PROJECT BLUE BOOK

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
1. DATE LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
Forbes.AFB, Kansas/Oklahoma 0 Was Balloon
17 Julv 1957 City, Oklahoma/Ft Worth, Tex 00 Probably Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP Ist sigh TYPE OF OBSERVATION Possibly Balloon
Local 0350 AM Ground-Visual Ground-Rodar ¤ Was Aircraft
0 Probably Aircraft
GMT. 17/1050Z AirVisuol Air-intercept Radar 0 Possibly Aireraft
5. PHOTOS δ. SOURCE Was Astronomical
Yes 000 Probably Astronomical
No USAE A/C CreW Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS 9. COURSE Other
D00 Insufficient Data for Evaluation
Unknown
not given one
T0. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
A blue A blue light light was seen in sky was seen in sky that that Identified as american Identltled I as american Airlines Airlines
stayed with a/c with a/c for 420 NM. r 420 NM. flight 655. flight 655.
Object Object was picked up by B-47 was pickec by B-47 radar radar
but could not be but could not seen by ground ground
radar. radar. V Dr.Tames, E Dr. Tames, E
scearticle Sce article
Dnald-Retrenaut 1C5
Mae
Aevivauties Aevivacties
and
Jomnge gomne 197/
329 (REV 26 3EP 52)
.
3
5
.

55th Reconniassance Wing
Forbes Air Force Base
Kansas
Fort
Worth, Texas, on 17 July 1957, Major Lewis D. Chase, A0554013,
complete the inclosed Airborne Observer's Data Sheet and return it
to this Command.
FOR THE
1 Incl abe
Abn Observer's Data Sheet
FRED TILEP
Colonel, USAF
Director of Intelligence
lst Ind
38th Strategic Reconna ssance
Kansas
TO: ree Basa, Colorado
with. Classification Cancalled
or anad to)
3 Inel Major, USAF
n/c Operations Officer
1 Incl added
DD Form 173, 73-1
OUNGRADED AT in wooordance with AFR 205-1.
DEULASIPIED gas
00N 1R
UNCLASSIFIED
CESRMARN

. .
UNCLASSIFIED
ADODI-B, Hq ADC, 15 Aug 57, Subj: U UFOB Sighting
ADODI-B 2nd Ind 17 O0T 1957
Headquarters, Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Coloradb
TO: Commander, Air Technical Intelligence
1. The a do
analysis.
2 This Command any the
3. Request DY alysis
of this sighting.
2 Incls ROBERT JHEFLNNG
n/c LtColonal, UDAF
Acting Diractor oi lnte elligence
Classification Cancelled
Auth (or chAged to_ueks) (or cheaged to w
By (pU) LI CCL, USAR
"YEMH INTERVAIS: Date 2794269
00 DB10 HFL005-1
UNCLASSIFIED
This correspondence may be downgraded to
Page pages
Copy cooies
24 2

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Air Foroa ad the prior experience of the which I finally located. The files con-
sist of o threerage TWX fled from
of an Urd the 745th ACW7ON, Duncaoviile.
In tho Soutr Texns, at 1557Z on Ir'y 17. 1957.and
In the wefy m ing hours of July 17. e four-page case sy--nary prepared
Caty 11 1COT 1957, 37 was flying out of by B. T. Plvez. 3 Intallaunge
Targes Vr Fotc2 Base. Topekn, Kan- Omcer, 55th Roge issance Wing.
Summary sos. on a co:tcosite mission thnt in- Forbes AFB. anA mitted to ADC
An Air Force RB-47, eouipped with exeralses over the Ho., Ent ATn, ndo. in com-
clectronie countormensures (ECM) clectronic countormensures (ECM) -en, navigs lon exercises pllonce wit" pllonce wit of August 15.
gear and manned by six offleors, was 1 ulf, and "elly ECM ulL, and "elly ECM on Col. 3. om Col. 3. Direstor of In- Direstor of In-
followed by an unidlentified object for followed by an unidentified object for exeroises: exerolses: tnled for he roturn fled for he return to als summary, plus
a distance of well ove- 7o0 ml. and a distance of well ove- 7o0 ml. and tris aOTUss tris noros , uth-c:iral United uth-c:tral United n Oiserver's Dats Oiserver's Data
for a time poriod of I.s hr., es it flew for a time poriod of I.S hr., es it flew Seetes. Th Seates. Tia war gaying a six- yar ( "ving a six- on Novamber on Novamber
from Mississippi, through Louisiana man grew. man crew. e i three wore clee- m thrde wore clee- 9 Bauk. and was Couk. and was
and Texes and into Oklahomn The and Texas and into Oklahomy The tronie warfore tronie wariare Meers manning ECM Heers manning ECM notiligntion Pro- notitigntion Pro-
obleet wes, at vorious times, seen gear in the aft portfon of the nirerafs. gear in the aft portfon of the nirerafs. gd conceming A concoming
visually by the cockpit crew on an visually by the cockpit crew on an Their names are as follows: Lewis D. a. Ipage Data Sheet Data Shoet
intensdly fuminous Hight, folluwed intensdly fuminous Hight, followed Chase. pilor: James H. MeCoid. co- Chase. pilot: james H. MeCoid, co- oP a 2) was pesrand by Moor by Maor
around-rndar ard detscted on ECM niilot: Thomns H. Nanlev, navigator: on Soptomber to d comtains
monitoring gdar aboard the Hil-47. c9 E namo. No, I mogbor a r10
spucial interust in this ense are severe! ", No. 2 monilcr: covdred in other ,arts ' cms
Instonces of simultancors mopcar- Corer. No. 3 moni- die. Toe b tory rol Nommn
ancus and disaprerrances on all ihree tor. Con in the ense file ms to p.. 1as,
of those phuskonlly distinet "chan- I s Interyloy Lndoms, al orttor cing w0
nehs," and ripitlty of maneuvers bo- with the ee W as coad .3 and the ease lio doas linvy he garnt
66 Lesrong thes Oe I epennties

working at a higher froquency. The radar. He even recalled that there above, the RB-47's altitude. He called
83 monitor, with a frequency range was a simulated scan rate that was MeCold's atrention to It, noted ab-
from 30-1000 MHz, was manned by normal. Perhaps because of the sence of any navigational lights, and
Tuchscherer. It was not affected and strong similarities to ground-based as the single intense bluish-white
will not be described hore. VHF sets such as the CPS-6B, widciy used Hight continued to close rapidly. he
communications were likowise not at that time, MeClure did not, at that used the intercom to alort the rest of
aifected. juncture, call this signal to the at- the crow to be ready for suddon
For emphasis, it needs to be tention of anyone else in the alreraft. evasive mancuvers.
siressed that the Dp recelvers are The #I monitor was not working But bofore he could attempt eva-
nor radars and do not emit a signal the frequoncy in question, it later sion, he and MeCold saw the bril-
for reflection off a distant target. devcloped. The 3 monitor was in- liant light almost instantaneously
They only Iisten pussively to incom- capable of working the frequency in change direction and flash scross
log radar signals and andlyze slgna- log radar signals and andlyze signs- question. MeClure and the others in- question, MeClure and the others in- their flight path froun port to star- their flight path frou port to star-
fures and other charnetoristies. Whon rures and other charnctoristies. Whon dicated to me. dicated to me. board at an angular velocity that
reediving a distanl redor sor's signal. I next quote informnation tran- Chase told me he had nover seen
the seope displays a pip or strobe seribed from the summary roport matched in all of his 20 years of
at an adimuthil posltion correspond- prepared by the Wing Inielligence flying. before or after that incidont.
ing to the relailve beuring in the Ofleer.COMSTRATRECONVG55. The luminous souree had moved
alreraft coorliims system. For the Forbes Air Force Base concorning with great rapidity from then 1
a of a liaed gacund radar, op- this pari of the lacleeat that in- o'clock to about thoir 2 o'clock ,
rauehod Cron: on. te, the strobe volved this ainuraf (eul sign "Lacy tion and than blinked out.
lilally aun ln ahe upper part of 17): The Airborne Obsurver's Data
ropd ane merge dowt-seope, a ECM recontalamter opurator #2 Shoot filled out by Chase as port of
ah to be dreily noted in in- of Lucy 17. Ni7l areralt, intor the post-lnterrogatlon giver the RB-
ig discussion. cemed at approshmately Meridin, 47 position a. fe time of that lo10Z
.avi. doh.esd dhg nnvigational Mississippl, a signal with the follow- first visual contdct as 53-0oN. 91-
corcher overie Gulf,Chasd honded ing characteristies: Jrequency 2995 28W, whie: pas Hi Hear Winnsboro
Jcrox ihe Mhilasippi consiline. fly- me to 5ooo me; pulse wldih of 2.0 in casteeniral Lon aa (Point ).
at an alddnido of 34,500 ft. at microseconds: pulse repotition jre- The deseriptio. ebtained in the
nbomi Mach 0.73 (25S kt 1AS-500 quoncy of 600 eps; swcep rate of 4 1969 interviows w.a these officers
miph TAS). The woather was per- rpn; verical polariy. Signal moved are closely suppor ed by the original
Teet and praetieally dloudless uider rapilly up the D/F seap: cating intelligence

dirarajt. crossing in front to about ground radar stations. to be sure that cnstern Texns, with the object still
2:30 d'clock position, copilot also it was not malfunetioning: it ap- maintaining station with thom. Evon- .
observed gassage of light to 2:50 peared to be in perfect working tually they got into the radar-cover-
o'clock where it apparently disap- order. He thon tuned his own #i ago area of the 745th ACWRON.
peared. moniter to 30o0 mes and also got a Dunganville, Chase
Chase did not ohserve any mag- signal from the same bearing, There dropped his carlie reluetance about
netle compass anomalies during the remained, of course. the possibility calling attention peculiar
fight. that, just by chance, this signal was matters and cond d that station
from a real radar down on the (code name "Utsh"). The crew was
Aetions over Loulsians—Texas Area ground and off in that relative diree- bocoming unensy about the incldent
tion. But as tho minutes went by and by this timte. severn! of them re-
Immodiataly aiter the luminous the RB-47 continued wostwend morked to me, Tiaalt phuse of the
souree blinked out. Chuse and Me- about 500 mnph, the relative hearing inoidont is tersely deseribed in the
Cold began talking about it on the of the 5o00 mes souree out In the folloving ouotee
on his ALA-s back near Gulfport. ECM eporutor Nr 2 scurched Jor sig
kept up with the RB-47, holding a nat described abore, foumd sre ipr
now montfoned for the first timg thot fixed colntive bearing, proxinnately t0soz on_a wiathre
poeullar neitlent and concurrently I found there and ensuing vortions bearing of 070 degr00sg; 10352. ss
set his =? monitor to sean at about of the entirey episode st I wiiid in the the houring of if  degrces: tosst.
3000 mud to swe what mighut show mirds of if the mont, airgough their relatine beeriig o "I degrces.
up. Ile found he was getting a strong recollections for variouns details var- Note that the bove tline would
500o mus signal from about their ied somewhat, dependiog on the por- indleate that M the did not imme-
2 o'clock posilon, just the reolative tieulnr notivitles in whioh they were diatcly think on on ting his AtA-6
bearing at witTie unknown lumi- then ereased. chock. but rorher tut some 20 min
nous souree hod blinked out mo- Chave viaried speed going to maxk- Went by hefore that wos thought of.
ments carlior. mum all -wed power. but nothing Note aiso thit by t05sZ the un-
68 Atron Tes & Acronmties

PAUL MaCCREADY JR. U.S. Amy Alootrontes Command
Teohnlonl ConoulMns FortMonmouth,Naw Jorsay
Altadana, Callfomate
Secretary
VERNON J. ZORIOX
Environmental Resoarah Laboratorias of the
Natlonal Ocaanic and Atmosphorls Administration
Boulder, Colorads
known souree r'te 3000 mes radar- prior to some of the above events appeared to stop. and aireraft over-
like signal Was moving up-scope and that Utah was ground-painting shot. Utal: reported they lost object
relative to the 500 mph R3-47. the target t during the time it moved from scopes at this tiane, and ECMI
The Wing Intelligence Officer up-scope and reappeared visually. #2 also lost sigual.
continued: As will be seen below. the contempo- Chass, in reply to my questions,
At 1059Z alreraft comdr sigh'ed rary account makes fairly clear that indicnted that it was his recollection
luge light which he estimated to be Utah was not painting the unknown that there was simultanelty between
s000 bclow alrcraft at ahout 2 until a bit later, after it had turned the moment when he began to sense
o'elock. Aireraft altitude was 34,500 northwestward and passed between that he was getting closure at ap-
it. weathor porfeetly clear, Although Dailas and Ft. Worth. Chase ex- proximately the RB-47 speed. and
aircralt conndr could not determine plained to me that he got FAA clear- the moment when Utah indieated
shape or size of object. he had a ance to follow it in that off-course that their target had stopped on their
defiaits impression light emanated turn (Point D) and indicated that scopes. He said he veered a bit to
from top of object. FAA got all jets out of the way to avoid colliding with the objeet, not
At about 10407. ECMI operator permit him to maintain pursuit. The then being sure what its altitude was
-2 reported he then had two siguals Intelligence summary continues: relative to the RB-+7, and then found
at relative bearings of 040 and 070 At 10427 ECM =2 had one object that he was coming over the top of
degy Nircraft comde and copilot saw an O20 deg relative bearing. Aireraft it as ho procccdled to close. At the
thee two objecte on the saute time comdr incrcased comr incrcased speed to Mach O.83. ed 1o Mach O.85 instant that in instant that it blink out visunlly
wilth samte red calor. Alrcraft comdr tened to purste, annd objeet pulled and disappcared simulancously from
reesived pormission to ignore flight ahoad. Ar 1042.5Z HCM1 #2 agait the -2 monitor and from the rudar
plan and pireus objeet. He notified had two stgnuls at relative boacings scopes at She Utah, it wns at a do-
,De site Uiah and reguested all of 040 mnd 070 d2g. Ar 1044Z he pression angle relative to his position
asgistanee passible. At 1042Z ECM had a single simal al 350 dey rela- of something like 45 dog
#2 had oie obfect at O20 dog rele- tive boodg Al 1d4Z FOM F3 Chaso put tho RB-7 into a port
thve bearkitg. was rocording liueng ans and com- turn in the vichnity of .sieral Welis.
In my intarvlows with tho airerew, mand poshtion e" Texns (Point B). and bo and Mo-
I found dilluroneer Bewden the ADO she rinIwltll to go Cold looked over thalr houlders to
recoliocdods of ins verious mon as IFP Mode Lil Jor, d iie Idanifier try to spot the luminous source
to soms or thaso polnts. MeCold ro- Nod and then regucsied poslllon of again. All of the men recalled the
eallsl that the luminous sourco occa- object. Crew repored poshtion of near simultancity with which the ob-
Honally moved abrupily from star- objeet as 1o n. ni. northiwest of Ft. jeet blinked on again visually. ap-
hoard to port side and back again. Worth, Texus, and ADC site Utah peared on the =2 scope, and wis
Chase redullod thar they had con- immediately confirmed presence of again skin-painted by ground radar
weted Uiah (his recolleetion was objects on their seopes. at Site Utah. The 1957 report de-
that I was Carswell GCI, however) At approximately 10507 object seribes these events as follows:
(y 1971

been submitled. and Utal raplied At this tine, signal faded rather
the report had been transmitted. At abruptly. 55 SRW DOI [55th Strate-
10577 ECM#2 had sigual at 300 gie Reconnaissance Wing, Director
,but Utah had of Intelligence] hias no doubt the
electronic D/F's coincided exactly Artictes written fer and by students
no scope contact. At 1058Z aircraft with visual observations by aircraft in the A pubshed ouartarly Stueont Jount,
comdr regained visual contact of ob- comdr numerous times, ths indle . Soee'al se tonsn esahins0
ject approximately 20 n. mi. north- feature informt particutac aterest
West of Ft. Worth, Texas, estimated ing posifively the objecr being the October, an is o ds:e Niatinn
altitude 20,oo0 ft at 2 o'clock from signal source. of schglerships, fo wshios, and feans
aircraft. It wns Chase's recolleetion that avallable from indvstry, universitios and imor. arofessioeat
the oblect wes with them only into emalcyment conertunities (or craduating government;
Case added f further detoils on this AlAA sudent mambirs: Teoruery.
portion of the events, stating that he southern Oklahoma; Hanley recalled bibllogragy et AtA inghnicat disclglines:
requested and secured permission that it was with them all the way to April a combrahoneive iist of
Oklahoma City aren (Point G); the Acrespuce Tieis Topics
from Utah to dive on the object Subrerietion Rate
when it wns at lower altitude. He others remembered only that it was Members--S4/obrNen Membars—012
did not recnll the sudden descent there for some indefinite distance on
that is speoified in the contemporary the northbound leg botween Ft.
account. and there are a number of Worth and Topeka, thoir home base.
other minor points in the Intelli-
gence Report that were not recol- BlueBook
lected by any of the crew. He told The records indiente that I Project
me that when he dove from 55.000 Blue Book received summary infor-
ft to approximately 20,000 ft the mation on this incident from ADC
object blinked out, disappeared from on Oct. 25, 1957 (over two months
the Utah ground-radar scopes, and after occurrence of the event). A
disappeared from the #2 monitor, "Brief Sammary" ends with the fol-
all t the same time. MeClure re- lowing paragraph:
called that simultaneous disappear- In jolnt review with the CAA of
ance, too. It should be mentioned the data from the incident, it was TEM GOH2
that the occasional appearance of a definitely established by the CAA
second visual and rodar-emitting that object observed in the vicinity
source was not recniled by any of of Dallas and Ft. Worth was an air-
the offeers when I interviewed them the olfieers when I intervlewed them liner.
in 1969. in 1969 This refors to a near-colllsion of *44 Filt In and mall tos
Axtiaue dr TwonChinhmmn Aren two DC-6 Amerienn Airlingns noar AMA-EDPNIDL
MeCold recalled that. at about Sali riass. Texas, Do ml. tro.n at 162AwtA
Pavo at 14.000 ft at 3:30 a.m. of this New York, Now Yerk 1oul9
this stago of the netivities, he was day. (Ses the map on page 6s.) The
becoming a bity worried I about excess ense is now enrried in the officlal
fuel consumption resulting from use Bluo Book (ies as "Idonrified ns
of maximum allowed power, , :'us a Amoricon Airlings Fillght Gos." :3 NAME
marked departure from the initial
fight plan. He advised Chase that ADORESS
fuul limitations would necessitate a
return to tho home bose at Forbes CITY
ArB, so they soon hended north On Jung 1S. Joms E. MreDonald
from the Ft. Worth aree (Point F). was found dond In the dosort near ZIP
MeClure ond Chnse recalled that the Tueson, opparontly o sulcide, He STATE
ALA-6 system again plcked up a was 51 years old, (Sea poge ta)
70 Astemantics & Acronanties

But what will happen, unless Mon of highest sclentific achiavemonts ..
the program. I am sure those who something now unforeseen occurs. have seen thomselves involved in
strengly epposing views. Others have
did so acted in good conscience. I will be that America. for the first become victims of vitriolle altacks or.
am disturbed. however, when a time in history, will be left at the porhnps worse, of ridlouts. MeDonald :
was one of them.
Senator from the State of California starting gate, and our avintion in- As is well known, MeDonald bo-
announces he is in o opposition be- dustry-second largest industry in lioved UFO abcarvations, especialty
cause he believes the SST is "so ter. those by professionals, cannot be ig- L2
our country-may well go the way nored and that the extraterrostrial hy-
ribly wrong for California." of shipping. electronics, steel, autos, pothesis cannot be ruied out. Tho
members of the AiAA LFO Subcom-
I cannot say Senator Tunney did movies, and other once dominantly mittoe have concluded that the ques-
not believe this, or that he voted in American exports: down, swvamped tion is unsetited. T
it is too early to know if McDonald I
bad faith. I do suggest, however. by the advanced products of other was right or wrong. it is our hope.
that the industry has to do a better nations. howover, that his article in this issus
When we look back on history, it will bo read by sclentists and ergincers
job, especially in California, of as- with the allantlon and inpartelty that
suring that those who represent that wasn't our capacity for winning that MoDonald-and the observing alrcralt
made America great: it was our will. crew-desarve. 1
state are properly and fully in- JanchiaP.ioieltaar 1
formed. It is understandable that a ingners to take a chance. It's almost Chairman, UFO Subcormittee, AlAA t:

(4) 15 UILES
() Z2RO Beumj 1Thn
(s) HOMs 2,
\ 3
-47 TRIED TO INTERCEPT OBJECT BUT WAS UNABLE DUE TO SPEED
lody
CAELTERA
WAS VERY LIGHT. CAA Cracln
aS ay
~
AACTS
Rorin nctied
3573 JUL detlt a

conducted by American Airlines and that Representative arry G. Haskell, Jr., the problem are being made by al! involved
(R.-Delaware) made an investigation of the TWA case. To date, none of the Congressmen
has made any statement on either case. groups.
In the first case, a DC-ó aircoach with 85 persons aboard barely averted collision in However, several near -miss reports
early morning darkness with what news stories called "a mysterious unidentified aircraft." appear definitely linked with UFOs. In
Two persons were hospitalized and several shaken up when Captain Ed Bachner dived the some cases the unknown objects have been
airliner to avoid a collision. reported as large as four-engine planes
In the second incident, several of the 34 passengers aboard a TWA Constellation air- and official checks have proved no such
Iner were thrown n into the aisles and two suffered minor i injuries when Captain G. M. aircraft were anywhere in the areas,
Schemel dived 500 feet to avoid hitting an unidentified object. Schemel told investigators Also there are fully verified reports of
he had no idea what the object was. UFOs approaching or pacing airliners. To
"The object went overhead," Captain name a few:
The suggestions thar space vehicles were The famous Chiles-Whitted Eastern Air-
sighted were made in statements to the Schemel stated later. "I have no idea lines case in 1948 when a rocket shaped
El Paso TIMES. what it was. " t with windows veered
"I don't want to start a scare, " said According to the CAA report, eight object sharply to
"but I would two hostesses werei injured: avoid collision.
missile safety chief Wagner, passengers and t
say it is a reasonable position to take to "One elderly lady was thrown n against The well-known Pan American encounter
say that such a craft n might have been in- the ceiling, receiving a bad head cut. described by Captain William Nash
volved in some accidents." Seven additional passengers and two host- (NICAPSpecial Adviser) when a formation
Astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, former esses received bad head bumps and bruised of 100-foot discs flew under his DC-4
head of the Armed Forces search for un- hips and legs." near Norfolk.
known natural satellites, stated the same Neither Captain Schemel nor his co- In all three of these cases the UFOs
opinion. pilot would identify the unknown object either veered to avoid collision or evaded
"it is not at all out of the question," as another aircraft. A check by the Amar- the pilot's attempt to get closer. In the
Dr. Tombaugh said, "that the phenomena illo CAA communications station showed absence of contrary evidence, it still
observed by these airline pilots may be that the only other known traffic other known traffic was a appears that any near-collisions with UFOs
related to the question of space travel." USAF K-97, 45 USAF K-97, 45 miles east of Amarillo at miles east of Amarillo at are accidental.
The Civil Aeronautics Board Board i informed 17,000 feet. This has been ruled out by This has been ruled out by It is probable that the increase in con-
NICAP just before this issue went to press NICAP just before this issue went to press the CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board) i the CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board) investi- ventional near-miss reports will speed the ventional I near-miss reports will speed the
that the that the objects in both objects in both cases were still gation and no conventional aircraft has installation of anti-collision radar equip- installation of anti-collision n radar equip-
unidentified. But there isreliableevidence been located as H having been in the area. ment on ment on all airliners. IF so, this may
explained Iater which indicates that the explained later which indicates that the In the AA In the AA( (American Airlines) case, the case, the provide provide valuable data in regard I to speeds to speeds
American Airlines incident was a con- American Airlines incident was a con- CAB has information almost positively and maneuvers of any UFOs encountered.
ventional ventional near-collisionbetween airliners. near-collisionbetween airliners. identifying the "unknown" as an identifying a the "unknown" as an eastbound On the same day as the American Air- American Air-
The TWA case, however, seems at this The TWA case, however, seems at this four-engine airliner. four-engine airliner. lines near-miss case, Dr. Clyde Tombaugh
time to be a bona fide UFO encounter. time to be a bona fide UFO encounter. As correctly described in press-wire in press-wire told the Associated Press it told the Associated Press was "theerest
The facts as related by TWA Captain G. The facts cs relahed by TWA Captain G. stories, the AA DC-6 aircoach v aircoach with with 85 85 egotism for man to believe that the universe
M. Schemel and as stated in a CAA "Near aboard aboard narrowly narrowly averted collision n near was created forhis special benefit, or even was created for his special benefit, or even
Miss Incident" report dated July 24, 1957, Salt Flats, Texas, in the pre-dawn darkness for life at all."
are as follows: of July 17, 1957. While there is no indication that this
At about 2215C (10: 15 pm Central Time) Caprain Ed Bachner dived the airliner was connected with his later comment on
TWA Flight 21 en route from New York to from its 14, 000-foot altitude when he saw the near collisions, it is encouraging to
Phoenix was flying at 18, 000 feet over a green light ahead. Ten passengers were note that Dr. Tombaugh continues to make
Amarillo, Texas. The airliner, a four- injured when thrown from their seats. his convictions public.
engine Constellation, was carrying 34 Though the weathe clear, the crew Earlier this year Dr. Tombaugh stated
possengers. The sky was dark, with thin said the other aire he had seen several UFOs and added:
scattered clouds, and Captain Schemel warning. "These things, which do appear to be
was operating on IFR (under CAA Instru- The preliminary CAA near-miss report directed, are unlike any other phenomena
ment Flight Regulations) although the stated that an unidentified B-36 was in-- I have ever observed. ...No one so far has
visibility was 15 miles plus. volved. A later check showed that the sure-fire, absolute proof....Other stars
Suddenly - considering the 15 mile nearest airborne B-36 was several hundred in our galaxy may have hundreds of thou-
visibillty-an object with red and green miles away. After a further check k ruled out sands of inhabitable worids. Races on these
lights appeared directly aheod. It was all military flights, it was discovered that worlds may have been able to utilize the
Hlying at the same altitude on what Captain a scheduled flight of an eastbound four- tremendous amounts of power required to
Schemel called "a collision course." engine airliner was undoubredly the bridge the space between the stars."

My own investigation prompts quite
of the same source material used by McDonald, followed by an analysis the electronics
equipment tha .gure prominently in this case.
An inherent difficulty in investigating any old UFO case, such this one which
occurred more than 14 years ago, is that the principals have difficulty in accurately
recalling some details. more serious problem is possible bellishment, due to the
passage of time and repeated re-telling of the story. Embellishment need not be the
result of a conscious effort to alter the facts. principal ma unconsciously report
how he thinks he should have behaved at the time of surprise , rather than
how he actually did behave.
However, there may the contemporary report. For instance,
the Airborne Observer's Report prepared by RB-47 commander/pilot Lewis D. Chase with
the aid of the navigator's log, diagrams the airplane's flight path and the time of
major events. This report shows the RB-47 to be at two widely separated locations at
the same time -- l0:30z. From the airplane's reported irspeed, it seems certain that
10:30Z.
Where there is a discrepancy between early accounts of two crew members, the report
by the individual most directly involved in the duty seems 50 most likely to be correct.
For example, in Chase's original report, ,the pilot said that the UFo did not show up on
"UFOc- ont ied" (Random House. 1968) [OVEr

1. Report by Wing Elwin T. Piwetz, based on interview with the
crew shortly after they returned to home base. The date when I Piwetz actually
wrote his report and transmitted it to SAC Hdqtrs. is not known. A "Received"
stamp on the last page llegible except for the date "Oct. 11, 1957." This is
believed to be the date that the report was received by UFo Project Blue Book in
Dayton, Ohio. Unfortunately, Piwetz did not show his report to the RB-47 crew
members to check its accuracy--so far as is known--before C Hdqtrs.
Airborne Observer's Report, prepared by RB-47 pilot ( (then Major) Lewis D. Chase.
So far as known, there are no other contemporar reports UEO incident
that were stance.
The RB-47 had departed from its home base at Forbes AFB, Topeka, Kan., and headed
south to the Gulf of Mexico. Turning to the east, the tail turret was tested over a
unnery range set aside for this purpose in the Gulf. This was followed by a celestial
avigation test/mission. Then the RB-47 turned north toward Meridian. Its flight plan
During this

a Type AS-656 antenna system that covered the mc. (L-band) to
5,000 mc. (C-band). It consists nearly caraboli tenna dishes which
are mounted back-to-back. The antenna rpm, selectab
by the
To illustrate how the ALA-6 functions to measure bearing to ground radar, which
is important to understanding this UFO case, only ONE of the two back-back antennas wil
be considered for the moment. When the Elint aircraft t is within receiving range of a
ALA-6 antenr
will receive the radar signal. (Because of the comparatively high scan rate of the ALA
nadar
The signals received are fed to the APR-9 Elint
for subsequent display on a small cathode-ray-tul operator. To
display the bearing of the source of the received relative to the airplane's for
aft axis, the antenna assembly rotor is geared to the
antenna drive I mechanism. The rotor winding of this ynchro-resolver is excited from
the output of the APR-9 receiver. And its sine/cosine output windings are connected tc
the deflection amplifiers and then to the vertical/horizontal deflection plates of the
ALA-6 CRT display. (See Fig. 3.)
At such times s as the airplane is illuminated by a radar, the ALA-6 will display
the situation somewhat as shown in Fig. l. (See next page.) The photo shown is an
idealized version copied from the ALA-6 operator's manual.

one, typical of radar. appear-
ance, then disappearance the signal bearing display on the
ALA-6. As a ground radar antenna begins illuminate the Elint RADAR
airplane, the signal is oriefly displayed hen, as the radar
antenna rotates to where it no longer illuminates the airplane,
the signal displayed slowly disappears CRT phosphor de- Flight Path
cays.
MeClure was not see signal with the charac-
teristics of a CPS-6B, as he explained to me, for he knew that ALA-6
such a radar was installed near Biloxi, near the RB-47 position. Display
This radar was used in conjunction with an Air Force training
school for ECM operators.
came from the CPS-6B radar at
the ALA-6 showed the radar to be on the RIGHT-HAND SIDE of the RB-47, at roughly the
S o'clock position. The Biloxi radar would be on the LEFT-HAND SIDE of the aircraft.
The bearing displayed on the ALA-6 would place the unknown radar in the Gulf, and
MeClure knew there
As the RB-47 proceeded toward Meridian, McClure noted ; another anomalous character-
istic. Instead of the displayed bearing moving down-scope, it moved up-scope. McClure,
knowing that such behavior could occur if the airplane were in a turn, says he called
the pilot on the intercom to ask if he was maneuvering. The pilot replied that he was
not. (This would confirm the fact that the incident happened near the coast rather than
at Meridian, as Piwetz reports, because the airplane did west at Meridian.)

The ALA-6 operator selects the proper antenna dish by means of a toggle switch on
the front of the ALA-6 control panel. the operator lacks apriori knowledge of the
radar signal polarization, he toggles back/forth and the dish which gives the
optimum signal.
When the switch is thrown to the "Vertical" position [See Fig. 3 below], it applies
+ 28 volts to relay K-70l, which then connects the vertically polarized dish to the
APR-9 Elint receiver. When n the toggle switch is thrown n to the "Horizontal" position,
hen connects the
horizontally polarized dish to the APR-9 receiver.
When selecting the appropriate antenna dish, it is also necessary that the cor-
rect polarity of APR-9 signal be applied as excitation to the synchro-resolver rotor
AN/ALA-6 DIRECTION FINDER AN/ALA-6 DIRECTION FINDER 1 ASA-656 ANTENNA ASSEMBLY ASA-656 ANTENNA ASSEMBLY ELINT
1 - RECEIVER
Driye motor 1 1
Defl.
CRT Ampl. 1
Synchro
1
Horiz. Horiz. Vert
Polar. Polar.
1
- 1
K-701 1 APR-9
K-301
1 I
- !
1
+28v Vertical 1 -
1 1 1
POLARIZATION 1 1
TOGGLE - 1
SWITCH - Relay
- Relay K-701
K-301
NO volts Horizontal
FIG.3
rOve

tubes and relays. Analysis of subsequent events in the RB-47 Radar
mission, to be discussed shortly, suggests that the malfunction
of K-30l was an intermittent temporary one and that it later )Fligh Pathy
resumed normal operation.
This could have resulted
connection to relay K-301 terminals, or within its solenoid
coil. Another possibility is that moisture accumulated l in t1
the relay during humid July day may have frozen as the RB-47
climbed to altitude, preventing the K-301 armature from opera-
ting when McClure first applied power the ALA-6 as he neared
Biloxi. However, after a few of operation, the heat ANOMALOUS BEARING
from the relay solenoid and oth electrical devices on the Caused by maifunc-
antenna couid have melted the ic allowing the relay armature tion of K-301 l or
to operate normally, thereby cun ambiguity. K-701.
Normally discrepancy
apparent to the ALA-6 operator his flipped toggle switch seeking the e optimum
signal. However, because the RB-47 was so close o the pow S-6B at Biloxi,
the difference in signal trength might not be detectable.
Beyond the of an 180° ambiguity caused unction of relay
K-301 or K-701, there are other sources, such as intermittent
deflection amplifiers or in the synchro-resolver.
MeClure says that he abandoned the anomalous S-band signal after about 5 minutes,
without notifying the aircraft commander or the other two Elint (ECM) operators. Some

UFO reports, even from experienced pilots. For example, on De 1965, a former
Royal Canadian Air Force pilot (Mir. A.G.M. of Toronto) wrote a letter to the USAF's
Project Blue Book office describing a UFO he had seen while flying near Pittsburgh,
Pa., at 4:45 p.m.
Quoting the window
toward i the east when I saw 'it.' A sort of I pencil aped object flying horizontal
for a split second, then going into a 70° dive with an orange flame then appearing
behind it. In a matter of just 3 or 4 seconds it was gone. Just like a rocket taking
off...Am a former Royal Canadian Air Force pilot from the last war. I had never seen
anything like it before, especia e rapid changes in direction and terrific speed."
[Emphasis supplied.]
If this incident had occurred very late at
area, this particular UFO report might still be unexplained. However, because the
same object reported by this RCAF pilot was also seen and reported by hundreds of
observers on the ground, this UFO is known to have been a bright meteor. It left a
characteristic meteor trail which persisted for 20 minutes and which photographed
by a man in Michigan who ob tained four good pictures.
The RB-47 incident occurred at S:lo a.m. Central Daylight Savings time, when
there would be few ground observers if a any. In the summer of 1957, it was not surpris-
ing that the RB-47 flight crew began to consider the possibility that the luminous
reports filed with the USAF in 1957 than in any previous year except 1952!
COVER

1957], when the radar is operating at a PRF
of 600/sec., the I pulse length is l McClure.
Sut an Elint s specialist who is familiar with the APR-9 Elint 1 receiver says that
smearing of the received ground reflection cause an opera-
tor to err ncrement. crement.
The newly acquired S-band signal, at The newly acquired d S-band signal, at 10:30z, showed a bearing of roughly 70°. 10:30z, showed a bearing of roughly 70°.
This This was roughly the same relative bearing at which the bright luminous object had
zoomed out of sight some 20 minutes earlier as it headed north. IF this S-band sig-
nal came from the UFo, then the UFO must suddenly have changed course and was now nal came from the UFO, then the UFO must suddenly have changed course and was now
flying g abeam of the RB-47, somewhere out there in the darkness. However, the flight
crew did Not see any visual target at l0:30z -- at a 7o bearing or elsewhere.
One of the curious aspects of this incident is why the S-band signal did not
show up on t the ALA-6 until 20 minutes after the initial visual sighting. McClure
assures me that it would not take more than l0-i5 seconds for him to re-tune from
L-band to S-band.
This delay is readily explained IF the signal detected by McClure at l0:30z came
from an FPS-l0 radar (with signal identical to a CPS-6B) situated at Duncanville, just
Southwest of Dallas. Analysis of the RB-47's flight path and the coverage of the Dun-
canville radar's Vertical-Center beam at the RB-47's 34, S00 ft. altitude shows that
this beam's lower sidelobe would first begin to illuminate the aircraft at approxi-
mately l0:3oz. (See Fig. 6; also Appendix.)

At 10:40z, McClure "reported he then had two signals at bearings of
40^ and 70" Based on calculated RB-47 position, the bearing to the Duncanville radar
would have been roughly 50. Piwetz account states: "aircraft commander and co-pilot
saw these two objects at the same time with same red-color." However, Ch recently
told me that he does not recall ever seeing two visual objects.
If the S-band signal was coming from a UFo, then the FIG. 5
craft apparently had divided into two widely separated
objects! A more plausible explanation is suggested by
the ALA-6 Handbook of Operating Instructions IF the s signal
was coming from the Duncanville radar. The handbook says
that the ALA-6 may at times display what appears to be
TWO SICA AT single
handbook.
Shortly after 10:40Z, the RB-47 commander obtained
permission from the Civil Aeronautics Administration to
deviate from the original flight plan to pursue the UFO.
The RB-47 then turned right, to heading of , putting it on a path that would take
it toward Dallas-Ft. Worth. The RB-47 contacted the Duncanville
radar station (Code Name: 'Utah") and as sistance possible," n its UFO
chase, according to the Piwetz account.
At 10:42Z, only single S-band McClure, having a bearing of
20°. From the RB-47 calculated flight path, bearing to the Duncanville radar aiso
[OVE

(2) HIGHT
(s) AIRDORS AT R
: LACY 17
COK/A 2
m
l .
.
Ce 3 - .
2
f
105 : THREE OF RJWFHW 7
(O) AT DAOOZ HENSLEY STATH THEY SAW BLUE LIGHTED .
suh
EULOT IN SKY IN VICI INITY DALLAS
(A) CLEAM, 15 MI VIS, CL Petinint de •
K2) 350/15 MI DA NOT
(3) UNLIHITED 0
(0) 0m 21
3 Cr-
47 TRIMD TO INTERCERT OBJECT DUT WAS UIABLI DUE TO SPEED
AEUVEMAD
AIR TAAFTIC WAS VERY LICHT. CAA Crachuy .
LY
Idald as

reported
#2 (McClure) also lost signal." If the ALA-6 signal was coming from the Duncanville
radar, it would logically disappear from McClure's scope at about this time because
the RB-47 was now so close that it no longer would be illuminated by the Vertical-
Center beam to which the ALA-6 and APR-9 were tuned (2,995-3,000 mc.) A possible
explanation for why the Duncanville radar lost its unidentified target and the RB-47
crew lost its visual target will be discussed shortly.
The RB-47 commander, thinking he had overshot the UFo, began a turn to the left
shortly after passing g between Dallas and Ft. Worth. At roughly the same time (which
I estimate to be 10:51Z), "ECM #2 picked up signal at l60 relative bearing." Refer-
ence to Fig. 6 shows that by this time the RB-47 would now be far enough away from
DuncapvilJ le radar so that itwould d again be illuminated by the Vertical-Center beam
And the bearing to the radar woul roughly 16 McClure observed. [For cover-
age of Vertical-Center beam at R ppendix B.]
At the same time, 'Utah (radar) regained scope and aircraft commander
regained visual contact." This is believed to be an error in the Piwetz account,
is certain that the new
visual contact did not occur until several minutes later. IF there was visual contact
at this time, the "object" COUld NOT POSSIBLY BE THE ONE GENERATING THE S-BAND SIGNAL
ASTERN OF THE RB-47 (160°) BECAUSE THE FLIGIT CREW COULD NOT LOOK IN THIIS DIRECTION
AT AN OBJECT BELOW RB-47 FLIGHT ALTITUDE. IF the Utah radar operators advised of
the position of their new unidentified radar target, thi not indicated in the
Piwetz account.

Q1a.
City
11:402 .
FOR PROFILE OF COPYRIGIT
VERTICAL-CENTER
BLAM & SIDLLOEES Philip J. Klass
SLE APPENDIX A, B. Washington b.C.
Novenber 11, 1971
0 25 50 75 100
Statute Miles
/ / APPARENT POSITION
/ OF ERIGHT LIGIT
WHEN IT DISAPPEARED
OR WAS OVERFLOWN
(10:502)
/
11:202 \
Upper Sido- Luminous Object Luminous Object
11 11 Nimeral 10:522 10:522 10:512 Lobe Coverage 1 Disappears Disappears
Kells (Est.)
1 | | MAXIMIH RANGE AT PAGE 11
DALLAS NEITCH RB-47 AT ** *
10:572 10:572 34,500 Ft. ALTITUDE 34,SOO Ft. ALTITUDE
Fort 1 1 JCAN DETECT VERTICAL- CAN DETECT VERTICAL-
li 1i worth Luncan- MAIN BEAN & COKA-LOSE COVERAGE MAIN BEAN & COKA-LOSE COVERAGE CENTER BEAM AND ITS CENTER BEAN AND ITS
ville VERTICAL SIDELOBES. Jackson
RADAR (Miss.)
4 R5-47
1 APPARENT POSITION
OF BRIGHT LIGIT 10:302
WHEN SPOTTED AT 10:42.52
- 1 10:562.
Luminous 10:102
\ Object
- \ AREA WITHIN CIRCLE (5:10 )
NOT ILLUMINATED BY 10:352 [CDT]
| VERTICAL-CENTER BEAM 10:422 10:387 ARROW I 1 SHOWS
(or sidelobes)AT 10:402 REPORTED BEARING OF
34,500 Ft. ALTITUDE S-BAND SIGNAL AT
LOCATION SHOWN PER
- PIWET? XEPORT.
RB-47 CROUND SPEED
10:302 to 10:422
Approx. 460 uph
(S0 it. wind from
LOWER Wost.) FIG.6
2208-
1OBE
COVCAGE

eport
Chase's actually northwest.]
The Piwetz account contains almost no details of what happened during the next
few minutes. RB-47 pilot Chase recalls that he obtained permission to dive toward
the visual object (a light) and that the airplane went down to roughly 20,000 ft.
Because the aircraft was maneuvering almost continuously during the next few minutes,
NcClure would have difficulty taking signal bearing measurements. This probably ex-
plains why there are no further S-band bearing measurements given by Piwetz until
some minutes later when the aircraft gave up its c chase and headed north toward Topeka.
Accord-
ing to the World Almanac, official sunrise at Dallas on July 17, l957, was ll:3lz
(5:31 CST, Or 6:31 CDT). The sky would be moderately light at least 30 minutes before
official sunrise.
did not find any unusual craft object when they reached the area where the visual
light seemed to be situated. Otherwise, we ca assume they would have lingered longer
and reported their sighting to Duncanville inasmuch as the RB-47 could have arranged
in emergency landing for re- Force base.
According to the Piwetz account, the RB-47 finally took up a heading for home at
11:022, and by 11:40z, the ai rcraft was roughly abeam of Oklahoma City. The 11:02Z
time is believed to be a typographical (transposition) error, intended to be 11:20Z.
This would be much more consistent with the ll:4oz time abeam of Oklahoma City and
the aircraft's position at l0:50z when it is known to have been near Dallas/Ft. Worth.

If the CPS-6B type
would have been within receiving range of the air defense radars at Houston, Dallas
and Oklahoma City at various times between l0:40z and 11:40z. Such a signal l could
be expected to cause severe interference with one or more of these ground radars,
if it came from an airborne source within receiving range. YET THERE WAS NO REPORT
OF ANY SUCH INTERFERENCE FROM ANY OF THESE RADARS, SO FAR AS IS KNOWN.
Furthermore, if there had been an unknown craft flying in the vicinity of the
RB-47 from the time it neared the coast until roughly two hours later when it neared
Oklahoma City, it is strange that the unknown craft was not spotted by any of the
many air defense radar stations in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas or Oklahoma,
except for the brief, sporadic report from the Duncanville station.
Curiously, the formal teletype report filed by the Duncanville radar station com-
mander to Air Defense Command Headquarters within four hours of the within four hours incident (14:45Z,
July 17, 1957) denies that the UFO appeared the station's scope! The ays:
"UTAH (Duncanville
This seems to contradict statements by the RB-47 crew members, yet there is no
reason to question the veracity of the latter. The most logical explanation for this
apparent discrepancy is that between the time of the incident (roughly l0:50z) and the
time of the report (l4:45z) the unknown target on the Duncanville radar scopes had
been identified as an ordinary airplane!
If this were the case, the Duncanville station commander might well have been
too embarassed to admit the temporary "goof" of possibly y inexperienced operators
and would logically try to minimize the whole incident with the cryptic report: "NEGA-
TIVE CONTACT WITH OBJECT." By the time the unknown was identified, the RB-47 could
have been well beyond direct radio communications range of Duncanville.
[OV

within roughly 5 miles of the radar, the airliner would no longer iminated by
any of the beams. Depending airliner's approach path, i passed
through this zone of no-illumination twice if it made an outbound/inbound approach
and landing--finally disappearing for good as it descended for its landing.
If the landing lights of Flt. #966 were the "visible UFO" which the RB-47
flight crew saw northwest of Dallas, and which was over-flown at 10:50Z, it seems
certain that this particular airliner could not have been the "visible UFO" seen by
the RB-47 crew at 10:39Z which prompted to change flight plan and head toward
Dallas/Ft. Worth.
Any attempt to identify the source of this light 14 years after the incident is
a hopeless task, especially for an investigator who is not familiar with possible ground-
based light sources in that region, such as industrial facilities, oil refineries, etc.
IN SUMMARY:
The real crux of this UFo case is whether the source of the S-band signal, which
by an airborne object/craft.
IF the signa three
possibilities:
1 A U.S. aircraft: It makes no sense for the U.S. to go to the expense and trouble
of building a CPS-6B like radar and mounting it on an aircraft. If the purpose
were to mimic enemy jammers, to train our own air defense radar operators, there
are far simpler and less expensive ECM equipments available for that purpose.
The RB-47 UFO case file contains a letter dated Oct. 30, l957, signed by Capt.
Edwin H. Mammen of Air Intelligence, in reply to a query from Project Blue Book,

such interference from the radars at Houston, Oklahoma City, Duncanville or at
Biloxi. Having gone to so much trouble, it would seem logical E-Ts to
subsequently modify their e equipment to return to Earth for another attempt--
hopefully more successful. Yet this record
shows.
If the E-T went to the trouble of building a CPS-6B type radar and transporting
it all the way to Earth the capricious mission of playing games with the crew
of an Elint airplane, then clearly the mission was a success. But an important
question is how the E-T spaceship was able to identify this particular aircraft--
the RB-47--among all of those aloft around the Earth on July 17, 1957, as an
Elint aircraft?
fuel tanks, etc. In darkness and at high speed, especially difficult
even specialis identify an E. ircraft.
Another curious aspect is that having gone to all the trouble to build equipment
attempted i to play games
with such an aircraft, so far as is known.
CONCLUSIONS:
This analyst believes that the S-band signal with all of the characteristics of
a CPS-6B/FPS-10 radar actually came from radars of this type at Biloxi and Duncanville.
The signal bearings reported Piwetz, based on figures hurriedly jotted down by
tn

interest at nearly an all-time high, it would have been ne RB-47 crew
had not reached such a conclusion.
CREW COMMENTS:
A draft of this analysis-report was submitted i to the two principal RB-47 crew.
members involved in this incident fo reactions, which follow:
Lewis D. Chase, RB-47 aircraft commander/pilot:
"I think this study is an excellent work! I apologize for fearing you would
not go in deep enough with your analysis. Congratulatio and my thanks, for
giving me a plausible explanation for the events that pened crew that
night in 1957."
Frank B. McClure, ECM Monitor #2:
"I am certain that for some reason we had intercepted ground signal that moved
up-scope. I know that once we were near Dallas and (flying) north toward Forbes
(AF Base), the signals were undoubtedly CPS-6B/FPS-10 air defense radars. I do
not believe any UFO was emitting these signals."
IMPLICATIONS:
In presenting this case to AIAA members, the AIAA's UFO Subcommittee observed:
This sample case may serve to illuminate the difficulties in deciding whether or not
the UFO problem scientific problem." case does indeed illuminate two
central aspects entire UFo issue:
ould
crepancies that have--und lably--crept into the current recollections b by
the I principals of event anspired 14 years ago. Because most of the old
UFO cases lack such o igi they must remain unexplained. But
this lack-of-explanation shoul involve extraterrestrial
spaceships or other exotic henomena.
2. Even when original data are available, if an investigator approaches his task with
a conscious, or unconscious, desire to find no conventional explanation so as to
end up with extraterrestrial spaceships as the only possible alternative, then the
investigator will find no plausible conventional explanation.
*  * *
Philip J. Klass
December 30, 1971

40,000'
2
BEAM
TOP VIEW SLANT
CROSS-SECTION OF
THREE BEAMS THAT
BEAM MAKE UP VERTICAL
VERTICAL BEAM IS SHOWN
BELOW.
S 1APPROX.
0.8° APPROX.
END VIEW
-
Figure 1-3. Structure of V-beam Pattern
22 E-W
Beam Revised 15 May 1954
VERTICAL PROFILE OF VERTICAL-CENTER BEAM (2,992 - 3,019 mc.) WITHOUT SIDELOBES:
[Detect

APPENDIX B -18-
ESTIMATED RANGE AT WHICH ALA-6 COULD DETECT SIGNAL FROM CPS-6B/FPS-10 RADAR VERTICAL-
CENTER BEAM AND ITS SIDELOBES AT RB-47 ALTITUDE OF 34,S00 FEET.
(Distances shown are as measured along surface of the earth and are not slant ranges.)
Upper-Lobe Coma-Lobe
$12° 11°
Main
34,500 Beam
Lower Side-Lobe
Surface
DISTANCE in MILES 120
993
Width of Main Beam = 10 db. down points
Coma-Lobe = 16 db. down from Main Beam
Lower Side-Lobe = 15 db. down from Main Beam NOT TO SCALE
Upper Side-Lobe = 22 db. down from Main Beam
NOTE: noTb. Radar Radar energy reflected off the g energy rerlected Orr the ground may partially ground may partjally fill "gap fill "gap" shown between shown
lower lower sidelobe and main beam because of antenna's sidelobe and main beam because of antenna's low elevation angle. low elevation angle. The The
radar radar r antenna is assumed to be aligned to horizontal although dish can be antenna is assumed to be aligned to horizontal although dish can be
elevated slightly to clear local obstructions.
----
MY THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING PERSONS AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR VALUABLE ASSISTANCE
RB-47 crew members: Pilot Lewis D. Chase, ECM Monitor #2, Frank B. McClure, and members: Pilot Lewis D. Chase, ECM Monitor #2, Frank B. McClure, and
ECM Monitor #1 John Provenzano.... Elint specialist Rod Simons of the AIL Div. of
Cutler-Hammer, which developed the APR-9 Elint receiver.... George Rappaport, former
technical director of USAF's electronic warfare laboratory at Wright-Patterson AF3,
Ohio....Ken Klippel of Hoffman Electronics Corp., which produced the ALA-6.... Tom
Paganelli, Paul J. Teich and C.I. Robbins, of General Electric's Heavy Military Elec-
the CPS-6B and FPs-l0 radars.... Dr. Maurer
Maurer, chief of the Historical Research Div., Maxwell AFB, Ala., where the Project
Blue Book UFo case files are archived.... The Air Defense Command, which dug into
in July, 1957,....American Airlines for doing the same to provide the scheduled
arrival times for its Flt. #966 and #655 on July 17, 1957.... Finally, the late Dr.
James E. McDonald for his initiative in locating the original RB-47 case records in
the Project Blue Book archives.
* * **
Philip J. Klass
Washington D.C.

your detailed analysi ance reasonable explan-
ation.
Thank you for s - ort
Sincerely
MAURER MAURER MAURER MAURER Copy to: Blue Book Case File Copy to: Blue Book Case File
Chief, Historical I Research Division Research Division

ans s
FISTER STATION AT CKLAHONA CITY 74STH ACWRON. .
LY 520 IM1, BY A/C
(1) AIRBORNE RADAR WAS DING USED ON B-47 TO TRACK OBJICT I s
THAT THEY Y HAD OBJECT IN
RAUAR CNTACT HITIL021E
.
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•
.
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•
.
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SECURI CLASSIA TION
JOINT MESSAGEFORM ONCLASSIFIED
,
. SPACE BELOW RESERVED FOR COMMUNIOATION CENTER
PRECEDENCE TYPE MSG (Oλck) ACCOUNTING ORIG. REFERS TO CLASSIFICATION
SYMBOL OF REFERENCE
ACTION 00 BOOK MULTI SINGLE
INFO x AF X
FROM: SPECIAL CTIONS
COMSTRATRECCNWG 55 FORBI FB KANS
TO:
CINCSAC OFFUTT AFB NEBR
COMAF 8 WESTOVER AFB MASS
1.2 ZIPPO M-12 AMPLIFY CIRVIS REFORT SENT BY ADC
SITE -UTAH
2.NA/NA/55SEW
3. UNIDENTIFED FLYING CBJECT.
4LACY 17
5. 1010Z 17 JUL 57 TO 1140Z 17 JUL 57.
APPROXIMATELY 320ON and 91-3CW ON A TRACK PLANNED FROM MERIDIAN,
FOLLCWING CHARACTERISI DEC PULSE WIDTH
ENCY OF 600 CPS; SWEEP TIME
OF 2.0 MICRO-SECONDS;
ATE CF ARPM; VERTICAL POLARITY. . SIGNAL MOVED RAPIDLY UP THE 'D/F MONTH YEAR
SYMBCL SIGNATURE
55DOI/rkg
YPED NAME AND TITLE(8igruLZUr, ifTeqUired) TYPED (or stamped) NAME AND TITLE 5-40
LWIN T. PINETZ, Wg Intel Officer
HONE 707 a.W.HWCSWO
11CAG5 .lo
CURITY CLASSIFICATION UT DOWNGRADED AT &VEAR INTERVALS:
DEdLASSIFIEDLAHEN A2'YEARS.
DQD DIB 5200.10
CRM .173 REPLACES
DD FORM 173.1 OCT 49, WHICH WILL BE USED UNTIL EXHAUSTED

CLEAR. ALTHOUGH
A/C COULD NOT DET HAD A DEFINITE
INPRESSION LIGHT INPRESSION LIGHT EMANATED FROM TOP OF OBJECT. AT 1O4OZ ECM OPERA-
TOR NR 2 TOR NR 2 REPORTED HE THEN HAD TWO SIGNALS REPORTED HE THEN HAD TWO SIGNALS AT RELATIVE BEARINGS OF
THESE TWO OBJECTS AT THE
SAME TIME WITH THE SAME
IGNORE FLIGHT PLAN AND PURSUE OBJECT. HE NOTIFIED ADC SITE UTAH AND IGNORE FLIGHT PLAN AND PURSUE OBJECT. HE NOTIFIED ADC SITE UTAH AND
REQUESTED ALL ASSISTANCE POSSIBLE. AT 1O42Z ECM NR 2 HAD ONE OBJECT REQUESTED ALL ASSI STANCE POSSIELE. AT 1O42Z ECM NR 2 HAD ONE OBJECT
AT 020 DEGREES AT O20 DEGREES S RELATIVE BEARING. A/C INCREASED SPEED TO MACH O.83, RELATIVE BEARING. A/C INCREASED SPEED TO MACH 0.83.
TURNED TO PURSUE, AND OBJECT. AHEAD. AT 10423Z ECM NR 2
AGAIN HAD TWO SIGNALS AT RELATIVE BEARINGS OF 040 AND 070 DEGREES.
AT 1O44Z HE HAD A SINGLE SIGNAL AT 050 DEGREES RELATIVE BEARING.
AT 1048Z ECM NR 3 WAS INTERPHCNE AND
SYMBOL PAGE NR OF SECURITY CLASSIFICATION INITIALS
NR PAGES
5500I/rkg 2 4
TANT
MOAY S173-1 PINTAFTEN 12 EARS U. S. GOVERNNENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1955-352236
DOD DIE 5200.10

AIRCRAFT BEGAN CLOSING ON UNTIL THE ES RANGE WAS 5NM.
AT THIS THE CBJECT A 15,000 FEET
FROM
MINERAL WELLS, TEXAS, CR W NOTIF IED
PPLY. CREW
GUERIED UTAH WHETHER UTAH WHETHER A A CIRVUS CIRVUS REPORT AND UTAH AND UTAH
REPLIED D THE PEPORT THE PEPORT HAD NR 2 HAD SIGNAL SIGNAL
AT 300 DEGREES FE TACT. AT
ONM NORTH-
FRCM AIRCRAFT. AT llO2Z AIRCRAFT TCOK UP HEADING FOR HOME STATION.
HIS PLACED AREA OF OBJECT OFF THE TAIL OF AIRCRAFT. ECM NR 2
CONTINUED TO D/F SIGNAL OF CBJECT BETWEEN 180 AND 190 DEGREES RE-
LATIVE BEARING U UNTIL 11402 Z WHEN AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY ABEAM
SYMBOL PAGE NR OF SECURI SSIFICATION INITIALS
NR PAGES
55D0I/rkg DOWNGRADE? 3 4
DD. MAY s 173-1.. DQD DIE A2D0:10 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1955- 85223

I
INDICATING OSITIVELY
THE OBJECT BEING THE SINAL SOURCE.
See ien 44 6 Rade Qustn
to tred pits J6-47 UF0
Manmerersof bet Manmever Aet rele re C nt
bolloons bollons boch
CuiThe CusThe
plne i ite plne i ihe asa lagna Dagna
hikne hine 0.47 ~
W
DOWNGIADEY AT 2 VEMR INTERVALS: DECLA-NIFIND ATER 12 YEAKS.
DOD DIE 6200.10
UNCLASSIFIED
NR PAGE NR OF PAGES INITIALS
55D0I/rkg 4 4
A  173-1 U. S. SCYERANMENT OFFICE: 1985---432238
2

O Page two
5. Aircraft identification 'Flight Data
Type aircraft _RB-47H a. Heading 2650
Serial No. 53-4305 MagTrueCompass
c. Home Station FOEBeS AFB, b. Ind. Altitude34,500'
KANSAS- c. Ind. Airspaead _258
Knots MPH
7. Was an attempt to detact the object on airborne radar mada? (Circle one)
Yas No No Radar Radar
a If YES, daser :UNsUccesSFUL
8. Was an intercept attempted? (Circle ons) Yes No
Were photographs taken? (Circle one) Yes No
WAS TRACKED ONECM EQUIPHENT AND RADAR SCOPE PCTURES TAKEN
10. (Circle one) Yes No
a. I Comments:
13
H18

questionaire can
Air Force as I much information as possible corcerning the unidentified
aerial phenomenon that you have observed. Please try to answer as many
questions as you possibly can. The informstion that you give will be
used for research purposes, and will be regarded as confidential material.
Your name will not be used in connection with any statements, conclusions,
or publications without your permission. We request this s personal infor-
mation so that, if it is deemed you for further
details.
1. Date observation was made: 2. Time observation was made:
17 JyLy 57 Daylight
Day Month Year Ring Zone Saving
Standard
See
or 1010 Z (GMT)
1004
3. Exact location of aircraft when the observation was first made:
32-00N 91-28 W
Coordinates
4. Crew members who made the observation. (List each name)
NAME RANK CREW POSITION
MAL AIRCRAFT COMMAND=R
1T COPILOT
AISOP 2
(19 Sep 56)
UNCLASSIFIED
DOW DIR BE16

cerning the stars and moon?
STARS (Circle one) MOON (Circle one)
a None a. Bright moon light
A few b. Dull moonlight
c. Many 3 No moonlight - pitch dark
d. remember Don't
(Some Chouds To SouTh)
19. (Circle one)
a. Yes b. No c. Don't remember
20. If it was BRIGkTER THAN the sky background, was the brightness like that of
an automobile headlight? (Circle one)
b. Several blocks away?
INTEUSE BLue-
\fra}$ block away? d. Several away? e. Other WhiTe GhT.
21. What were the wind conditions at the time you saw the object? What were the wind conditions at the (Circle one) (Circle one)
a. No wind E b. Slight breeze c. Strong wind Strong windd. d. Don't remember Don't remember
.
22. What type What type of of cloud cover cloud cover were you you flying through at the time you saw the through at
objoct? object? (Circle one)
Clear. Clear. b. Overcast c. c. Undercast
d. Above scattered clouds Above sca clouds . e. e. Below scattered Below scattered clouds
Through scatt ered clouds g. Other
L
23. I Did the object appear: (Circle one)
a. Solid?
b. Transparont?
⑥ Don't know. -
DOIVNGENDAT
DECL INIOLMOOEE

13. Was any turbulence notad? (Circle one) Yes NO
Comments:_
OFF‡ON
14. 30 AT INTeRVALS
Minutes Seconds
Circle one of the following indicate how cer
to Question 14.
a. Certain b. Feirly certain c. Not very sure d. Just a guess
15. 15. Did you observe the object through any of the following? Did you observe the object through any of the following?
a. Eyeglasses Yes C
b. Sun glasses Yes
c. Other Other
16. 16. What was the condition of the sky? What was the condition of the sky? (Circle one)
a, a. Bright daylight d. Just a trace of daylight Just a trace
b. Dull daylight Dull davlight e. No trace of daylight
c, Bright twilight (NIGhT) f. Don't remember
17. If you saw the object during
located as you looked at the object? (Circle one)
In front of you d. To your left
(N/A)
b In back of you e. Overhead
c. To your right UNOLASSIFIED f. Don't remember
DE

32. Try to estimate the number of degrees the object was from true North (Azimuth).
32.1
32.2 When it di 360 degrees.
2. 2
33. If there was more than one object, then how many were there?
Draw a picture Draw how they were how A t an arrow an arrow to show the
direction that direction that they were they were treve
T SEE
34. 34. How large How large did the object or objects appear as compared with one object or objects appear as compared with one of the
following following objects objects held in the hand and at arm's length? (Circle one) (Circle one)
a e. Quarter Grapefruit
b. Pea f. Half Dollar i∴ Besketball
c. Dime g. Silver Dollar Other
d. Nickel h. Baseball
-
35. Circle one of the following answer
to Question 34.
Certain b. Fairly certain Not very sure d. Uncertain ?
a.
ae

GLAS (INTL) 7-9C7 FD SUBJECT: UFOS PD :
Shape ?
Size ?
) ELUE O. -
.
CCICHT FLASHED
NONE
CODHONE
C)5.37 -
e
F0F0 '
.
7

c.
d. Give off smoke? Yes No Don't know
e. Change brightness? Yes No Don't know
f. Change shape? Yes No Don't know
g. Flicker, throb, pulsate? Yes No Don't know
25. Did the object move behind something at anytime, particularly a cloud?
(Circle one) . Yes No Don't know. I If you answered
what it moved behind.
26. I Did the object move in front of something at anytime, particularly a cloud?
(Circle one) Yes No Don't know.
what it what it moved in iront of. moved in front of.
27. The adges of the cbject were: The adges of the cbject were: (Circle one)
a. a. Fuzzy or blurred 6 Like a bright star c. Sharply youtlined outlined
d. D d. Don't remember e.
28.
WhON ABNV= The OBOCT IT APP=AREd AS A BRIGUT LIGST WIT
A Reddish TiNGe.
its longest dimension. (UNARIO) ..feet.
UNCLASSIFIED
--
II

it?
Some OR SOURCe ThAT HAd The
ThAN
The B-47. SohidiTy OA
GeI SiTe.
HG:

36. How did the object or objects dicappeer from viowi
LIGhTS WeNT OUT.
o o
37. What direction were you looking when you first saw the object?. (Cirelo ono)
a. North c. East e, South E. West
b. Northeast d. Southeast f. Southwest h. Northwest
38. What direction were you looking when you last saw the object? (Circle one)
8 North c. East e. South g. West
b. Northeast d. Southeast f. Southwest h. Northwest
39. Draw a picture that will show the shape of the object or objects. Label and
include in your sketch any details of the object thnt you saw such as wings,
protrusions, etc., and especially exheust trails or vapor trails. Place an
arrow beside the drawing to show the direction object was moving.
NOThING BUT LIGHT
WASU
40. Draw a I picture that will show the motion that the object or objects mede.
Place an "A" at the beginning of the path, a "B" at the end i of the path,
and show any changes in direction during the course.
A2
T
2Hiles -->8
EST
B-47
UNCLASSIFIED

". O Prizstay
15: Show the location of the objcct in relation to the aircraft by placing an .
"X" on the edge of the circle at the o'clock pouilion and stute high, low
or level. If this relationship changed duing the sighting, uce another
circle and show the new relationship of the object to the aircraft. Also
indicate any changes of heading of your sircraft.
2650 2650 2650
Heading Moved FROM
LeveL 12 12 APPROX 10 ACROSS
1ST NOS AND DiSA
ATAPPROX.2.
SIGHTING 9 3 9 39 3
6
(Circle one)
HICH HIGH
LOW
LEVEL
( 5 O°T.H. 3200 T.H. 320T.H
WhEN LeveL
PURSOIT 10N.M.
WAS up
TAKEN Same Same Same
:
Seme Same Same
UNCLASSIEIED

shows the locrtion of the sighting. On this chart plot the flight path of
your sircreft and the flight path of the object.
If a local area chart is not available, roughly sketch in the area of the
sighting showing latitude and a longitude. Then plot the flight path of
your aircraft and the flight path of the object. Pu in prominent land-
marks as necessary. A
!
OKL. ELEC.SIGNAL INDICATEd ObJECT STAYED
CITY Q
WITh 8-47 OK.CITY.
1050Z UTAL RepoeTed
DISAPPCAND
DALLAS HONASE
7 WORTH 25 MeRidiAN
10527 -X MISS
CBECT RCAPPCARED TO -X
RCHY TUR cod 1
SAPPERREd SAPPE 3-47 3 URSUIT -
Holee 1
TookUP P TookUP
I
.83 83 PAT PART
th10.966 4h-10.966 1 -
!
GULF 1 -
OF ↑
MEXIcO - -
I -
B.47
CLOVDS FhIGHT
PATH
TO Iit
South Cd /
AFTEK 12 1E. ILU
OR DI 60010
Nt

47.
MSMAJ. CHASE LEWIS DORMON
Last Name First Name Middle Name
Street City Zone State
What is your present job? AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ON RB-47 H
Age 35 Sex M .
Please indicate any special educational training that you have had.
a. Grade School V e. Technical School
b. H High School V - (Type) -
c. College. f. Flying g School — V
d. Post graduate Other special
48. Date you completed this questionaire?:
10 SepT 57
Day Month Year

UNICLASSIFIED Page elever
46. Flease give a brief narrative account of sighting and any other additional
deta or comments.
See Inclosure 2.
4
DEULK
DOD DIE E..1O
UNGLASSIFIED

1.07 .
Z ~!
10 50 0350 .
-7= 4.E4
EIM4SV WPT1S1 YDB 98 WYDEG3 WNS S3MMA:37 O
302DEH AUtDUp RJtPHO 17 JUL57 13 57
RJUTHU 34xà0
72
714492 .
AFSTA TEY
JANUP/COMBR AIR INTEL TECH CENTER WRIGHT AFB OHIO .
MUEPHA/DIRZOTOR INTELL HEADUSAT WASH 25 DC
JUFKU ITY AFSTA OKLA .
T : :
CLAS (INTL) 7-967 SUBJECT: UFOB PD
Shape ? .
size siye ?
C) ELUE a$ ae
(4) 012
(S)1OE LO 1 1
CSCLIGHT CECLIGHT FLASHED
(T) NONE S
(t)HONE ) HONE • •
. .
devitin, been
7 .
7 •
T SEE .
3JEMUL 72 DiRisas

as responsible for to sightings".
2. The electronic data is unusual in this report in that radar signals (presumably
emanating from the "object") were picked up. These intercepted signals have all the
characteristics.of.groundradar equipment, and in fact are similar to CPS-6B. This
office knows of no S-band equipment having the characteristics outlined.
3. Since the type equipment is not known, and since
there are no "firm" correlation between the ground intercept and the sightings from
the aircraft, it is impossible to make any determination from the information'submitted.
On the other hand, it is difficult to conclude that nothing was present, in the face
of the visual and other data presented.
1 Incl 1 Incl
n/c Eduin tMamman
capt
Ar A
ClassiPrattn- Cancalled
(cr oa LAS)
TPTCEN)
027062
AFS Page l of lI page
Cy / of 4 cys
UNCLASSIFIED

came Clear..
E.of E7 Paso.T Lines Flight #665
July 17=50miles reballs mounting).
almost'collides with huge.g
:
.

area at
The second incident mentioned occurred on July 17, 1957, near E Paso,
Texas, and involved American Airlines' Flight No. 655. Investigation of
this incident definitely established the fact that the unidentified flying
object was American Airlines' Flight No. 966, which had previously departed
from El Dallas, Texas.
Since both incidents, been determined to involve other
aircraft, it your
records. records.
In accordance In accordance with with your request, we are establishing your recuest, we are establishing a procedure a procedure whereby
your organization your organization will be informed of the results of will be informed of the results of all Civil all Civil Aeronautics
Administration investigations involving civilian aircraft and the sighting
of unidentified aerial phenomena.
Sincer
Roy Keeley
Director, Office of Flight
Operations and Airworthiness