! 1 to 1} Ninutes 0 Probobl y A)tro nofltlcol 0 Possilly Astrono.,lcel a lnsvffichr.t o ... fer Evalvoti tH' 11. COMMENTS 10. 8AIIII SUMWAAY 0 .. !liGHTING Pilot sa.r fl:l~h in \'Mrl. Object a_.p~ared to b'3 a/ c \.rithout tail sectior.. Position of ooj!Jct was 5 ndlc s ~n..;t of Columbus, Ohio at 20,0CO ft. Object r-toving E:ls t in oppoGite direction of a/c rilot~!d l:Jy observer. Ooj.;ct sighted for 1 minute nnd lost in sun. Co'-1ld. not. re- locate objc~t. Obser ver's ~/c at 15, 000 ft air Gp d ~25 Knot3. AssUffi~d obj.;ct speed in '3Xcess of 300 ~P~. To sound. Clear sky. Pro b.'l bly bJ.lloon sj t;hting . increased to m4dmum in turn. Object lost in sun after turn. Bank angle of observer in turn 45. Winterized F-84 has tail section painted vhich would elim~nate flashing in sun Clar"sb11r~ \ LEV A TIONS IN FEET -.J:Z jJJ I~ al'n ' tlhltt ~h .. rt Uldu lh. \ U. \rthu I 1l" l ="Httu ' 1"1 lti Itt. I Ill"~-- :o;hotHHttloo.oh l'ttucn . .u ,\ ir 1\ u k I !II, l ]lllfl C'oolr\ , J.l,lol .ll'h t'h.rlt ... cun, .'uuh \ h..rltlltun S l ' J'l':!l ' xt .t, f"um. jspronl(lhIJ, Uhln-~trln~:li .. hl-~lun.-!19";1'"':,11' ~tun. Ill~'' (t'ronva~). W. v . Su 'liiOI'"""IIIoo (:O..J!lrlu). W. Va. w.lyn~boro, \'a. w.IYOt"lht>rn, va:--- \\I'll~ ton, Ohu1 Wrscon, W. Vu . w .... to;-(LiKhlburn) (t 'Jmh~rl.&ntl. M d .) ~ounlr. t'io'ld r.r,...nu County ' -81!011'-lh Mun. ltar Jier Cum. LH\11~ l.lonnPlf Fl~>ld w nod r urd F i Pld -l'lll.-2i' WinCt .. td (l'u~). W . V~. Chtk Fto ld ---fiio ;--t- C'urn. \\lnlot>ld. W. 'in --llo~ k .. r '-SI"o:!' Cum IHl i\1,. 1 oor I Oau ;.u M cnur !.lUl_l Jf). !l l>l1nur :1 !llmly. n Jtriur r " l!ln rrlltnt .1ronul Stn p o n tmur '"' I !.':!IIIII ltw.Jy. 011 rttuL-:tt oll!)lll( _j_ltunw:t y t'ut'l Ot.:lano r.llill~tJ l.~uo l hy n umb! r nrl! ch ,,... '"3 l.1lol .. II' t'''l .lirt':;c(l, unl....., ochr"'"' r.rllod . Mllit.<rytu .. ll~li~h ... llo)'l"llrt<odPindlr;cllnlo(VI,tnPrncng"M' '1, .. :<: A+: ll./ 11 \ 1'1"/lhl, G:!ll/!1-.., C : 7;tur ''' J .JI'I,:l Th ,olun I' lotnl! oloo~ n o r lowlud,. Air t'orc :.<>rodrnm"'!. '~>Juu1l dvil uutl111ihta ry OJwr"tioo; Air F o rt.'!! faeillti>'ll .. rt.-not :.s ti. Consult the latest Airman~ Guide fo: data sub<equeut to dale or char t. UNCLASSIF.IEQ APPi.l~II I Colw:1bus. Ohio -22 i.lcce"Ober 1951 I. OISCtSSION ~F INCio:::;-r OD 22 Vec:e:ber 1951 at ap.,ro::.1-ntely 10)0 r.ST, an F-84 pilot sighted an unidentified obJ~ct five cilea east of Col~bus, Jhio. Tb~ object, vhich looked like an aircraft with no til surft:.eea, ap:')eared to be rolling on its lateral nx!s. ~e objeet vas on a reciprocal heading and higher than the F-86. 'lbe pil~t c1de a turn in a..~ att..ec..,t to interce?t the object but lost. it in the II. STA TtJS OF I~IVES'i'IG4':'ION lt ap~:oxi~ntely lGOO LST a weather balloon vas released from the Colwnbus Uunicipo.l. Airport. The wind, vhic!l va.s from the vest, would have blown the balloon into th~ general vicinity or the sighting. More definite information on the ball~on launchin~ has b e en requested. III. CO:~Lt5IONS Ro conclusi~ns can be cede until cor~ inforcation on the balloon larmching 1a obtained. DO\V~GRADED AT 3 YEA.R INTBRV AI...~; DECLASSIFIED AF~'ER 12 YEARS. UNCLASSIEJEil -2~ Dec~cber 1951 OD .22 Decea~r 19Sl at 1030 l:ST, the pilot or an F-84 a1 rcra!'t observed AD uoS.dent1f1ed obJect five miles east or Columbus, Ohio. The F-84 vas fiyill 000 tt. altitude on a beading or 270. The object vas first sighted at tvo o'clock high. It appeared to be rolling on its longitudinal axis and the eha.pe resembled an aircraft vi th no t.ail surfaces. It was on a headine or. The pilot observed the object tor one and one half minutes during which be cado a rir.ht tu.PD in an attenpt to intercept and identify the object. It vas lost vben the pilot turned into the sun to follow the object II. STATUS OF It:'.C'.STI9ATION The pilot or the F-24 was in~rrogated by project personnel. No nev facta vere brought. out. It vas established, however, that the pilot could have observed a balloon launcned from Port Columbus Airport at about 1000 EST. The wind was )0 knots troc :tl0 which woul\! place the balloon in the ge13eral area or the sighting. 'lbe pilot coulc not pinpoint his location other than about five miles east or Columbus" CO~l:LlJS IONS Tb~ F-84 possibly sighted a ~eathe~ balloon latmched trom Port ColT.IL'\bus Airpo:-t. Ti1e re?orted actio:ls of a."""ld shape or the object cenoot be t.tributed 'tO a h&1locn, ho\.-e7er, ?!"e"'rict:.s re~orts have indicated that a ~e1loon cant ~ece?tive ~hen v~eed fro~ a high S)e~d aircraft . lJOV:~:GlL\D.SD A T 3 YE.-\.n I TERVALS; DECLASSTFIED Al'TE R 12 YEARS . U~CLASS\FlEO Port C')l~.'\bUs Air;.>:>rt Colu;.:bl.::J, Ohi o DO\ VNGRADED AT 3 YEAR IN'T'F.R~' \t.'~i DECLASSIFIED AFTETI 12 YE.~ HK Dnlloon P~th r-tf'" Q+Af'~ Aircraft 168TB F IGl!'rml-INTmtC!Pl'OR SQU.UlROlf // JJ .... rl- 1420 FIGHTER-INTERCEPTOR G~OUP// WCKBOURB AIR FORC! BASS _ , cottllaJs- i 7~ OHIO---. 27 December 1951 SUBJECT 1 Intor-.tion on Unconventional Airerart. Co..aadinc General Air Jlatiel Cozmnen4 1'l'Tlf t KC IS 'Writh't-Patterson AF Base Dayton. Ohio 1. In ocaplianoe with Air Detenae CoJDand Letter 200-1 dated 11 April 1951 ud in lieu ot AF Form 112 the tollowing information is sub- a. The object appeared to be an airplane ot unknown size with out a tail aeotion and waa ailTer in color. No trail or exhauat waa seen and the propulalon system w&a uDCletermined. The observer aa flyin~ in the opposite direction and the object appeared to be travelling at a speed greater than ~0 ~lea per h~ur. No s ound ~ hetrd and the obj9ct con- tinued to tu.ble or roll until it waa lost in the sun on 22 December 1951 b. Object wa:s sighted at appro::dznately .. l030~ obserTed tor approximately one (1) minute. o. The objeat W'!ll obaerTed Tinuslly f'roa the air. The obaerver was flyiD! in an F-a-te ty-oe airoratt at approx~mately 15,000 feet with e indieated air apeed ot 2ZS. d. The obaer7er ......-~17 !'!. ~ ( 5) miles east ot ColWibu ~hl.o !leadin~ WHt at aD a:t1tucle ot 15.000 !'.,~ whe!l the object "fta t1rat !J1~m.,O.. The object .... &t ~OifO o'clock !a;!l ~oa th't obaer?er. headin! in an ~atctrly direction at an 'll.titude or ,.t least 20,000 !'eet. s. the high de~ee ot reliabi!itT or the oba.r'Yer ia ahowa in the tact that he ia a jet tighter pilot with approximately 1700 tlyin& hours and aerTed & tour of duty in the Paoitic theatre or oper&tiona dur ing World War II. The 3kj ~s ~l~&r at time or i . Ob9~TV9~ st~rted to turn to ~iTs chase but objeot s los t in the !J u"'. UNCU\S~' ~ Bq 166th rxs. j. Althou&h other acpaclron a1rort.rt were flying in the local area none were in the 1.-dlate area ot the sl@:htinc. 2. BDoloae4 with thia report 1a a atateat ot the obaerer oonoerni~ the aight1DC ot the object "Al"IO..LI 11. Major USAP 1 BDol co-anclins Obaerera stat ... Dt CG, Air Detenae Commncl ATTN t. Dir ot Intell 166TB FIG~tiRINTBRCEPTOR SQUADRON 142D FIG!ftERIJTERCEPl'OR GROUP LOCIBOOR.W AIR FORCB BAS'B COLtiiBUS 17 OHIO STATEIBI! ON SIGHtiNG tn:OJVIf'IJS"it IOML AIRCRAFT 27 December 1951 approxitely 1030 hours on 22 Dec.-ber 1951 I was tlyins locally at 15,000 teet. I obaer~ed aD object Which app .. red to be an airorart without a tail section either tumbliD or rolliDg. Position ot the objeot wae about ti-re (5) miles east or Co1n!lbua, Ohio headinc eaat at an alti~de ot at least 20,000 teet. I was piloting an F-8tc type aircraft in the opposite directioa. Checks were made on Eaay and Fox ohanne1a but all squadron pilots stated that they were not in that area and at that alti~ude. The object was about two o'clock high to me. rolling or tumhling at a high rate ot roll. I obaerTed ten or more rolla in a period of one (1) min- ute when I lost it iD the aun. It waa rolling when I lost it. When I first sighted it I started a turn in an at~empt to inter- cept the object, but it was loa t in the sun, Further searoh f'1iled to bring the object in sight. The apeecl appeared to be about that or a jet tighter. It did not gain or loae alti-tude. When last seen it was heading in an eaat- eouth easterly direction. WALT:mt J.vKOBY 7 CaptaiD USAF . l66th Ftr-Intop Sq D~"1~Il~S~lED AfTER 1'l \i.Al\..k REQUEST FO~ AUTHORIZATION Of lONG DISTANCE T::LEPHONE CAI.l 1. .VI'IIOVAL N O . 2. OIVI:tiON, OffiCI, SECTION & 8 AAHCH $ . NAMI Of PUSON TO MAll CAll: 9 . PllSCN TO H CONTACTID: 1~ UT. DUUTICN O f CAU. {MI~.) I:l~l. C.l'!ioer 5 11, SUMMAIY Of SUlJiCT MATTEI fO H DltCU.ID: Unidentifi2d aerisl. object ard ap~in 12. RUS~N WHY OTHi!t MANS OF COIIWUNICATIO H CAN NOr 8 1 UU!>: 113. !>IONATUII 01 INITIAL O f APPROVING OffiC1 : 'IOihich w ill bo vs-4. TO: ,... R;:OQIIda 4:tl Poe\ am. lOOO rsr. I TLLEPHv"' l RilPLAC"ES f!V~ F0~'4 171. I MAY 418 WhiCH MAY 8'. IJ._m o Mlit TIFt.!: fiOORt:S;; IO:NTIFICA TIO:i PAGE l CF l P.\CES CFF ICIH TITl.! ). Place from which you observed the object Air -n'lar Columbus, Ohio 4. How was object observed (naked eye, binoculars, etc.) E..;.y_e _ 5. What vere you doing when the object was f~st observed? _..!F~l~y-=i~ngL------- 6. \Jbat attracted your attention to the object? ..;;Fl~a.;,;.sh;;,;;ing;;;.;;:;;, _ 7. Path of object. Direction from which object appeared (degrees or direction) Direction in vbioh object disappeared (degrees or direction) c. Elevation object appeared (degrees above horizon -----=--=-~--------------- d. Elevation object Cisappeared (degrees above horizon) --- e. Shape of fiight path of object (straight and l evel, arched, etc.) f. How did object disappear (grow dimmer, go out suddenly, etc.) lost in sun 8 . Length o.f ti:ne the object. W-:18 obasrved 1 - 1 1/2 r.Un. 9. Description of object. a. Ho\1 r:::my objects were se-an? One d. Apparent altitude or o bj eot? _.;,;A;.;;.t....;l;;..e_.a~s_t_2 5;;..,t g. Did object perform any maneuvers, if so describe Rolled 7-10 tjnes (like penoU rolled) 5/sec. roll or raster. 1. Were arq tajie or trails seen !N~o~ta~i=l~------------- j. Drav sketch 10. Clouds. a. \-/ere fJIJ.7 clouds in sky at time of observation No_n_e _ If ~o, hov much or sky was cover9d (overcast, scattered, etc. ) b. Did obj~ct pass above, belov, or near any clouds c. Did object reflect light on the clouds---------------- 11. What is your occupatioh J_et_P_i_l_o_t _ 1 2 . Any details tha. t c s nno t be !'ully e:c-9lained by the a~ove qu~stio:1s. Description or object is based on ob~erver's experience vith F-84 fliaht. Sneed of observer's olane :!.ndicated air soeed 180 H?H which