PROJECT BLUE BOOK

waa PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE © 2. LOCATION 12, CONCLUSIONS

Was Balloon
Probably Solloon
Possibly Balicon

in March, L950 Vuouque, Lowa
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION
1755 EX Ginund-Visvel 0 Ground-Rodar

Wes Aircraft
Probably Aircrafr
Possibly Aircroft

Lecol:

GMT . O Air Vi sucl O Air-Intercao!? Radar
5. PHOTOS §. SOURCE

Was Astronomical
Probobly Astronomical
Possibly Astronomical

‘G Yes
O No Civilian

oo o00g0 obo oad

7. LENGTH OF OBSE2YATION 0. NUMBZA OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE Oihier.... i: = ae
_ Insufficient Dato for Evaluation
i, minutes thos WN TH Unknown UVLO UNT ER CED
10, BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
Sliistical objects, size of a quarter at ard's length, Pris Like & star first sgen
in the East travelling at avoroximately 200 Japh aba distance of 5 miles, Climbing
sli ahily, ia] ist disanvearec,
The strip of film was given < thorough examination and nothing of an unusual nature
nor anything svch as describad by the wicnegs appeared in any of the Ilyvamese che ct |
was made to determine the possibility of thel objects beine &-52 A/C and there ware nok
time was three miles from a larre r rand t
re) Here W2S 2 main nish ray t atween him =
tive wind Ly LSe POS le that Liness
mried on the film. |

1
(SRR te gd na ss Nk sey os sccncilisenb ved a a, : !

if

HEADQUARTERS STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, NEBRASKA

REPLY TO

attnos: DOOPF

SUBJECT: Flights in the Dubuque, Lowa Area

TO: Air Technical Intelligence Center (AFODI-l2x)
Wright}-Patterson AYB, “Ohio

1. Reference your Letter, Subject: Request for Information, dated
2 September 1960; the following inforration is submitted:

ao Number and type aircraft: Three (3) B-52 aircraft, using
route cell tactics.

De Alsituces 31,000 to 32,000 feet.

ce Route and tines: From a point LjSNM south - southeast of
Dubuque to a point 60NM north ~ northeast of Dubuque (00GN 9015W
to 1318N $008 ie

3609, TH 353°
370, TAS 25
jf 315/075

(2) 23272 to 23982 = TC 002°, TH 352°
GS 370, TAS 430
wv 320/080

(1) 18:22 to 191% =

=i rv
<} 2 2

ii (3) ©508Z to 051,02 - TC 360°, TH 352°
GS 370, TAS 25
WV 310/090

2. No other aircraft of this command were flying in the Dubuque,
Towa area on March 1960.

3, Notification of appropriate Air Defense Sectors is a routine
function of Air Route Traffic Control for flights involving pene-
tration of an ADIZ.

Hf /}
Ha yy res nf)
f° ro / i in
"met a a ie f
= 7, A big? ( /,
: , fA fh f Pj od, i _f_* . 4
/ fi / o'U ;
the > he ~t ae
C “ ) od
/ » ££ es ee :
“- * dood
Peace.e..is our Profession

nA ied isis nis thie 8 ee dt Ams

APC Lileiy S23

SAVUL<3d (L/Col ‘vacker)

is set 3 rited.

SAC streraf

Headquarters. % is not u

POR THs COMMANDER:

i TOY — i “, + tw

7 - a >*

PHIL G. Sane

Comments on )ir tape 1

Le tne abtached letter and

A tats
7 a ¢ - - ” . ‘“ : a? Ow

aa ahhh ae 8 mest ten a a

atse

raport from ir Eee a's
: ‘ a ' ° 6

been reviewed by ATIC. I[t is believed no furtner comment action

Deputy for tels and Components

APCIN- lex

APCIN-1!

ae eel

we

2. in reply to your query regarding contact with Strategic Alm Command
Headquarters, it was nob considered necessary to make
ATIC did contact several radar stations in the sidwest, eas well as bhe

< - Chicago Air Defanse Sector Headquarters, aad was informed that they had

ve his contact.

no record of B-52's flying in the Dubuque, [Lowa area on or 10 Marth
1940.
3. If Mri 83 recaived information to the effect that there ware

in the Dubuqna area, these aircraft were there withoub the
knowladgsa of area radar stations and the Chicago Air Defense Sector
nderstood by ATIC how such flights could be
made without the Chicago Air Defense Sactor's knowledge.

- is 4

cCcr}~

ote

tr, no date, fr ava
w/i 4bch

COORDINATION:

“ 4 4% ’ Sp
“+ 4 Date / y 7 if ne ¢

4 yf,
ey i f=? , ' , "a

AO PORN SET A, ¢ Ss

) Mibny. be “ Date LG By do

ee ee gee

CIVILIAN U.F.O. RESZARCH

—_——— ——- catenin ~-o —— _

% # COMPLETION OF
Date of sighting:
Loca tions
Time :
Study Commenced:
Study Terminated:

Conclusion subject to
further consideration?

. ° I ee re Se 0 Os ee ee ey ee,

Date issusa: ~

STUDY * %

4 March 1950

Dubugue, iowa

Approximately 17509 hours

(5:50 p.m. )

Ys

AUG 9 1980

OF, ea Ps ~~. . — — as” —_
. =r ii ee oe oe ae ee ry

pbs vy 4h

” LLG f SC .S tas
il. Introductory Comments:

This is probably the most confusing sighting
have the opportunity to investigate for duite a while. Just about
tha time it is decided what the objects were, and aS, Re ag
started, a letter arrivas that throws everything up for srebs again
Hven now, you director is not certain what they were. Some of ice.
induiry letters have not yet been answersd. If answers ara rece lved
pabex that change the picture again, a supplementary report will ba

ssuscd,.

that CUFOR shall
hi
oe 4
u¢

"~
-

On July 9, 1960, CUFOR's director wrote to Lt. Col. (formerly
Major) L.J. Tacker, Alr Force Pentagon spokesman for UFOs, and told
him that we had definitely concluded that the objects wera Urs.
Then, on the 29th, we received Mir. Qe dstailed report that
threw the whole thing oven again. The letter from SAC on August 4th
gesmed to ba the clincher.

Ii. Details of Sighting;

| 44 approximately 5:55 pem., March 4, 1960, Charles Morris and
his wifa were at their home in Dubuque, lowa, watching a T.~6 air—
plane {a single-engine USAAF trainer of Wil li vintage) perform at
an altitudgs of roughly 2,000 feat whan their attention was caught
by three luminous objects, elliptical in shapa, traveling NNE at
about 200 mph. The odjects, which he further described as baling
about the size of a quarter at arm's length and about 25° degrees
above tha eastern horizon, were in view for about four minutes. Hs
want on to say, in his report to CUFOR, that "tha objects did not
give off smoks or any vapor trail, drop anything, changes brigntnsas,
shaps or color, did not explode, speed up or stand still at any
tima...-tha objects wera sharply outlined and were like a bright

. gtara-- between the brightness of the moon and of Venus." He algo
astimated the size of the objects to be 200 fest long and 60 feet

thick; however, sinca the distance to the objects could only bs
guessed, it 1s the sane with the size of tha objects themssives,

Mr. Morris @xo0sed some footage of 8 mm color film, but it
failed shov anything and the film has been returned to him by thr

Air Fo

ct

her witness was Mra. HeV- Ludovissy, who saw them with her
gbands Her raport, also on fille with CUPOR, is similar to
hte t with some exceptions (minor or major, depending on your
point of view): "ZY lookgd, and going toward the NW in the sky, wera
threes bright metallic objecta; thay were travellizg VERY slowly, al-
most floating, THEY VRE NOT PLANZS....va@ watched for almost ten
minutes, and, aa wa watched, ons of them, the one in the middie,
gave a flash, or white glow, and at the same time a puff of white
amoke cama from the back of it. The sun vas satting An the west at
tha time, and I figured if it was tha sun that made the flash, all
thraa would have ib; because they ware so close together; but only
tha middle ona had tha glow."

On the “other side of the fenca” ara the obssrvers who believe

thea objects wara aircraft.

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na ig Ferdinand Nesler, of Dubuque, who sav tham through
paly of 7 x $0 binoculars. His report rad, in part: "X sav a gronp
of three largg aircrait, which appeared to bs Phy ing ons bahin -
other at lower than usual jot altitudes ang at just madiua speed.

Thay wers flying NNW (in a later, mors-detailed rapo
that, after consideration, thay may hava been goin ane
sven 2 Little gast of north -~ Ea.), time 5:50 p.m % sav tham nos
ones, but three time within about 15 or 20 days aliwaya at ths eane
ting and place."

lize Nagler alao put their elevation at approximately 25° above
the horizon; however, ha valid they wars about as larga aa a pinhead
hala at arm's length. Ha also saw a "slight vapor at ons tina to-
ward end of sighting." He ramarked, "1 saw tha planes cloarly witha
tha sun on tham. No painting waa visibis, but the high tails and
3493 windows wore." He is of tha opinion that they ware either Cox.
vair 30's, Boelng FO7's, of Douglas DC-&'s.

vr. Nepler has strong support in tha person of Mr. Aiian A.
Jonas, of Dubuque, who saw tram through 210 x 50 powar binoculars.
Said Mr. Jones, "They wars flying in 4 rather loose formation on a

soured of Ss to NW. Their specd (slow) was tha most unusual part of
tha whole affair. I could not determine tno typs, but aircrast they
dofinitely were. 1 saw them ssveral tines after that fon differant
7?
iy

dates - Ed.), end they ware following sbout the same routing."
Rlao saw contrails and a tail "like B-52".

ve, Jonas aiffers with Mr. Morris ag to altitude and elevation
Ha gives them as 40,000 fes% and 79° respectively.

A third witness also saw the contrails and f

> ws
conventional aircraft (propaller-typa), mostly becaus
weed.

Pa)
-
=
~

eala they wers
cause of the sinw

Wa therefore have five witnesses with five glightly airferen’

&SCounssge

Tit. CUPOR's Coacilusion:

_—_——

Tha conclusion of Civilian UFO Research regarding the thrss
objec3s s9an over Dubuque, iewa, Karch 4, 2950, at approx Lnate ly
5:50 p.m-, 1s a follows:

Tha greater amount of data tanda to show that ths objsctsa ware
three aireraft, possibly of the UsAr Strategic Air Command. We, how-
evar, do not ruls out ths possibility that ths objacts a9an Dy Sas
Marria and Mrs. Ludovissy ware unidenatifiabia obj9acts of unsnown

.
CAes

origin, Durpes¢e, o2 a3 s%4ination,
amphaeize ihe tTol-

~~ ee ©

owing points:

(A) Civilian UDO Ressaron spant over four mor

vastigating this sighting. Tha primary we
wa~9 contacted and their rspoerts avo on fils.
jet transports

Aireraft companies manufacturing
For civilian use were qugstionea a4 to the pos-
pibillity of training flights that could accoury

ooh =)

for tha reports.

?

(3) The very nature of ths observations rules out

sd hae of astronomical origin (stars, mateorg,
etc.)>.

(C) The nature of the sighting also rules out "Light
phenomena", "birds", and "clouds, dust, etc.".

(D) Tha direction of the objects’ Flight compared with
wind directions at the times exclude balloons fron
being considered as the correct identification.

(3) The rather widely separated points of observation
rule out "psychological manifestations".

(F) The character of the witnesses discount tha pos~
sibility of a hoax.

IV. Argurents for Unicentifiable Objects (UFOs):

Charles Morris is a commercial pilot and has logged 5,000
hours in 14 years of commercial flying; he 1s familiar with alr-
craft of most types. He apparently saw the objacts at rather clos
range and is certain of what ho saw.

He told Ralph Ingerson, staff writer for the Dubuque Tole-
Graph Herald, "They were thin on the leading edge, thick in the
middis, and thin in back ~ just like you'd expect them to ba. I
was seeing them from tha sido, and they looked exactly Lika you'd
taken two platters and put them face to face - vary larga ollip-
tical objects.

"Just to give you an idea of their sizo, they seemed to be
about one-sighth the size of the moon. Thsy had a brightnsss like
I've never seen before - no 'fuzz* around them, but bright and
sharply defined. They ware Like silent ghosts moving through tha
Sixy e

"hey couldn't have been jots; they weren't fast enough, for
one thing - a jet would have baen gona before I could gat tha cam-
era, at that altituds - they were only 20° to 25° above the horl-
zon (trug, a jet provably would disappear that rapidly - Ed-)....
if 1t had been the sun shining off military aircraft, ths reflected
Light would have changed intensity as the objects crogasad the sky.
Tnasd? didn't -— they were a constant brightness. And there wasn't a
cloud in the sky - it was perfectly clear." (Quoted from Dubudus
Ta legrapn-Herald, March 6, 1960, p.8)

This side of ths "argument" gats support in the fact that a
chack with Traux AFB, Madison, Wisconsin, by the Telegraph-Herald
brought a reply from thos opgrations officer that no military planes
from that basa had been reported in the area. “Negative - wa had
nothing in that area ~ no opsrations scheduled at that time," the
operations officer said.

a ager, i wine t

Queries sant out by CUFOR brought these replies:

(A) Robert Hoffman, Airport Manager, Dubuaug Municipal
Airport: "1 hava checked and to my knowledge there
were no aircraft in the area at the above specified
time (time of the sightings - Ed.)."

(B) Michael Gladuch, Public Relations, Bosing Airplans
Company: "Our records have begn checked mogt care-
fully.....Tng records show that no formation of
thrae Boeing 707's flew on a northerly coursg¢ over
Dubuqus, lowa, on March 4, 1960. Nor wera there any
707 formation flights over that area during the
fifteen - twenty days following that date."

(C) G.%. Greaves, Convair Division, General Dynamics
Corp.-: "As far as we know thers ware no 880's fly-~
ing over Dubuque, Lowa on March 4, 1960. Our test
aircraft were operating from the municipal airport
herg in San Disgo. We have delivered a few 880's
to Dalta Air Lines, but they are in scheduled ser-
vice."

(D) A letter to Douglas Aircraft Company is, as yet,
unanswered.

In closing, let us say that one cannot simply discount tha
opinions of a trained pllot and othsr witnesssa, who state, pogi-
tively, that the objects were not aircrait and who have tha back
ing of statements that tond to show that there wers no aircraft
in the area.

V. Arguments for Alroraft:

This "side" has some obvious advantages: two witnesses (Mr.
Nagler and Mr. Jones) saw the objects through binoculars. They
both saw definite physical characteristics of aircraft. lr. Nese
ler saw the tall (vertical stabilizer) and windows; Mngongs saw
tha tail and the wings.

- Jones (who, like Mr. Morris, has had pilot's training;
howevés:, I do not know how much) said the tail was similar to
that cof a Be 52. This and the fact that Air Force SAC (Strategic
Air Command) flies B-52's and has a triangle radar tast course
in the arga with its northern leg ending at Lancaster, Wisc.,
about 20 miles north of Dubuque, was sufficient to warrant a
letter to SAC Hsadquarters, at Offutt AFB, Omaha, Nebraska.

The reply, from Capt. Edwin C. Derryberry, Directorate of
information, read, in part:

"In vestigation here with our flight scheduling branch rex
vaaied that Stratagic Air Command did have soma 2-cellis and 3-
céllg flights operating over Dubuque, lowa for a 25 hour period
which included 5:50 p.m. on + March 1960. While we can not say
definitely, it's highly possible that the sighting at that time
could have been KC-135's or B-52's of this command."

gd) ¢#*
os
rs

5

pe ee le ee ane aes a ae ter a

Again, we cannot discount the observations of reliable witne

Vl. Comparison of Argumants:

There are sowed points of disagresments that cannot be disre-
garded, nor treated lightly: Ghurles Morris saw large, luminous,
sharply outlinsd objects 259 above the horizon; Ferdinand Nealer
saw gmall, sharply outlined objects sebjescts that reflected sun-
light and flew 25° above the horizon. Allan Jones saw small,
Blurre2 ("due to distance"), sun-reflecting objects at 75° above

Oe ee et Cee ~—

ths horizon.

Mer. Morris put the objects at approximately 2,000 reat; lir.
Neslex aidn't give a figure, but sald they were low; lr. Jones,
however, put them at 40,000 feet or above. ia ara not contradict-
ine our earlier statement that the altitudes can only be gugssad
since the objects’ size was unknown, we are merely pointing out
the a@ifference in altitude, 1.e., low vs. high.

There is some discrepency in time (Mr. lborris: 5:55 p-D.;
lirg. Ludovissy: 5:50; lir. Nesler: 5:50; lr. Jones: about 6:00);
however, it is not believed that this is a major point, since
they are estimated times.

Vile Closing Comments:
ry

Now, perhaps, it is apparent why our investigation has jumped
back and forth, up and down, practically every ten minutes.

Your dirgctor cannot help but wonder why the Air Force offl-
clally carries this incident as "Insufficient Evidence” (per Lt.
Col. Tackar's correspondence with CUFOR, 6 July 1960), when a
simple check with SAG would have brought the same reply BAyen to
GUFOR ~- and a possible idantification. Vie do not sey that tha ob-

= jeots were SAC aircraft, but ths possibility is scrong-

~

There is ond slim possibility that must be considered, @spsc-
jally in view of the discrepenciss Listed above. < ts
Supposing Mr. Vorris and hrs. Ludovissy saw three UFOs at low
altitude, while Mr. Jones, either at the same time, ox a few min-
utes t

4
"1 , s . . _ 4
ser, saw three aircraft at high altitude, emitting contrail 2,

+~

-

r
sen", one may ask, and rightfully ao, "what about the con-
brall that irs. Ludovissy saw and the three aireraft that lir. Nes-
ler sav at low altitude?" . (or

The truth is: We don't know: Perhaps, by way 04 & paris.
sever, ius. Nesler is not too familiar with angular elevations and
miscalculated.

“
a
~
va
-
—*
_
~ +
‘
=

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Any additional information, comments, or sug@e stions that a
A ’ 5 AY "yg RV eeare
reader might have would be appreciated by Civilian UFO Researcn.

In closing, your director would Like to extend his thanks to
all whos? names appear in this report for the help they gave in
this study. A special thanks goes to GUFOR member Shirley Valker,—

ar

of Spancer, lowa, whe furnisned him with clippings, address@s, an
tha original incentiva to ‘Snveastigate this particular sight ing.

= «= » BND OF REFORT = = =

— Se ee ©

AEROSPACE TECHNICAL

REPLY TO

SUBJECT: UFO FS Lin
19 Ay rail 1°60
To: = ARCTi=4E2 (Col RR. Shoop )
1, Analysis of the film revealed nothing of an unusual nature nor
anything such as described by Mr, ARE in sais letter dated April 3,1960,
2. itis suggested that be recheck his film and Indicate which
frarss contain the threo’ ob refers to in his letter.
thy re rd
ji | 4
A ry
2 Lun
Me, ot P Lg on 4 2 Atch:
Chief, AFCIN-4D4a ‘if 1. Roll @em film
i Re Cy lir : om 60 {fr

Peery eel et aee fon OD ee) lee We eae

ae ee el bere is ra

roo
r ORCE

INITED STATES AIR
. re “

WRIGHT-PAT

OHIO

INTELLIGENC

SON AIR FORCE BASE

PEO

ct CEN]

: '
;
Major William t. Coleman
Department of the air Force
Office ‘de ne Secretary
Yublic Information Division
jashingtor 25, De O's
Dear Major Colsman,
Thenk you for your letter ana the press release of august 2c.
I was wondering if your officelmew about a man by the name or
zB of Dubuque, Lowa. On Maren 6, 1960, the United
Press International sent a story about this nan to the different
news media. according to the story, LO « amie. 2.0 “spotted threes
silver, saucer-shapned objects whirring along at 200 miles an
hour, aodout 20,000 fest up." Mix? then exposed 19 fcet of
motion picture film as he aimed his camera at the objects. ‘the
story went on, “He gave tho film to the federal government for
processing and study. ‘three other versons confirmed Morris’: reae-
; port, but the finel proof, he said, is on the film."
In the news release that you sent me, it said that Dr. J- allen
mek or Novtndesvert University acted as Scientific Consultant
to the air Force. I sent Dre Hynek ailetter, asking him if he

ot 0 wt we oie > a= *

2
hea q ST Tra Y aa nmr J - A ‘ ia vas) Welle tabs qr 5 wr + oan, O77 ne au) . 7 rv aY¥s
eo.) we : LLeE OL wah ve 800% vw) » vUL J =5o5 Wills ULASL Re { ty cis Naa ever
} yy

se6én the film. In his reply, he said that hs had nevar seen

tue film, but "I will be anxious to do so". He then asked me if
I knew where the film could be obtained.

Now, J 1 asking you if you ever saw the film, where is that
film now, and why wasn't your Sclentific Consultant ae IE to
see tne fi. }

‘oo cS

3 3
. = P
vi oe UNG WOwy 5

to receive

USO ANALYSIS SHELT —

Location Dubugue, Lowa

— — oas00 a

Date _h Marca 1960 ac Hour (%)_ 1755 a ee | a SS

WX Clear, plus 1h desi, vis 25 mi, winds Nw et 1h knots

—_ - —

Description Elliptical, size of a quarter, three objects, they were bright

like a star, first seen ia the East, traveling at appr approx 200 MPH at a

~ -

miles, 2x they disappeared they seemed to be climbing |

ee me ee ee

Alstaace of about

Siishtly, seen for about minutes ma = Jones eee eee

s

Niregtion of Motion NNZ

— —_—_——————- _—o ~_ “_ ~—* Se eee —_—e— a

Satellites (AFCIN-)#%3, Fhone 69219) _ Ruled out

——- — el LLL LOLS

Astronomical Phenomena (Meteor, Comet, Planet, ete) Ruled ont

Renee Aneeeere: CAPCINGH TS): Nr ce is

Natural Phemomena (Ball Lightning, etc) Ruled out

Kireraft, Balloons, Airships, etc. Ruled ont

Er2zluation of Source Rel lability i *
Analysis and Conclusions: The strip of film was given a thorouxsh examination,
and nothing of an unusual ne buin', ner anyuthing such as described by ths witness,

could be ssen in any of the frames. A check was made ta determine the
possibility of the objects being Be52 sacft, and there was none in the area at
the time. The witnesses location was 3 miles froma large river, snd a main
hichway between them and the river, and on the CURSE side of the xnax river.
The temperature was a cold 1) degrees with a Li not wind.

Sh BES = ho © ~_*-

nica a erp ad tose degen: + aie = *

$ 7 hina CITI OL
01-30/naj tacker/an/‘ 91.

16 May 1960

Dear }ir agli:

This is to acknowledge your letter or
3 Avril 1960 and the fllm received under
separate cover which you thouxnt contained
evidence of an unidentified flying object.

Wa beve examined the film thoroughly
aed nothing of an unusual nature appears
thereon. Therefore we are returning tre

‘

Sue ode - eo ee .
film to you herewlta.

Sincerely,

LAWRENCE J. TACICER

Rajor, USAF

Public Information Division
Ofrice of information

. —s H r — ijl La ge v,;| =