--- PAGE 1 --- Authority: NND 857011 --- PAGE 2 --- --- PAGE 3 --- ,. ' 1 • ... LO.Alf DOCUDIM' l T/S COITIOL 10. - 'f 2-73.frl · ---- OFYICE TO WHI~H LQlHD AFOill-2.A. • _ _ _ _ ____,__~ I - ■ I ·- 89A DiT! DUi IN AFOIM-C/DD _,l_l_ul;r ~-~52 PLEASE RETURN THIS DOCUMF.JfT. OR DATE SPIClfliD !fK>VI TO AFOIN...C/DD. ROOII • IO. 50116 J.TTIITIOlh M' WM! COlffftOL 01'FICD • When the attached docum•nt 1s withdrawn the clses1f1cat1on of thi• .. ahe•t wil1 be chan~•d to UlfCLASSIFIKD in accordance with PAR 250, ll'R 205-1.i --- PAGE 4 --- ... Air Intelligence Report No. 100-203-79. ANALYSIS OF FLYING OB ECT INCIDENTS IN THE U. S. Air Intelligence Division Study No. 203 10 December 1948. Directorate of Intelligence and Office of Naval Intelligence DISTRIBUTION ''C'' WARNING: This document contains information affecting the national defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Act, 60 U.S.C., 31 and 32, as amended. Its transmission or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an . unauthorized person is prohibited by law. Reproduction of the intelligence in this publication, under the provisions of Army Regulation 380-5, is authorized for United States military agencies provided the source is indicated. Directorate of Intelligence Office of Naval Intelligence Headquarters United States Air Force Navy Department Washington, D. C, DECLASSIFIED --- PAGE 5 --- .. ANALYSIS OF FLYING OB ECT lliCIDENTS IN THE U. S. INDEX Page SUM:MARY AND CONCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . 1 APPENDIX "A" - ANALYSIS OF FLYING OB CT INCIDENTS IN THE U. S. It 3 Iritroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Some Aspects Regarding Flying Object Incidents 3 Possible Origin of Unusual Flying Objects . . . . . . . . ' Possible Reasons or Tactics for the Use of Soviet .. 4 Unconventional Aircraft Over the U. S. . . . . . . ..... ..... 6 Conclusion . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 6 APPENDIX "B" - REPORTED SIGHTINGS OF FLYING CTS AS OF ' • 7 APPENDIX "C,, - SELECTED REPORTS OF FLYING OBI CT INCIDENTS .. . 8 • APPENDIX "D" - FLYING WING TYPE AIRCRAFT 17 Germany . . . 17 Great Britain , . 21 ... .. • • ♦ • • • • United States ' 23 •• - i - --- PAGE 6 --- MP l!Clt!, ANALYSIS OF FLYING OB ECT INCIDENTS IN THE U. S. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS PROBLEM 1. TO EXA:MlNE pattern of tactics of "Flying Saucers" (hereinafter referred to as flying objects) and to develop conclusions as to the possibility of existence. FACTS AND DISCUSSION 2. A DETAILED discussion of information bearing on the problem as set forth above 1s attached as Appendix "A". The main points established therein are summarized below. 3. THE FREQUENCY of reported incidents, the similarity in many of the characteristics attributed to the observed objects and the quality of observers considered as a whole, support the contention that some type of flying object has been observed. Approximately 210 incidents have been reported. • Among the observers reporting on such incidents are trained and experienced U.S. Weather Bureau personnel, USAF rated officers, experienced civilian pilots, technicians associated with various re­ search projects and technicians employed. by commercial airlines. 4. THE POSSIBILITY that reported observations of flying objects over the U.S. were influenced by previous sightings of unidentified phenomena in Europe, particularly over Scandinavia 1n 1948, •and that the observers reporting such incidents may have been interested in obtaining personal pubUcity have been considered as possible explanations. However, these posslb111t1es seem to be improbable when certain selected reports such as the one from U.S. Weather Bureau at Richmond are examined. During observations of weather balloons at the Richmond Bureau, one well trained observer has sighted strange metallic disks on three occasions and another observer has sighted a similar object on one occasion. The last observation of un1denttf1ed objects was in Apr1i, 1947. On all four occa­ sions the weather balloon and the unidentified objects were in view through the theodolite. These observations at the Richmond Bureau occurred several months before publ1city on the flying saucers appeared in a U.S. newspaper. 5. DESCRIPTIONS OF the flying objects fall lnto three configurat1on categories: (1) disk-shaped (2) rough cigar-shaped {3) balls of fire. Varying conditions of visibility and differences in angles at which the objects may have been viewed introduces a possibility that a single type object may have been observed rather than three different types. This possibility is further substantiated by the fact that 1n the areas where such objects have been observed the ratio of the three general configurations is approximately the same. 6. THEREFORE, IT appears that some object has been seen; however, the identification of that object cannot be readily; accomplished on the basis of information reported on each incident. It ls possible that the object, or objects, may have been domestically launched devices such as weather balloons, rockets, experimental flying wlng aircraft, or celestial phenomena. It is necessary to obtain information on such domestic activity to confirm or deny this possibility. Depending upon . . the degree with which this may be accomplished, foreign devices must then be considered as a possibility. 7. THE PATTERN of sightings is definable. Sightings ~ave been most intense throughout the states bordering the Atlantic and Pacific coast lines, and the central states of Ohio and Kentucky. A map showing location of sightings is attached as Appendix "B" ~•• 11c11, - 1 - --- PAGE 7 --- 8. THE ORIGIN of the devices is not ascertainable. There are two reasonable possibllltles: (1) The objects are domestic devices, and if so, their identification or origin can be established by a survey of all launchings of airborne objects. Domestic flying wing type aircraft observed in various aspects of flight might be responsible for some of the reported flying objects, particu­ larly those described as disks and rough cigar shapes. (See Appendices "C" and ''D" .) Among those which have been operational in recent years are the XF5U-1 ("Flying Flap3ack") developed by Chance-Vaught, the Northrup B-35, and the turbo-jet powered Northrup YB-49. · The present .existence of any privately developed flying-wing type aircraft has not been determined but one such aircraft, the Arup tailless monoplane, was operational at South Bend, Indiana, prior to 1935. (2) Objects are foreign, and l:f so, it would seem most logical to consider that they are from a Soviet source. The Soviets possess information on a number of German flying-wing type aircraft such as the Gotha P60A, Junkers EF 130 long-range, high-speed jet bomber and the Horten 229 twin-jet fighter, which particularly resembles some of the description of un1denttfied flying objects (See Appendix "D"). As early as 1924 Tscheranowsky developed a "Parabola" aircraft, an all wing •design, which was the outcome of considerable Soviet experimentation with gliders of the same general form. Soviet aircrait based on such designs might have speeds approaching trans­ ~;onic speeds attributed to some flying objects or greater over-all performance assuming the successful development of some unusual propulsion device such as atomic energy engine. 9. THAT THE Soviets have a current interest in flying-wing type aircraft is suggested by their utilization of Dr. Guenther Bock who, at the end of. World Wa:r IT, was in charge of the flylng­ wlng program in Germany (See Appendix ''A", paragraph 3, page 4 ). Achievements satisfactory to the U.S.S.R. are indirectly indicated by the personal recognition he is reported to be receiving in the U.S.S.R. Recently 1t has been reported that the U.S.S.R. 1s planning to build a fleet of 1,800 Horten flying-wing aircraft. Information· of low evaluation has been received stating that a regiment of jet night fighters, Model Horten xm, is at Kuzm1kha, an air base two mE.es south­ west of Irkutsk. Kuzmikha is identified as one of a number of airfields for the protection of an atomic energy plant at Irkutsk. The Horten XIII as developed by Germany was a glider, 10. ASSUMING THAT the objects might eventually be identified as foreign or foreign-sponsored devices, the possible reason for their appearance over the U.S. requires consideration. Several possible explanations appear noteworthy, vi.z: a. To negate U.S. confidence in the atom bomb as the most advanced and decisive weapon in warfare. b. To perform photographic reconnaissance missions, c. To test U. S. air defenses. d. To conduct familiarization flights over U.S. territory. CONCLUSIONS 11. SINCE the Air Force is responsible for control of the air in the defense of the U.S., it is imperative that a.ll other agencies cooperate in confirming or denying the possibility that these objects have a domestic origin. Otherwise, if it is firmly indicated that there 1s no domestic explanation, the objects are a threat and warrant more active efforts of 1dent1fication and inter­ ception. 12. rr MUST be accepted that some type of flying objects have bean observed, although their identification and origin are not d1scernable. In the interest of national defense it would be unwise to overlook the possibility that some of these objects may be of foreign origin. - 2 - - --- PAGE 8 --- .iaa IEIIIE'l 0 APPENDIX "A" ANALYSIS OF FLYING OB· CT INCIDENTS IN THE U. S. AND HYPOTHETICAL TACTICS EMPLOYED 1. INTRODUCTION. To formulate the possible tactics of flying objects reported over the U. S. assumes ?rom he outset that firm conclusions have been reached on .both the existence and origin o! the reported flying objects. The current status of information on such incidents and over•all analysis does not allow substantiation for such conclusions. However, the lack of such firm con­ clusions points to the necessity for an immediate and sound statistical analysis of every aspect of the situation and does not preclude a concurrent examination of the reported incidents to develop explanations of their possible tactics. The latter will be useful at some future date should the existence and origin of the flying objects be definitely established. Therefore, the following analy­ sis of available information is advanced in order to present evidence on the actual existence of some type flying object and to relate same to tactical purposes for which the objects are possibly designed. The following discussion must be considered a provisional analysis, pending a further detailed analysis of all aspects of the problem. 2. SOME ASPECTS REGARDING FLYING OB CT INCIDENTS. A cursory examination of evidence on repo n s poss certain generalities which it appears may be borne out when detailed analyses have been completed. Among the incidents reported there are many statements by reliable and experienced persons whlch tend to confirm that flying objects have been seen. The description of such objects seems to fall roughly into three categories: (1) Silver disks or balls, approximating a Horten wing type aircraft; (2) Balls of fire of various colors and intensities; (3) Cigar or pencil-shaped objects similar in appearance to V -2 type rockets in horizontal flight. The numbers of configurations might be further reduced with the following considerations in mind: Silver disks or balls have, for the greater part, been observed in daylight and a number under clear weather conditions with visibility unlimited. Iri most instances, balls of fire have been observed at night. Cigar, or pencil-shaped objects have been sighted in fewer numbers but with about equal distrlbuUon 1n dayllght and at night. A few accounts tell of the disks having a rough cigar-shape when viewed while maneuvering. Some of the disks are described as having luminosity in daylight. It there­ fore is possible that a single type of object may be involved in all slghtlngs, and differences ln description may result from viewing the objects at various angles and under dlffering conditions of visibility. The above tends to indicate that some type object ha~ been seen and the possibility exists that the object or objects seen are conventional domestic devices, such as weather balloons, test rockets, or jet-equipped aircraft with pancake or flying wing configurations. The possibillty exists that the reporting of flying objects may have been influenced by earlier reports on similar incidents in Scandinavia and Central Europe. The publication in newspaper of details on such incidents, both foreign and domestic, may have induced eome of the description provided in reported domestic incidents. However, one of the earliest reported sightings in the U.S. was the one observed by U.S. Weather Bureau personnel in April 1947, at Richmond, Virginia, and on the basis of this one report it appears that the disks are not balloons. It would seem that this sighting was not influenced by the reports of foreign incidents, the newspaper accounts of domestic incidents, nor by misident1.f1cation of a conventional object. :. 3 - --- PAGE 9 --- Although reported domestic incidents are widely scattered throughout the U.S., frequency of sighting and number of observers per sighting assumes a definable pattern. There ls a large con­ centration of sightings along the Eastern Seaboard; another large concentration throughout the Western Coast states, and a few sightings in the Middle West. Distribution of. incidents by con- • figuration af object and description of maneuverability is approximately equal 1n each of these areas and this ls belleved to further substantiate the possibility that one type of object might have . k been observed In dl:fferent aspects of flight. ?f sightings are induced by rumor, it seems unusual that more incidents have not been reported from the areas with high concentration of population. Reports from such areas would also have greater facility 1n channeling either to newspaper or official reporting agencies. For the most part, sightings have been made in fairly open country where there are few restrictions to visibility, which may indicate that obstructed vision has reduced sightings 1n bullt-up areas. It therefore seems that some type of flying object has been observed; the ldentlftcatlon of its origin requires the compet1on of other analyses. 3. POSSIBLE ORlGIN OF UNUSUAL FLYING O CTS. Provided, upon the completion of. analyses, it is'ln and Dr. L. N. Cannon, Oculist. A comparison of all testimony revealed that one object was sighted and that it consisted only of a small round ball of clear white light with no apparent shape attached.· It was about 6 to 8 inches in diamter. At times it traveled faster than the F-51 and performed maneuvers in an evasive manner. When first sighted the ball of light was travel­ t ing at an estimated 250 miles per hour. Under this condition, the light was not continuous but blinked off and on. At high performance the white light was continuous, Subsequent investigation eliminated the possibility that this incident may have been another aircraft or a meteorological balloon. t. On 18 November 1948 at approximately 2145 hours, three reserve pilots, 2nd Lt. Kenwood W. Jackson, 2nd Lt. Glen L. Stalker, and 2nd Lt. Henry G. Combs, flying near Andrews Field, Maryland, encountered an unidentified flying object. When first sighted, it appeared to be lighted and flying at about 1,700 feet. Three or four passes were made in an attempt to identify it. The pilot of the aircraft stated that while diving his aircraft at approximately 240. miles per hour, the object would climb vertically and then would drop below the aircraft from behind and continue to circle. On the last pass, the landing light was switched on and momentarily a dull gray glow from the object was observed. Lt. Combs stated he maintained contact for about ten minutes with the object flying between the lights of Washington, D. C. and his aircraft. All that could be observed was an oblong ball with one light, no wings and no exhaust flame. It finally made a very tight turn and headed toward the east coast at all estimated 500 to 600 miles per hour. At the same time Staff Sergeant John J. Kushner observed from the ground an unusual object in the air over Andrews Field. He stated that it was not very high and that it did not look like an aircraft. 3. REPORTS OF radar intercepts point to unusual air activity which may be related td flying objects. a. On 1 July 1947, a GCA radar at Hokkaido, Japan picked up an unidentified target at 16 miles, with a speed in excess of 500 mph. This target split into two targets, each estimated to be larger than a P-51. b. On 16 September 1947, an MEW radar at Fukuoka, Japan, picked up a target at 89 miles and trailed it to 19 miles, where it faded. Speed was 840-900 mph. The speed measurement, made by a good crew through a 70-mlle track, is believed accurate. 4. Investigations conducted by Headquarters, Air Materiel Command, have definitely established the identification of 18 of approximately 210 so-called flying saucers which have been reported. Approximately nine per cent· of the total number of incidents are, therefore, eliminated from further specific consideration. Among those incidents positively explained, three were hoaxes, two were from unreliable witnesses. In the remaining 13 eliminated incidents, objects were actually seen but investigation has shown that they were celestial bodies or phenomena, meteoro­ logical and carnival balloons, and airborne cosmic ray experimental equipment. The following examples are presented for comparison of the information reported by witnesses and true identifi­ cation of the object involved: a. On 22 July 1948, Captain Henry Glover (Ordnance Reserve) and his wife observed at Van Nuys, Calliornia, an object which they were unable to positively ldenttfy. Object at :first appeared to be round and looked like a weather balloon at about 2,000 feet but there was no characteristic bobbing. The wind was blowing on the ground but the object was quite steady. During the time it was under observation, about an hour, it traveled through a vertical arc of about twenty-:flve {250) degrees or more. The observer concluded that it was not a celestial body. It has a bluish luminescence and as the sun set, the object's color gradually changed to orange at dusk and ceased to be illuminated almost instantaneously. The outline was clear and the air was clear with visibility unlimited. The object traveled from the east to the west. This object was determined by investigation to have been a balloon carrying cosmic ray • equipment. - 15 - --- PAGE 21 --- b. On 19 August 1848, at approximately 1060 hours an unidentified flying object was, visible from the ground at Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky. This object was estimated to be at about 30,000 to 40,000 feet altitude, spherical in shape, bright silver color and gave a bright reflection from the sun. An F-61 was dispatched from standi:ford Air Force Base, Kentucky, to observe the object. During observation from the ground, there was no change in the elevation of the object and it seemed to be moving southwest from God.man Air Force Base. The F-61 which was flying over Gedman AFB at an altitude of 30,000 to 35,000 feet reported that it was unable to locate the I object although it was still visible :from the ground with the naked eye. Azimuth and elevation readings were taken by theodolite every minute and the path of the object was charted. The object was determined to be the planet Venus by Mr. Moore, the head astronomer at the University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky. It 1s believed that earller incidents at Gedman Fleld (reference paragraph 2k, page 12, Appendix "C 0 ) may also have been observations of the planet Venus. 6. AMONG THOSE incidents still not positively explained, reported observations differ to some extent, but three general categories of sightings emerge -- the flying disk, the ball of flre and the large jet rock~. Interesting observations that were noted are: a. Most of the objects are a thin disk, round on top and flat on the bottom. The front half of the disk is often circular, sweeping back to a square tall across the full width. b. A high rate of cllmb as well as the apparent abllity to remain motionless or hover for a considerable length of time is indicated. c. Reported sizes have varied from that of a 25-cent piece to 260 feet ln diameter, and from the size of a pursuit plane to the bulk of six B-29 airplanes. d. Speeds have been estimated throughout the entire range from very slow or hovering to supersonic. e. Sounds and visual trails are not normally associated with the sightings. - 16 - ~:II 111" --- PAGE 22 --- APPENDIX "D" FLYING WING TYPE Arn.CRAFT 1. AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERS in several countries have been engaged for some tlme in the design, construction, and flight of flying wing type aircraft. The study of flying objects requires, at least, a brief examination of proposed and existing unconventional aircraft whose configurations, when seen by the uninitiated, could lead to reports of strange flying devices. A description of some of. the more significant types by country follows, • 2. GERMANY. At the end of World War II, German aircraft designers had numerous projects under way concerning tailless air.craft which conceivably could be mistaken for "Fly~g Saucers" or disc-like objects. It is not clear just what the Soviets are doing in the way of developing these projects but it is considered that German studies on taflless, delta.-wlng, and related con­ figurations are available to the U.S.S.R. a. ARADO NIGHT AND BAD WEATHER FIGHT I. This is a tailless, low-wing monop ane w swept- g a long, narrow fuselage. Span 80.3 feet Length 42.5 feet Power Plant 2 Hes 011 turbo jet units Max. Speed (sea level) 441 mph Max. Speed (29,500 feet) 503 mph b. ARADO E 581-4. A high-wing tailless single-seater with a single jet unit mounted in the fuselage. bi and ruader units are mounted on the wing midway between fuselage and wing tip at the trailing edge. Span 29.3 feet Length 18.4 feet Power Plant 1 HeS 011 turbo jet unit Max. Speed (sea level) Max. Speed (service celling) c. GOTHA P 60 A. This was the first of the P 60 series of jet fighters. It ls a flying wing type ~ o t and observer 11e prone, there is no projecting canopy, thus permitting a particularly clean design. The jet.units are mounted at the rear of the center sect1on1 one above and one below. • Span 40 feet 8 1/2 in. Wing Area 604 square feet Power Plant 2 BMW 003 turbo jet units Max. Speed (23,000 feet) 596 miles per hour d. HEINKEL P 1080. This is a single-seat fighter with a sharply swept-back wing, resembling a f l y i ~ h a v i n g a single fin and rudder with no tail plane. Span 29.2 feet Wing Area 218 square feet No performance estimates are available . • ..,.,1111,1M. - 17 - --- PAGE 23 --- Iii IU! 1111 J ii ii IHI e, JUNKERS~ Of tlle flying w!ug type, this project was established a.s a long-range, high-~ Span 78,8 feet Wini A:rea 1290 l!QUa.re feet Power Plallt 4 HnS 011 turb:1 j&t imlts Max, SpDf,'lnes centrally loe:,ted in the w!n&'11 on each side of th" stobby round.ed. fuaelege. Span 513 feet Length 35.4 feet Max. Speed 456-466 miles per hour Power Plant 2 DB 603 reo!1,rocatlng engines I!· HORTEN WING. The closest .resemblsnce to the estl.maied con!1guratlon of "Flying Dll'lts" Is r e ~ Ho:rten Wini al:rcraft. Work on tJie I{orten 229, a tw!n jet flgbtel', had pro. i,'ressed to the final 11t11.ge11 at the end of World War II. !ts prototyps, a Horten illder, succeslil- • !{ully soared to an) altitode of H,200 feet as early as 11138, provlni,' tlla 1>0!11'.ldnoss ot this delillgn. Flge, 1, 2 and 3 • Fig. 1 IIIFllllllliL --- PAGE 24 --- • • --- PAGE 25 --- • --- PAGE 26 --- ~ II Pl I Ii NJIAli 3. GREA'I' BRITAill. a, G WHI'I'WORTH. The AW 52 G, t1 g.lldar, and the AW 68, a twl!i-jat air, plane, are B The vertical sta.bll!zere are located at the tips llircra:!t. of the swept-back wing. (Figa. n the AW 52 appear bolow. Spiln 00 feet Lai:,gth 37 feet Mro,:, Speed (sea level) 435 knots Mro,:. Speed {20,000 !eat) 435 knots Mu. Bp. ALTHOUGH APPENDIX "D" is not Intended to