PROJECT BLUE BOOK

oon 1h=21052
FLIDBRP?P
3 July 19% | 23 July 1952 a4
‘aj Marvin P, Thompson, Wg Intel Officer A/iC LeRoy De. Pratt

‘Toletype, tais headquarters, O10 1273 5 FLYCSRPY and AFL 200-5

1. Reference teletype this headquarters, 231530 July 1952, mmber G10 1273 &
LIGSAPT and a¥L 200=5, dated 29 April 1952, a report is submitted on the sisting
of an unidentified serial ob jecte.

high intensity was seen by the control tarer_s:
Air Porce Gase, Texas at C53 hours, Central Stancard tins}
@ bluish cast near the outside edges and only

2 ae.
L cearwvcara
2. SéeTen

‘Throuch chammele 4m accordance with AFL 200-5, dated 29 april 1952.

ee =h ON SSO a

3510T FLI TNG °O (UB) RAYS, THX Tie2leF2

1. At @opracimately 1100 how's, 25 July 1952, the “ing imtellicence viTice
at Randclon ALP Force Dase vas notifiod uy phone tat an unidentified coject had
oven recorted near Randolsh by the contral tover overator oarly what sane
sormiizc.e <ie@ S@irmean havic.: cone of 2 Gutsy mas sowmnt ct “is home am asked to
repert to (Loe Intellizence, Interro wiicn was comlucted at 1550 hours, 22 July
7526

Ze she interrerati on rovealod thas in unusual 1108s of vory ois imansity
nas soen ‘sy A/C Pratt who wag on duty ‘nm the Rano ia Control Tower durin: the
cché af = » 28 Jaly 1952. The odiect sichted wus cscr’ sad as slonrated in
snape (. ous L/y ineh across to the sacad aye) anc ameaes ag a orilliast
mite li; ht with a bluish cast to the sutsida atzos. uly one (1) was cirnted and
"@ cogervor me unable to istermine ony Jerodynamic cheracteristics. °% ad no
tradi or oxhanste He was wacle to dster:ine ite wopulsgion system or sno,
fowrver, se obeerwad that ‘t bad a ranid sccelleracion in soth accent ani decent
but that there wag no horizontal movermt,. -@ staton ‘%5 lisappearance 19
iriftine alightly te the Seuth then climbing witil it sas ot of sicnt. ‘e hoard
no soul whatecever, Airs: Pratt further described the object ag orojecting
an intensive focussed been af light which seemed ‘0 2c sineping the arca fra
Nogth to Joutt, bub 16 did act strike the terrain at my ‘ire,

3

atem first sichted toe object at 00535, -ontral Stardard
oteerved a5 Licht for shirty-tro (32) mimtes. - used
> the light in viow, ie notified CAA ofictals
* Tarning site in the area mo turned on
Coneal Standard attempt contact «ith
© with a MATS C37 2 of Kelly
| te the pilot of the 97,
Ceptain &, 5. Jopgett, ani Airman
on Channel "D* during the satsequent
& positive return on lis scope ami
in pursuit of the target, Ke clained the object was on oe
(62) degrees from the Aircraft Control and “arninz:

Snes gubaOine-Geektten dsceeahen ty Tuake’ Pron™
at abort sixty (60) miles. lts altitute
the C-97, aan ee eee ee
romp yp ipocqueogeley point seven (7) miles

fron the sicht of =ilct Ty 90D» At. that
" inch Img in *he sam
follow ne, a3 an aircrars, This 2ircraft yas

2osition of the object he ‘ad been
ater identiftal ag a DC-6, Because of *his no revert 3 “ade by Cactain Horvart,
. Later interrovagian of Nogzatt by chia office ro-mealed © -* @ ms noel wicansla

° 4 temrereture inwersion tn the ares “st -orin-, ‘4. » gaic, «old >ave
‘o> wee Bod ts i ’i>st. S'->+tad ee dh york . i? » he’ Te he . — 3. ” —;
“12a Save seem slekec «=p ator, «a4 tesertleo Sols. beversion 48 saneine on

conten ronegation whicn -culd creste octurms on jis icone oF "rein octects,

ates
= -

3510th PLY TNG "G (MB) RAFS, TEx TR=21<52 i 2

CERTIFICATE

i, LeRoy D. Pratt, Airman First Class, AF 19340619 assigned to the
1923—4: AACS Detachment at Rarmdolph Air Yorce” Base, Texas do hereiy certify that
the following statement is true and cerrect to the oest of my <ownleics.

‘hile on duty as Senior Yperator in the control tover at Yancolsh Air
Torce Case, Texas between the hows of 2330, 27 July an- S700 hours, 28 Juir.
I mage the following ovservtions

At 0050 hours on the 24th or July, a Be25 Sype aircrant, serial number
E143, mtered the treffic pattern at Randolph Air Soree Jase to land. As the
airplane turned on its crosswing leg at 0053 hours, I noticed an axcert onally
brilliané’ licnt above ami to the richt of the aircraft, Southesast of the station.
I requested information from the pilot of 4143 concerning tsa Licht. ‘ja was
unable to decide just wnat kimi of ligt it ms, dne to yo vibration af =
aircrart. ‘hile discussing tids with him, the pilot or c C7 2irplane
2603 (uata) overheard the trenemissions arc advised that ne vas over Selay ais Air
Fores Jase at 3,500 feet «u* that he also had the lignt in simt. -e acvised
tnat he was leaving Kally area te see if he could «st closer to it. He begin
to climb towrg the light and passed Rariolsh at 5,500 feet, I then called
San Antonio Control Center ami advised of the situation, lr, =, °. shaw,
controlier in the center, acvised me to make my report to him as complete as
possiule as it was being recerniad for trenamission to “ashinzton 9, ©.

After adviaing CAA, [ shen called the 4,0. here, ind he came to the towr
at approximately 0125 hours. |

In the meantime the (-97 hed continued his pursuit to 15,/.0 feet and we
had advised hin to contact Detail Control on "D" channel. The switch ami contact
we, the aircraft, myself, ani Detail Control, began to

atta Laeb pets the odject.

er

of the cbject agreed with the pilot of the C-97, ® brilliant
white, snare er fey seen to be sweeping fran North to South. me ,

"of the =e rath It contimued to climb
aan Light a er eliptiosl. It conti °

Betail Control advised that they had 2 definite object on their radar

ge and were getting a zood return, They also had the airers:+ closine with
she object at the aporarimate rate of cne mila per minute. ‘hen ‘Detail Controi*
raported that the aireraft was seven miles from tins cbiject it "rew ouszsy on their
sc amd disappeared altorether, At the same time, f observe: te oo sot make @

counter clockwise swine and ascend at a sarrifie rate until ms of si-ht, The air~
raft coutinued its seareh ith the assistance of t:9 Sover anc WGPOL, Sut
-10Nt Feeults,. 4% "Me “me ater “22 ¢  sappearince 1 y 12% , jicthnted 2

Cigns ..ient of Lasser omilliance saan oreviousiy seen 2x thowrns at once
azain bad sighted the oject. After a mick check "1th the nav -atar ov the
°~J7 we decided that it sus the plamet Jupiter, overlookec ocrevicusl, cause of
concentration upon the other light. —

nN A lama el
, __ i _

3510th FLY THO WO (UG) RAFB, TEX salient ats

I was unable at any tine to sstimate either the altitude or ¢istance of tie
coject from the field due to my not imowing the intensity of the licht.

Radar at Detail Control, urler supervision of Captain Hoggatt, deterzined
the position of the object at ons tims as 60 miles from the field at a bearing of
olg® Marnetic.s

Te pélot of the C-97 wma Captain ¥. S. Tyron, 1256th Mata, Selly Air
Forse Bese, Toxase Captaia siogratt was in the 139th AC & T Squadron. “7
assistant 2serator was A/1C Semuel Lavy, 1923. AS Detachment, Ramiol=: Air
SOPCS o2s0.

I had visual reference with the cOicet for 2-nreximutely 32 minutes, -he
weathar “is clear with 15 miles visioility. iM final report to the control center
was at O25 hours, 23 July 1952, :

Bik

TRaQ1=52
NV

3510th Fly Tng Wg (MB) RAFB,Tere

NS a a

‘nolesure # 8

( F
Hg, SAAMA FORM NG 2 4] wf
(REV. 2 MAY 1949)
te” v, re HEADQUARTERS d whe
IN REPLY, ADDRESS BOTH A SAN ANTONIO AIR MATERIEL AREA t af
COMMUNICATION AND EN- ; SELLY AIR FOSCE BASE, TExay
VELOPE TO ATTENTION OF \
FPCLLOWING OF FiCE SYMBOL K
> aa 30 July 1952

\
\

. ne
SUBJECT: (UNCLASSIFIZD) FLYOBRPT

x

THRUs Commanding General
Air lateriel Command
ATTN: Intelligence Division
Wrighteratterson Ar Base, Ohio

To: Director of Intelligence
Headquarters, USAI
Washingten 25, D. C.

In compliance with AF Letter 200-5, dated 29 April 1952, the
attached AF Form 112 is forwarded.

POR THE © /“ANDING GENERAL:

2 Incls: - 20
1. AP form 112 Major, USaF
. 2. Statement gay . .Asst Air Frovost Marshal
. —- ; . :
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AF FORM 112—PART !
APPROVED 1 JUNE 1948

COUNTRY

United States

SUMMARY: (Exeter conciss summery of repert. (Jive signi fteenes in fimel one-centence paregreph. List incioguree af lower left. Begin tert of repert on AF Form 119—Part [1.)

At approximately 0052 hours, CST, 28 July 1952, an
unidentified white light, in the San Antonio vicinity,
was reported by an unknown Be29 pilot to Randolph ArB
Tower and a Kelly based C-97 aircraft flew intercertive
nission and established identity of the object to be *he

Planet Jupiter.

. ' ees Chief, «TO
ATTN: +iAaA-2e
WeP AFB, Uhio a rene
at

Inc 3,

—

a ey
—

AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT

SAAMA

ne

i] a ed
at

APPROVED | JUNE 1948

In compliance with AF Letter 200-5, dated 29 April 1952, the followirg infor- —
mation is submitted:

(1) Object was singular, appeared round, size undetermined, and emitted a

white light. What appeared to be faint vapor trails were observed in the immediate
area of object. Object gave appearance of rapid ascension when approached by C97.

(2) Time of sighting apvroximately 0052 hours, CST, 28 July 1952.
(3) A visual observation from a C-97 aircraft was made.

(4) Observer was in ©-97 aircraft flying in the vicirity of San Antonio,
Texas, exact latitude amd longitude unknown, at the time of the sighting.

(5) Object observed by Captain Samuel Ww. fyson, Pilot, ard Capt Donald 3.
Knebusch, So-pilot, of C-97, aircraft no 2c0é. Both officers attached to 1256th
Air Transport Squadron, 1700th Air Transport Group, Kelly ATP, iexas. th are
completely reliable. cs Ate ) “ye

(6) Weatner and winds aloft at the tice of *he sighting uricnown.
(7) Object was iden‘tified as the Flanet Jupiter.
(3) No physical eviaeren of the sighting.

} (9) C97 from Kelly 473, Texas flew interceptive mission ardidentified object
as the flanet Jupiter.

(10) Local air traffic in the immediate vicinity unknown. .

=: _ a

oath

~ i
,
5

cot: Chief, ATIC = |
- ATI: .. ATIAA-2c - < . ae

_—
A i ili. icity

Aircraft # 2608, a C-97, departed Kelly Air Force Base at 0045
hours, Central Standard Time, on a routine training flizht. Shortly
after take off, we overheard Randolph AF Base Tower on conversation
with a third person. They were concerned ovar a lichted object in
the vicinity and wa than noticed a bright lisht off our right sides,
Randoloh Tower mentioned something csbout flying saucers so we
decided to investizate,

the object gave off a bright lichtand save the epvearance of
rapid ascent as we flew toward it.

We clinbed to en altitude of 12,000 feet at which tine we lost
sigat of the object behind clouds, We picked it up esninr and
Decame aware that the object was a planet. While the navigator
checred his charts to dstermine if a plenet should be in the
approximate location, wa proceeded to climb to 18,500 feet at which
time the navigator confirmed the object as the Planet Jupiter,

a Meanwhile Det»:' ‘adar Control joined with Rendolon Tower in
observation, We iniormad them of our Confirmation as to Planet
Jupiter and procesi-i oack towards home bese. Znroute back,

Detail Control informed us of tergets on their raiar scope and on

. their directionnl instructions, wa flew interceotions on tthe tarsets.
We identified one ‘«r-et as another aircraft, probably identified
another as a clouwi. 4s they had no more torgets, we returned to

our routine missi..n.

I certify that the above statement is true and correct to the
best of my knowladze:

by, ¥ LAE Toe 2 Decale Count A SAe

shag! Aisug | 209 syLy 52
C=4.i%4 RESTRICTED ORITY
PM SAAMA KELLY AFB TEX 2221492
TO DIR'OF INTELL USAF WASH DC

NFO AIR TECH INTELL CEN ATTNS ATIAA-20-~
INTELL DIV WPAFB DAYTON OHIO
ADF ENT AFB COLORADO SPRINGS COLO ,

i; JUL ies

CITE SA*407. © 2 rah ay

AM UNIDENTIFIED WHITE LIGHT WAS REPORTED BY UNKNOWN B=29 PILOT.TO Pile
RANDOLPH AFB TOWER AT APPROX 2952 HOURS, 23 JUL 52. THIS MSG PICK

UP BY C-97 MATS ACFT NR 2698 WHICH HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FR THIS STAs
OBJECT WAS PURSUED BY C97 AS FOLS3 1+ A WHITE LIGHT WHICH APPEARED

TO LEAVE TRAILS WAS OBSERVED ABOUT 3 DEGREES ABOVE HORIZON. 2.

[IME OF SIGHTING WAS 9354. 56 OBSERVATION WAS VISUAL FR 3592 FT AT

135 MPH» NO OPTICAL OR ELECTRONIC EQUIP WAS USEDe 4e FIRST OBSERVATION
MADE 5 MILES WEST OF SAN ANTONIOe ACFT WAS ON HEADING OF 3223 DEGREES
AND TURNED TO HEADING OF $9 DEGREES TO PURSUE OBJECT. 5- PILOT OF C=97,

sed
a

t Ri rr ; mee ., | ; ‘’ . ; ‘ ty , \
. = © EY te Pabet ¢ : 7 >
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PAGE TWO NBR 1388 29 JULY 52

CAPT SAMUEL W TYSON, AO*73 2192, £0. PILOT CAPT DONALD E AUEBUSCH,
30-708488, AND NAV, CAPT CLARENCE H WILLIAMS, A0-2839835, ALL
COMPLETELY RELIABLE. 66 WINDS ALOFT WERE NORTH AT 6 KNOTS, VISIBILITY
UNLIMETEDs 7+ 3 OFF LISTED ABOVE ARE ALL OF THE OPINION THAT THE
A3JECT OBSERVED WAS TH: RISING OF THE PLANET JUPITER. BEARINGS

TAKEN WERE COMPARED WITH NAVIGATION ALMANAC AND LOCATION VERIFIED.
THEY BELIEVE INTENSITY OF LIGHT WAS DUE TO LOCATION WITH RESPECT TO
JORIELN, MOVEMENT DUE TO RE *RACTION, RAPID RISE DUE TO ACFT CLIMBING
Sea tie Dur TO REFLECTION FR SCATTERED CIRRUS CLOUDSe AFTER FOL
“0 A POINT APPROX HALF WAY BETWEEN SAN ANTONIO AND HOUSTON THEY
SSCAME CONVINCED OF THIS AND TURNED BACK. UPON TURNING BACK THEY WERE
NOTIFIED BY THE 239 AC AND W LOCATION THAT & OBJECTS WERE SIGHTED ON
THEIR RADAR SCOPES« C-97 VAS DIRECTED TO TWE 1ST OF THESE WHICH

APPARENTLY WAS A SMALL CLOUD AND TO ~C&S7 ACFT.
SURINGTHE- “CLIMBED TO 18590 F FTe 8. NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

VR_ _ OBT e ND. REGORDINGS OFF -RADIO. TRANSMISSIONS DURING THE
CNTIRE’ PERIOD WERE.MADE BY 329 AC AND We 9. INTERCEPTION AND INDENTI-

FICATION ACTION IS CITED ABOVE. PILOT OF C-97 ADVISED RANDOLPH NOT
TO SEND FeS9"°S ALOFT WHEN SUCH ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED
29/368&2Z JULY

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FLYOBRPT Ig REPT ON SIGHTING OF UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL OBJ IAW AFL .
290-5. ITEM OWES OBJ SIGHTED WAS ELONGATED IN SHAPE, APPEARED @
ONE. QUARTER IM: LOWG ‘TO-WAXED-EYE, AND-AS A BRILLIANT WHITE LIGHT

WITH BLBISH-CAST<TOWARD OUTSIDE EDCES, OBSR>SAV ONLY OWE, UNABLE:

TO DETERMINE AERODYWAMIC FEATURES, WO TRIAL OR EXHAUST, UNABLE TO °
DETERMEWE PROPULSION SYSTEM OR SPEED, NO SOUND, RAPIDLY CLIMBED AND

)

SCENDED JNTIL FINALLY CLIMBED OUT OF SIGHT. OBSR FURTHER DESCRIBED
o3J AS HIGHLY INTENSIFIED FOCUSSED BEAM OF LIGHT WHCIH SEEMED TO BE *
oe
2

PAGE TWO JWFDL 634

SWEEPING AREA FROM N TO § BUT BEAM DID NOT STRIKE TERRAIN WITHIN
SIGHT OF OBSR. ITEM TWOs SIGHTED AT 9953 HR 28 JUL 52 AND OBSR BY
REPT AMN FOR 32 MINUTES, ITEM THREE: MANNER OF OBSR WAS VISUAL FR

SURFACE BY AMN. HOWEVER AC AND W STA LOC IN SAN A Hith

ee ee ae IE ES BOIS A a a,

WAS CONTACTED BY CAA AFTER REPT WAS MADE “BY PRATT, MADE RADAR

ee ee 5 I MEP

CONTACT WITH OBJ. TYPE OF GRD ELECT EQUIP USED Is UNKNOWN THIS HO.
ITEM FOUR! OBSR LOC IN RAFB CON TOWER, OBSR WAS FACING MAG HEADING
OF 59 DEGREES AND OBJ APPEARED 19 DEGREES TO HIS RIGHT AT AN

UNKNOWN DIS AND ALT. ITEM FIVES A/1C LEROY D PRATT, AF1934619'IS SR

~* Pv eeeee =

CON TOWER OPR AT RAFB AND HAS BEEN CON TOWER OPR FOR PAST 3 YRS»

ee

A/4C SAMUEL LEVY, ALSO TOWER OPR WAS PRES WITH REPT WHO CFM ALL OF AMN
PRATTS STATEMENTS,. LEVY HAS APPROX 2 AND HALF YRs TOWER OPR TIME.

CAPT W'S TYSON OF 1256TH AIR TRANS SQ, CONTL DIV, MATS WAS PLT MATS
C-97 NO 2688 Fil KELLY AFB AND VOL PURSUIT. TYSON WAS VECTORED BY LOCAL
AC AMB W STA UNDER CON OF CAPT HOGGATT BOTH OF WHOM FOL O8J VIS AND

ON SCOPE UNTIL ITs DESSAPPEARANCE FR THEIR SIGHT AT 6216 HR. ITEM SIX?
WEA AT RAFB, SKY CLEAR, VIS 45 MI SURFACE WINDS SSE AT 7 KNOTS. ITEM
SEVEMS: NO METRO OR OTHER COND TO ACCOUNT FOR SIGHTING, ITEM EIGHTs

NO FRAG OR PHOTOS, ITEM WINES NO IFF OR INTCP ACTION TAKEN .
THAN'C+97 MATS WO 2698, ITEM TENS TRAF IN IMMED AREA WAS LDC B-25

AT RAFB PLT OF WHICH WAS UNABLE TO DEFINITELY DISTINGUISH ANY OBJ

- oo oe ee ee

AFTER LDG. ITEM ELEVEN? CAA REQ PRATT TO GIVE aBove INFO TO THEM
OVER INTERCOM AT TIME OF SIGHTING IN ORDER THAT IT COULD BE TAPE
RCD AND SENT THEIR HQ IN WASH DC. ALSO CLAIMED FLT sV NOTIFIED AT
FT WORTH. ;

28/23492 JUL JWFDL

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