PROJECT BLUE BOOK

.
I. DATE· TIME GROUP LOCATION
31 Dec 59 31/2332Z Quantico, Va
3. SOURCE 10. CONCLUSION OTHER: GRIMES BEACON LIGHT
military & civilian New type identification lights airliner. Grimes beacon light.
4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS
S. LENGTH 11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS
6 min Mulitple observations.
6.TYPE OF OBSERVATION .
ground & air visual ground &air visual
.COURSE
---
. PHOTOS 8. PHOTOS
Y. Y.
p No
9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE . VIDENCE
9
Yee
No
FORM
FTD SEP63 0-329 (TDE) Previous edidlone of thie form may bo uoed,
.
.

WASHINGTON NEWS—AMUSEMENTS B
ing Star
TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1954
-
cre is the same light, in a time exposure, flashing on and off as a commercial air-
acou of 50,000 candlepower, is mounted at the top of the tail fin. The long streaks
what Marines at Quantico saw the last five nights, not flying saucers.
--Star Staff Photo.
Marines Seeking
Flying Saucers Find
New Aviation Light
New Avianion Light
By Jack Jonas
Star Staff Correspandent
QUANTICO, Va., Jan. 5.-The
Marines looked for flying saucers
last night and saw weather bal-
loons, airplane, lights and stars.
Intelligence officers, armed
with high-powered night binoc-
ulars. scanned ulars. scanned the skies above
the Marine base for three hours.
They were there because for the
past five nights sentries reported
seeing strange lights in the sky.
The verdict: The sentries had
indeed seen something strange
to them, but it was merely re-
cently installed powerful anti-
collision lights on commercial
aircraft.
Today, the sentries were to be
briefed on the latest develop-
ments in night flying. T
Pyt. Norman Vietz of Green- .
ville, Pa., a sentry on duty at
the Tank Park in Camp Barrett.
a few miles from the main base,
spotted the oddity first. That was
on December 30 at 9:05 p.m.
"It looked like a big, flashing
red light," Pvt. Vietz said. "I
would have thought it was an
airplane, but I couldn't hear any
motor noise." .
Called for Sergeant.
He called for Sergt. Francis
R. Salinder, the sergeant of the
guard, and together they
watched tie lights.
"It just looked like a big red
light to me." Sergt. Salinder
said.
The next three nights, Pfc.
Harrison J. Bennett. another
sentry, saw the strange objects.
And, oddly, he saw them first
at the same hour, 9:05 p.m.
Pvt. Bennett saw two lights
Thursday night. One traveled to-
ward the southwest, and the
other toward the northeast.
They seemed to hover to-
gether for a while." he said.
"Then one disappeard, and the
other moved away from the spot
and finally disappeared."
At 6:40 p.m. Friday, Pvt. Ben-
nett saw them again. The saine
thing happened Saturday night.
this time at 7 p.m. and 7:57 p.in.
Then Sunday nizht, Sergt. Har- .
lan Young saw them at 6:40 p.m.
8:48 p.m., 3:54 p.m. and 9:20 p.m.
"They seemed to be about 2.000

The verdict: The sentries had
indeed seen something strange
to them. but it was merely re-
cently installed powerful anti-
collision lights on conmercial
aircraft.
Today, the sentries were to be
briefed on the latest develo)-
ments in night flying.
Pvt. Norman Vietz of Green-
ville, Pa., a sentry on duty at
the Tank Park in Camp Bareett.,
a few miles from the main base,
spotted the oddity first. That was
on December 30 at 9:05 p.m.
"It looked like a big. flashing
red light," Pvt. Vietz said. "I
would have thought it was an
airplane, but I couldn't hear any
motor noise."
Called for Sergeant.
He called I for Sergt. Francis
R. Salinder, the sergeant of the
guard, and together they
watched the lights.
"It just looked like a big red
light me," Sergt. Salinder
said.
The next three nights, I Pfc.
. Harrison J. Bennett. another
sentry, saw the strange objects.
And, oddly, he SAW them first
at the saine hour, 9:05 p.m.
Pvt. Bennett saw two lights
Thursday night. One traveled to-
ward the southwest. and the
other toward the northeast.
"They seemed to hover to-
gether for a while," he said.
"Then one disappeard, and the
. other moved away from the spot
and finally disappeared."
At 6:40 p.m. Friday. Pvt. Ben-
nett saw them again. The same
thing happened Saturday night,
this time at 7 p.m. and 7:57 p.in.
Then Sunday night, Sergt. Har- Then Sunday night, Sergt. Har-
lan Young saw them at 6:40 p.m., Jan Young SAW them at 6:40 p.m.,
8:48 p.in., 8:54 p.m. and 9:20 p.m. 8:48 p.in., 8:54 p.m. and 9:20 p.m.
"They "They seemed to be about 2.000 seemed to be about 2.000
yards in yards in the sky, and preity the sky, and preity
close," he said. close," he said..
And so last night, Maj. John And so last night. Maj. John
Shearer, of the intelligence unit,
and Maj. D. D. Pomerleau, the
provost marshal, were on hand.
"You can expect them at at
6:40." some one said 6:40." some one said positively. positively.
At 6:40 p.m., there At 6:40 p.m.. there was was a
shout:"There it is!" shout:"There it is!"
The shout brought Maj. Maj.
Shearer, Maj. Pomerleau, re- re-
porters and photographers in a porters and photographers in a
rush outside.
A faint, faint, fashing red flashing red light
glowed glowed in in the sky toward the sky toward the
southeast, near the horizon. Maj.
Shearer trained his binoculars
on it.
"I can see something." he sald.
Later: "It looks a little like
an airplane."
And still later: "Now I can sce
his navigational lights, too."
See Weather Balloons.
At 7:45 p.m., there was an-
other shout from outside. Maj.
Shearer went to work with his
glasses again. These lights
seemed to rise from the horizon
almost directly upward.
"Weather balloons," Maj.
Sheerer said.
A few minutes later, some one
spotted another blinking light.
The experts said that one was
a star.
At 8:15 p.m., the shout went
up again.
The flashing red Hght this
time followed an orderly course
from the northeast toward the
southeast, just above the horizon.
Even to the naked eye, airplane
navigational lights also were vis-
ible.
Maj. Shearer did some tele-
phoning to the Civil Aeronautics
Authority in Washington and
asked for more information
about the light.
This light. he reported d later.
is being installed on commercial
aircraft because of higher r speeds
of todsy's·airplanes. The light,
known as the Grimes Beam, is
of 50.000 candlepower and can
be seen at a greater distance by
other pilots.
.

flying object pass over the area. The object was described as a flashing red
light, dome shaped and appearing to be the size of a grapefruit at arms length.
The object flew relatively straight and level or
6 minutes.
An aircraft was scrambled in an attempt to pursue the light. The aircraft
intercepted an American Air I Lines' Convair. In addition to the intercept, an
ATIC offi proce Quantico and observed this same light f n the ground.
The reported light was definitely identified as being a Grimes Beacon light.
These have recently been on several vilian passenger aircraft.
.
.
B

Marines Chase
Flying Object
With 'Copter
Two Sentries Report
Seeing Mystery Craft
In Sky Near Quantico
One of those mysterious flying
objects reportedly ylanded near
. Quantico on New Year's Eve but
took off again before the Ma-
rines could get the situntion in
band.
A spokesman yesterday con-
frmed that a flying nataiyhng. gobject had ooject nad
been reported been reported near the base
and was chased by a helicopter. and was chased by a helicopter.
Two sentries on duty at Camp Two sentries on duty at Camp
Barrett, a Marine Barrett, a Marine installation
about 15 miles from about 15 miles from Quantico,
reported seeing "reported seeing g an bject in an bject in
the sky and described it as a the sky and described it as a
flying saucer," according to the
spokesman.. They They notified the
Officer of the Day that it ha
landed, and the helicopter tock landed, and the helicopter tockc
720 off from Quantico. By the tinie off from Quantico. By the tinie
200 it arrived, the mystery ship had
risen and was out of sight.
The news news spread spread swifty
among Quanticop among Quantico personnel. One personnel. One
report had it that two platoons
were deployed to capture the
thing but this was denied by the
omcial' spokesman.
Statements were taken from
the two sentries, and the spokes-
man said the investigation was
35 now in the hands of "higher
authorities."
The two sentries were ere- .
ported off the base on pass last
night and the Marine spokes-
man was not able to s supply their.
description of the objects, ,or
their report of its actions.
The spokesman reported they
had been summoned to appear X
before high officers of the Ma-
rine Base this morning for addi-
tional statements. FET
/
.

from the cockpit. he said: "Ex-
cellent. In fact, too good. When
you can look back and'see the
shock waves on your wing
you'd rather not see them."
He explained the shock wave
from the terrifically high speed
shows as a line in the air some-
thing like that from the wake
of a ship in water.
U.S.A.F.
J.S.A.F.
Assoctated Press wirephoto
Maj. Charles E. Yeager telling Lawrence D. Bell, president
of Bell Aircraft, how it feels to fly more than l,600 of Bell Aircralt, how it feels to fly more than l,6o0 miles miles
an hour. Maj. Yeager, whose record fight was an hour. Maj. Yeager, whose record fight was disclosed disclosed
yesterday, is holding a model of the plane which set the
record, the Bell XIA. record, the Bell XiA. The picture was The picture Was taken taken at Maj. at Maj.
Yeager's news conference in the Pentagon yesterday. Yeager's news conference in the Pentagon yesterday. S
.
Tells of Flight
Pilot Tells Maj. Yeager held a joint t news
conference with Lawrence D. .
Bell. president of Bell Aircraft
Corp.. to tell something about
Of Flight at his flight on Saturday in the
rocket-driven Bell XIA plane.
Mal. Yeager didn't go into
1,600M.P.H. the effects on the plane, but Mr.
Bell indicated it went through
scme violent shocks in the
WASHINGTON, DeC. 17 (.— speed burst more than 70,000
Maj. Charles E. Yeager told 1to- feet above Edwards Air Force
day how it feels to fly faster Base, Calif.
than any man has flown before The Air Force announced yes-
and predicted his speed of two terday that Maj. Yeager flew
and a half times that of sound more than 1,600 miles an hour
but did not disclose his exact
will be exceeded shortly. speed. The old mark of 1.327
"Physically. there is no sen- miles an hour was set Nov. 20 by
sation." he said. "Your ears a Navy Skyrocket.
don't drop off or anything.j Predicting still greater speed.
Actually. you wouldn't know Maj. Yeager said the X2 re-
how fast you are going unless search plane will be flying
you look at your mach in- "shortly" and is expected "to
strument." This instrument shove the speed up little
measures speed in relation to higher." The X2 has a skin of
sound. stainless steel to help resist the
But the young Air Force offi- softening effect of heat from air
cer said: "It wasn't a xravy friction at tremendous speeds.
ride ... I was quite busy ... The XIA burns up its fuel
it did get a little hot on the skin supply in four to four and one-
of the plane but the airpiane is half minutes after it is dropped
built for that." from the belly of a B-29. Mai.l

"ANUARY GHTINCS
EATE LOOKTION OBSERVER EVALUATION
1954 Nabesh, Indiana
Casnown Florene, Massachosorts Insufricient Daty
1 Tons River, New Jersey Military & Civilian Other (SEARCHLIGHT)
5--55 Shreveport, Louisiana (PHOTO) Other (BIRDS)
Melbourne, Australia Other (INCONSISTENT DATA)
Athens, Texas (Nevselippings)(INAY
Omaha, Nebraska Astro (METEOR)
Sicux City, Iowa Astro METEOR)
Seivarville, Tennesse
-M Blackburn, Australia Other
Alouquarque, Lew Mexico Astro
Toom, Australia A/C
Oscoia, Michigan Military Insufficient Data
Gate City, Virglaia Multi Civilian Insufficient Data
Bertin , Germany Ungno Astro (METEOR)
Millbrook, Alabas Falloon
10 North Atlanti teographic Bulletin)(INFO
10 York, Fennsyivan Astro (METEOR)
10 West Minster, Marylanl Astro (METEOR & JUPITER)
10 Las Vegas, lievarte Pallcon
ME United Staces, (min (flewspaper)(INTo)
992 Oscoda, Michigen Military Astro (METEOR)
Melbourne,Austia Insufficient Data Insufficient Data
14 Kelly AFB, Texan Kelly AFB, Texan Military (RADAR) Military (RADAR) Other (Athosphere Other (Athosphere
Disturbance)
Mallala, South slralia Astro (METBOR) Astro (MEIBOR)
Melbourne, Austritta Melbourne, Austre!ia nown - Civilian Civilian Eallcon Ealloon
9995h Plcayune, Mississioni Picayune, Mississlont A/C :
Greenshill, Ohlo (IFo Newsletter)(INFt Greenshill, Ohlo 1 to (ewsletter)(IN.
Morris, South Astialla Morris, South A LAL1 Insufficient Data
13-19 13-19 North Atlantie (dyarodraphie North Atlantie (lyarour Bulletin)(INFO)
Morth Atlantie (Hyg.Ographie Bulletin)(INFO)
Manston AFS, Englani Military Palloon
9918 Waco,Texas Military Insufficient Date
West Foint, Kentucky Other (Searchlight or
Spotlight Activity.
2.2 Buena Park, California wl 1. A/C
Neperville, Illinois A/C
Las Cruces, New Mexico Astro (METEOR)
Senecn Lake, New York Military Balloon
Blaskstone, Virginia Multi Civilien Balloon
Marsiorn, D.. :
Ranreley, Maine UNIDENTIFIED
Colt Pay, Alasxa Militery Insuffictent Data
North Pasitie 'world of
Mort. Haoieis (eydroareyhte Sullesin)(tx7o)

which appeared in the north and passed er the northeast section of he Danger Area
in a southeasterly direction. readily apparent that this was th Bea-
4. 'Attached is a copy the 5 January 1954
edition of the Evening Star.
5. This information was relayed to Gen Samford's lase-
brook's return to the e Washington Area.
Dillik fak
I Incl WILLIS R. LOEHR, MajOr, USAF
Clipping fr newspaper Acting Chief, Technical Services Division
Air Technical Intelligence Center
DD F0 96 REPLACES NME FORM 9. I OCT 48. WHICH MAY BE USED. 16-54501-3 S. GOELONNINT PRINTING CRPICE

8
PAGE TWO NBR 03331
NEGATIVE PAR 23327.3 00127,
1 JAN 54; 02327, 1 J e)NIGHT. PAR 5. TANK PARK DEMONSTRATION
MARINE CORP SCHOOL, MaRINE CORPS RES VATION
MAP SHELT NR 3 REF1 .PE.RSONDL.
AT QUANTICO, VA. CVO IECKE SUPI SERVICE ACCCUNTADLE
OFFICER ORDNANCE SUPPL SERVICE BATTALION D,
SGT GUARD WATER CANAL AREA. PFO
DEGREES-99 REES KNOTS UNK.
(C) c CLEAR CG. PAR 9.
NEG. I PLICABLS D NO
HLLICOPTC AIRCRAFT FLYING
CAA HAD AREA OF SIGHT THAT
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12
DOD DIR 5200.10 YEARS
PAGE THREE NBR 90231
IST LT, DIRECTOR, RATED LMEMBER RADAR OBSERVER.
OBJECT COULE POSSIBLY BE UNKNOWN CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT FLYING WITH PASSING
LIGHTS ONLY. AVAL INFO AT RESENT TIME PRECLUDES ANY DEEINITE CASE OF
THE SIGHTINGS
.

T54-0032 -
UNCCASSIFIED
.
62500T0
-
−
.
-
a .
.GOC
. () LVI SVOK DENONELIEIC. SVOK DEONELIEIC.
.
DOD DEY OON6
DECPVPEILICD YLLEH 15 1EY
DOMOIADED VLSAS.:IA
- . CYCSOMDALIYT T
(D)
:
: -
1

i (
- JAN1SSA 07_53
Recnn (
ATIC
56+9 53 4 04 I *5 0
53114
RAD17M
WPE044AYDA020
TYA106 C41.tile
TMA3 14 soa
A6T4
JEPNL 15
0O JEDEN JEDWP JEPHQ 00 JEDEN JEDWP JEPHQ JEPNB JEPNB JEPNY 555 555
DE JEPNL 05G DE JEPNL 05 3-Y 3-V
0 221432Z 0 321432Z
F COMDR 647TH AC&W SQ MANASSAS VA FM COMDR 647TH AC&W SQ MANASSAS VA
TO JEPHQ/DIR OF INTELL H2 USAF WASHDC
JEDEN/COMDR ADC ENT AFB COLO SPGS COLO
JEDWP/COMDR AATTIC WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB
JEPNB/COMDR EADF STEWART AFB NY
JEPNY/COMDR 26TH ADIV DEF ROSLYN NY
ZEN/COMDR 471OTH DW NCCA WILM DEL
ACC Z7 PD ATTN: DIR OF INTELL PD UFOB, IN CONPLIANCE WITH AFR
20-2, DATED 26 AUGUST 53, THE FOLLOWING FORMATION IS SUBMITTED:
1. AA. DOME SHAPED BELOSIN
BSIZE OF G JIT.
C. RED
D. VARIED FROM ONE TO THREE SGU NNOA
E. NONE
F. NONE
G. NONE -
NAMLE

(
, -
(
If
PAGE TWO JEPNL 5G
I. NECATIVE
2 A. SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF BLINKINNG RED LIGHT
B. ELEVATION 3D DEGREES 18Z DEGREES FROM OPSERVER.
C ELEVATION 3 DEGREES. ØSD DEGREES FROM OBSERVER.
D. QUARTERCIRCLE, STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT.
E. BLINKING RED LIGHT SUDDENLY WENT OUT.IO ECT T NO LONGER VISABLE.
F. FIVE TO SIX MINUTES.
3,A. GGROUND-VISUAL.
. NONE.
CNOT APE ICABLE
2 JAN 54., 20 03 55Z. .
B. NIGHT.
5NJ34-38/ 38.45
6,A, NONE I NO1*
3. , SGT, USMC, GUADACANAL HEADO
SERGEANT OF THE GUARD. F-2.
, USMC, GUADACANAL HEADQI ICE, VIRGINIA.
TREXA

PAGE THREE JEPNL 95G
LT, USMC, GUADACANAL HEADQ
COMMANDING OFFICER , F-2.
ISGT GUADACANAL H HEADQUARTERS, QUANTICE, VIRGINIA. -
PATROLMAN. F-2.
7. A. CLEAR.
WEST NORTH I WEST AT KNOTS. .101
6,333 280/50
1,332 333/70 1
15,000 282/92
23,220 290/91 20,220 299/91 L
39,033 250/87 39,033 290/87
58,3308280/158 54,3308280/158
8D,382 NOTAVAILABLE 8D,382 NOTAVAILABLE
C. UNLIMITED.
D. 15 PLUS
ENONE
F. NONE
NEGATIVE.
9NONE. I 9 2N NA  S
S3. SCRAMBLED ONE F-S4C, WHICH PROCEEDED QUANTICE INVESTIGATE
SOU
.

PAGE FOUR. JEPNL D5G
LIGHTS. INTERCEPTED ONE AMERICAN AIR LINES CONVAIR, FLIGHT 432, WHICH
1JAN 54. F FLT 432 WAS 7 MILES SOUTHEAST
AIRPORT AT TIME OF INTERCEPTION.
11. CHECKED WITH ALL ADFACENT AGENCIES. OTHER THAN FLT 402,
AIRCRAFT T IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF SIGHTING.
12. A/LT. U.S.A.F. DIRECTOR AND RATED AIRCRAFT
OBERSERVER. IMY ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION IS THAT THE UNKNOWN OBJECTS
MAKING A PATTTERN THAT WOULD TAKE THE AIRCRAFT TO THE SOUTH OF A POINT
AT NJ34-38 WEST LONGITUDE 77.49. AND NORTH LATITUDE 38.45. THEN GOING IN
A QUARTER CIRCLE PATTERN TOWARDS WASHINGTON INTERNATICNAL AIRFORT. A QUARTER CIRCLE PATTERN TOWARDS WASHINGTON INTERNATICNAL AIRFORT.
IN THIS PATTERN THE RED PART NAVIGATICN LIGHT WOULD BE TOWARDS CE BSERVERX
UNTIL PASSING TO ITEM 10. ON ITEM 10. ON
" ..- ...-
COMPLETION OF THE INTERCEPT I CHECKED CCMPLETICN OF THE E INTERCEPT I CHECKED WITH WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL AND D WITH WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL AND
THEY STATED THAT IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS A RED FLASHING ANTI COLLISION
LIGHT HAS BEEN INSTALLED ON SEVERAL CIVILIAN PASSENGER AIRCRAFT. I LIGHT HAS BEEN INSTALLED ON SEVERAL VILIAN PASSENGER AIRCRAFT. I
BELIEVE THAT THESE LIGHTS COULD POSSIBLY BE CAUSING THE SIGHTINGS OF THE
RED FLASHING OBJECT.
@2/1540Z JAN JEPNL In

.
IFIED READERS' CLEARING HOUSE
The Evening Star
CIETY-CLUBS RADIO-COMICS CIETY-CLUBS -COMICS Cife oenuny &lal
WHAT THOSE QUANTICO MARINES SAW-What seems to be a series of lights here is the e same light, in a tin
liner takes off at Washington National Airport. This navigational aid, a Grimes Beacon of 50,000 candlepower
beneath are the plane's other lights. The flashing light, intelligence officers said, is what Marines at Quantico s
.
.