Air Intelligence Information Report — Sighting at Tsu Shima, Japan, 28 September 1952

On 28 September 1952, at approximately 1900 hours, three airmen—A/2c Warren D. Groverstein, A/3c Carlton L. Hall, and A/1c John F. Vanderpool—observed an unidentified object from the operations building at Tsu Shima, Japan. The witnesses described the object as a circular, deep red light that pulsed and changed to a light orange color. The object was initially sighted at an azimuth of 240 degrees and approximately 10 degrees above the horizon. Over the course of approximately 10 minutes, the object was observed moving vertically before disappearing below the horizon. The witnesses used binoculars to observe the object but could not identify it. An F-94 aircraft was vectored into the area, but the object disappeared before an interception could be made. No radar contact was established at any time. The official conclusion reached by the intelligence officer, Captain Alonzo N. Sloan Jr., was that the object was the planet Mars. This assessment was based on the position of Mars at that time of year (255 degrees azimuth and 10 degrees elevation) and the atmospheric conditions, which allowed for the planet to be easily visible. The apparent movement of the object was attributed to slight refraction due to the low angle of elevation.