J. D4l' TIM OROUP : ~ PROJF.C1' 10013 RECORD CAr~D 12. CONCLLI~ONS TYJ-'C: CF O EMVATIO,. i 0 W,s Bulloo n --------- 'J Probo.~bly B alloon .,,..r 0 A irlntWf'cept ~.s':tor a i~ rnbnbly A~rcrah P ._, s AI bly Au craft 'ito A'\tronr.nu.:.~l Probobly ~ :.trt'lnomicol P'l ~ "' t.h .\stronornte:<ll ::1 ln\uff ctllnt O m<1 f('r Evol1.1uh<>n 8 min ~ one l,c ~'~IC~ su,n u,Jtl' OF srcW~INt U:l.i.dtmtifioo object traveled at hiBh rate of op,~ad cli;:tb1ng rapidly while in a coWlter-. clock~-.i.se orbit around )< AFD. Objoct ; ffiado a headon pass at o~sar~er s plane missi~ n left;, wir.g about 50 yards. Object had a ! bluish light which flickered on and orr. I l. Obsorver was unablo to eivc a brief description or tho object. AIR INTEWGENCE INFORMATION REPORT ld Lt. Robart o. Ano:!Al OD 4 Deo~Uer 19$l tbe Tlni tacl statea ot C~ce '.leather Bure&"t loaatet\ OD IAraclo Air roroa Ba11, relecl a 11gb wathar bl 1 ooe at 20') hcan r. Sur"taaa viDl aDII low altltwte vtma wre !rca tha northwn tr \leather did not ob11rte aironft 1D the Yi.oini\7 ot Beltber towr nor otb.r a1roraft o~arved light. 1tB !5* COIIWI)IJD Aaa t Ad jut.\ UOWNGRAUEU \ T . ~'E.\.!~ I:" I'RRYA.UJ DECLASSIFIED r\ FTr:R 12 YEAH'il ' OIITitiiUTIOII IY OIICNM 10A COIIIIUI41Dc O.Daftl ~ Air Force Yaco, 'hxaa DO.O Dill 5~u0.1~ lOIII THIS DOCUM!NT CONTAINS INFOIIMATION AFrltll*l THI NATIONM. DUINSI O' THI UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE DPIONAGI ACr. !0 U. S C.- II AND 31. AS Ar.tENDID. ns TRMSIIISSIOH OR THl RMUTIOII tw ITS Q)NTHTS IN ANY MANNR TO AN UNAUTHORIZ0 ~..oN 15 PAOHIIITED BY LAW. IT MAY NOT K REPRODUCED .. WIIC!I I OR IN PAin', THAll UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGE.HC:IES, EXCPT BY PlRMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR Of INlfJ I GENa. uw. \: UNCLASSIFIED AF FOIM 111 PAI'r II AIR INTEWGENCE INFORMATION REPORT 1. on ~.ld.ata-ot 4 Deoalllber 19S2, lat Lt Robert o. Arnold waa fiying looJ 17 1:2 a '1'-28 aii'Ont'-tor the pvpole ot. coqpletioa AIR 60-2 re~nt.. After .tl71ne iD lor tal.7 two houn I.t 1\rnold re'tUrnaci to ~e aj r- f'i.-lcl to ama.r. -.tfto ancl lnd. Student tralninl in T-33 Jet a1raratt waa L'"l pro- .,;Z"s lMidiDI vaa 1D Maaion. Lt Arnold received. this intomat1~ f"ro~a the t.-. alort until tha landi.Dg perioci t4u over ao that he :d...dr'. aftter DDr.al tratfto lnci. 2. V.ldl.e valt'nc tw persiaai~ !roJa the tower to land, Lt Arnold circl.t the ..:'ielcl ill a al.oon1 .. -rarer and tba Jet aircraft in t.'le pat#tern and landin~ tro. altitlld.e ~ 6oo0. After apFadately 4S lU.'"lutes of holding :U.oit, :G t Arnol4 aearts:i =ed tber. were onl.7 three J at :U.rcralt in ~raltio. A M'sUlaDoe ol the u-d:l.ate area around the field to SH if' art:! o~her aircraft r al~t vu by Lt Arnald to deterud.ne hov much lon~er he would be required ::o hol<l lanctsna. It vu a\ th1 til be noticed a rapicil.7 moving blueiah li;bt at tA trattio alt.itude (1S00 ). It wu approx1.-tel7 8 o'el.ock lew to h.ia po1t.ton, which vu about tvo nd.lu SOQtheaat of the base at 6000 the li~t to be oftr the Beighta reident1al area, directl7 .southwest of the '.>:t~e, ancl traliDI on a southeuterl1' cour Lt Arnold corusidered the obj~ct to be :1 l'ov+...ft Jn airo~ et;tll outaide the tratl1o pat until he noticed the abaence oi ?OU t.i01L and fUHl~e llgbta. ' ). At tft18' potn, Lt. Aruold steepened hia turn to the left to keep. the object i n .siibt.. The objeo't OODtinued oft a aoutheaaterl7 course untU npproxiatel,y six :Ulu 30utheaat ot Lt ArftOlda ?Oition, which wu ap9roximatel7 where he had orig:t- ::1all7 rl~W the objeot. At thia ti:le the ~bject rose ~d1~te13" to Lt. .."u-nold' s ... :_ ~t=dle ot 6000 aDd begaD a wide svpina count1r cloclalise orbit of the Air 3aae. :: "!e terri!'io speed of the object still led Lt Amalcl to ~hiak 1~ "4 a Je~ aircraft l.ntil n. re' 1sed !'x previoua Je~ experience that the 3pMd silould have been cona~ .. 1- ~:-ab~ d1a1pated a!ter such a meneuv~. At a position approxi:aately three miles -:1or+...b ot the airfield 1.D the objeot..orbit it 1.Daediat.J.7 descended to approad!.'\a~eJ,-i 1500 to 2000 &J!a1D and coDti.Dued ita orbit to the left around the city-ot Laredo, !' .~a, tmtil 1~ raacbec:l ttw center ot tlw buai.Deaa diatriat at v:td.oh f -:.u. tGe objen _. a :q rapid tUttiDI aaoen-t. rue IJOUtb to approx1mate17 lS,OOO'. :.'he rate oZ vaa teni.tio. At tlUa point, the object vaa al)proxi-tel7 6 to 8 :-dle ot Lt ArDold's poeitiOR (vbich wu diraotq over the r~ on a 3outberq beaci1Ac). The object the turned tvard and ~d1atel7 deacended to s altitude ot 6000 ap.ia and prooded eastward until apprmdutl7 6 Ddlea ~ou . ~ bue a~ain and it -d to atop u it it were ho.ering, 6Qillg 3traipt. w COIII.D& straigbt toward L\ Al"Dold's irozoatt. At this ti, Lt ArnOld ~cdecl hl1 ~and tbe pitch of his aircraft to procd directl.7 aouth- .3 tcRrU'd tile objeo~. Lt Arnold' 1Dteotiona 1'11rel7 curi08it7. ~l"'x:1- :atel7 two aeoa-~ atte~ tbis action vu b;r Lt .lrl10l.d, the object appeU'ed to ~lo at a. ten"ift rate 1D a head on approach. At tel7 100 yarda lD flsoat o_" Lt. &raolcl s a:i orcratt, the object to waver slightly in a vertical l)lane aa :. r :tetefllin1 nc 01t ""Ahi cJa nda of bia airaralt. to paaa. The obj eot pued ver:~ cloaeJ.7 of:! t.'\e let\ 1I1Dc ol L'-Arnol.<l's airoralt vit.b1n a cHstance ot So yard and L\ Arnold -~otAd a blvzacl :edd18b-bluelah base of tvrrrtnecl siu and eha98, but detinitel.7 .~I) larpr ln 'l'hia aotioa h-wened so rapidl7 that 1t Arnold vu un- . >le to +~ uq at.w aotioa.. I-aiatel7 alter the objeot paaaed, Lt AnsQlcl broa :. laJI'Pl7 to +-Jie lan :1D ~ to kP the objeot iD si~t. The object rapidl7 !Nde a _ !.:O:~ting agaiA to 3P? 15000 and circled to the le!t and be~an to d.!.toeftd u U poaitiaaiq itaelt tor anotblr pua oa Lt Amolcl's aircraft. ..\t th.ia ,;.;:>int, ')Ut, or tri.gbt, Lt Amolcl turned ott all hi ruMinl litibta and spiraled :; ~MP17 ~ tAe lett, the object in sight, and lerel.ad olt at 1500'. At tJ\i.a "LJte the oojeot a.-.d to lnel oit fro ita eiroling deec.,t tovarda Lt ~mold's a\r- .:;\:ant. .L:lto the ataoapbere untU out of si&b~. to;c f HI:) OOCUMIJIH CONTAINS lltiOR"t-TI<* o\6~1!CTING TH NUION41. ()f.fENS OF TH UHirEO 'ITATE~..,Nfttiir .. f )I AHO Jl. Al A-.NOID ITS TRAIISMKSM* OR THE REYfl.ATION OF IT"; CONTlNTS IN AHY 114UI~ .. R" rtf'J.N ,.,.,.. MIITEO IV LAW. IT MAY NOT C Mf,AODOCEO IN~ OR IH PART. D'f OThER THAN UMITEO STATES AIR t"OACE AGENCIES, F~' i!ON Of TH DIRECTOR OF ltf I : L:..tGC.HCf. IJSAJ. AF FOIM 111 PAll I lllfOWf..,. UNCLASSJFii.-.0 UNCL~Sit='h:.lJ INFORMATION REPORT h. T~ MJ\ wu b)-Lt Arnold tor approxtmatel7 swan nd.nutea ariel the exae\ tU. ~ tM h..S oa pua vu 20Sl. The Gbjeo\ hu reter&ecl to u nn o~Jt b--it..wuiaa\Uiable o~ b7 the small, nickering blueish lipt by nt tbe oOeenw vu *le to tnok 1 te f'llgb" patll. The aise of the Ught, vu de8011.bed by ~ u appNXlMteql/2 -aS. ~ the glow ttec:l b,r a nonill poai l11Jbt. ca a !-ll ts; ainratt. Ita apeed vu etiaated to be iD ot sao !r.l, and 1.\8 , vhioh conaitd r.ai.Dl7 of rapid n1 tting aaoenta and deeoenta, ,.... outatandin.g beoau th~ wre certainl7 r.ot conventional. S. 'n. oMerYW puked hi airera'\ OD the Lar Air .Foroe Bue ramp at exactl..7 l0S ancl aboftl7 reported the incident. to the proper authority. 6. S~<eteb ot '" fiigbt path and the objeo1i a fiight path ia attached. N5E atr THC UNITED ST~TU WITHIN ThE MEANING OF TH~ FSPIONAGE ACr. ~ lJ . S C - ~l:l it.: fHIS OOCUIIIINr<.:OiieTAINS tNIOR,.~TION AJPCTlNG THI N4TION ('.()NTENTS IN ANY MAHNIR TO AN UNAUTHORilED Pf.ASON IS PROMifNTr:D BY LAW. lt AltO Jl. AS AMiMOID. ITS TRAHSMIWOII 011 THl REVI!I.ATION ., EXCEPT BY PAtti1SSION OF THE DIRFCTOR OF IT MAY fiiCJT BE REPM)OUCED IN WH()II 011 IN PART. BY INT!I I IGlMCf. IJSAI. , Oft the nilht ~,. ber 4 1 is~ atrt,htl. -, ' cnec:. Air Force pilot 1~ cfBt Lanao, Texaa. Slnce~c'lctual namn aredeletecl in clearina in , tellienc:e reports, I call him Lt. Earl Foale. Twelw miles from the fteld, Fo1le told air-ba.se otftcen. a blue-lighted object had al-. mot crashed into his ftghter. It had been no accident. The stranae device had raced head- on at his lighted F-51. At the last instant, it had ft ipped to one side, streaking by at terrlftc speed. Badly shaken, Fo1le watched it ftash up in a veLtical climb. After a momaD&. \be object turned, cirdinl bade u il for_.ano&her pan. Fogle hastily 'witched off ~\~t8p-~sed down in a steep spiral. The unknown machine dived to 2,000 feet. AppArently missing Fogle's phme in the dark, it circled toward Laredo air base, then swiftly turnl-d away. Again climb- ing straight upward, the machine disappeared '1 in the night. Three years before, many Ail Force offi- cers would have scoffed at Fogle's report. He was not ridiculed now. For two hours, intel- ligence officers grilled him on every detail. Did the UFO (unidentified ftying object) seem to be piloted or under remote control? What was its size and shape? Its speed compared with a jet? Did the blue light blink or pulsate? Q,'\ and on went the questions, worked .out by th~ Air T echnical Intelligence Center to identi(,. UFO types. Then secret reports were put Ol the w ires !or the ATIC at Dayton, Ohio, and intelligence headquarters in Washington, D. C. The intelligence report of the Laredo en- counter was cleared for me by Albert M. Chop, the A~:-F orce civilian expert on UFO's. Two years before, as acting press chief at Dayton, Chop h a d learned most of the flying-saucer story from Project Bluebook. When he trans- ferred .o the Pentagon, he had become the Ait Force press ~p~ialist on flying saucers. ( T h e Att Tedurical Center. sumr.1 'l~y of the Lar!ldo inciden~., seen by a Loo:c relaareher 1ft September r Major K~ book wu iD pcln~.Wfol lo\\ed the Kcyhoe ver~i"" [n iub- stance but commented: ."ATIC be-I licves that it wa!t an otrcraft and t hat the maneuvers were cx~g g~rated." The oft\clnl conclust~n , While orblt.J.Di onr taoklancl AJ1I a 1'-28 \7Pe aircraft alahted an unuaual blue llpt ot about. hAlt \he lnt.enalt.;r of the nomal &low ftllt.tecl bt a T-33 position lilht. 'ft\e of alghtlnc approxlaatel7 20l.a CST undttr o lear weat.her ooncll\iona wit.h t.he wind at. 6,000 tee\ fro 15 dear a\ 25 knots. the ob~eota ll&fteunra oonalet.ecl or a oount.er-olookwlee orbit oYer the air baae, an pasa on \he T-28 an4 t1atll7 an irregulAr rapid ascent and dlaappearanoe \o \he aouth. !he pilot. ot the obaerrina airoraatt. attaapted an int~rceptlon tNt. oYerahot.. The obJect waa not alahtacl after 2056 CST. II. Dlacuasion of Incidont Student tl7ing in jot type aircraft was ln progress at the time or sighting. 'lhe observing pUot aaw these alrcratt. and could not have confused them 1d th the unidantitied object. A scheduled balloon launch from Lackland AFB was aet tor appro.d"atel.J 21.00 CST, Yeey close to the time ot eighting. In addition, the orbiting climb or the oblect aa well as lta gene~al aoutherl7 heading (which tiea 1n with the winds aloft) lndicato that the unknown wu probably a blloon Pxuject .. lue Book hts had ma117 reports ln the paat ot known balloons apparentl7 1nterceptlns inveatiaating aircraft.. m. Conclusion OU tbe niglat of 4 Deo 52 oa ~Foree pilot vu t~ locally in a 'l'-2a tY.)le n/c. It vaa a.t th1a ttz. be notic1l a rapldl7 aorlq blut:all l:l.;bt at oy;l'oxi::late trstf1c altitude (l; co to 2000 ). It vu o.~oahate~.8 o eloclc low to hia p oe1t1on, Vbich \7tl.4t o"a)out :2 :dllte 83 ot the 'tue at r.ooo di%ectl.7 SV ot the baae travelin8 on a C.i: The pilot. ccmeldawl \l:ltil he notioel tbe a~1ace ot poa1tiOD poaama, ana tuselap li~ta. The pi.l.ot ctaepaet hla tw-a to t.he lott to ~ b.a4 oristza'' y a!.gbtecl the obJect. At tb1s ti:De t~ objact ~oae i t 11$!diStel J -to ".a ilot's altltwle ot Gooo end begao ~vide ~1ng counter cloclc-rl3e :nobit or th~ i~.~ae. tz::e t~nolf'ic speed ~ the object a til], led the ~1 tlot t:> think 1 t 14-~s :l. j~t ulrcr\11"~ l \.:l til ::a real1::e4 ~cna prevloua Jet that the upeed should MTfa 'teen Cf)ll.l"i\ler-I a'Jl y d13a1;pate4 after auc!l a. tmleU'I'e'!'. At a poait1on n!Jprox!cstely 3 rrl.lss ! I ..>i~ t::e i ai: fiel4 1n tlle obJect's orbit, 1t 1r.::W!d1mtel;r de 1500 to 200' aga1D en4 conttnuell it:J orb1t to the left =u"ouncl the eity or Lnre~do, ..:~x.aa, t:l.ltil 1 t r...-a obJect rate a ,ter'7 rap14 rlltti:la ascent due s to &9!'f'ccd=-te 15 Tha r3te ct climb vu t.errUic. At tb' point, the object vaa a~ox.1Iatel7 6 t o 3 :Ultta :.;w or -~e on ::\ D heading) T'n.o obJect then Cla I 1 ( ccatl) LL.... 100 ~ ill trCD~ ot tlw pilot's a/ c tbe obJen a/c ,d,thtD aal ~ 'bD clef'lt.t.q DO l.Drs- .... to tba lett 1n =4 to ~n4 a,.p:Lnl..84 s~ to tbe lef't l:eep the o".>ject in 31~t o.nd l~lod ott at 1~. At th1a ti . ~ pllo" ~r:r o)oJec:t baa I "/: olall., ATIC CC!I4!:ft't ~:l'!C see~ad to level o:tt tr,. ita c1.-el1:~g ds eat t~da' te 1/2 tbe The o'baut91' pBZ"ls84 hia a/c on t.be ta1tedo AB ,.~ reported the incident to tl:e l;r\):?IXL aut.bori t::f. tbat 1 t wa a:a a/c eD4 that the 'WU!e oX:SC681'1ited. CO L :Do AFB TEX TO J:Pi12/!)lRZCTOn 01:-I~!ITLI.lGI:~JCE !i1 USAF lJ;\SH ~5 DC . t .!?G C)/CG FTAF ~1 A:c TIX IJES CI'IS~ S!-i:~P~ CI:A SIZE :>2 COLOR CF ODJ. AERO-DY::A:HC CI:A S P~E:D Co::s I<)T:Z!l