PROJECT BLUE BOOK

1. DATE - Time GROUP 2 LOCATION

13 Fed 53 14/0258Z sen Francisca, (

SOURCE 10. CONCLUSION

C

Ve nm WALTHER PHENOMCNA

jects attributed to effects of inversi

LENGTH OF OBSERVATION [11]. SRIEFP SUMMARY ANDO ANALYSIS

2 Minu #3 oumd black object followed & ; 'T SG 6TRNS Gppesrine o6
: - »
3 Vapor Ursails traveled at speed un iS
5. TYPE OF OBSERVATION Sree: Sse :
unc down on sis sac course, ‘Ocbins sound was hear
= sual ; ; ; ’ COO?
| — , . >

| 7. COURSE persons observed similar obj on 13 Fed 53. in

3. PHOTOS

oO Yee
7 Ne

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

oO Yes
| Ne

FORM
FTD sep 63 0-329 (TDE) previews editions of this form may be used.

ICLASSIFIED
PAGE TWO JWPML 19F UNCLAS

OBJECT FIRST SIGHTED OVER OCEAN APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES AWAY, HEADING ©
INLAND PASSING OVER GOC POST THEN OVER CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO. ESTI-
MATED ALTITUDE 19,092 FT.
5. O3SERVERS WERE: PQA, sanemmememnes, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF,
“ROEEEERT; ongpepmerpemee , SAN BERNANITO, CALIT, CROROORGaN , JU
REMAONOH, SAN FRANCISCO CALIF.
Gs CLEAR WITH A FEW SCATTERED CLOUDS.
1 ACCORDING TO THE SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER DATED 14 FEBRUARY 1953.
“THOUSANDS OF PERSONS OBSERVED SIMILAR OBJECTS OVER THE SAN FRANCISCO
BAY AKEA DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF 13 FEBRUARY 1953 AND AGAIN
(DURING THE EARLY EVENING OF THE SAME DATE. THE SAN FRANCISCO WEATHER
BUREAU REPORTED A MASS OF WARM "AIR ENCASED BETWEEN TWO LAYERS OF ~

; coLp AIR OVER THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA AT AN ELEVATION OF APPROXI-
: 3200 aT DURING THE PERIODS OF THIS OBSERVATION, DR OTTO STRUVE,
‘AN ASTRONOMER, EXPLAINED THE EXISTENCE OF THESE SIGHTINGS THE RESULT

» or AN INVERSION CAUSED BY WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO THE
“EXAMINER STORY. ACCORDING TO THIS NEWSPSPER MANY OF THE PERSONS

OBSERVING THIS OBJECT PLACED IT BETWEEN 3933 AND 4309 FT ALT.

g. NEGATIVE DOWNGRADED AT 3 YBAR Dyreavs:
ras ° DISCLASSIFIED AFTER 19 YEARS

pe, NESASINS DOD Dik 520019 2S

ide NEGATIVE. ae ll

16/0225Z FEB JWPML

: thet at Ae ke ) /
UNCLASSIFIED —t

Cc

Tekan aed Fhe Pise | wi iin 444 4 ‘ 2
DE JWPML LOF \

ON sc l
WM 1601512 CLASSIFIED

[MCG 28TH AIRDIV HAMILTON AFB CALIF wie:

TO JEPHQ/DIR OF..INTEL HQ USAF WASHINGTON 25 DC

JEDWP/ATIC WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB OHIO Powna
BO ADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS:

JEDEN/CG ADC ENT AFB COLORADO SPRINGS COLO DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS.

INFO ZEN/JWPML/CG WADF HAMILTON AFB CALIF

yim 227 1 01D 21312 ATTN INTELLIGENCE, ATTN ATIAA~2C.

~

FLYOBRPT.

te ONE ROUND, SLACK OBJECT FOLLOWED BY TWO SILVER STREAKS WHICH APPEAR-
=D TO BE VAPOR TRAILS. OBJECT MOVING AT MODERATELY HIGH SPEED MANEUVER-
ING UP AND DOWN AND ON ZIG ZAG COURSE, THROBBING SOUND HEARD WHEN
OBJECT PASSED OVERHEAD, yon Torta FROM LINE OF SIGHT OVER SAN

¥

FRANCISCO. as Sits : +
p\ & ae
2. BETWEEN 1758 AND 1829PST, 13 FESRUINY’ 1953. by

Se VISUALLY FROM THE GROUND
} 4e OBSERVERS LOCATED AT Got POST, MT SUTRO, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.

m UNCLASSIFIED

~~ oe «= ee 4 rer & er) «&

ae

APPROVED 1 JUNE 1948
COUNTRY ——"

_United States

cs |
| (LEAVE BLANK)

i TR-2-53 W_
AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT

— —<--—- ——

—_—_—_——_
Unidentified Flying Objects (Short Title: FLYOBRPT) —=s rty
AAgA REPORTED ON FROM (Agency)
_San Francisco Bay Area, California Dir of Intel, 28 AD, Hamilton APB, Calis,
OATE OF REPORT DATE OF INFORMATION EVALUATION
19 February 1 13 February 1953 | C3 “
PREPARED BY ) SOURCE
Capt. Orville E Bixel , Dir of Intelligerre! _ Member of Ground Observer Corns ss
REFERENCES number, directive, pr report, @4., a8 applicable)

AFL 200-5, dated 29 April 1952 THX 28th OLD 01310 FLYOBePT, 15 February 1953 Ss

SUMMARY: (Rater wncies ee@mary of report. (ive rignificones in final one-rentence paragraphs. List inclorures af lower left. Begin tert of report on AP Form 118-—-Part //.)

In accordance with AFL 200-5, dated 29 April 1952, Subject: "Unidentified
Flying Objects Reporting (Short Title: FLYOBHPT)", the following revort of an
unidentified flying object is submitted.

On 13 February 1953, between 1758 and 1320, PST four observers manning a
GOC Post ontop of Mount Sutro in San Francisco, California sichted an ure
identified flying ooject. This object was siznted over the ocean at an altie
tude estimated at 10,000 feet. The odject was deseribed as roum with what
appeared to be tuo vasertrails following it. The speed of this object was
not estimated but it appeared considerably slower than that of an aircraft.
No sound was heard from this object except during the period when it passed
over the GOC Post. The object appeared to mve un and down and had a ziz zag
course. Object disappeared over the city of San francisco,

Inclosed herewith is a copy of the story pertaining to these objects as
printed by the San Francisco Examiner dated 1, February 1953. According to the
Examiner thousands of persons in the Bay area observed the same or similar
objects to the one described in this report during the early morning how's and
@arly evening of 13 February 1953.

is Chr Citef ;

r article, Captain, USAF
San Francisco Exaniner Director of Intellicence

Ya

DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INT? “=R VALS;

: 7 i r
ma, eeiria]) ARTTD 16 wear
pny  4£ARS,

BOD DiR 5200.19

_ —_ -— -— —— —_—_—_- ——— = — —_—_—_—_— ee - _

—

“STRIBUTION SY ORIGINATOR

. 1 copy Chief, Air Technical Irmellizence Cemer
ATTN; ATIAA-2c Wright-Patterson AFS, Onio

SL OF Oe EES OTTO AE LUI PETES FATE User Le TUE tee a arreee Ac Tue cepeswwarce arr mit le

FEB 53 SIGHTINGS
FOLDER <2 (Conta)

NUMGER DATE LOCATION
4 “
“23 4 Wf Yuma City, Arizona
“
UV 24 ,H Maxwell AFB, Alabama
P ra eae y
ww 25 4 Lancaster, Pennsylvania
vw 26 hw Blythe, California *
27 3 ~ Keflavik Airport, Iceland J
/ 28 3 ww Pepperrell Ar3, Newfoundland
Ye : strich, Idaho ~
—_ | , v
MH ov id uisey, wew versey
“31 2 ‘Iotorville, California ”
y
32 bia Saratoga Springs, New York -
33 oe uarryville, Pennsylwania “
L434 2 Terre Haute, Indiana j

Fg —™ Deh STF. 73 New York
436 olk Nv tur $3 Finland, Minnesota V

—<- = — =e ee

FSB 53 SIGSTINGS

Ll thru 14

FOLDER #2

BUMGER DATE LOCATION

A) 13 — Carswell AFB, Texas /

2 13 ~ Petersburc, deste’

a) 137 San Francisco, Caliz ornia

ww ‘: i> ~~ fichy, Missouri ~“ ’

V5 lic Lake Charles Ars, Louisiana.

"6 Lz Se awa AB, Japan

w/t LL kw Tunis, Libya |

w 3 i, miptonville, Narth Carolina

Vo ll = treat Falls AFB, Montana/

“10 1l Laurel, Montana J

“il 1l = Patrick AFB, Florida J

12 10 .” Richmond, Virginia V

“3 10 isews AY3, Javen ¥

As od Dobbins AFB, re Sere
15 8 v kovbins AFB, Georgia =
16 a Barter Island, Alaska =.
S17 7 Corbin, K ntucky Y

J18 Tio Northeastern Hokkaida gare “a

VW19 1 Okinawa :

/20 6 nea Alaska V
J 21 > Ww Rosalta, Washington —

{{ 22 Se sas TRUK & Tow Cine 7 aed

FEB 53 SIGHTINGS
Folder #1 (Continued)
NUMBER DATE
23 23
— 2h 23

w 25 233
27 . —_—
ae 4
wv 29 —
30 22 LL
w" 31 22 Uw
32 2a =
33 a
34 2a =—

3 | a ail
A369 MY a7

37 17 =
38 y teal
A: 16 ~

tc”
Fortville, Indiana

~~

ueens, iliew York

Soutnzern Wisconsin

Dover A23, Delaware

Dodson, Montana vo

Green Bay, Wisconsin &.

Ch6-do, North Korea /

turgeon Bay, Wisconsin /

Port Austin, Michigan
Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
Bremerton, Washington
Elmendorf, Alaska ~

Reiner, Alabama /

v

26 - 15
FOLDER #1
TUMBER DATS LOCATICN
4 23 A Dover AFB, Delaware
v2 233 $s” Ricamond, Vircinia v
/
—* 23 WwW Colorado springs, Colorado
pi ; as ee ; -
_” a | Law snareveport, Louisiana
~s 27 Pasadena, California r
“6 27 SJ” Dayton, Jhio ~
a
UT 2, .tazuxe AS, Japan 6
8 ) oe liorthern Honshu v
GP AEM .
9 a Drees Sete 35, Montana “
- “ ;
29 26 Dover A FB, Delaware v
li cS. &- Klamath Falls, Oregon
12 2a tt Greenland
s¢ |
ge *
“13 2 (Aw Honshu, Japan ih we |
Yih . Northern Kiyusha \
Le
“5 26 we Pepperell AFB, Newfoundland
PLwoks AFR =
16 ore Serctersenmie, Texas |
“17 6 Kingsville, Maryland i
“18 25 = Charleston, West Virginia
wl9 25 uw Great Falls, Montana ail
TPELIE P
- 20 2h a * ils Beer, "tiehe od
el 24 Dayton, Ohis —

J

4
b
2
=
5)
j
a
a
‘

— -— ae ew - oe

———— 4

PS Pans a pay aK;
AF FORM 112——P ART i] r we % i“. tad ' tar =

APPROVED | JUNE 1948

AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION oe

FROM (Agency =

Dir. of Intel. 28 AD.
Hamilton AFB, California | IR-2-53 W 2 op 2

PAGES

An unidentified flying object was observed by four members of a GOC Post
located on top of M. Sutro in San Francisco, California during the evening

1. Description of object. One, round, black object which appeared to
—— two silvar streaks following it (possibly vapor trails). Object appeared

te be gaining and losing considerable altitude and flying a zig zag course,
No means of propulsion were observed. A throbbing sound was heard appar=
emtly coming from the object as it passed overhead the GOC Post where the
observers were located. The unidentified flying object disappeared from view
over the city of San Francisco. Object was first observed approximately four
miles to the West ami over the ocean, Speed of this unidemtified object ap-
peared to be slower than that of a conventiomal aircraft.

2. Time of sighting was between 1753 ani 1820 PST, 13 February 1953.

3. Manner of observation was visual without aids. lo radar contacts

with this object were reported,

4. Location of Obesevers during sizhting was on top of Mount Sutro, San

Francisco, California, The unidentified flying object was estimated by the

observers as being approxinately 10,000 feet altitude.

| 5. The observers of this object were: “RR, 7emmpeiietee, San
‘Francisco, Calif; Sqm), tei, San Bernanito, Calif; Sem,

ies, San Fraiwiseo, Calif,

6. The weather wag clear with a few scattered clouds. Visibility was

“$eported as unl inited,

ete

f aes 7. According to a newspaper article concerning similar sightings of

_wnidentified flying objects which appeared in the San Francisco Examiner dated

sib Pebruary 1953, Dr. Otte Struve, a member of the University of California

renomy Department explained the numerous sightings of "flying saucers" on
| February 1953 as being caused by a temperature inversion, ,

~~ 8, Negative,

‘at

aa

9. Negat ive.
10. Ne gative.

: nk & Eb p

Captain, USA? -
Dirsctor of Imelli cence

DOWNGRADED AT 3 YRAR INTERVALS;
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YR rye
DOD DIR: 200. 10

a ee eee a

rr]
sm

- 4
‘
O*V

hom A) he fa tu

Vane

N

») oO 19 FD ro

Os UO. OvV 01 Or

8

j 5 CA
'
\)

;

tw
Ns

Mar ‘Grea

1

‘a

TCr ‘STON

ae oe Oe

- 28 7EBPUARY 1953

SIGSTINGS

O3SERVER

‘herta Atlantic #0. Sulletin)(INFO)Meteor Revort
S2seoslavia (Radio Zelerad2)( INFO)

‘Ramier, Alabama

sae oe Alaska Military Air
Fort Austin, Michiana Yisuel

dsrcund (RADAR)

‘3lnandorf AFB, Alaska “Military
=sTemerton, Washias*on <b PER TR:
-reens>oro, North Carolina (C583 “ISSING)
.iceland civilian
‘Cho-bDo, Xorea Military
‘Pitcsburg, California {TASES MISSIM)

‘Stockton, California Air Visual
‘Pussia Not Revorted
Sturse2on Bay, wiscsnain

‘Green Bay, wisconsin

‘Sutvalo, tiew Yor<

‘Arlington, Texas

‘Lover, Delaware

~Cdson, Montana
‘Sidney, Australia (*SI NZ
\Celedes

*Gueens, New York
Portville, Indiana
* Mai ne

‘Seuthern Wisconsin

*Pavton, Ohio
Monntpelier » idabs
‘Sherman, Texas

sreat Salls, Monza:

“Borneo

‘Char sa Deke West Virginia
Japan (Multiple Locattena)

Gre ecniand

‘Ainzsville, Marylend
Pevrerell AB, Newroundland
‘Klamath Falls, Orezon

‘San Antonio, Texas

‘Cover, Delaware
‘Great sSaiis AB. Montana
Snrevencrt, Lonisians
ie ena, Caiirornia
Saesn, Bile
2200 Suritgs, colsraco
-fcazeond, Virginia
os Tennsylvania
san aw forse

Olean. New York
Ji2ean, New Yors
Clean, New York
Olesn, New York

)( INFO)

Not Reported

Multiple
‘ Scround (RADAR)
Multiple

Ground (RADAR)
aa

Military

Multiple

Multiple Military

Multiple
sTOUD

5

Revort
(RADA:

<.
’
-
te
r
» ,)
i
-
s

r

~

1

mt

_—_ re:

te ~ >**

4 . .
Le ‘wv oft - - ad
+. ne ee, ee ae thdinndael
.

EVALUATION

Fh & Suter ee pre ees

Falloon ;
Astro (/£GA) i
Astro (V2uUS)
UNTOSNTIFISD :
Ealloon ;
Astro JUPITER)
Astro (METZOR)

in nsufficient Lata

Astro (VENUS)

* 0) —@aeeweee

Astro (STAR/PLANST’ ;
Astro (ARCTURUS)
fasurfictitent Lata
Insufficient Lata

Astro (VENUS/ JUPITER)
Astro (VENUS)

insufficient Lata
Astro (METEOR)
Pallcon
Astro (VSNUS)
Insufficient Lata
Astro (VENUS)
UNIDENTIFIED
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
Electronic Countermeasure
lL. Lighthcuse Lizht
2. Astro (ACTURUS)
3. Astro (VENUS)
inversion (Wx)
A/c
Other brn
Astro (VENUS)
1. Palloon
2. A/c

Istro (VENUS)

wnwelll. nian aie een, i en ee

ee we ~~ Er enorme 4s +>

mich ratte Lata
NIDEV°TFE D
bates (STAR/ PLANET?
insufficient Data
Sallson :
other (CONTRAIZ)
~asur viet

Th suffic ntaat Cate
raaaeeiclant face

Astro (VENUS)

oe

ee

a
a? —_- ‘+ “ *
st Wee a“ 1aS

No Case (Information Cnly) + SLED

atv

" . . neat
£Se0 1LyY3)

_— -. - ae —
9 "= 6 5
” <p
a & 2 4
M “= * ; .
; oo } 2]
| pi 2
| 2 4
zr
‘ - ? -
, ’ ; ; . -— *. ; Go - ; : :
NORTH ATLANTIC [ 85 — r | |
The second officer of the American SS. the Cabins Capts &. F. | ,
— wiv a ° ° = <
Nathey, Jlaster, reports that at 0745 G. MT. February 15, 1953,
in lat. 26°53’ N., lon. 71°55’ W., he sighted a arednish colored i ;
object about the size of a star of first magnitude filliance. tt '
was first sighted bearing 225° altitude 10° and st : ;

the Sky parallel to the horizon in a northerly direction for about
i>” of azimuth in about 2 seconds and disappeared into a cloud.
The object had_a reddish-orange tail with several slight waves.

Weather clear with few clouds, wind SW. force 3, very gouod
v sibility, barometer 30.03 inches, air temperature 71° F.

"~ Second: Offiéés D. B: Hoobler of the American SS. Quirigua,
Capt> Gecrge“Pppelman, Master, reports that at 0715 C. M. T.,

rebruary BF Lol in approximate position lat. 26°12’ N.. lon
74°41’ W., he observed a bright reddish-orange meteor. It ap-
peared near the star Antares bearing 151° altitude 12°. f{t
traveled in a straight line of about 300° and passed almost di-
rectly over the vessel at an estimated altitude of 10,000 feet until
it disappeared M&nind clouds on the horizon in the west. It was

visible for about 10 seconds and left a very bright reddish trail.

" eae clouds on the horizon, wind south-
; Southeast. force 3, moderate sea, air temperature 74° F. |

——+-———.e =~ = =

ee ee ge

7 os

‘7

ee

MEMO RuUTING SLIP

1 MAME OF TITLE

NEVER USE FOR APPROV Ar
CONCURRENCES. OR SIMILAR ACTIONS

ASAPPROVALS,

_— __

INITIALS

al

_—

—_—_—

CIRCULATE

ORGANZA TION 4 “0 LOCA TION

r pate

COORDINATION

FILE

INFORMATION

ui

NECESSARY
ACTION

NOTE ANO
RETURN

ct ME |

SIGNATURE

FROM NAME OR TITLE

ORGANIZATION ANO LOCATION

FORM Replaos DA AGO Form 84, i Ape 44, and AFRO
D 1 FEB 50 Form 12. 10 Nov 47, which may he mused

ee ae

NEVER USE FOR APPROVAL. i SAPPROVALS,
MEMO RUUTING SLIP CONCURRENCES, OR SIMILAR ACTIONS
1 NAME OR TITLE ra INITIALS CIRCULATE
ORGANIZATION ANO LOCATION | DATE . | COORDINATION
2 ea mae
: | \NFORMATION
. | |
ee ee se | —_______——_- ao! nas os say
ACTION
OTE AND
|
|
| | | NGwaTURE

REMARKS

FROM NAME OR TITLE | pate

D@GANIZATION ANO LOCATION "TLEPHONE

FORM Replaces DA AQO Form #8. 1 Ane and AP RQ a
1 283 49 Form 12. 10 Nov 47, when ray he eremet ;

MEMO KUUTING SLIP

NEVER USE FOR APPROVaA. DISAPPROVALS,
CONCURRENCES, OR SIMILAR ACTIONS

A} (
ad (e cad bs rye ~

FROM WAME OR TITLE

_ORGAMIZATION ANO LOCATION

DD : #330 95

Replsaees DA AGO Form 895, 1 Anr 48,.and AP AO
Form (2, 10 Nov 47, which may be ised.

1 MAME OR TITLE INITIALS CIRCULATE
ORGAMIZATION AND LOCATION DATE COORDINATION
|
————EE
2 FILE
i
| INFORMATION
'
i
' 3 j | NECESSARY
| ACTION
i
a | NOTE ANO
: RETURN
-
4 SEE ME
i
| |
| | SIGNATURE
REMARKS

= en {<r

PT Pee

fy *

Leen 1953 4 COCO Sun Francisco Examiner 7

Lnawetcs See ‘Bulb’
Whirl Over reey / dake

(Continued from Page One)

though, ‘it was first class,
e nye the vast panorama of
e/the sky itself. Hundreds of tele-
..| pone calls from both sides of
,|the Bay, the peninsula, and Ma-

rin County turned The Exam-
liner switchboard into a minia-
ture celestial display of lights
“junto itself,

|| VIEW FROM GATE BRIDGE.

-|characterized briefly by Golden
\|Gate Bridge Toll Collector Fred
| Peterson, of 148 Irving Street.
! He said:
“I saw It first at 5:55 p. m.,
| and fog five minutes there-
atter, @ wind white light that

~

doing their
Jerre job, had a wel-
come relfef from Eekichne stars
hearing blow over.
Wachee Michael Moran, atop
Mount Sulro with his GOC com-
panions, reported: oyu
“Object. ig hted: Round.
: Black, with. silver. Be-
: havior: Went straight up, then
straight down; also circling.
Eatimated, tude: 10,000 “fect.
‘Two. flicking

tion: rege 4 over tower. First
t sighted: 5 p. ny, Length of
sighting: releaneccr minutes.
Weather: Clear. Visibility: Un-
limited.”

[THEY | SAW IT, TOO,

That, agreed Ground Ob-
servers Rudy Pugh, Ray Rogo-
way ana Roy Homer, was pre
cisely what they saw, too.

7 “. © we.

ing the skies, scientists at Lick
atall. But then, at a 4.200 level,

=

———e- oane

Among the thousands watch-)

Observatory didn’t see anything
they couldn’t train their glass
jdownward, And “Blinky” was

jiving around at 3,000 feet Ob-
ts at Morrison Planetarium

1 Golden Gate Park didn't ; see
veither, - aL ,

——-- -— te -

eS
——— —

erat

SoS. ee

—_

| What thousands saw was| ===> ==

Se F200 ST

EXP LAINED—

mass of warm air, developing
between two layers of cold air,
acts as a reflector of light,
Astronomer Otto Struve said in
explaining the gleam cver the
Bay area. His theory was sup-

ported by reports from the
Weather Bureau.

) AES pe ee — neal ——— i

Lee. Wond.a- es” Patrol car at
Univenity Av Avenue and East-

shore Highway, spotted
“Blinky.”

Turner declared:

_“It was a white ball of light
or fire, approximately 3,000
feet high. It was traveling in
a westerly direction, at about
250 to 300 mph, from over
the Richmond hills. It passed
directly over the Golden Gate
Bridge. There were no trails,
It gave the appearance of be-
ing a very bright electric Ught
bulb in midair.”

Wood added:

“It was too slow for a fall-
ing star or meteor.”

trails, definitely not jet
| vapor ts throb, Posi- SPOTTED FROM BRIDGE.

At 5:20 a. m., Highway Pa-
trolman James Morgan, on the
Golden Gate Bridge, picked it
up through binoculars. Said
Morgan:

“T first saw it over Alcatraz,
traveling west. It appeared to
be 3,000 feet high, judging by
the height of the 700 foot

bridge towers. There was no
noise. It was perfectly round
in shape, and of bright but
not brilliant white color, !
watched it for two minutes,
and saw it disappear past the
Farallon Islands,”

At that stage, it was seen and
similarly described by lookouts
at the Mount Tamalpais Ranger
Station.

At 6:18.a. m. yesterday,

a eee

_ -_--