PROJECT BLUE BOOK

1. DATE 2 CATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
a Wes Balloon
8 June 1954 Sardis Lake, Mississippi 00 Prabably Boiloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP + TYPE OF OBSERVATION Possibly Bailoon
Local Between 0900-1000 3 Ground Visual Graund-Roder 0 Was Aierolt
8/1500 a Probably Aireraft
GMT C AinViwal Air-intercept Roder 0 Posmibly Arerait
5. PHOTOS SPECINEN SOURCE 0 Was Astronomical
YPHYSICAL DO Probobly Astranomical
D. CIVILIAN Posxibly Astronomical DEVICE
NUMBER OP COURSE RADIO ANSMITTINC
000 Insufficient Dave uation
N/A 1 N/A Unkno wn
T0. BRIEF SUMMARY O 11. COMMENT3
SEE CASE FILE Object was Sigal Corps Radio
Transmitting Device.
Atic form 329 (R) Atic form 329 26 SEP 57) 26 BEP 52)

ROUTING SLAF
TECHNICAL ANALKSIS DIVISION
AIR TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE
SUSPENSE DATE
DATE RIC'D 26/E/56
TO: 4214 LEFION
() Chief L. Information
Doouty,y 2. Coordinetion
3. Signature
Tarn Adv 4. File
laaO
P&O
Stork O
Froj Control
( ) A
14 CILE
() ATILM ( ) ATILW
eas
enple
Q
ed The
2

Strange Object
May Be Portior
Of Data Balloon
Special to The Commeretal Appeal
SARDIS. Miss.. Sept. 11.--Offi-
cials of the Air Force and U.S.
Engineers opened an investiga-
tion here Tuesday to determine
the identity of a mysterious ob-
ject which plummered from the
skies into Lake Sardis three
mnonths ago.
U.S. Engineer Jack Stewart. Js.cngieer oaea. aievdr.
chief of dams and reservoirs at hief of dams and reservoirs at
Sardis, announced that U.S. Engi-
reers recovered the object Mon- neers recovered the object Mon-
lay when receding waters in the: lay when receding waters in the:
huge reservoir left it exposed to
view.
Engineers had inspected the
lake once very week for evidence
of the strange object which feel
near J. P. Phillips. a Como.
Miss., fisherman, some six
months ago.
Mr. Stewart said the recovered
article, which was taken to the
Sardis field engineers office, was
"a plastic case, measuring 4 by
10 by 8 inches with parachute
harness and containing metal
radio tube and wires.'He said
the number LU-2450-AN-AL was
found inscribed on the case.
Capt. Virgil Kuns, assistant fly-
ing safety officer at Greenville
Air Force Base. was called into explained, though. that it couldn't
the investigation late Tuesday have
afternoon on the assumption that come from Greenville be-
the object might be connected cause the base doesn't release
with the Air Force. weather balloons.
We don't have any idea as to As to when positive identity of
the identity of the apparatus.' the object wil made. Mr.
Mr. Stewart said. "The thing Stewart said he couldn't tell.
doesn't look too complicated but "Investigation mav end Wednes-
you can't teil." he added. day or it may on for days."
Air Force officials at Green- he deciared.
ville base said they foei the ob-
ject may be the data transmit-
ter off a weather halloon. They

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL, M MPHIS, THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 23, 1954
SARDIS MYSTERY BOX
IS AIR FORCE E RADIO
Greenville Base Identifies It
As Lost Transmitter
From The Commeretal Appeal Greenville, Miss., Bureau
GREENVILLE. Miss., Sept. 22.
mysterious object which?
dropped from the sky into Lake
Sardis three months ago was
identified by Greenville Air Force
Base officials Wednesday as aj Base officials Wednesday as as
Signal Corps radio transmittingi Signal Corps radio transmittingi
device,
Dam and Reservoir officials a
sardis had kept up a wekly sur-
veilance of the lake after J. P. veslance of the lake after J. P.
Phillips, a Como, Miss., fisher-
man, reported seeing a strange
object fall near his boat three
months ago.
Capt. Virgil Kuns, Assistant Capt. Virgil Kuns, Assistant
flying safety officer at the Green-
ville base, was called to identify ville base, was called to identify.
n object ater receding waters
a Sardis Reservoir Monday un i Sardis Reservoir Monday un-
covered a "plastic case, measur
ing 8 by 10 by 4 inches, and con-
aining metal radio tubes and
wires."
Captain Kuns and other Green-
ville Air Fore Base officials
agreed the case was a paradrop
signal transmitter whic h is
dropped from troop carrier planes
to mark the spot where parachut-
ers are to bail out.
The apparatus transmits a weak
radio signal which is picked up
by the troop carrying aircraft,
Air Force officials said the trans-:
mitter probably feil by accident
from a passing plane.

SUBULOr: Fallen Objeat - sardis Lake, Mississippi
6. The apparatis whs taken to the Greenv ir Force Base
by Gapt. Virgil Kuns.
Steant
JACK B. STETART
Chief, Dams & Reservoir Branch
Greenvood Area
Incl.
Hewspaper Artiale dtd 2l Seot. '54
Nevspaper Artiele dtd 22 Sept. '54

as being small and proiad and seemed to be endctin. a blue flame from
a sarlas of holvs. he object hit the water avout Chree hundred feet
fron his boat, crostind a splash about three or four feet high, I Mr.
Phillips stated thtt after the splash, the object floated on the sur-
face for almost " iiimge with steem rising from the water, it then
disdppeared in we watsr which was about nine feet deep.
3. lr. und reservoir personnel visited the site on
the afternoon or 1954. A search was made by probing when Mr.
pointed the location where he thoight the ooject had fal-
len. Probing continued on l4 June by the Eariis Raservoir Manager and
Raigers. in inspection was made of the area once or tvice eech week
after the object was reported fallen.
found
approximately 4 X 10 X & inches, with parachute harness, and contain-
ing metal, radio tuces and wires. The aoparatus as taken to Sardis
Dan Field Office vnere Caotain Virgil Kuns, assistant flying safety
officer, Greenville Air Fo: exanined it. At this time,the NOTE
Air Force Officer identified the object e.a weather date.transnit-
ter off a weather ballbon.I newspater account in the Cornercial Ap-
peal dated zr'saptember, regarding discovery of the object is inclosed.
5. According to a newsoarer article in the Commeroial Appeal
Cated 22 Seotenber, Greenville Air Force Sage ofllaials identLied
the object as a Linal Corns raiio tranalittins daviee. It is mnder-
stood that the Taratus transnits a weak r,iio nd nal wbieh is pidked
dp by the troop carryins aircraft. tir Forcs olileials said the trans-
mditer arouably fall y acoldant fron a pasin :plame. . cogy of bhe
tenber nakspaper artiele is indlosad.

appreciated.
For your the ay. S. Ar Force
Summary of Eve ani Information ami Information Concerning the Unidentified Concerning the Unidentified Flying Flying
Cbject Progran," waieh comgiles all of the latest facts which wrieh comndles all of the latest facts which have been have beem
Thank you a
Very trul Very truly
Sizned
1 inel JOSEPH A. BLOCNER
USAP Sumry on Lt Colonel, USAP
Mlying Obja, undti Directorate igence
OUT
OCT 21 1954
SDAFINT
USSE
Coord AFOIN
Xrat o7
cy to APIC
the belloon

we
summer months. felt bjec would be
exposed
recovered. Close obser vation maintained and the
recovered on 20 September 1954. Air Force
the Greenville Base were contacted
and identified and identified the object as a Signal radio
. transmitting transmitting deviee A copy of the repo pertaining ertaining
to this object i tached l,,for
your information.
2. In view of the frequen reports that are made
in the papers concerning unidenti jed l objects. it is
believed that this information would be of value in your
office for clearing up at least one unconfi report.
Inclosure: THOMAS B. SIMPSON
No. Report w/2 Colonel, CE
newspaper clippings. District Engineer