1950 UFO Chronology and Graphic Evidence of UFO Reality The Trent, McMinnville, Oregon photos, May 11, 1950 - courtesy Bruce Maccabee Map of sightings for 1950, courtesy of Larry Hatch's *U* Database Created December 22, 2005, updated 5 Dec 2018 This is a 34-page report on an on-going project involving a number of people. I want to thank all the members of the A-Team who made this possible. This was a very important year in UFOlogy. Some of the best photographic evidence was obtained that year: April 23, Red Bud, Illinois; April 27, White Sands, New Mexico (Cinetheodolite film taken by camera tracking station); May 11, McMinnville, Oregon (Trent photos); May 24, White Sands (Cinetheodolite films); June 27, Louisville, Kentucky (Hixenbaugh movie film); August 15, Great Falls, Montana (Mariana color film); August 31, Alamogordo, New Mexico (Project TWINKLE film). Even more important is the fact that the April 27 White Sands tracking was a successful triangulation!!! Then there were all the sightings and radar-jamming and radiation incidents at Oak Ridge (in particular, Oct 29 & 30th). The Oak Ridge story included the FBI being put on "immediate high alert". Last, but certainly not least, we have to thank Loren Gross for thoughtfully and diligently collecting data many years ago for his UFO Histories and supplemental notes, in particular here the year 1950. And a big thanks to CUFOS and Mary Castnor for housing them on the CUFOS site. UFO_History_Gross/1950_01_03_History.pdf UFO_History_Gross/1950_01_03_HistorySN.pdf UFO_History_Gross/1950_04_07_History.pdf UFO_History_Gross/1950_08_12_History.pdf UFO_History_Gross/1950_08_12_HistorySN.pdf Francis Ridge NICAP Site Coordinator: Note: There are 209 entries in the 38-page La Paz catalog, the " Summary of Sightings of Unknown Phenomena, 17th District OSI" But in the 1950 group there were 50 sightings and the ones listed here are the reports with some important details to make them extraordinary. The catalog ended with entry 209, which was for May 1, 1950. Also, brief case descriptions giving the Cat (Category) number, name of witness, and source in brackets (M=military), are NICAP UFO Evidence entries where cases haven't been located. The Chronology Blue Book Listings, Total Year Access NARA-PBB1-34 - January - February Sightings January 1950; TRUE Article True magazine article "Flying Saucers Are Real," by Maj. Donald E. Keyhoe, suggested UFOs are of extraterrestrial Jan. 6, 1950; Near Howard, Kansas (BBU) 2:10 pm CST. Gray and 2 other USAF crew of C-47 transport saw a 30-60 ft silver football-shaped object flying in straight level flight. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index) A new wave of Frank Scully-type hoax stories begin to circulate widely through the media nationwide, including TIME and Newsweek magazines (stories of the AF meeting live aliens, recovering crashed saucers, bodies of little green men). Apparently the new stories were inspired by AFOSI (AF Office of Special Investigations) as a disinformation operation to discredit the Roswell incident in advance, in case Roswell should leak. The AF was fearful that retired Navy-Marine officer-pilot and investigative reporter Maj. Donald Keyhoe, after his blockbuster TRUE article, was hot on the trail of uncovering Roswell, though he was not (the AF had no way of knowing that). AF viewed this as a Navy attack on the AF, exploiting inter-service rivalry and using dirty tricks, and expected more to come (Brad Sparks) Jan. 7, 1950; S of Corona, New Mexico (BBU) 10:15 p.m. Holloman AFB Asst. Maintenance Officer Risley while driving saw a yellowish-white ball of light at about 45 elevation descending at a 60 angle, changing color to orange with trailing flame, to just above a mountain range where it leveled off becoming bright blue-green traveling 10 E [?] until it dropped behind the mountain. (FOIA; FUFOR Jan. 10, 1950; Las Vegas AFB, NV 10:10 a.m. Civilian pilots, father and son, observed 2 F-80 jet fighters approaching for landing at elevation angle of about 45 into the sun [in the SE at about 21 elevation 141 azimuth] and saw an object at an altitude of approximately 1500- 2000 feet, about 25-30 ft in size. Object appeared "pure silver," round "like a balloon" (AFOSI found no balloons launched) and solid material like "a metal," with no external fittings, air ducts, antenna, supports, or exhaust trail, seeming no noise audible above that of an F-80. Direction of flight [heading?] was NNE with no tactical movement, or maneuver, motion was smooth, at first slow and then a very rapid acceleration in a horizontal ascent, disappearing over mountains to the E. (Sparks; BB AFOSI files; NICAP website) 25 secs 2 witnesses 1 Full Moon ? AF Directorate of Intelligence (AFOIN) quietly cancels the special intelligence collection directives to various government agencies for reporting UFO (flying disc/flying saucer) incidents, though routine intelligence channels still require UFO reporting. Cancellation is a follow up up to the widely announced closure of "Project Saucer" (classified codename GRUDGE) at AMC (Air Materiel Command), Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, on Dec. 27, 1949, which had been designed to blunt the impact of Keyhoe's just-released bombshell article in TRUE claiming saucers were extraterrestrial. AFOIN Director, Gen. Charles P. Cabell, believed that in fact AMC was taking its UFO project underground by announcing the closure. Months later Cabell discovers that AMC Intelligence Dept under Col. Harold Watson was not running a secret UFO investigation, and Cabell is forced to make up for AMC's negligence by conducting his own UFO investigations via his AF Intelligence staff. (Brad Jan. 12, 1950. Holloman AFB, NM 7:00-7:05 and 9:00 p.m. (MST). Airman John M. Gusich, 3024th Air Police Sq, file clerk in Air Provost Marshal's office, Holloman AFB, sighted bright white light similar to Venus, with erratically changing color to green and red, erratic left- right, up-down small motions, at about 10 to 15 above horizon in the N, at azimuth 353 to 355 moving level to the W. Sighted again briefly at 9:00 p.m. and had moved W to about 325 azimuth. Extremely cloudy in the W, S and E, clear only in the N, hence could not be Venus setting in the WSW, azimuth 252 elevation 5 (at 7:00 p.m.), setting at about 7:27 p.m. and well below horizon and totally invisible at 9 p.m. Similar sighting of star-like light in the N by Gusich next morning disappeared at 6:05 a.m. due to approaching sunrise was probably star Capella at azimuth 325 (about NW to NNW) elevation 3. (Sparks) Jan. 12, 1950; Gulf of Mexico (BBU) At 1 1:25 p.m. EST, a B-29 aircraft was flying over the Gulf on a course of 260 degrees when three objects were noted on the radar scope orbiting the B-29 from all quadrants. The objects were noticed by the Radar Operator, Aircraft Commander, Navigator, and Bombardier. One object was first sighted on a bearing of 330 degrees traveling south. The objects travelled across the scope in approximately 15 to 20 seconds on the 100 mile range setting. In a few minutes this object was joined by two others, which disappeared in a few minutes. At short ranges the object was large and well defined on the radar scope. The object would go off for about 100 miles, turn and come in as if for an attack, pass through the center of the scope and emerge on the other side. The estimated speed of the object was between 2,500 to 3,000 mph. The one object remained on the radar scope for approximately 30 minutes, following the B-29 all the time. The radar operator switched ranges on the scope and picked up the object on the 20 and 50 mile settings. Twice the object came to within 20 miles of the aircraft and then apparently had the ability to hover, for the movement on the radar scope would cease for 5 to 15 seconds. After altering course the object no longer appeared, but the radar was jammed for approximately 10 minutes. (Dan Wilson) Jan. 13, 1950; Holloman AFB, New Mexico, OSI Case 166 Sounds much like a star but the OSI report stated, "Observable celestial phenomena or planets that may account for the sighting: None." Jan. 14, 1950; Oak Ridge, TN 4:45 PM. Fairchild plant workers at the nuclear research facilities watched a brilliant fiery ball of light hover over restricted military airspace for about two minutes. (Source: Loren E. Gross, UFOs: A History. 1951, p. 3). Jan. 18, 1950; Denver, Colo. (BBU) 6:19 p.m. USAF pilots of T-6 saw a round reddish-white object tapered aft flying at 15,000 ft. (Project 1947) Jan. 18, 1950; Denver, Colorado (BBU) At around 1859 hours (6:59 p.m. CST) Lt. A. P. Webb and six other pilots in four aircraft saw a similar flame or light moving at a high rate of speed at times varying slightly. All the observers described the flame or light in similar terms and gave its course generally as southwesterly. (Dan Wilson) Jan. 22, 1950; Near Kodiak NAS, Alaska. (BBU) 2:40-4:40 a.m. USN P2V3 patrol plane pilot Lt. Smith and radar officer A. L. C. Gaskey briefly detected a radar target 20 miles N, then another target S of Kodiak at 2:48 a.m., possibly the same target traveling 225 mph in between. Smith radioed Kodiak NAS to look for other air traffic but none was reported. Gaskey then noticed strong radar interference preventing him from tracking the target. At 3 a.m. watch officers Morgan and Carver on the USS Tillamook S of Kodiak island saw a maneuvering red exhaust-like or orange ball of fire circle the Kodiak area in 30 secs clockwise beginning and ending in the SE. At 4:40 a.m., P2V3 radar picked up fast moving target at 5 miles which closed that distance in 10 secs (1,800 mph) to dead ahead position, where it was seen as "two orange lights rotating about a common center like two jet aircraft making slow rolls in tight formation." Smith tried to pursue but object came at him in a "highly threatening gesture." Smith turned off all aircraft lights to reduce visibility, object flew off to the SE disappearing in 4 mins. (Project 1947; BB files??) Jan. 24, 1950; Near Blackstone, Virginia (BBU) 4:50-5:05 p.m. (EST). 3 Pentagon officials, 2 USAF combat flying officers, pilot Capt. G. B. Edwards and copilot Capt. Theron C. Fehrevach flying C-45 transport plane heading 26 at 5,000 ft, saw a dark 200-250 ft diameter hemispherical parachute-shaped or B-35 flying wing shaped object at about 20 azimuth at about 7,000 ft about 5-10 miles away with a large black smoke region below it almost looking like a large suspended black object about 3x the object's diameter, possibly obscuring a lower portion of a sphere instead of the object being just an upper hemisphere. UFO was darker than the 50% cloud cover and easy to distinguish as not being cloud. Object moved smoothly horizontally to the right to about 32 azimuth at about 300+ mph then back again without any noticeable turn radius. Edwards put the C-45 into a climb to 7,000 ft so they would be on the same height level as the UFO and turned left slightly to 20 to head directly toward it. Army Courier Service passenger 1st Lt. John H. Van Santen was alerted by Fehrevach and now also saw the object move right then left by 12 again, then they all saw the object recede at high speed radically away and disappear [at possibly 6,000 mph to reduce angular size below visual resolution by increasing distance at least 200 miles in <2 mins at about 4:55 p.m.]. About 1-1/2 mins later object reappeared about 30-45 to the right of their heading at the same level but at greater distance, stationary in position, then oscillating or wiggling about that position horizontally right-left about 1- 1.5x objects width. Object moved horizontally to dead ahead again and disappeared by receding in the distance at high speed. (Jan Aldrich) President Truman announces his approval of the H-bomb project. This was widely seen as a "crash program" and the number one super secret weapon to counter the surprise Soviet atomic bomb of Aug. 1949 which had caught Western intelligence off guard by coming many years sooner than predicted. Later in 1950 it would be widely thought that flying saucers trumped even the A-bomb and H-bomb. (Brad Sparks) Jan. 31, 1950; N of Aleutian Islands, Alaska (BBU) 6:55 p.m. USAF pilot saw 3 ft red and white elliptical object flying E. (Project 1947) Feb. 2, 1950; Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Ariz. (BBU) USAF bomber pilot saw object trailing smoke. (Weinstein; BB files??) Feb. 5, 1950; Teaticket, Mass. (BBU) 5:10 p.m. Marvin Odom, former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, USAF Lt. Philip Foushee, pilot from Otis AFB, and 2 others saw 2 thin, illuminated cylinders, one dropped a fireball, both maneuvered together then disappeared high and fast. (Berliner) Feb. 8, 1950; Tampa, Florida (BBU) 11:45 p.m. USAF crew of B-29 bomber saw 300 ft long 30 ft wide rocket-shaped object flying at 2,000+ mph. [Eastern Airlines??] (Project 1947; FUFOR Index) multiple? Feb 18, 1950, Holloman AFB, NM 0610-0640. Driving north from Holloman AFB, MSTMajor William J. Maynor, M/SGT Raymond F Gotainger, M/SGT William R. Royal Observed in a break in the clouds an object the size of a coffee cup at arm's length which appeared to be a very bright light and as the sum arose occasionally reflected the light of the sun from the lower half of the object. It diminished to such a degree that it was no longer visible after its movement of about 10 degrees. The AF suggested Vega, but a balloon at high altitude is a better suggestion. (Maxwell PBB roll 7, frames 1212-1215.) TRUE publishes a follow up article by an active duty Navy officer Cdr. Robert McLaughlin claiming in the March 1950 issue that scientists at White Sands Proving Ground had tracked a UFO at escape velocity (the 18,000 mph speed was actually orbital velocity and was merely assumed, not tracked or measured by Charles B. Moore, in the Apr. 24, 1949, incident). McLaughlin states he believes UFO's are extraterrestrial. AF views this as another Navy attack on the Air Force. (Brad Sparks) Feb. 22, 1950; Key West, Fla. Navy pilots, others, saw glowing UFO, confirmed by radar. [IV] Feb. 24, 1950; Albuquerque, New Mexico (BBU 642) 1:55 p.m. While tracking a weather balloon from atop TWA Bld. at the Municipal Airport, 1.5 mins (theod). Weather Observer Luther B. McDonald saw crossing the field of view in the theodolite a white, round object not quite as elongated as an egg, darkened on the top-left side, flying straight and level from about 20 to 23 elevation at about 110 azimuth in the E apparently on a trajectory towards them on about a 240 to 270 heading, covering 2 in 1-1/2 mins [probable round-off in angles so that elevation may have changed from about 20.5 to 22.5 and azimuth from about 109 to 111]. Objects angular size about that of the upper part of the moon as seen through theodolite [probable 21x telescope sight of David White pibal theodolite]. Lost sight when shifted to weather balloon (and back). Weather Observer Harrison S. Manson also observed object with the naked eye, for about 20-30 secs, (unaided) appearing to be brilliant white like metal reflecting sunlight the apparent size of a weather balloon about to disappear in the distance, impression of flight heading to ESE [actually from ESE]. (Berliner; Jan Aldrich) Feb. 24, 1950; Datil, New Mexico (BBU) 7:30 p.m. (MST). Stanfield and other Holloman AFB Photographic Branch project staff for tracking aerial phenomena at the Datil observation post saw and photographed a circular luminous object 15.31 arcmins (0.2552) in diameter with a 3.785 long trail, using 1-5 Cineflex camera with 3-inch focal length lens. (Sparks; FUFOR Index) observation post Feb. 25, 1950. Datil, New Mexico 2-2:30 a.m. White round light reappeared in the same position in the sky from 4 hours earlier, changing to red and green, moving slightly towards the NW, then disappeared behind mountain. Angular velocity 0.5/.min [in azimuth?] calculated by LaPaz. Note this is 2nd sighting of the same night by this Holloman AFB UFO observation post. (Sparks; BB NARA Microfilm Roll 91, pp. 465-6; Maxwell Microfilm Roll 7 pp. 1226-52) 30 min, observation post photo. Feb. 25, 1950; Los Alamos, New Mexico (BBU 645) 3:55 p.m. 12 AEC Atomic Energy Security Service (AESS) inspectors saw a cylinder with tapered ends, silver and flashing, fly slow then fast, flutter and oscillate, change course. (Berliner) 3 secs to 2 mins Feb. 27, 1950; Counterville, Illinois (BBU) 7 a.m. Pilot and aircraft mechanic Richard Lemmon was flying [SE] from Wood River to Du Quoin, Illinois, in a PT-19 light training aircraft with his wife, at 2,000 ft when he noticed an object near Coulterville, and he alerted Mrs. Lemmon who then saw the object. He climbed to 5,000 feet at 140-150 mph where he appeared to be at the same level with the object, reaching as close as 1/2 mile away. Object was in the shape of a discus about 60 feet in diameter, 10 feet thick in the middle and thinner at the edges, with a high metallic shine. Lemmon flew above, below and to side of object to be sure it was real and no reflection or illusion. No markings or breaks in the metal for windows or rotors, etc., but had impression of "cuts of a piece of a pie." No flames, smoke or vapor trails. Object was highly maneuverable and made several turns, right and left, up and down. Object tilted in the direction of motion with no distinguishable front or rear. No visible means of propulsion. Lemmon tried to buzz people on the ground to look up at the object. Object picked up speed to disappear at "great speed" [near Pinckneyville/ Du Quoin?]. (Sparks; BB files; Project 1947 website; NICAP website; UP, Du Quoin, Ill., March 14, 1950; Loren Gross Jan-March 1950, pp. 26, 93) 15 mins 2 witnesses 2 Full NARA-PBB1-35 - March Sightings March 1950--True Article "How Scientists Tracked a Flying Saucer," by Cmdr. R. B. McLaughlin, USN, reported April 24, 1949 White Sands sighting. [I] March 1, 1950; Knoxville, TN Witness not considered reliable. Incident involved the use of an Army surplus radar unit. Estimate - Soviets Pose Dangerous Threat By Mid 1952 On March 2, 1950, a Joint Chiefs of Staff; (JCS) meeting focused on establishing goals for a minimum air defense by 1952. The following month at a USAF Commanders Conference at Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, planners familiarized commanders with the thinking behind the plan of minimum defense as well as with its contents. Referred to as the Blue Book Plan, it stipulated that a minimum air defense could be in place by mid-1952. It was estimated that July 1, 1952, as the critical date when the Soviets would pose a dangerous threat. General Charles Cabell expected the Soviets to have between 45 and 90 atom bombs and 70 to 135 Tu-4 bombers (copied B-29s) by that time. March 3, 1950; Selfridge AFB, Mich. (BBU 650) 11:05 p.m. USAF 1st Lt. Frank Mattson saw an intense, dull yellowish light descend vertically, then fly straight and level at high speed. (Berliner) 4 mins March 4, 1950; Near Newburgh, IN A man was driving east approximately two miles east of the junction of Indiana State Hwy 66 and 261 north of Newburgh, when he observed an object he believed to be a rocket at a distance of approximately 50-75 yards in front of his automobile. March 5?, 1950. Vaughn, New Mexico 11:35 a.m. 1;00 p.m. White object in straight flight toward 195 azimuth? at 180-200 mph. (Sparks; BB Microfilm Roll March 5, 1950; Bloomfield, NM Night. A dark, five-foot diameter disc paced a car. When the driver stopped the car the object circled the car, then sped