PROJECT BLUE BOOK

1. DATE · TIME GROUP 2. LOCATION
16 1y 53 16/2210z Inyokern, Califomia
. SOURCE 10. CONCLUSION
Civilians BALICON
Nain point is that several sources stated dhat the objeots verel
4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS balloon like. ilost balloons have stiings attadhed. Near roldate
Three point for Upper Air I Research balloons.
5. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 5. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS 11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS
Not Reported Three crenn-colored oljscts vere overhsad at alout Three crenn-colored oljscts were overhead at alout 1510 .9T 1510 P9T
and dioa,peared climbing to the ii. Pther people sow dhe and dioa,peared climbing to the it. Pther people sow the
6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION 6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION ob jects. Thg soelad to be round ar tolloon Like with ob jects. Thg seelad to be round andl telloon Lile with
Groun-Visual Ground-Visual staings hending don. stairgs hending don.
. COURSE 7. COURSE
NE
. PHOTOS
O Yes
TOXN.
. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
D Yes
No
FORM
FTD SEP63 0-329 (TDE) Previous oditlone
.
.
.

UNCLASSIF!ED
.SK11
SECREL
,
Inyokern, California 16 May 1953
I. DESCRIPTION
The Inyokern Naval Air Facility at the Naval Ordnance Test Station received . -
a report from one of their civilian employees that three cream colored objecte
were overhead at l8lo PST, and disappeared ·to the northeast climbing rapidly.
Altitude was estimated to be approximately 20,000 feet while over Inyokern.
Objects appeared.to be e round and balloon-like with strings hanging down. No
photographs exhaust or method of'propulsion wAB undetermined,and
no interception ras'attempted Several other civilians tation also
observed th bjects.
If. DISCUSSION
This information was taken from a TWX received from the Flight Service
Center at March AFB. Many details are lacking. The description as given by
this one civilian fits that of three upper air research balloons (Moby Dick)
tied together. More information will be available when the USAF Form 112 1s
received. Also, Project Also, Project Blue Book receives Blue Book receives the plots for all Moby Dick plots for all Moby Dick type type
balloons released in that area. released in that area, The Project The Project Blue Book evaluation Blue Book evaluation of possibly
upper air research balloon air research t balloon CAT can be substantiated or cannot be substantiated upon
receipt of alloon plots.
III. CONCLUSION I
Possibly balloon (Moby Dick).
.
.
.
DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVA ,
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS.
DOD DIR 5200.10
.
UNCLASSIFIED
T53-7362 .
SECRET

Recivel OD#
2345 OPERATIONAL
ACTION 17lly 53 04 392
1.0tia
Mutti to 2.ate
2710, 3.0.fie
RAD 12
WPE325 1953 MAY 13 ONCLASSIEIED
YDED 13H -
XYA327 07:13 2702
ESTRICTED -
XMA031 WION
JWPRH A030
OPOP JEDEN JEDWP- JEPHQ JWPML 444
DE JWPRH 3043 DE JWPRH 3043 DOWNGRADEDAT YEAR INTERVALS; DOWNGRADELD AT YEAR INTERVALS;
OP 1703452 ZNJ OP 170345Z ZNJ DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS. DOD DIR 5200.10
FM FLTSVCCEN MARCH AFB CALIF C
TO JEPHO/DIR-OF INTELL HQ USAF WASH DC TO JEPHG/DIR-OF INTELL HQ USAF WASH DC MATI Mar 1059
1059
JEDWP/AIR TECH INTELL CNTR WIRGHT AFB OHIO CHIO
JEDEN/CG ENT AFB COLO 10 00
JEPML/CGAF 4 HAMILTON AFB CALIF JWPML/CGAF 4 HAMILTON AFB CALIF .
FLYOBRYT FLYOBRYT I INYOKERN NAVAL AIR FACILITY AT THE NAVAL ORDANCE INYOKERN NAVAL AIR FACILITY AT THE NAVAL ORDANCE TEST - TEST
STATION, INYOKERN CALIF RECEIVED A REPORT
-
CVERHEAD AT ABOUT 1810 PST AND DISSAPPEARED TO THE NORTH EAST
CLIMBING RAPIDLY ALTITUDE APPROXIMATED AT 2 THROUSAND FT WHILE
OVER INYOKERN. SEVERAL OTHER CIVILIANS ON THE BASE ALSO SAW THE
CBJECTS. OBJECTS APPEARED TO BE ROUND AND BALLOON LIKE WITH
STRINGS HANGING DOUN. WINDS ALOFT WERE PREVAILING FROM THE
NORTH WEST IN THE AREA. NO PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN. EXHAUST r OR
METHOD OF PROPULSION UNDETERMINED. NO ATTEMPT AT INTERCEPTION
WAS MADE. ATIC -
17/34212 MAY JWPRH ayl
UNCLAS SIFIED

...
24
UNCLASSIFIED
NKL xW lAR Date:17 May_53 Q:
DSD CR FGA L.C.T.:6:10 m FI
ZRO PO MC $H^{2}$ N:
Location:
Invorkern, Cal.
REMARKS: I
very probably balloons.
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS. :0
DOD DIR DOD DIR 5
UNCLASSIFIED
18:15.1