PROJECT BLUE BOOK

UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT CASE FILES · 1947 – 1969

CASE REFERENCE6308977

DATE OF SIGHTINGDecember 1951

REPORTED LOCATIONAlexandria Va

FRAMES8

→ Original microfilm scan (PDF) → Return to index

Machine transcription · mean legibility 64.4/100 · engines: tesseract-200dpi

Transcribed Frames

FRAME 001 / 008tesseract-200dpi

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD , :

1. DATE @ |\2 Location 3 12. CONCLUSIONS =——(‘ ;OC*”
D Was Bolloon
28 Decemser 1951 Alexandri2, Va 0 Probobly Bolloen
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION a Pout were
Locol 0D Ground Vi suel DO Greund-Roder 4 ne He etd evel
9
GMT 28/2335 & Ain Vi wel © Alr-Intereept Reder [© Possibly Airereft
5. PHOTOS SOURCE © Wos Astronemicel
0 Yes }0O Proebobly yet te:
%0 No Milita J} ) Possibly stronomice
7. LENGTM OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9 COURSE O Other — pa? ee
0D Insufficient Dote fer Evolvction
P [0 Unknown
15 minutes 1 “ie
10, BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11, COMMENTS
| Shape=Genrally round with a hazy inverted Evaluated as a/e (helo) in view of mnuve
truncated cone on top. Size 3 ft diameter, = and description of object,Confirmed as
Color Blue white soft light. No trail or exhaust. helo testing new lichting system,

Speed was stationary to 110 knots. No sound,
Object first reported stationary 7,000 ft moved
SSW reducing altitude one thousand ft, then
moved NNW for LO mi. and moved in are SE to E
to NE to N to NW, Lost from view whils switching

fuel tanks.

————— | A: eT

i ——————— ee ene
ATIC PCe@M 129 (RPV 74 SEP $2)

4 Y]

FRAME 002 / 008POOR LEGIBILITY — PENDING RE-EXAMINATION

th. - . “Leaner SL Qe err ere rs mae ~ wae hee

Ps a wort Sa eoetnen SS REY Or eng
L2ILST PIGHTTReINT RCESPTCR SQUADRON \
MIDREWS AIR PORCE ASE. \2- 4 ead
JASHDIIGTON 25,5 D Ve Cs ' ‘= NS satinateeenincsl

a rd 23 December 1951

Pa

*
SUMECTs Report of Information on Unconventional iircrart.-

TCs, 009. Air Materiel’ Command. Attias: MCIS .

) = é . ne ‘ts oe ' | Be5 Sf a!
| warns . Bec y Air catenes Comand, Attns - Director of Intelligence, Se oy A.

=* " ° ZyyOe 00, BADR
| a: aber iin DEY.

Nenort .of Information on Unconventional \irecraft in accordance
with \“Cle200—.13

a. Brief descristion of obfect:
; Shape-enerally round with a hay iaverted truncated cone on top:
it | Size-3 Feet disneter ‘ |
Colomalue white soft light |

‘fumber= 2 | | er

Aerodymaaic Featureceone observed : ;

= . Trail or ?xhanst- tons observed
| "repulsion ayeteme a observed : : 3 es is
= : waig en x

Spesd- Stationary to’ 11dknts : D AT 3 YEAR IN? m 7
Down NGRADED, AT AFTER 12 YEA ARS.

Sound= fone heard | DOD DIR 5200.10

ne ©»

. a
| Maneuvers= Coject. first revortad =stimatad 7°CO ft abont lOmls ce \
vo % oP? the Capitol Dome and stationary, it shen noved Sv] for abont > |:
| mals sodueing altitude to adont 1000 ft, then it oved %'# for abot ic °
| MM tiles stilt at 1000 M, there it moved in 2 oraat are OF changing to

- to (5 to N to PV which placed it a few miles SU ot the center ofr ‘
\lexvandria Va. ’
| ‘ter or ii sacvearancee “biact i‘savneared mile observers vere .

= UNCLASSIFIED

FRAME 003 / 008POOR LEGIBILITY — PENDING RE-EXAMINATION

yy’
(sovened . ‘ . =
. yo Pee TPP > on a ‘
e™=<ae- : eit OO Aan
eee Per See, Bee es i GetA-enee ae

tees ei, ae thoes id
SER er = ee

IN
De Tiee sightede 27552 to es CLASSIFIED :
c. | anner of obeerraticoneVisual, air-rmiit leks. Jo 4759764

2% 7,CCO feet, 110. knota..

a. Loeation of observer~ 10 to 15 riles JSi of Ganitel. Cistance frem
objeot: at signting was about 15 to 1S miles, ooint of nearest epnroach
“13 ce 6,000 Zeat: velew. (sma 2kse (a) ond {e)

ee radentiftesticn on acaebere were Hersberver, Locert A. Cast., LI7TZBA and
Davies, Donald < c Setecn,. Major, AC TLIV7 Ly thease -fficera a;‘cear cerfectly
ooreahy, rational acd unexcitadle, “7ficera are ae: to Jesdqnarters -
Coa Felling Air Yoree ase, ashinzton 25, 2 Ce. :
oad as <
f, Weather, and whad cond tic ns. Jisibility unrestricted, wings at 7,000
‘eet, were from 3303 at 48 xnets. “smperaturs as this ei titeie-l5'c,

“. ay activity or conditien, metercrological cr ottervisa,{ sxe chaerred)
bh. <“xistenes of any chyzical svidence. (Jone)

.. Interesvtion or identilicaticn action takere One F-92942 serazoiesd, This
7ilot did: n0t siyht obfect in cuesticn,

I. .ceal aireraft airborne at tha tise fer sighting. <iirera?ft inbound and
out. bourd Selling veriod 23°7CT to 24°02; Al> force 7668, -ilctartwohl,

1 6159 y£hlot Glassebrook, (7 3°79, pdlot- i-ne, iY L475, -Llot Truitt,
SSl2, Fayon. Airerart inbewnd and omtheund. indrews between same serial,
TTL Cmb7, silot williams, Lt col AF 4222, Fe51, rilot cuith, Cast,
S415 ». PaO} slot Kester, Cant, iF C429, 3625, pilics workman, Major.

rag 5 hay

“OR THE COMMAUOI GS OFFICER: -

| gin .

.
> =A.

UNCLASSIEIED

FRAME 004 / 008tesseract-200dpi

FROM A STANDING START, NO TRAIL OBSERVED, NO '
NOISE HEARD. LOST SIGHT OF WHILE SWITCHING FUEL
TANKS, MANNER OF DISAPPEARANCE UNKNLWN,

OTHER ‘OCCUPANT OF C-45 NOT AVAILABE —
UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON. WILL QUESTION HIM
AT TH2ZT TIME, ALEXANDRIA POLICE AND WASHINGTON

" \EWSPAPERS HAVE NO REPORTS OF OTHER SIGHTINGS

TiS NATURE, WEATHER BUREAU STATES NO ILLUMINATED
WEATHER BALLONS RELEASED THIS VICINITY

DURING PERIOD YESTERDAY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING

THE INCIDENT. REQUEST YOUR COMMENTS SOONEST

AND CONTMPLATED ACTION. jf

END CSAF IEM 3 (RESTRICTED)

)

— &

°- ~*~

<s
I! ITEM E WHEE IT IS IN LETTES IT HOULD READ HAVE ABILITY

\
OPT HAVE ceeanirenes | bos. ‘ |
pike ‘ = s
Fi f

/_- =- -— i — == - © ~~ -— * re a _-_— ~—_-* -* - enw? 8 2 ase = -_-- = = = - ~ =< - _* =

IRST LINE, FIFTH WORD SHOULD READ: FLIGHT
TITTH LINE, FIRST .WORD SHOULD READ ACFT |
SEVENTH LINE SHOULD READ "ACFT HAD THE ABILITY”

TENTH LINE SHOULD READ ® PILOT WHO SAW ACFT”

LINE TWENTY SEVEN LAST WORD SHOULD "RAPIDLY"

| IN ITEM 3 RPT IN ITEM 3N te | ye 7
'\NOTHER HERE may
| /} :

Y /  @ a :

FRAME 005 / 008tesseract-200dpi

re ae (
CITTTTT @ 1 @

CSAF ITEM 3 (RESTRICTED) Lh T! ghee:
SECURITY INFORMATION heen iS
TO RUPPELT FROM AFOIN-V/TC FOURNET

- FOLLOWING MSG RECEIVED: FROM LIGHT “SERVICE:
SECTION OLMSTEAD AFB, DATE GROUP 2801552
SECs “AT APPROX 1910E TWO PILOTS ON LOCAL .
CUT OF BOLLING OB3SERVED AN ODD LOOKING
SACFT CIRCLING AND HOOVERING OVER ALEXENDRIA
VIRGINIA BETWEEN 1000 AND 6000 FT . THE
scrt tHE ABILITY TO GO STRAIGHT UP OR STRAIGHT .
DOWN OR IT o> bid IT WAS ODD SHAPED Oe go aia ats ;
AND IT GLowED 4aINe tT VERY VISIBLE. Pee ee

she + =
PILOT WHO‘ ACFT WAS CAPT HERSSERGER.” Z. Flae pets ‘

ple jret aad Cm “43° old
-—xCONTACTED CAPT HERSBERGER AND OBTAINED . Pe
3. Anavian  weaserents &
FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONS OBJECT WAS Wisden
IN FORM OF WHITE LIGHT WITH FAINT YELLOWISH
CAST, APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET DIAMETER SPHEROID,
NOT TOO WELL DEFINED AND FUZZY ABOUT EDGES,
OBSERVED FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES FROM C-45

AT 7000 FEET ALTITUDE OBECT AT NE ZAREST dha

~~ ——— = fSeee ee -

~~ - -——_——_——-— =

WAS BELOW AND SLIGHTLY IN FRONT OF C~45
AT ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 1000 FEET. CAPT
KERSBERGER THROTTLED BACK TO 119 MILES PER

‘

HOUR INDICATED AND WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW OBJECT. .

OBJECT ALTERNATELY MOVED AB0UT AND HOVERED
OVER ALEXANDRIA COVERING TOTAL OF ASOUT 22
MILES DURING ENTIRE PERIOD OF GSSERVATION.

CAPABLE OF MANEUVERING IN MANNER # y 4
7 ee - x »4 "7 es
SIMILAR TO HELICOPTER AND APPEARED TO HAgsj=——Pe2355 rs

FRAME 006 / 008tesseract-200dpi

—

ATIC 55 O14 : A | Tl A |
CSAF ITEM 5 UNL Acs, eye ss a a a3 .
Tomes BseO | FIED ty iA |
70 RUPPELT ATIAA*2C FROM AFOIN-V/TC FOURNET
REF ITEM 5 AMC, THIS TT. pre |
|) WILL AWAIT YOUR OCMMENTS ON CSAF ITEM 1 Onae 7a &
_ THIS TT BEFORE TAKING ACTION YOU REQUEST,
PLEASE ADVISE.
“CENIF CSAP ITEM 4 (RESTRICTED) } Saks

DOD DIR 5200.19

p .
Way Otro “Rte r —
Afni ASHF «GU. / 3S
| CSARI ITEMS 2 AND 3 ABOVE ARE CORRECT VERSIONS See Fe
CF MESSAGES PREVIOUSLY TRANSMITTED AS a cae
| CSAP+EFEM-2. AND-7 RESPECTIVELY-OF-TT-312- = --- ee
- % T , - ’ ~ . Eat iS ‘ * 3
' ur welare: Bic ¥ }
ITEM 5 ANC ReSeReePeD/ \/ TreOl ;
FROM LT E J RUPPFLT ATIAA-2C a 2 Jae 52 : ‘
SECURITY INFO ons

REQUEST NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF PILOTS MENTIONED
IN TT-31i4, CSAF ITEM NR 3, DATED 22 DEC 51,

THE 4TH DISTRICT OSI WILL BSE REQUESTED TO
NVESTIGATE POSSIBILITY OF HELICOPTER IN

AREA AND OSTAIN DETAILED STATEMENTS FROM PILOTS.

END IT™ 5 ANC /2rercr
li ps LILLIE? «

bs CINE A

wGWNGHAUED ATS LicvAnw in PERV ALO,
7O" SEQLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS.
DOD DIR 5200.10

FRAME 007 / 008tesseract-200dpi

!

| .
F @ i ara
CSAF ITEM 1° (RESTRICTED) | A rT) AP

| SSCURLT YI NEORMAMALON UK “A d "ee
TO RUPPELT FORM AFOIN-y/TC as ,

REFERENCES CSA¥Y ITEM 3, TT|314, DATED 28 CSAP 7m 1

DEC 51. ae
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION) AS} A RESULT

CF FUTHER INVESTIGATION THIS “NCIDENT IS
#S FOLLOWS: HELICOPTER WITH HXPERIMENTAL
LIGHTING SYSTEM FROM PATUXENT NAVAL AIR
STATION WAS OVER ALEXANDRIA AT TIME OF

- = = oe ane tee ee,

_ SIGHTING. EVALUATION HERE THAT THIS HELICOPTER
i

WAS SOURCE OF SIGHTING, ; DOWNGRADED

END CSAF ITEM aa DOD DiR 5201 “y YEARS, —’

\'

AMC ITEM 6/R E S T/ pT-O%
. FROM LT E J RUPPELT, ATIAA20 4 Jan 52

“TO AFOIN-V/TC ATIN FOURNET UNCLASSIFIED

- SECURSS—ENSGRNATION.
REFERENCE CSAF ITEM 1, TT-@iy 2 JAN 1952. NEQRRTE Tt4:
SINCE DESCRIPTION OF MANEUVERS OF UNIDENTIFIED PUR ALi
OBJECT CLOSELY RESEMBLES A HELICOPTER |
FURTHER INVESTIGATION SUCH AS DETERMINING
FLIGHT PATH OF HELICOPTER, OBJECT, AND AIRCRAFT
I$ THOUGHT TO BE UNNECESSARY. ATIC CONCLUSION,

VERY PROBABLY HELICOPTER FROM PATUXENT.

\ AT 3 rT ra.
} DOWNGRADED aD AFTER i2 YEARS.

END AMC ITEM 6/R ES T/ DECLASS OD DIR Sauinie
& /

YRAR INTERVALS}

|

;

FRAME 008 / 008tesseract-200dpi

.
. ,
= * ¢ °
_-
,
.

EXTRACT FROM STATUS REPORT # 2

DATE: 25 Dec 41

TIME (Local): 1910

LOCATION: Alexandria, Va.

LENGTH OF TIME OBSERVED: 23in. =:

SOUND: None )
SPEED: Unknown

ALTITUDE: 1000-6000 ft.

HEADING : Uninown

SOURCE: USAF Pilot

ACTION OR COMMENTS: Proved to be experimental helicopter from Patuxent Naval

Air Stati OMe
DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT: Pilot saw object glowing which circled and hovered.