PROJECT BLUE BOOK

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PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

he DATE (LOCATION (| 12 CONCLusIONs
13 Avr 52 Morierity, New Mexico GQ Wes Bolloon
= . 0 Probubly Balloon
3. DATE-TIwE GROUP 7 | 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION — < eet een
Local —.¢ 1649 MST FXGround-Vi sual EP SPUeNE-T Aeee ; Probetly Aircraft
GMT. Pl arzys 2 i 0 Air Visual 6 Air-Intercept Radar O Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS’ | 4 6. SOURCE : 0 Was Astronomical
O Yes 0 Probobly Astronomical
# Ne several airmen O. Possibly Astronomicol
‘7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION | 8 NUMBER OF OBJECTS 9. COURSE a a Pe
1 CO) Insufficient Data for Evaluation
5-10 minutes | 0 Unknown

10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING

Silver color. Elliptical.

Turned and dove. |
Balloon in area but weather people at
Albuquerque considers it highly doubtful.

|? COMMENTS

ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP $2)

HEADQUARTERS
34th ALR DIVISION (DEFENSE)
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE SASE, NEW MEXICO

/\ ,/ 4ye
ly re } 397

OIN 452.1 F
‘ HNCLASSIFIED

SUBJECT: Unconventional Aircraft Report

ek: Commanding General DOWNGSALCE La INTERVALS)
Air Materiel Command DECLASS UD pak an A Sash dens
ATT: MCIS DOD Dik 6209.10
Vright-Patterson Air Force ase
Ohio

Air Intellicence Information Neports, cated 1 hay 1952, as
Submitted by the Commanding Ufficer, 769th Aircraft Control * Waring
Seyadron, Moriarty, ew liexico, are forwarded in compliance with Air
Defense Comaand letter 200-1, dated 11 April 1951.

Beas

FOR THs COM-‘ANDING GiNGARAL:

13 Incls SAM ODENSKY
1. ATIR = Part I (dupl)
2e ATIN = Part Ti -

2nd 11, USAT

dup1) Asst Ais Adj Ger

3. n tt "
), * " Li

— 9 "

6. Sworn Statement

" (dup1)

8 Ps t "i du ol)

9 ‘ 1" "

10. Scope Diagram = a

ll, =" ’ a (dupl)

iz * " ne
3. * i" FED

13 May 1952

UNCLI , se\F VED

1. There seems to be two or more possible explanations of the
unidentified target reported by attached Form 1123

e, Radar target was caused by an actual airborne target,

b, Interference from a purposedly “Locked-on* jamming or
confusion transmitter,

c, Other less likely causes such as equipment fault, weather,
etc.

2. Since the path of the radar target was along a straight line passing
thru the radar station location, it is considered most likely that the
explanation given in paragraph 1b is applicable,

P, L, Jomes
Captain, USAF

WNGR: aay Kn 0
bo eT SS OD D in 6200. ”

: — 30 Apel 1942
rep

I, Captain RD ogy Aircraft Control ane

Varnin« Squadron, Morlarity, Now hexico, do hereby wish to «xe “the
followins statenents:

‘

At O72 MST, 39 April 1952, the QQ on doty, AA ie ,
informe? me that somethin’ unusual wae bain: sichte.! by thea radur. T L
maedinat ede poste? myself as an ooserver behind Lhe scope op rator ari “4
avorextuitely o7hé “ST a blip appeared nt 1hO niles on 210° agiauth, 2:
in the next cwecep the blip vas asain at 230% asimith and at a ranve of
123, mile. ohe olip oceurred consintently for 6 svceps novin: dow: the
230° aviouth line at acproxiwtely 11 niles per sweep or lL aoe avery
10 seconds. Tt fade? at approximately 74 miles ranze which micht inti-

cate a terrific altitude. This represented to me a clearly defined
track 200° healing. The dlips observe? were not blurred nor were they
fuszy blobs of a sort but rither they were vory clearly define? vbilps
which can only be descrited a9 the trpe of blin that is sichted every
Cay ince by conventional type aircraft. The terrific speed of this
track ac ‘esertbe! above was very inpressive.

Attached hereon is the approxtmte path of flivht the blip was in
as J say it.

DOW AG.

LAS ~ - Bea t x.
DEC! VOv Vis BaZuNy.. _

Svorn to an? subserlbed before wae this 30 day of April 1952.

* od , i, Al
/ OU LA —~" * 4 A

Pr ries DF "y - of L-

«i \e 4 wv iy,

Capbuin, i”

Fidjutent

74 ith , Or ; Ney r it ¥ vy » ai |

=
ea mt® te} BY
Pyryad 2h"
-

\
=F

exico

Oe 1 TL Ta Adroraft Control
and varning Squadron, hortarity, New Mexico, do hereby wish to vita the
Yollowin« statement:

Ab O72 ** T, 30 April 1952, as vane on duty from OUO1L to 0400
- i was barcewed of an unusual blip on radar by “cope operator on
i ,* e 4
city, (/10 Qe. Tareliacely I vassed thie unusual occurance on Lo the

Controller on duty, Captain, Sa. 84 07146 ver ry firet ob-

servation of this blip appeared aprroxinately at 1hO miles on 2309 auteuth

ern

and this blip moved approxiwtely 11 niles each sveep, every 10 seronits,
for 6 sweece, This blip fated asproxioate ‘ly 7) miles fron etaitlon,
This Slip appeared on the scope as a usutl aireralrt would + mr, Sxceut

for it's speed,

Attached hereon is the ayproxinace path of Licht the blip was in
as Ll suu it.

Sworn to and subseribed before me this 30th day of Avril 1952,

Car stain, US
Adjutant

, ’ 78 7° *% I *
TA3ta ACs Me, Morlarity, Vew Mexico

ee ED

[ ~ partys slander’ bk Bh waa e
ates Dp p" bi anes ame, ec

cee oe Pm pre Males irae

. vein. eceatideniamniesinditels MI le 5

~_——— oe ee

Moriority, New Mexico = 13 Avril 1952

I. DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT

On 13 April 1952 at 1645 MST, four airmen observed a silver, disc-shaped
object east of Moriarity, New Mexico. The object appeared to be traveling at
a high rete of speed and its flight path was very erratic, The object was
@ssumed to be disc-shaped due to the fact that it appeared to tip edgewise ant
disappear for an instant. When first notices, the object was thought to be a
high flying jet aircraft but all the observers are faniliar with jet aireraft
and they all asreed that its speed and maneuverability eliminated that possit be ity,

ee

The tine of observation wis fuZced to be fron four to ten ninutes
. ee

II, STATUS OF INV=STIGTION .

Both Moriarity, New Mexico, ari Albuquerque have radar but no unusual resrns
were noted on 13 April,

A piball balloon was released from Albuquerque at 1400 MST, The vinds,
however, woul? have czrriec this balloon south of Moriarity. In addition, th:
balloon "woulé have risen too hi-h to be observed st ter two hours and 45 ninutes
It is possible the balloon leaked end leveled off at a low altitude, however,
4t would heve been south of the observation point. The specd and maneuvers a:
not correlate with a normal ballocn's drift except for the possibility thet ticre
might heve becn some strong winds at the time, This cannot be ascerteined ant
the object must remain unidentified,

III, CONCLUSIONS

None.
\
wR INTHRIALS; ~)
AT 3 YBAR Dies’:

DOWNER A eLED AVTER 12 YEARS. :

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T52-10889 16 r
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American Alele- dene Fee. f
Fe’ 1967 by Pr. a? hirer

1952 April 25.69 G.M.T.
A.M.S. No. 2395

In our files are found 12 reports of an extremely brilliant fireball which appeared on
the above date at 11:28 p.m., E.S.T, Out of the 12 reports 10 came from Wilmington,
N.C., one from 5 miles south, one from 25 miles north, so all observers lay olong a

—_— south-north line, The reports were gathered by Donald Strayhorn of Wilmington, then
an wctive A.M.S, member, The reports were unanimous that the fireball's color was blue
or green and its size excessive, estimates of the latter running from one half to three
tines the size of full Moon, Allowing for probable exaggeration, its apparent diameter
must have approximated 15’ to 20’. Based on 9 estimates, the duration was 3.06 + 0.76
sec.--a smaller average error than usual, From 9 stations the path was reported as
Vertical or alinost so, and the beginning altitude as 45° or greater, and the end at north
point at about 5° altitude. As the sidereal time was about 13,33, the right ascension of
the radiant would, for a vertical path, approximate that. No information on the radiant's
declination nor lincar heights can be obtained from the data. Its path probably ended
near the Va.-N.C. border. Evidently, however, it was not from the Lyrid radiant, but
may well have come from A.M.S, fireball radiant No. 5056, Though all the usual results
could not be obtained it seemed worth while to put this remarkable fireball on record.

FIREBALL of 1961 August 10.61 G.M.T.
A.M.S. No. 2294

On this date at about 8;32 p.m., C.S.T., a fireball was observed from the Chicago-
Milwaukee area, and some 250 reports were gathered by the Adler Planetarium and
eventually sent to A.M.S, headquarters. There has becn a long delay in solving the
path of the principal body to which these reports refer. A detailed study indicated that
30 of more referred to a second bright object, scen to the northeast, while, duc to the
datc, Perseids were doubtless present in numbers and some observers did not differen-
tiate between an ordinary metcor and the fireball in question. Despite these complica-
tions a solution has finally been obtained. Unfortunately only about 5 people tricd to
refer the path or end of it to stars, Ursa Major being so used. All the rest depended
upon estimates of both directions and altitudes, nobody seems to have used any instru-
ment for measuring either coordinate.

A preliminary study weeded out about half of the reports as having no value for
either coordinate. Further, estimates of altitudes of 60° and over were omitted, as
almost nobody, without using stars as reference, can estimate such arcs with even
approximate accuracy, and heights depend upon the tangents of the angle, which
become abnormally great over 60°. To determine the projected path, a chart of the
region was prepared, scale 1’ in latitude to Imin. On this stations were plotted and
azimuth lines drawn showing the observed projected starting and ending points, aid in
. many cases intermediate. From this, despite the usual scatter, these points were derived

and the projected path drawn. Then the linear height corresponding to observed alti-

tudes were derived by measuring the distance to projected path from each station and

taking the tangent of the altitude. Most did not see the beginning point, but our derived

beginning height depends upon 13 usable altitudes. The end point depends upon 43

altitudes. Joining these points by a straight line gives us the atmospheric path. Other

estimates could be bunched into three heights. When plotted, these fit in tolerably well
. with path mentioned.

While the average deviations from the mean heights certainly show larger values
than we could wish, yet in perceatuges they compare very favorably with those all
observers get when measuring stellar paralaxes, and the latter are the very basis of
stellar astronomy. So we beg the indulgence of astronomers and suggest that, while in a
given case the fireball path and orbit derived certainly may be considerably in error,
still statistically, they may be treated with more respect.

—13—

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10

2 = 10 MAY 1952 SIGHTINGS

CATION O3SERVER EVALUATION
Moses Lake, Washington . . NIGSNTIFIZD
Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona Military ALACRAYT
George AF3, California § . Military UNIDENTITICD
San Francisco, Cslifornia = — Rig. Other (BIXDS)

(CARDS MISSING)
Wichita Falls, Texas. —_ Astro (IMSTDOR)
Olmstead AFB, Pennsylvania’ —_" INSUSTFICI£ENT DATA
Melbourne, Australia - Astro (MST202)
Fhoenix, Arizona . see Astro (MET=0R)
Richmond, Taxas Astro (L=T=oR)
Tenafly, New Jersey ' og ORE UNIDENTITICD

(CARDS MISSING)

Phoenix, Arizona ’ Astro (MTECR)

Keesler ATB, Mississippi ' Military UNIDENT If Izp

Nashville, Tennessee ° ; BALLOON

Rio de Janerio, Brazil Me 0TOs) Other (HOAX)

31.20N 70.00W (ATLANTIC) Civilian Astro (iM=TZ0R)

Misawa, Japan Military Astro (METEOR)

Misawa, Japan Military INSUFFICIENT DATA

Mishawaka, Indiana eae INSUTFICIENT DATA

Sao Paulo, Brazil Civilian Astro (ISTEOR;
(CASE MISSING)

George AFB, Cal ifornia Military-Civilian (RADAR) BALLCON

Georgs AFB, California * Military UNIDINTITIED -

San Diezo, California / ee a Astro (iE TEOR)

Cyprus * ' Pritish Scientist DGISUTFICIENT DATA

Albuquerque, New Mexico ' Multipls BALLOON

Ellenton, South Carolina~ Civ Uliana UNITSNTIVIED

Portland, Oregon v Re all Other (SEARCHLIGHUTS)
(CARDS MISSIiNG)

Korea / Military BALLOONS

(CARDS NISSING) ©

ADDITIONAL REPORTED SIGHTINGS ( NOT CASES)

LOCATICN SCIRCS BVALUATION
San Francisco, California ' a-—_/—-BMENEE(PHoTCS)

Pacific Ocean - Hydrographic Sullotin Astre (MET&OR)

Ci ROUTING Coase | ee, ie oe
FROM KIRTLAND AFB ALBUQUERQUE N MEX Pain; A sRy> Nn

TO ANCYPAFS OHIO CO ATI en (ee) a EE
OLN3SS3.~ GNCLASSIFIEL. i hl:

REF AFOIN-ATIAAt4-1G3E DTD 33 APR 52 UNIDENTIF IED AERO BJ SLTED

OVER MORIARTY NEW MEXICO 15 APR 52 WAS NOT RADAR SITINGe RDAR Ii

THis AREA DID NOT REPT PICK UP OF UNIDENTIFIED AER OBJS ON THAT

Dix ALBUQUERQUE EEA STA REPT REL OF WHITE PLT BALLOON 3 FEET IN

DIAM AT 219932 THAT DT. WINDS WERE IN NORTHYWEST-WEST NORTHWEST DIR

AT 21 TO 39 KNOTSe WINDS YOULD TAKE BALLOON SOUTH OF MORIARTYe
POSSIBLY WITHIN SIGHTING Dise WEA EXPERTS REPT THIS TYPE BALLOON BURSTS
AFTER 1 TO 1 AND ONE HALF HR FLT BUT OCCASIONALLY REACHES

A ST\SILIZING ALT AND REMAINS IN BACT FOR SEVERAL HRe BALLOON NORMALLY
FOL A STEADY UPWARD FLT AT APPARENT SLOY MOTION AT HIGHER ALT.

SUDDEN DISSAPPEARANCE OF THERE BALLOONS OCCURS AT TIME OF BURSTING.
WEA EXPERTS FURTHER STATE BALLOON WOULD HAVE CONT SOUTHWARD MOTION.
MEVER TURNING NORTHWARD. DR TO PREVAILING WINDS. FACTS POINT TO

REMOTE POSSIBILITY BALLOON COULD HAVE BEEN OBJECT. BUT CONSIDER IT
HIGHLY IMPROBABLE. 1 SILVER RADIO SONDE BALLOON WAS RELS AT 153972.
‘THIS BALLOON NORMALLY EXPLODES 1 TO 2 HR LATER. DO NOT CONSIDER

THIS BALLOON VISIBLE AT TIME OF SIGHTING REPT AT MORTARTY

- Ts . ~ ae . ba —— Ss Pics — Sw
eT a
tS Mamie Maggs oe ot eat ane Rat aN aorvemt, 97
ae oa Pb OTR: AS Toe, r ; i ae shins Tn GRADED AT 8 YR ft Lt INTZRY AL.

me NUCLASSIFIED AFFRR 13 WLS SA
DOD DIB 20049

UNCLASSIFIED aro). 14 ot Bel

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD ,

ee <t - cameras ’ —_——— ae —o- —_----_— ——
| 1. DATE e LOCATION { 12, CONCLUSIONS
:* O April 52 Moriarity, jlow Mexico 0 Wes Balloon
3 p 7 NS em QO Probably Balloon
lth nn tin <Est G .tnbee SS OSs <u RS tre Setiie > ania -cciin~ee teks Cintas Uae a OE. ep ‘ ie sk «Goa es Gs eho Ge 0 O98 eRe wee oe 0 aut abe arenes Daw ‘
3. DATE-TINE GSOUP © TURE OF OS SEIT ATION i aeresntren ND Possibly Balloon
jaal's bf | H P
LOCO) ...<. 0746 .. 4 1 Ground- Visual! 0) Ground-Rador O Wos Aircraft
pn oO Probably Aircraft
__GMT_ aw ALG =e~ oil o Air vi sual O Air-Intercept Radar Possibly Aircraft
| 5. PHOTOS | 6. SOURCE 19 Wes Astronomical
Yes O Probobly Astronomical
(No Rader crew }o RADAR’ Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION ~~") 6. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9% COURSE le: Ota. en...
0 Insufficient Dato for Evaluation
1 minute 1 0D -Unknown
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING ; - houmas a
'
Straight And level maneuvers.
Electronics concludes this may have been | - Radav blip clocked at 3700 MPii.
due to purposely “locked on" jammer.

ATIC FORM 329 (REV 25 SEP $2)