PROJECT BLUE BOOK

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rt. CATE ( |? LOCATION ( 12. CONCLUSIONS

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é O Wos Balloon
9 Ma Sao Paulo, Drazil 8) Probobly Balloon
‘3. DATE-TIME GROUP Ng. TYPE OF OBSERVATION - Pesemy Sore
Lscal —... i | (¥KGround- Visual OD Ground-Redar _ Probobly Aiverett
cyt...  fo% zZ Me ; © Air Visvol OD Air-Intercept Rodor CG Possibly Aircroft |
| 5 PHOTOS 7 | ‘wry : “I 6. SOURCE ; 0 | Na ge ay ;,
» &y 0 robably Astronomica
oie. Civilian (letter) BH Possibly Astronomical PUJ'U'SOR
“T. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE O Other. aaa
0D Insufficient Data for Evaluation
3 secondad 1 © Unknow
. ! 4 ae
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
White color. Meteor shape. Arched down and
exploded. wal
Description is possibly meteor. \
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ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)

PAGE THREE BWDKW 15

DISTANCE FROM STATION 105629 FEET
ALTITUDE OF BALLOON 87749 FEET
BALLOON BURST TIME 21572

: «22721552 MAY BWDKW

Memorandum for Record /
SUBJECT: Trip to George AFB on 20=23 May 1952

On 17 May 1952, Lt E. J. Ruppelt called Major Vincent Wolrath, Wing Intelligence
Officer of the ;}¢@Fighter Bomber Wing at George AFB, Calif, Major Wolrath stated
that due to the recent flurry of sightings he deemed it very advisable to send some-
one from ATIC to George AFB, Lt Ruppelt had orders cut and departed by commercial
eir on 20 May 1952 arriving at George AFB late on the evening of the 20th,

. On 21 May 1952, Lt Ruppelt contacted Major Volrath who reviewed sightings

on(1- and..20.May, Several of these sightings from a T-6, seemed to be
repe ve and plans were made to attempt to observe the object on the afternoon
Sir.

eat

lt Melzer, who had piloted the T-6, during previous observations was con-
tacted. He offered to fly that P.M, and take Lt Ruppelt along as observer and to
assist in setting up an observation team. Both the Ground Control Intercept
(Radar) and Fighter Interceptor squadron of ADC were contacted and briefed on the
‘sightings and plans to observe from a T-6, They agreed to stand by all afternoon
on "D" channel of VHF in case the object was sighted, If it was, F-86's would be |
scrambled and radar would attempt a pick-up. A ground station and a ground observer
team headed by Major Wolrath was equipped with a ground VHF set and would have a
telescope to make ground observations from the George AFB line. Weather was
alerted in case a theodolite was needed, All VHF sets were set up for “D" channel

on a special frequency to keep the interception of messages to a minim,

At 1330 PIST, the T-6 was airborne. Lt Ruppelt had a Lieca with a 135 m
telephoto lens in case photos could be taken. At 1430 PUST, the ground obser-
vation team called the T-6 and stated they were observing the object through a |
telescope and it appeared to be a balloon. Also it was identical to several of the pre-
vious r ts as previous observers were on the ground watching. The aerial search

was con with no success and at 1440 PDST the object disappeared. The aerial
search was broken off and the T-6 landed,

Lt Ruppelt contacted Edwards AFB and was informed that at 1438 PDST a Rawin-
sonde balloon from their station burst at 75,000'-80,000' SSE of their station
(approximately over George AFB).

It was concluded that the object was this balloon

°
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OP Cape tin. Fe a ee el ee ee ld A Te ee te |

On 22 May 1952, the entire day was spent interviewing sources of other |
sightings. It will be noted that although some of the reports were attributed
to balloons, others could not be and are still being investigated.

Lt Ruppelt returned to W-P AFB on 23 May.

The cooperation received at George AFB was excellent,

( ;
APPENVIX VI
Gorge AFB, Calif. - 1, 9, 13, 14, 20 May 1952
I, LESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT

The sighting on 1 May 1952 at George AFB, Calif., was the first of a
series of nine sightings there in a three week period, These sightings were
all by military personnel.

a. 1 May 1952 - Five round. disc-shaped objects, flat white in color
which gave no glare or reflection were sighted. They were in form:tion with
three in fron* and two.in the rear. The latter two darted around :o a circular
or zig-zag naccer,

b. 9 May 1952, 1030 PDST - An unidentified round, silver object was
sighted visually from the ground and from two F-86 aircraft.

c. 9 May 1952, 1230 PDST - Two unidentified objects moving with the
current or bresze-at a slow speed. They appeared to be a silver metal color with
a dark spot in the center and at certain angles to the sun gave off a brigh*
glare.

/ 4 9 May 1952, 1720 PDST - Object was of dull color like a thundercloud. |
It was shaped like an arrowhead but had no known aerodynamic features.

e. 11 May 1952, 1220 PiST - Opject looked like a white paper plate
flipping end cver end with an initial speed comparable to a jet although later
it reduced its pace,

£, 13 May 1952, 1425 PIST - Single object, appeared round, shiny, netallic
which glowed or reflected white or silver was observed for thirty minutes,

ge 14 May 1952, 1405 to 1430 PDST =- Same description as object sighted
on 13 May and by same sources.

h. 20 May 1952, 1425 PLST - A silver colored, bright, round object was
observed for five minutes, Initiaily the object was stationary but eventually
moved and f aded away.

II; STATUS OF INVESTIGATION

Only ballcons released from Edvards AFB can be tracked accurately over
George AFB, consequently, for the most part they are the only balloons with
which we are concerned, These balloons are released irregularly thus account-
ing for some of the unusual tines of sightings reported in cases which are
probably balloons.

™ 11949 18

ty

—— ——.

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eee ak

The project monitor of UYlue Book went to George AFB to investigate the
various resorts,

@. 1 May 1952 = Report well documented. lo additional information
obtained. .

b. 9 Kay 1952, 1030 PIST - A balloon was released from Edwards AFB,
* §5 minutes prior to this sighting.

C. 9 May 1952, 1230 PLST - Mo known activity which could account for
sighting.

d, 9 May 1952, 1720 PDST - No known activity which could account for
sighting.

6, 11 May 1952 - Third resort in three days fron same individual. No
activity in area.

f, 13 May 1952 = Balloon launched from Edwards AFB at 1340 FLST,
ge. 14 May 1952 — No balicon release officially reported.
-h, 20 May 1952 = Balloon released from Edwards AFB at 1332 PDST.
III, CONCLUSIONS
@. 1 May 1952 ~- No Conclusions.

b. 9 May 1952, 1030 POST - Very probable that the balloon released
from Edwards AFB was the object sighted.

@. 9 May 1952, 1230 PuST - Very possible that paper was caught in the
thermals and swept along. A sixilar sighting turned out to be just that.

d. 9 May 1952, 1720 PDST = No conclusions.
e@, 11 May 1952 = No conciusions.

- £. 13 May 1952 - Probably was balloon released from Edwards AFB, 45
minutes previous. |

gee 14 May 1952 - Descrir*ion fits incident of 23 May so perfectly it
is highly probable that the obj<ct was a balloon.

h, 20 May 1952 - Ballocr released 53 minutes prior to sighting was
probably object observed.

“49 1752-11949

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TO CO ALR TECH INTELLIGENCE COMMAND: WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB OHIO

DOWN ALASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS.
DOD

UNCLASSIFIED DIR 5200.10
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(IP 2-1-0595 pp REF Twx AFOIN-AT-5-11-E UR Ha DTD

2919382 FOL INFO ON BALLOON LAUNCHES SUB HEREWITH CLN ”
A 4 MAY 1952 AT 15992

BEARING FROM STATION 30@ DEGREES

DISTANCE FROM STATION 126759 FEET

ALTITUDE OF BALOON 88005 FEET

BALLOON BURST TIME 16202
B 9MAY 1952 aT 15902

BEARING FROM STATION 12% DEGREES

DISTANCE FROM STATION 6675% FEET

a

GRADED AT 8 YEAR INTERVALB; AF GRNC

DOWNGRADED A’ $ YRAR INTER |
DECLASSIFIED AFTER ts vexnee |

} DOD DIR 6200.10
eee 4

PAGE TWO BWDKW 15
ALTITUDE OF BALLOON 129232 FEET
BALLOON BURST TIME 1631z : 7 |

C 9 MAY 1952 AT 21002
BEARING FROM STATION 10% DEGREES
DISTANCE FROM STATION 107850 FEET
ALTITUDE OF BALLOON 111021 FEET
BALLOON BURST TIME 22222 —

D 11 MAY 1952 AT 15922
BEARING FROM STATION 82 DEGREES
DISTANCE FROM STATION 92693 FEET
ALTITUDE OF BALLOON 75765 FEET
BALLOON BURST TIME 16982

E 13 MAY 1952 AT 21002
BEARING FROM STATION 72 DEGREES
DISTANCE FROM STATION 84992 FEET
ALTITUDE OF BALLOON 74022 FEET
BALLOON BURST TIME 21512

F 14 MAY 1952 AT 21002
BEARING FROM STATION 92 DEGREES

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