PROJECT BLUE BOOK

| PROJET 10073 RECORD CARD
1. DATE

2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
Ww "
23 February 1954 Washington, DC. O Probsbly Belleon
3. DATE-Time GROUP i TVPE OF OBSERVATION Se
Lect 2/oS_ ST £h Ground-Vi aval U Ground-Roder se gy
out 2 jobs & _D Air Visuel Cl Alr-intorcept Rodar |2 Possibly Aircraft
. SOURCE O Wes Astronomical
0 Yes QO Probebly Astronomical
XD Neo O Poasibly Astronomical
to > tnd A
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE : sapien" Sy ig ae
unknown | one up Fs hola ote fer Eveluation
10, BRIGF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS ie
Round ball of light, dull white, speed est Meets description of a balloon except
20 mph, no exhaut - loud roar. Appeared for sound. Duration not reported
to be climbing. Observed at 45 acm elev. other data indicates balloon. Evaluation
Association between sound ani sight of ' fis possibile balloon.

object assumed at observers.

ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 32)

Page 7

25. Draw a picture that will show the shape of the object. Label and include
in your sketch any details of the object that you saw, and place an arrow
beside the drawing to show the direction the object was moving.

{ A) Snape Whlly FIRST SIbHTED
\
: Su a ad ‘ _— — —_. - om 4 . : as ay F
DETANLS of ebsgee OPE CMU CRSP 54h Tey

al
VAIS +5 The wu deta. L Can Ktpenple That 7 SAW,
PBICCP WAL SHIN/VG And PAS FLAT OV CATTONM SIDE

(SIDE FACING MAE 4S PRESYEg Toa BE Borten

Mm see AeTE ow
EMAL:

SECTION E

26. Was this the first time that you have seen an objest like this?
(Circle One): : Yas io

26.1 IF you anavared NO, then when, where, ond under what conditions
did you ss4 other ones?

—

27. In your opinion what do you think the object was and what might have
COMES BHF On ioot was Getinitly rieitd, solid, metallic, circular
shaped fron one visw and flat from another view. I would not
venture an ooinion on exactly what it was. I do knoyv that it
was not 2 bafloon (see reasons in enclosvre) or an airnlane.

23, Give the following information about yourself:

oe — Ss

ADDRESS

wtreet Sik Zone State

TELEPHONE NUMBER —

What 4s your present job? I

Age oe 9

.
ad
-*

ee eee —
Last Sehool «<ttended Ree ae. 34
Year of last attendance at this school _

Page 6

SECTION D

22. In the following sketch, imagine your eye at the point shown. Place an
"A" on the curved line to show how high the object was above the horizon
when you first saw it, Place a "B" to show where it was when when you

Overhead

>

ll

, - ewclosvre
La -” See

Horizon
Your eye

23. In the following sketch place an "A" at the position the object was
when you firs!; saw it, and a "B" at its position when you last saw it,

Overhead

———_—

see ewctos une

Horizon orizon

Your eye

24. Draw a picture that will show the motion that the object made. Place
an "A" at the beginaing of its gis at the end of its path.

800-087 th

7

qeee |
}

29. Was anyone else with you at the time you saw the object?

30.

(Circle One): “Yes oor No

29.1 IF you answered YES, did they see the object too?
(Circle Ore): "Yep. or Mo —S>

29.2 Please list their names and addresses:

** «
rs, oa

tan bo reached i — —4

Please add here any further comments which you believe are important,
Use additional sheets of the same size paper if necessary,

Snelosire to fantasive Obsarvers
“uwactionndire

. On 23 Fadruarr ico4 at 1:45 I was waitine for a bus at t
ston locates at 14th stract and “sadison on.the rail ust East
the Vashineton Tlonwient.e .

i’ had been observing a ist airvlane at very: hich altitude for
about seven minutase Tt nad Seon ereertine some "S" turns off sovard
che wact and Gen heated north anc turnes in a vide curve and headed

due Yeste This jet vas iust a sack to ny Seadeang ani was lisavine a
Ya 70y trai durinc She 2AGiPs "ePjiOd OF c cer vwanion. Cne of the
felie? sassenrers of ‘the sus ba when t teayel howe anvroached and
beran to obsServe the jot slane alsode

=—@

- . ~ 7 ~ — _-» a & oa = - , - - 4.° _ = -
Zudcdenly an obfect cain into Fi Bac sxe (££ 4 ; Pp). *
Callod “7 attention to it. She sa* Gue obtact ahout one second bofore
z sav’ ite The object arvearsc rownd and — enely well defined. It

la
anneare’ to be at  itea cistanece fron $ <o05 iblvy four
it was traveling in a “o'shevesterly The ion hen first
and curved off into a .orthewvasterly direction tovard bre
The obfeet had sow (7s'niis on the cide facicr ve(bet on)
can remenber was sco ie an are alon-; “he unsar sart eng the circle
whieh had a slightly larrer radius tran the cirewiference.

Yi

1a6 nlane.
e All i

>

On 25 Pebruary 1954 I snoke vith the »sassenror while ve vere ridi:
home. She told me 1% she nad seen a sories of lines on the object
and craw me a skete: viich looked like the followings

Wi. we
~. -

As tre odfect vassed ~y it seemed to reflect the suns rarvs. Tris
reflection reached a oeak after several seconds of observation wien
the object changec direction and ‘rent off tovards the Uorthevost.
The obitect was seen for several more seconds and anneared to he
fiat Like a wafer. “inally he object faded from sight goin? in the
Same rel:tive direction and not chancine its attitude. (manited

905 bion at about 45 decrees), inen &§t was first vievred it vas desce

4 ie : . ~ o hn | - ys : i. | -— > -~ - = ~—
a “

» leo = = a 2 . ° bid d=’ wy ay * a . .* . Pe . » ob -*
fT? a ” ~- ~ -- in ‘- - eh 4 - - +. ~ ; ~~
Tha obtsct vas ‘headed in the direc ‘ion of 12 BS Suolrn 27 LAS
~~ Ss se oll og pd = | : ‘ ~ + . s* .

si id. The sneed of che obtect canton be ti d 22 r in eve
; L.* = RP on t. 2. 2 on - 3 — i te 2 , ~~ 5 $ bis
bp Sat of the Jst en iov Bb @ Littl nce relatiy oO

7 . ad _ - & - - 5. ° - » i 2
e : > L ta 1 11s ance o 4 7 =“ ‘a 2 i. Y = =i" 2 . ~~ = 2) - ry -— ”
oe 2 ine » se? °. o - be | - « ? z 2
A ; > 2 ee ; > 8 ms in > hes he >
om '. = ; ’ * 7

os ‘2 1 ? i’ ; 7 - *

.
7 is - oe

Sie iaiaetl wei erry cork. yd apineed < wees forend A

zo-s?

Tt is certain that the ovfsct vas “10% an airolane or 6 loon for the
follovine reasons;
evtrene rite of seed of obtect “nich enabled it to
fide fron view in such a short Sine.
a baloon could not have chanced < direction in such a

“AnNS?Pe
The ridcid shave of the obfact vrocludces she sossibilicy

of its being oither 2 baloon or .frolanee .

The, rofier tac Leny. indi
“nhs “as eubstantiated efaan the obiset cha:
as a “afer...

ates that. the surface vas fla»
ocd Gipaction ant “as seen

Me Jet nlane =oved a relativiy short $stance durins
the time the OD soet “as observed.

ee i lh

AP HQ", (20 May‘) . 7s f fb ' (re LU aS A . Be Bee cH
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE TALLY
‘ NO.
we ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET Fite
SUBJECT:
(Uncld) UFOB Washington, D. C. Area (1645 hours, 23 Feb 54)
TO: Commander, Air Technical Intelligence Center pate 4 Ax 354
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
MENT NO, 1
FROM: Collection Control Branch AFOIN-1Al/a@aj Hariow/71067/ht

Collection Operations Division
Directorate of Intelligence, DCS/O

1. Attached is report on UFOB observed over Washington area, 23
Feb 54, , we ay

wo A
- +

2. Ala weather balloon was released from Silver Hill, Maryland
observatory at 00 hours, 23 February 1954, which may account for the
Sighting, (Note: This statement is not intended to direct the nature of

your inquiry into this incident,)

3. Data for this report was developed by Maj Kissik, Intelligence
Officer, Air Weather Service, Andrews Air Force Base at the request of
AFOIN-1Al. Weather citarts which may assist evaluation of this sighting

are attached,

- 4, Attached ATIC form for detailed interview on UFOB is the last
copy available in AFOIN-1Al, request new supply be furnished,

U. ROGURM 4
Major, USAr “
Pirectarate ef Tntslligense

10 Incls
1. Tentative Observers
Questionnaire, dtd
23 Feb 54.
2. Map 150 MB, 15002
Tue Feb 23 54,
3. Map 150 MB, 03002
Wed Feb 24 54,
4. Map 200 MB, 03002
Wed Feb 24 54,
‘5. Map 200 MB, 1500Z
Tue Feb 23 54. *
6. Map 300 MB, 03002 ;
Wed Feb 24 54
7. Map 300 MB, 1500z
7 Tue Feb 23 54,
8. Map Tropopause Chart
. 1500Z Tue Febd 23 54,
9, Map 500 MB, 03002
Wed Feb 24 54,
; LO, Map 700 MB, U3vL0Z
Wed Feb 24 54,

|

: 7 : , :
PAGE | Sb. &. GOwEemetur rersting Osrrcs ts Aout

" re x) R . ;
] COMMZNTS FEGARDING SPSCEAL CaSzs ON TY PROGRAM

ses; 8 8 8888 &@& 6 8

(PEE washington. D.C., 2 3 Fed 1954, 1630 P.M.. Silvered colored object,
an@ solid, end reflecting sunlight...as described by the observer,

round
Foum@ to have beem a large bellcon, released just a few minutes Before from Silver )
Tillg MR. Significant Point here is this: Observer a govt. employ was near the )
whea he observed this after he quit work at 1600 hrs. Nuserous
other persons leaving from work were there at that time--YET NOT ONB SINGLi PERSON,
other than the observer reported the object. Nor from a number of 4/C ‘known to have

Te believe that only he-<-out of almost a million people would see
a strange object over Washington, on a bright, sunny afternson--strains imagination
beyoad the breaking point. He also sent in a report on August of this year--which
yobeerved at 100,000 feet, going 1200 MPH, from N. Washington, D. C.

pa observed an alongated object in the dark that appeared to have
portholes, with light, coming from then. The object traveled from North to SW. There

was a bri, ht, full moom in the sky. Significant Point: On basis of investigation
objeet believed to be am airliner, As shown from many similar reports, windows of
airlines give appearance of portholes. Important: Object was observed with bsaeculers
which shows that the object mist have bem of rather small size to the naked eye,

,
|

4
a
~

Puelograpas of vrs
MACON, GEORGIA

INCIDENT
7 +8 May 1957

From the testimony of the observers, and general landmarks in the
photographs, the direction, bearings and elevations of the objects
were doverminsd. It was established that the sightings were observed
in the direction of a U.S, Army Proving Ground area a few miles
away. Further investigations definitely confirmed that between the
6th and 12th of the month, large scale rehearsals and operations were
taking place in the proving-ground area, as part of a joint-detense
problem,

A considerable ainount of artillery, mortar and anti-aircraft,
rocket fire, tracers, and flares, including dropping of parachute types,
filled the sky during this period. Aircraft participated. A crowd,

reported as 4000 peovle, witnessed the exercises from within the Army

grounds,

Crhred Matron Pitare fs fom = t a/s ra geet

orrage

REPOST FROM G-2, FT, BENNING, GA.
1, In disyygsions with Col. H, W, Greer, G-2, it was revealed

that extensive operations and rehearsals took place in the Aberdeen
Proving Ground Area and vicinity between 6 and 12 May 1957, as part of a
Joint-Defense problem.
2. The following participated, or took place:
a, Army L-20's dropping flares

b, Firing of 155mm shells and flares

c. Firing of 4.2mm mortar shells and flares (Note:
These give high intensity but short direction lights,
the object below the aircraft in some of the frames

1ppears to be an object in this category)
d. Storm AA firings
e. ‘iround rockets

f, Extensive use of VT fuses

3, The air was \iterally filled with shot, shell, flares and tracers
(Quoting G -2)

4. Approximately 4000 people in the grounds witnessed the display,

This report was given to Capt. George T,. Gregory and Mr, Bilek
Armament Specialist.

UNICLASSI FC gage |

JEPHQ 908 |

PP JEDEN JEDWP JEPLG 333 hi see 6 EL
DE JEPHQ 78C tee, Ni if,

FM HQ USAF WASH DC 4 8 \ Gliig-a—
TO JEDEN/COMAIRDEFCOM ENT AFB COLO : RSG?
JEDWP/CHIEF ATIC WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB OHIO hr

JEPLG/COM TAC LANGLEY AFB VA

/ mms. 2" AFOIN CITE 52783, UFOB. ATTNSATIAA-2C.
ONE ROUND BALL OF LIGHT DULL WHITE IN COLOR ONE THIRD. SIZE OF MOON

AS SEEN FROM THE EARTH WAS OBSERVED FLYING OVER THE CAPITAL TRANSIT
COMPANY LOOP, LOCATED AT THE SEAT PLEASANT-DISTRICT LINE 62ND AND DIX
STREET NORTH EAST. NO AERODYNAMIC FEATURES NOTICED, NO TRAIL OR EXHAUST
NOTED, SPEED ESTIMATED AT ABOUT TWENTY MILES PER HR. ALTITUDE NOT GIVEN.
MANEUVERS CONSISTED OF 45 DEGREE ANGLE UP TO THE SKY, CONTINUED ALONG
THIS LINE AND VANISHED. OBJECT WHEN SIGHTED MADE A DEAFENING ROAR»
OBJECT SIGHTED AT 2195, EST 23 FEBRUARY 1954 BY

CAPITAL TRANSIT COMPANY 8US DRIVER. RELIABILITY OF MR UNKNOWN

PAGE TWO JEPHQ 78C

A VISUAL GROUND OBSERVATION WITHOUT OPTICAL OR ELECTRONIC EQUIP

‘WAS MADE, FIVE OTHER PERSONS, THREE BEING IN BAXERS BUS AND TWO IN

A TAXI CAB OBSERVED THE )3JECT, WHICH DISAPPEARED BY MOVING PAST AND
OUT OF RANGE OF VISION. N° OTHER AIRCRAFT WAS NOTICED IN VICINITY
AT TIME OF SIGHTINGe- | Seatves |

Litlse rae

BALLOON EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE
INCIDENT

2 May 1957

At approximately 0300 in the morning two Air Force camera
specialists (on their way to a photo-theodolite station) were staztled
to see, what they described as a disc-shaped object that glinted brightly
in the morning sun, Within a matter of minutes they had set up their
specialized photographic device, and commenced taking photographs of the
object as they tracked it for approximately 25 minutes,

The two men estimated the object to be approximately 150 feet in
diameter and was tracked from West to East,

While a check was being made for all possible aircraft, radar and
flight test operators and activities that could provide some data on the
probable cause of the sighting, the photos were being carefully analyzed
by ATIC. Each photo image was subject to an analysis taking into
consideration all the optical characteristics and limitations of the camera,
the distances involed, magnification factor of the enlargments, path and
charactertstics of the object, and the local meteorological conditions in
the area.

During this period, radar, aircraft and nearby flight-test units
coported nothing was in the area at thattime. A reply to a call made toa
nearby weather unit had not been received as yet. Meanwhile, screen-
sized projections of the 49 odd frames showed that the object went from

. — 7 . —— “ . + te : ~ > . * °s
Sel Viscas CO FVURG, Ac&K t9 Olliptica oe +2 ; c2y3 vere

Striking the surface, and was definitely a sphericai object.

OLE OL i

———

EDWARDS AFB
INCIDENT

2 May 1957

The optical analysis plot, graphically depicted, indicated that the
probable size of the object was between 5 to 12 feet in diameter, and the

distance at which it was observed was between 6 to 12 miles,

A reply from the weather unit confirmed that a balloon was released
West of the observers, approximately five minutes before they observed it,
visually, Further, tte balloon was tracked by precise instruments, The

elevations, bearings sad times coincided almost exactly with those of

the camera crew,

PAN-AMERICAT AIRLINS INCLHsi :
9 Harch 1957

At approximately 3 o'clock in the morning of 9 March 1957, Pane
‘American Adrwegrs Flight 257 was speediny; through the darkness at 19,000
feet over tae Atlantic Ocean with its cargo of sleepin: possenzers,
The airéraft's position was approximately 200 miles west of Jacksonville,
: Florida, cousiderably west of its nozmal course in oréer to avoid 2
storm, The captain + iz z_ i =e co-pilot,

As thouch comin; out of nowhere, = cleriny, white dazzling Licht |

with a pale-sreen tine or halo, suddenly appeared hexwiias tovard the

airliner at hich spra!, The Clisht engineer, ee who sew the

_

object beariag doom on thea at the sane instant, cavtht his breath, for

& Split second QRRIs ns wewiidered, realiving thet he hai

to act instantly ai! «vace of the tremendous responsidilit, of his passen-

gers’ safety that wos in his hands, He felt that he had only one course

of action by which > save his passengers and ship: ile pulled the airliner
up sharplr, and too. ©.asive action, pitching his passengers avout the

careening aircraft, ie saw the object slip under his right ving, and
knew that the object had missed hin,

A aumber of passengers were intured during the violent maneuvers,

and recuired hospitalization un0n Landing

Intensive checks with all miiitary, naval and civil activities in

+". 4 ae shnleté sut ' nigerae* 2° tywnre -~'ca* fa T .
~ ~-— - -. 3 + a J wle oe os 7» se ~
** * ~
. . g > ; ST ne ‘ - vt - i-
uncavay’ missiles from Cen mavera., The two sicnificeas clues given

s¢ -* . — a ~ - e . : a ,

$ ws — ; —s * — >. 2 e 2ne A eS + . ts at . . -
to fir Foree Ltuvestigators was the deserintion of the object (from stetene:

of the pilot and @ mxioer of passengers who happened to set a glimpse
of the UFO) waich was cenevniy deseribed as “dase! » magnesium white
in color with a greenish tinze;” aad, the fact that tw airline pilots
(one some considerable distance in froat of the PAA airliner; the other
about 175 miles to the rear), had seeu the object at the sane instant,
This further supports the fact that the objects were not aircreft or

; missiles,

The Air Force concluded thar the object was a seldom-seen form of

¢

a meteor, a “bolide,” often referred to as a "fireball." The Air Force's
analysis was subalttet to a well-knowi astrophysicizet, now with the
Snichsonion Astrophysical Observatory, at Comoridse, Messachusetts,

where it was independently reviewed, and findings concurred with,

—

C/d "Ure * Cle s31 = ho 7 is
(Atim Pro tore Fi tm )

OLD "UFO CLASSIC” - THE SEA, CASE
AIRCRAFT
(MOTION PICTURE FILM) $ or 15 Aug 1950

Two Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO's) were sighted and photographed
at about 11:30 MST on August 15, 1950 by QQggygmema at Great

Falls, Montana, Mr, @iiiegg ee ee
Missoula, Montona and is the gfe. 1:

was during an inspection of this ball park that the sighting took place.
ae =, {and his secretary, also present at the time) first noticed the
UFO's as silvery objects to the NW, accidentally when looking to tell the
wind by the smnoke from the Anaconda Copper Company smokestack nearby.
The UTO's drew his attention to the extent that he ran 60 feet irom the
grandstand te the paring lot, got his motion picture camera (Revere turret
type 16mm) out of hi» car and began tracking the UFO's which appeared
to him to have stooped in mid-air, remained stationary for a while and then,
with a swooshing sound floated away to the left (SW kceping about the same
distance from each other until they were lost from sight.

The color film (Daylight Xedachrome) was submitted to the Air Force,
It was studied and analysed by the Air Force and the U.S. Navy.

The original Air Force conclusion, based on the interrogation of
witnesses ané the evaluation of the data, was that the UFOs were, in all
probability. two Air Force F-94 fighter aircraft known to >¢ in ‘he

vicinity at the time,

THE MARIANA CASE
5 or 15 Aug 1950 .t

Simulated photographs of aircraft at various distances, made by an
aircraft research firm in a recent independent and unsolicited analysis
of the SERPs films, show striking similarity to the two white blops
in this film,

Based on the degree of credibility accorded this early ATIC evaluation
and the strong corroborative evidence supplied by the recent independent

analysis, the Air Force has no compelling reason to alter its original

conclusion,

e Tavs “ UWKMewAl”
THUS "UNKNOWN" RE Sees
INCIDENT
24 July 1948
At 2:45 in the morning, the pilot and co-pilot of an Eastern Airlines
DC-3, Nying at 5,000 feet between Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama
sighted a dull red exhaust some 700 feet ahead, a little above and to the
right of the airliner.

Captain GGthe pilot, immediately turned to his co-pilot,
Eye and remarked: "Look, here comes a new Army jet job”,

The object approached in a slight dive, deflected a little to the left and
passed the plane on the right, almost level and parallel to flight path,
at a distance of approximately one-half miles, Aiter passing, it pulled
up sharply and disappeared into a cloud,

The object appearad to be a winglese aircraft, 100 ft, long, cigar-
shaped and about twice the diameter of a "5-29", It had no fins or
protruding surfaces, qiggpe thought it had a “snout” similar to a radar
pele on the freat and he had the impression there was a cabin with
windews sbheve co mush like a pilet compartment -- sxcept that it appeared
brighter. The illumination inside the body itself approximated the
brilliance ef a magnesium flare, He saw no occupants nor id i
Visible from the side only, was an intense, fairly dark, blue ziow rimning

the entire lemgth of the object beneath the fuselage,

4 eee ES = said

INCIDENT
24 July 1948
The glow reminded GHB of a blue fluorescent factory light. The
exhaust was described as a red-orange flame, the lighter color {orange)
being predominent about the outer edges. @QMMB thought the flame ‘lared
out from a noszsle in the rear which he thought he percsived, The flame
extended some 30 to 50 feet behind the object and became deeper in
intensity (redder) and increased in length as the object pulled up into
acloud, No disturbance was felt from air waves, nor was there any
wash or mechanical disturbance when the object passed, No sound was heard.
Co-pilot WQRRBBD- attention was drawn to the object by
remark, His deseritution of the object and its maneuvers was very

similar to that of GD’ except that he did not observe a cockpit in front
nor did he see any radar "snout", His drawing and description also
indicated windews or >penings on the side. He estimated the object
passed at greater diswmnce than did Capt Gm 9 He saw the "exhaust"
as a parallel wide flame which appeared to come from the eatire rear
of the object rather than from a noszle never growing any wider than the
width of the object itself, although he noticed the increased length of the
flame as the object "pulled up",
“> aight was clear vith a >right moon and »roken cloud coverage of

4/19 at 6,000 ft. Both estimated the object to be in sight approximately
19 to 15 seconds, considered sufficient time for exverienced pilots to

Soom ise whether the "ship" was o reflection, caased by some rare

me orcilegteal or astronomical phenomena -- or as 1. material obiect,

°
=)

"OLD UFO “CLASSIC - CAPTAING@@EEEEERR INCIDENT
SKY HOOK BALLOON
UFO. oes)

On 7 January 1943 at approximately 1450-1455, Captain Siiewas
leading aflight of four P-5i aircraft on a flight from Marietta Air Base,
Marietta, Georgia to Standiford Field at Louisville, Kentucky, Nearing
Godman Field, Kentucky, the flight was contacted by the Godman Field
Control Tower aad requested to identify an object in the sky if the
mission would permit, Captain Mantel! replied that his mission was ferrying
aircraft aad that he would attempt to identify the object in the sky, Captain
Mantell began « ::aximam climb in left spirals until about 14000 feet and from
there a straight climb at maximum, on a compass heading of approximately
220 degrees. No oonversation between Captain Mantell and any member of
his flight reveaied « clue as to his intentions. One pilot left the flight
as the climb began, the remaining two discontinued the climb at aporoximately
22000 feet, When last observed by the wing man, Lt. Clements, Captain
Mantell was in a maximum climb at 225000 feet, the iinet in perfect control,
Captain Mantell was heard to say in ship-to-ship conversation that he would
go to 25000 feet for about ten minutes and then come down, Transmission was
garbled and attempts to contact Captain Mantell by his flight were unanswered,
Lt. Clements was the only pilot equipped with an oxygen mask, ‘This flight:

aad been planned and scheduled 2s 2 ferry and navigational trip at low levei,

ee Oe ee et + Ba i | oo

nae
SS |

INCIDENT
24 July 1948
after
After extensive investigations and studies; andonsideration of all
pooettil apercnches and data pertinent to suggest at least one valid
hypothesiw or explanation to the sighting were exhausted --- the

incident was appropriately classified as a true "Unknown",

JEPHQ 12
PP. JEDEN JEDWP JEPLG 333 a
DE JEPHO s2C i

-

UNCLASSIFIED zg ATCA?

.

FM HQ USAF WASH DC CALE fae
TO JEDEN/COMAIRDEFCOM ENT AFB COLO OL.
JEDWP/CHIEF ATIC WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB OHIO ee:

JEPLG C LANGLEY AFB VA oe
| FROM: AFOIN 52784 RE OUR AFOIN 52783 “LAST
seNTENCE TO READ QUOTE NO OTHER AIRCRAFT WAS NOTICED IN VICINITY AT
TIME OF SIGHTING BY OBSERVERS UNQUOTE

"ire,

CAPTAIN MANTELL INCIDENT

7 January 1948

Consensus is that Captain Mantell lost consciousness at approximately
25000 feet, the P-51 being trimmed for a maximum climb continued to climb
gradually leveling out as increasing altitude caused decrease in power, The
aircraft began to fly in reasonably level attitude at about 30000 feet, It
then began a gradual turn to the left because of torque, slowly increasing
degree of bank as nose depressed, finally began a spiralling dive which
resulted in excessive speeds causing a gradual disintegration of aircraft
which probably began between 10000 and 20090 feat,

Since the canopy lock was in place after crash, itis assumed that
Captain Mantell made 2 aitempt to abandon the aircrait, and was
unconscious at moment of crash or had died from lack of oxygen before
aircraft began the spiralling dive from about 3000 feet,

Parts of the aircraft were found as far as six-tenths (estimated) of
a mile from central wreckage. The parts were scattered from North to
South. The aircraft came straight down in a horizontal position and landed
on the left side, The left wing came off while in the air and landed 100 feet
from the central wreckage, The aircraft did not slide forward after

contact with the ground. Throttle was set one-fourth open, mixture

control in "Idle-Cut-Off", aad prop control in "Full Increase iPM",

4
CAPTAIN MANTELL INCIDENT

7 January 1948

An official board of inquiry, which made intensive study of the crash
reported that Mantell, an aggressive pilot attempted to pursue the object
as long as possible, even though he knew he lacked oxygen.

Of significance, is the fact that although a number of witnesses observed
the object, there were some discrepencies in their descrintion of the object.
The size of the object given ranged from "small" to "tremendous" and the
shape as a "parachute", ball", ice-cream cone" "round", "disc", etc,

Although considerition was given to the object being the planet Venus,
because all the times and bearings given by observers generally agree with
the bearings and elevation of the body at the time, official files disclose
that it was later deterinined that a iarge Navy "Sky Hook" balloon was |
released from a location in southern Ohio. This was a classified project,
and the existence of the huge balloons were known only to a few. A wind

plot for that day indicated that the balloon would have passed near the area
in which the object was observed,
Because Vanee was in the same relative position as the object observed,
undoubtedly seme of the witnesses saw this body rather than the
balloon. | |

ues

CAPTAIN MANTELL INCDZENT
7 January 1948
In fact, it is possible that in some phase of his climb, Capt Mantell
may have been trying to close in on Venus, as is borne out by his
femarks that he could not gain on the object.

Ia all events, the UFO was a conventional object.

Le | ~ “ws

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
1. DATE 2 LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS

er Bea se
ret 428. i ro y oon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYP OF OBSERVATION G Possitly Selleon
SS ee ee RGround-Vi sual 0 Ground-Reder Bg
out 21302 O Air Visuel © Air-Intercept Radar | Possibly Aircraft
MOTO Talli [ed O Wes Astronomical
O Probably Astronomicel .
10 Ne civilian O Possibly Astronomicel
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 2 En
o hedge Data fer Evaluation
7 seconds .
10, BRIZP SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
Odject rigid, solid, metallic and circular. Determined later that a large balloon was
Light appeared to be reflected from sun to pleased from Silver Fill, Maryland,
object. Dbservatory a few minutes vefore sighting

Dbserved. This tallies with description
ad other details of object and which
indicated it to be « balloon.

See Data report from Air Wx Service,
Andrews AFB, Md)

ATIC PORM 329 (REV 26 SEP $2)

Vs.
ST IONNA TE

CRSERVERS _ QUE

SECTION A

1. When did you see the object:

1.1 Date: _ 22 a puary 1934... |
| ; Day ¥ Year .- a “ Saws Qa,
"Zo «
1.2 Time of day: _15735_ AM, or P.M. (Circle One)
Hrs, Min.
1.3 Time Zone: (Circle One):
Xa, Eastern ad. Pacific
b. Central e. Other
Ce tlountain
(Clivcle One): a, Daylight Saving
X b,. Standard

1.4 Cirsie ong of the following to indicate how certain you are
your unsvwer to the above question 1,2:

Xa. Certain c. Not very sure
b, Fairly certain ad, Just a guess
2. Where did you see the object?
Postal Address City or Town State Country
3. Where were you located when you saw the object:
(Circle One): a. Inside a building a. In an airplane
b. Ina car e. At sea
xX @. Outdoors f. Other

3,1 Were you:

(Circle One): a. In the business section of a city?
b. In the residential section of a city?
c. In open countryside?
ad, Flying near an airfield?
e, Flying over a city?
Z, Fiyiog over open country?

-

-— V er ; ,

Page 2

4. How did you happen to notice the object? 16
c a
5. When did you report to some official that you had seen the object?
a) “Ay } , O'S
SECTION B
6 What were you doing at the time you saw the object? (2itine “or a bus.
6.1 What had you been doing for the 30 minutes before you saw the
object? Try to list the activity or activities, ani the
approximate amount of time spent on each.
At 1615 I began to eather my work which I had been doinz the
day. ‘iis consisted of gathering un paner work and putcing it
into file safes and locking then. 16251620 a short rest and
on 7T = =los Terror ain avy «co UNJall.
7. Were you moving at any time while you saw the object? (Circle One):

Yea oor ~ No.
IF you answered YS, then complete the following questions,
7... What direction were you moving?

(Circle One): a. North e. South
b, Northeast f, Southwest
c. East g. “est
a. Southeast h. Northwest

7.2 How fast were you moving? miles per how’.
7.3 Did you stop at any time while you were looking at the object?

. 5 e» .
(Circte wna): 35 co Wa

—-- <<

SECTION C

12. Estimate how long you saw the object? _—
Hours Minu Seconds

12.1 Circle one of the following to imiicate how certain you are of
your answer to Question 12:

- @. Certain c. Not very sure
b, Fairly sure ad. Just a guess

13. Did the object look: (Circle One) Solid oor Transparent?
14. Did the object at any time:
(Circle One for each question)

14.1 Change direction? ~ X Yes _ No Don't_know
14.2 Change speed? ( “No Don't know
14.3 Change size? | x :
14.4 Change color? = 7 Donte knoe
14.5 Break up into parts or :
exp]. ods? | Yes =s_s« "Ng Don't know
14.6 Give off smoke? | Yes “tNo Don't know
14.7 Change brightness? x No Don't know beliave
14.8 goes! throb, or “ suns ref
ate? xe
14.9 Remain motionless? _ a xe Donte knoe

15. Did the object give off a light? 2% Yon Ng Poni mee
15.1 IF you anewered YES, what was the foler of the Light? fi bla
16, Tell in a few words the following things about the object?
16,1 Sound

16.2 Color

a
eens ee a

17, IF there was MORE ‘THAN ONE object) \ then how many were there?
Draw a picture of how they were nged, and put an arrew to
show the direction they were traveling.

——— — =... ee oe

18.

19.

20,

2l.

Page 5

Did the object at any time:

18.1 Move behind something? (Circle One) Yes ;- No Dontt kn ¥o9¢ rot

IF you answered YES, then tell what it moved behind. @tatra

no SFr din ¢ - Fey “* fis the feats stern.

18,2 Move in front of something? (Circle One) Zea “Mg Don't knew
IF you answered YES, then tell what it moved in front of.

18.3 Blend with the background? (Circle One) --¥es Mo Donttknow atc

Which of the following objects is about the same actual size as the
object you saw? (Circle One):

Be Pra f. Automobile

b. Baseball g- Small airplane
CG. Basketball h, Large airplane
a. Ateycle wheel i, Dirigible

@. Office desk je Other eopld notuindre distance

see enclosed ay nate

19.1 direle ong of the following to indicate how certain you are
of your snsver to Question 19. refer to enclosure

a. GCertain c,. Not very sure
b. Fairly certain ad. Uncertain

Try to tell the following things about the object:

20.1 How high above the earth was it? feet. see enclosure.
20.2 How far was it from you? feet or 4 miles (sstin

20.3 How fast was it going?

20.4 one of the following to indicate how certain you are
your answer to the above questions: refer to enclcsurs.

a. Certain é&. Not very sure
b, Fairly certain ad. Just a guess

How did the object disappear from view?

(Circle One): a. Suddenly c. Other
<b. Gradually d. Don't remember