PROJECT BLUE BOOK

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS

Wes Balloon
Probably Balloon
Possibly Balloon

Wes Aircraft
Probably Aircraft
Possibly Aircraft

Lincoln, Nebraska
4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION

XAxGroun d- Vi sual O Ground-Radar
0 Air Visual © Air-intercept Radar

Was Astronomical
Probably Astronomical
Possibly Astronomical

7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE ™ OtherRoflections —
Insufficient Data for Evaluation
Unknown
not given one :

0. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
Movie film of alleged UFO submitted to Throughout the film there are

‘| ATIC for analysis. bright spots of varying shapeé s
& intensityies that were undoubt

edly caused by reflections of &
On various objs on & within the
auto in which the photographer
was riding.

| ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)

OFFIL.AL Fite COPY

Gea F-

‘AFOIN-hE2/Maj Friend/ac/69216/typed 30 Mar 60

UFO Fils

ea 8 Indians

Doar vrs S=

As you requested, the film you loaned to the Air Force ie being returned
to youe we wish to thank you for thea loan of the film, erd for your

cooperation and intorest.

Sincerely,
FUILIY Ge EVAN 1 Atch:

Deputy for Sciences and Components .

COORDINATION:

(Sh Us al Mees Sra U2 foriack CO
ft <M B ge 2 2/20 Joo

————————

MEMO FOR RECORD , 21 March 1960

Nr Qe of Indianapolis, Ind. called to inform Major Friend
that she had in her possession a movie film taken 1] July 1958, of a

UFO which could possibly shed some light on the Northwest Airlines
accident of 17 March 1960. Mag@getaida that she had not reported the

film earlier because she did not want any undesirable publicity, her
husband was against it, and she did not know to what agency to make the
report.

ge quested that her husband not be informed of this contact

with the Air Force. Maj Friend was asked to visit her home in Indianapolis

for the purpose of getting this film. ir QP said that she would rather

not mail it for fear of her husband learning of the transaction. ir iii
also requested that she receive no publicity as a result of this call or

the film.

The informant further stated that the Indianapolis Star of this morning

(21 March 60) carried a story stating that the left and right wings of the
ill-fated Northwestern Airliner had appeared to hit something prior to

the explosion. MrgggggmPontacted Mi@por the Aviation Safety District
Office and he advised her to report the information to ATIC.

Mrs is employed in the audit division of the State Employment Security

Office. Her address is Jie: Indianapolis, Ind., Telephone
Maj Friend contacted Mr Tas, of the FAA in Indianapolis and passed to him
the above information. MSP advised that a memo to the Civil Aeronautics
Board at Cicero, Ill. would be appropriate follow-up action.

Cbeipe

ROBERT
Major, USAF
AFCIN-E2

bode a es Die. du. i ew = + — 6 pall ’ >) ae ee ;

— ee ee eee

MEMO FOR RECORD 21 March 1960

Mr Speer: Newscaster, Evansville, Ind., called and

informed Maj Friend that he had been advised by a representative of

the Aerial Phenomena Research Group of Seattle, Wash. that a UFO

was observed in the Evansville area on 17 March 1960. Mr <q
wanted Air Force confirmation of the sighting. He was advised that the

Air Force had no record of a sighting on 17 larch.
It is interesting to note that 17 March is the date of the Northwest

Airline disaster in the Evansville area. Cause for this accident has

as yet been undetermined. It is possible that the APRG wishes to

attribute this accident to a UFO.

ees?
ERT 4° FRIEND
Majors USAF

AFCIN-LE2

LE2 COMMENT NR. 1 23 Mar 60

The attached trip report 4s forwarded for information.

ROBERT J. FRIEND 1 Atch:
Major, USAF Trip Report
rr scsenanneneoue -

TRIP REPORT
Name of Traveler: Friend, Robert J.
Major, USAF
AFCIN-)i2
Aerial Phenomena Group
Date of Trip: 22 March 1960
Place, Name, Location: Indianapolis, Ind.
When Contacteds 21 March 1960
Reasont 1. Mrs Indianapolis, Ind. called ATIC and
informed Major end that she had in her possession a movie
film taken 11, July 1958, which could possibly shed some light
on the Sepa de Airlines accident of 17 ifarch 1960.
h laimed that the film was of an unidentified flyirg
object flying near an ‘/ sim, aircraft near Lincoln, Nebraska.
It was requested of Ilirs that she forward the film to ATIC
for analysis, but she declined to do so indicating that she
wanted specific contact with the individual receiving the film.
Results:

1. On 22 March 1960, Major Fr of AFCIN-422, Aerial
Phenomena Group, visited Mrs t her home in Indianapolis.

Mr prior to discussing or surrendering the filn,
cautioned Major Friend that she wanted no publicity or
connection with this case whatever. She especially cautioned
against her husband being made aware of this contact. The

film was viewed in the home of Mrs Met her request, and
while it showed a light near an aircraft, which may have been a

reflection, the projection was too small for any positive
identification. Mrs QQ when queried as to why she had
not turned this film over to the Air Force earlier, confessed
that it was due to her husband's ridicule of her impressions,
the lack of desire for publicity, and ignorance as to what
agency within the Air Force to contact. She further stated,
however, that in view of the Northwestern Airlines tragody of
17 March that she felt it her duty to surrender this film to
the Air Force in an effort to help determine the cause for the

aircraft accident.

26 Nrsiiiiimeresently is employed by the Audit Division of

the State Employment Socurity Uffice. However, it was determined
that she was on sick leave as a result of a near nervous break-
down. Mrs is 47 years old, appeared very energetic aml
intelligent, but very enthusiastic in her discussion of UFO's.

30 laimed that the fact that a wing of the ill-
fated aircraft was recently found some distance away from the
main scene of the crash confirms her belief that it was sheared
off by a mideair collision with same other type of craft. Contact
was made with Mra of the FAA of Indianapolis, who confirmed

ry

Comments:

oA Ai.
en

the fact that the aircraft wing was found some distance from the
main crash areay and although as yet unofficial, it is believed
that this was the first incident in this air tragedy, but was
due, however, to structural failure brought on by turbulence.
The film strip was brought back to ATIC by Major Friend and has

been turned over to Dl, for analysis.

This is not the first incident in which air tragedy has been
attributed to collisions with UFO's. Most notable instance

of such connection was with the disintegration of British Comets
(determined to be a result of structural failure).

The FAA at Indianapolis, andthe Civil Aeronautics Board at
Chicago, Ill, have been provided with the information contained

in this report.

REPLY TO
ATTN OF:

SuBJECT:

TO:

es

AIR TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
WRIGH TP ATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE
OHIO

AFCIN-LLE2
UFO Film 23 March 1960

AFCIN-))D,

1. It is requested that the attached roll of 8mm film be analyzed. This
film was turned over to ATIC by a witness in Indianapolis, Ind. The film

strip was taken 11 July 1958 at Lincoln, Nebraska.

2. The witness has indicated that the film contains an unidentified

flying object flying near an Air Force aircraft at Lincoln AFB. She has
further indicated that the information on the film might be useful in
determining the cause of the Northwestern Airlines disaster which took

place 17 March 1960.

3. If the information contained in this film is considered worthwhile,
it is further requested that a copy of this strip be made. The witness
has requested that either a copy or the original be returned to her upon

completion of analysis by the Air Force.

4. The camera used was a Brownie. The witness only remembers that it
was taken in bright sunlight, probably in the morning, and she doesn't
remember the lens setting.

7 a
Me Me ge SHOOP 1 Atch:

Colonel, Roll 8mm film
APCINALE2

ee

~-_-— -—_ —-

APCIN@LE2/Sgt Bolieu/amc/69216/22 Mar 60

UFO Fila

Civil Aeronautics Board

6127 West Cermak Road © 4 MAR 1960
Chicapo, hl.

Gentlenens

1. Intelligence Center received a phone call

from a of Indianapolis, Indiana on 21 March 1960.
Mrs that she had in her possession a movie film of an

unidentified flying object taken 11 July 1958, which could possibly
shed some light on the Northwest Airlines accident of 17 March 1960.

Mre requested that she receive no publicity concerning this
report. The ATIC contacted Mr Prost of the FAA in Indianapolis, and

passed this information to him,
2. The Air Force is presently investigating the incident reported by

i

Sincerely,

YY PoP $03 t0

PHILIP G. EVANS
Colonel, USAF
Deputy for Sciences and Components

COORDINATION:

Memo, AFCIN-4E2, 23 Mar 60, "UFO Film" (Wv Arences Zecdnnee>
lst Ind (AFCIN-4D4) 28 March 1960
TO: AFCIN-4E2

1. The attached motion picture was carefully reviewed, but
we were unable to locate any unidentified flying objects.
Throughout the film, however, there are 7 t spots of
very>*t shapes and intensities that were undoubtedly caused
by reflections of and on various objects on and within the
automobile in which the photographer was riding. Unfor-
tunately it is only too common to have light bouncing around
inside a lense system when a camera is used on a bright sun-
shining day. We believe the photographer has mistaken these
defects in the photography caused oy excessive reflected

light for a UFO.

2. <A copy of the fi
original be returne

as pot made. It is suggested that the
Oo the sender,

Me ZA naw” 1 Atch n/c

Chief,
AFCIN-4D4