PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD 1. DATE 2. LOCATION CONCLUSIONS 0 Was Balloon Southern Califor~n~i=a "-TYPE OF OBSERVATION 0 Probably Balloon Possibly Balloon 0 Ground-Vi suol 0 Was Aircraft 0 Probably Aircraft 0 Possibly Ai rcroft mlnu Fe;;IGHTING ----1 1. COMMENTS Pt Mugu made high al ti- 10 BRIEF SUMMARY 0 ~ t "1 Silver obj observed fm F-101 s at tude shot w/metallic parachute 5~,000 ft. Obj above at 80 d g r elevati~Jl to 230,000ft. Parachute w, 10dor off port. Sighting between Ventu.._a age drifted to SW 132 NM f m & S~nta Barbara. In s i ght 5 -10 mins. lPl's release point. This obj over m3da turn & lost sight of obj. Estimated southern California at -rhe tim~o o b.J t o be .at 100,000 ft going 500 k~ot~. Consider motion to West in 2. Bright light resembling star, wh1te error & evaluate case as met- with out feature, no contrail or exhau~t. allic parachute. Info received Hig h against clear blue sky. Object 30 fm Pt ~ugu Range Officer, Lt d g r above horizon. Disappeared instan -Apley. LA Air Defense sector taneously to East like lightbulb going had been notified of shot sine~ out. Reported fm Santa Barbara , V~nde".' packag~ ~ n! ~in~d ch! ff,JJi l m~ ~d burg , Oxnard area.All sightin~s a1!:.._ viual. one a:r. ~ ,nn T ~""'~+-h-AJ:+;.._;"'-l..u.,,..LJJu.uo~e ATJC P'ORW Jl? (RP.V 211 SF.P 52) San S1mton flte ns1vi"ilcet btlnjt conducte~nd operat1onsl .<!ER'Otomatel~ IOO oll shore area I ml es seaward PISMO BC ACH Qf '"'lH2s Poir11 Arr.~rcno.Jj IN r ARGUfll 0,. Co,copt ;"" lo IAI'III\N' lost Hills F1 BARBARA .SANTA 6.\R!li.RII J ISLAND I \J A E \'. I / I o'l I.. .. : t\J-t ) 1\1 OJ AVE DESERT ELEVATION S IN FEET WORLD AERo HUNTER LIGGETT [,tensove t ~nd a11 o-peratoons beng conducted ' " oil shorl' area to Jpproxomdtelt 100 rniles ~eawJrd COOK( Ill 0 ;t ou,' A'r. Ji"IJo Spr li~lle l[!AU::!EI> V i BAKERSfl lost Hills \ , BUITONW ll K{RN CO 40 Buttonwillow UFO INCIDENT March 1963 Summary: (1) Silver object observed from F-10l's at 50,000 feet. Object above at 80 degree elevation 10 degrees off port. Sight- ing between Ventura and Santa Barbara. In sight 5-10 minutes. F-10l's made turn and lost sight of object. Estimated object to be at 100,000 feet going 500 knots . (2) Bright light resembling star, white with out feature, no contrail or exhaust. High against clear blue sky. Object 30 degrees above horizon. Disappeared instantaneously to East like lightbulb going out. Reported from Santa Barbara, Vandenburg, Oxnard area. All sightings air visual. Reference: Col Torgeson, Command Post Col Gregory, NORAD, 2734/2378 T-33 pilot between Vandenburg and Fresno, California. Vandenburg requested control of F-10l's from NORAD. F-10l's directed toward UFO. Both aircraft sighted object approaching head on. F-10l's made 180 degree turn and lost object. Object estimated to be traveling at 500 knots at 100,000 feet. F-lOl's at 45,000 feet. Reference: Col Fredricks, Intelligence Col John Peck, Operations int Mugu gave following names: t Boulder AFB, Colorado Training crews in balloon launch from off coast. By Raven ID:Jiustry Sea Space Systems (code 805-486-8331) Rawinsonde balloon launched at 527 on 6 March to 70,000 feet and burst after one hour at 0637. Wind was from WNW toward Los Angeles, weather was clear. Pt Mugu Naval Base (area code 805/486-8331} range 7358. Released high-altitude-chaff-drop balloon with metallic parachute on 6 March at 1047Z. 132 nautical miles SE 230,000 altitude with slight wind carry. Dropped chaff. Lt Apley, Range Officer, Los Angeles Air Defense (NORAD, 28th Air Defense. Time in air 1747Z to 1845Z. Comments: Pt Mugu made high altitude shot with metallic parachute to 230,000 ft. Parachute with package drifted to SW 132 nautical miles from release point. This object over southern California at 'the time. Consider motionb West in error and evaluate case as metallic parachute. Information reeeived from Pt Mugu Range Officer, Lt Apley. Los Angeles Air Defense secor had been notified of shot since package contained chaff release. One at 60,000 feet and at '-._ Approval numbers 02 , 78 (Pt Mugu), and 93 (Lt Apley). TH FOLLOWI NG UFOB IS SUBMITTED IA~J AFR 200- 2 I N FORMAT OF PARAGRAPH 14 : A1. UNDERTERMINED. A2. PEA A3. SILVER A4. O~JE A5. i~ONE A6. NONE A7. NONE AS . NONE A9. NONE Bl. VANDENBERG AFB T-33 56672 CALLED ATTENTION TO IT. B2. 80 DEGREES ELEVATION UP 10 DEGREES AZIMUTH PORT B3. APPROXI MATELY THE SAME AS B2 B4. APPEARED AS FAST MOVING FROM EAST TO WEST B5. AIRCREW LOOKED AWAY AND WHEN THEY LOOKED BACK IT WAS GONE B6. 5 TO 12 MINUTES C1. AIR VISUAL 000 FEET VARIED HEADING, .8 TO 1.5 MACH, OXNARD AFB CALIF. D1. 6 MARCH 63 18302 D2. DAY VFR March, 1963, Case 5: length of observation is in error it v a s observed for one hour, 1 2 minute s . It is odd that no photos ver~ taken by inter- ceptor s . The coopuj ttee agrees vi th the classification h PAGE T~O RUWHJBU 12 El. BETWEEN VENTURA AND SANTA BAR9ARA, CALIF. 10 -20 MILES I NLAND AT FI~ST SIGHTI.!G. Fl. N/A F2. ELMER R. EHRLICH, CAPT AND LOUIS E. VAUGHT, CAPT, 437 FIS, OXNARD AFB, CALIF. -EXCELLENT -BOTM PILOTS CONCUR WITH THIS STAT~MENT. Gl. DAY VFR G2 . SOUTHEAST AT 11 35 G3 . CLEAR G4. 10 PLUS G5. SCATTERED G6. NONE G7. N/A H. NOi1E I . WENT TO 50, 000 FEET AT V MAX. J . ONE T-33 AND THREE F101B' S I~ THE OXNARD LOCAL AREA K. PILOT -I NTELLIGENCE OFFICER COULD POSSIBLY BE WEATHER BALLOON FROM LOS At~GELES OR VANDENBERG LAUNCHED AT 18002 DAILY. BALLOON GIVES WEATHER DATA TO AT LEAST 000 FEET. L. NONE. SUBMITTED BY ROBERT I . BUSH, 1/LT., 6 MARCH 63, 23302 , 414FT~GP, OXNARD AFB, CALIF. ~7/~liJZ MA~ RUHHJBU CZCSQN531ZCQYB937 DE RUWHJBU 12 FM 414FTRGP OXNARD AFB CALI~-- TO RUCDSQ/AFSCW FTD WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB OHIO RUEAHQ/HQ USAF AFCIN WASH DC RUEAHQ/SECRETARY DF THE AIR FORCE WASH DC UWHFK/VANDENBERGNAFB CALIF ,..,.,CLAS {4140DC 1460C . TO BE DELIVERED DURING NORt1AL DUTY HOURS CZCSQN731ZCQYD020 Fr'1: 4.392ASG VAt~Dr.BERG AFB CAh!F- TO ~GQ~AL/ADC Zi~T AFB COLO 2UWESE/2bTh AD ADC HA11ILT01 AFE CALIF aUCDSQ/AFSC FOREIGi~ T~CH~OLOGY DIV WPAFE OHI O ?.UZAr.~/EQ USAF WASH DC RUEA~/SECRETARY OF TH~ AIR FORCE WASt! DC I::FC RUCSER/SAC ZZt:/lSTRATAD v,;:rE CALIF UUCLAS BDCO 22327. UFO FOR USAF, AFCII\; SEC AF <SAFO! ) ; SAC, DOCO; LAI,Ds , -=..,....AT ..... t~N;-::::-;:COL LONG. THE FOLLO\HNG INFORt1ATION I S SUBt1ITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AFR 20Z- 2 . DESCRIPTIOtl: THE EXACT SHUPE OF THE OBJECT COULD NOT BE DETECTED BY THE OBSERVI~G PILOTS; BOTH DESCRIBED IT AS A E?.IGHT LIGHT WHICH RESEt1BLED A FIRST MAGNITUDE STAR. ITS SIZE WAS Ri?ZRJED TO AS LARGER THAN A PII\- HEAD AND SMALLER THAT A PSA. COLO?. WA3 u~SCF.lcED AS A STAR TYPR WHITE. ON OBJECT WITH NO DISCERNABLE L:.,;'lwn~s, i.C COH Tf.AIL CR EXHALST. NC SAUt~D HEARD. COURS::: OF OBJ2CT: Pl L~! 5 w Ei\i CL H1EihG J-\fTER TAKE OFF AND C 01-ii~1 .. T::::D 0~ 1 C CON T AA I LS HIV~ AGAINST CLEAR ELUE SKY LEFT EY TWO FIGHTZtt Al~tCRAFT. TH~ PAGE TWO RUWHFK 117 OBJECT WAS FIRST OBSERVED AS BELOW THE CON TRAILS tvELL TO THE REAR OF THE TWO AIRCRAFT. ALTITUDE OF OBSERVATION 15 THOUSAND FEET IN THE SANTA BARBARA, BACICTA AREA AT AN ELEVATION OF APPROZIMATELY 30 DEGREES ABOVE THE HORIZON, THE OBJECT APPEARED TO MOVE FROM THE SAiiTJi BARBARA AREA TO VANDENEE:RG AFB AR2A TO LOS ANGELES AREA AND TO .:::. ... :.., .J ;1;~ hH.:.A-;-Gi\Zn.hi:i.:"Y. l.19 DiGREES '.vEST TO ll9 DEGREES, 5~ MHJUTE:S ~:.:ST, .J4 Li:Gi. S .J., :;Ii, TO 34 u.::GiiZZS 45 i1Il'. l ORTH. TI-i.C: FLIGHT PAT.i 07' T ~z OLJZCT ~;AS v:t-. L!:~ Il~ ThE bi:NhAL A?..~A DZS CP.I 3E:D. Trt OBJ:CT JIS;., pp:ARZD li STJ..i:TAi.iCLiSLY TC. ThZ ~JiST, i:iSCs~IbiD E.Y Th.::: PILOT A3 LIKE f.. LISi1T ~ULE ',JAS TUR1.:::D OFF. VISiJAL Cm~TACT \~ ITJ\ THi OoJ.::CT LAST:D ;..PP:<C7I:'!ATELY QtjE: HClJ~ A::D 12 ::I;.un:s. ::F.t:tJER OF AESE:RVATioti : VISUAL ?. SIGHTit-:G EY. T.~O 7 -33 PILCT2, OESSt<V::D FRO~; FIFT::Et~ TilOUSAi;D TO ;:-o~T'! (l.,~) THOUSA~:c FZET. At! FlZl AIRC~AFT FRO'" OX~:A RD AFB AL30 S!:J:TD THE OBJECT rP.O:l AN ALTITUDZ OF SIXTY THOUS.A.~:D FEST. :!O C?TICAL AIDS vJERE USD BY T-33 PILOTS. SPZZD OF T-33, 36~ Kt:OTS T1UZ. TI:: i AND DATE OF SIGHTING: 173Z ZULU CONTINUOUS TO 1843 ZULU 5 ;1A:1 63, DAY. OBSERVERS, MIPITA&Y, JOH~ M. LUND, CAPTAIN 576TH STRAT2GIC :1ISSILE SQUADRON, lSTRATAD, LAUNCH CONTROL OFFICER, CCt:SI:ER~D STABLE Al';D RELIAELEM t10RGAN vl. SANEORN, CAPTAIN, 6595 AZRCSPACS TEST WING, AFSC, VANDENBERG AFB, CALIFORNIA. PREVIOUS PAGE THREE RUWHFK 117 FIGHTER I~TERCEPTOR PILOT, CO~SIDERED A GOOD PILOT AKD ALSO RZLIAELE. HEATHER AND WINDS: OBSERVER SATHER ACCOUNTED AS CLEAR. VANDENSERG AFB AIR WEATHER SERVICE RECORDS INDICATE HIGH THIN SCATTERED CIRRUS, WIND/TENP VBG 10 THOUSAND 16 THOUSAND 2 0 THOUSAND o..; lnvu.:>hi'o.l; SOUTHWEST 2/59 ---------SOUTHEAST 10/64 28~/33/MINUS 7 DEGREES SAME 280/29/MINUS 15 DEGREES 280/54/MINUS 23 l/2 DEGREES SAME 28~/7~/MI~US 46 DIG~S SAME 2'61../57/i:C TC:NPZ_;"{ATI.Jii~ Rt:CC?-Dt:D tiC OTHER Ui~USUAL ACTIVITY KNm~i\ 'WHICE ::IGHT ACCOUiT FC,R Trl~ SIGHTING. INTt:acEPTIO~ ACTION TAKEN AS STATED. NO PHOTOGRAPhS TAKEN. ~EPORT PRZPARZD EY ASSISTANT DEPUTY CO ANDER FOR OPERATIONS. 4392D A~ROSPAC~ SUPPORT GROUP, VANDE~BZRG AFB, CALIF. THE REPORTING OFFICER CANt!OT OFFZE AN EXPLANATION FOR THE SIG}!TING. IT IS SIVNIFICANT THAT THZ WIND SPEED AND TE~PERATURE VARIANCE AT 80 THOUSAND FOOT L ~VEL COULD EE A FACTOR IN THIS INCIDENT. THE \VINDS ALL ARE GENERALLY F~O'i p,;Gi: FOuR RUWHFK ll Tni: WSTRLY DIRECTION, WHICH WOULD PREVENT A FREE BALLOON F~0;1 ~10VIi.G EAST TO \~i:ST AS I N THIS CASE TAPE: RECOhDING OF PILOT CCt-:V~SATION ~ lTli VA~:DZt\BERG TOWER IS BEli\G SEl'IT TO LAAIJS ~ORTON AFB WITH T-33 PILOTS STATZ~ENTS. C :>SO PoAK Lambert Conformal Conic Projection Standard Parallels 33~ and 45-Sc;,te 11,000.000