RADCAT Case Directory
  Category 9, RADAR  
 
  Preliminary Rating: 5  

                                   
     

RADCAT is a revitalized special project now being conducted jointly by NICAP & Project 1947 with the help and cooperation of the original compiler of RADCAT, Martin Shough, to create a comprehensive listing of radar cases with detailed documentation from all previous catalogues, including UFOCAT and original RADCAT.

USN P2V3 Patrol Plane & USS Tillamook Encounter
Jan. 22, 1950
Nr. Kodiak, Alaska
Francis Ridge:
This case is listed onsite as a sighting from aircraft (Cat 11), radar (Cat 9), and E-M effects (Cat 3) case. In May of 2005 Bruce Maccabee provided his paper from the September, 1978 MUJ, regarding FBI documents in his possession. Dan Wilson provided a copy of the actual document. (See links below).

Brad Sparks:
Jan. 22, 1950. Near Kodiak NAS, Alaska.(BBU)
2:40-4:40 a.m. USN P2V3 patrol plane pilot Lt. Smith and radar officer A. L. C. Gaskey briefly detected a radar target 20 miles N, then another target S of Kodiak at 2:48 a.m., possibly the same target traveling 225 mph in between. Smith radioed Kodiak NAS to look for other air traffic but none was reported. Gaskey then noticed strong radar interference preventing him from tracking the target. At 3 a.m. watch officers Morgan and Carver on the USS Tillamook S of Kodiak island saw a maneuvering red exhaust-like or orange ball of fire circle the Kodiak area in 30 secs clockwise beginning and ending in the SE. At 4:40 a.m., P2V3 radar picked up fast moving target at 5 miles which closed that distance in 10 secs (1,800 mph) to dead ahead position, where it was seen as "two orange lights rotating about a common center like two jet aircraft making slow rolls in tight formation." Smith tried to pursue but object came at him in a "highly threatening gesture." Smith turned off all aircraft lights to reduce visibility, object flew off to the SE disappearing in 4 mins. (Project 1947; BB files??)
 
Joel Carpenter:
The Lockheed P2V Neptune involved in the case appears to have been a P2V-3W model. The Neptune was usually used as an antisubmarine patrol bomber, but in this case it was actually an airborne early warning aircraft, an early type of AWACS, equipped with an AN/APS-20 airborne search radar in a belly blister. It makes a little more sense out of the observation if the track was picked up by an AWACS plane rather than just on the weather or sea-search radar sets of a regular P2V. The APS-20 was an old standby of airborne warning radar systems.

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