PROJECT BLUE BOOK

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12 CONCLUSIONS 71
Mankato, Kansas Was Balloon
4 Jan 53 Mankate Kansas 0 Probably Balloan
4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION 0 Possioly Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP
Local dawn Ground-Visual Ground-Radar o Was Aircraft
RX Probably Aircraft
GMT. AinVisual Air-Intercept Radar D Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS SOURCE o Was Astronomical
Yes 00 Probably Astronamical
DNo Civilian Possibly Astronomical
LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OURSE Other.
000 Insufficient Data for Evaluation
Unknown
5 mins one - -
T0. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
Rpt of strange a/c w/aerials about Rpt or Strange ayc w,aeriais about Observation of one of Jnservation of one the new thenew
shape & size of strato-cruiser. Obsert shape & size of strato-cruiser. Obser- WR-2 WR-2 type a/c w/radar type a/c w/radar search
ved at dawn. aerials. A/c has saae general aerials. A/c has same general
configuration as a strato-cruiser. configuration as a strato-cruiser.
ATIC FORM 329 (REV Atic yorM 329 (R1 26 SEP 52)

To say I was surprised at what I saw would be an understatement.
At about L5 degrees to the right and at a distance thought
to be less than a rile there was
Possibly a stratc cruiser. It appeared be in flight not
far above tre rorizon, and I was afraid it would land before
we got to a point where we could take a good picture, and we
crove possibly 3/u of a mile before stcppins
hill.
What was so astound ng about ti is plane was
It was entirely a lumincus red in color and the cutline of
its form was clear. Extending above cockpit tc a dis-
terce equal to that tarce equal to that from the ccckpit t cockpit to e nose of the nose of the
wl ite light at the tcp. lite light at the tcp. The aerial The aerial
was nct red or lumirous but its form was clearly outlined. was nct red or li
When we ne ling
but was stationary above tie horizon.
Between te point where we first saw the plane and where we
stopped my wife had been adjusting tre camera for a picture.
As we stopped she lowered t: e window and got the target
centered wien she said, "I've got tris adjusted for a moving
object sc I'd better readjust it."
Wrile she was dcing this I saw that another aerial extendd
up half way from the cockoit te the tail but was not lighted
at its tip.

The sky was clouded in that direction and only two lines of
light frorthe sun could be seen: after t:e plane disappeared.
Cne was in line wit the spot wh the plane had been and
The time it until dis-
appeared was several minutes, possibly five.
What was this phenomenon? NCR tr s phenomenon?
What caused it? What causd it?
Are there planes in existence which have aerials similar tc Are there planes in existence which have aerials similar tc
the ones mentioned?
I- what we saw I what we saw was age plane where the original the original
lecated?
Have cu receiv others who saw this object? this object?
Thank you for any
Respectfully,

IFSANS8
1 -
1
SAFTS-3/Maj Tacker/jmd/74966/22 Peb 58
24 February 1958
Dear Mr
This is to acknowledge and thank you for your
letter of 20 January 1958 addressed to Wright-Patterson
Air Force Basa an ing
object.
The object you observed was probably one of the
nev radar-search aircraft desigated WR-2. This aircraft
has the same has the same general configuration of a strato-cruiser, configura
as wer as mentioned in your oned in your letter. letter.
For your For your information illustrations of this type information illustrations of this type
aircraft aircraft are inclosed, together with latest Department are inclosed, together with latest Department
of Defense Fact Sheet Fact Sheet on on this subject, dated 5 November this subject, dated 5 November
1957.
Thank you Thank subject.
Sincerely,
LAWRENCE J. TACKER
Major, USAP
Executive Officer
Public Information Division
Officed Information Services
Inclosures
a/s
Mr
Hamel, Minnesota
TS
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