Case Directory
  Category 1, Distant Encounters 
 
  Preliminary Rating: 5  

                                   
     

A Hynek Classification of Distant Encounter is usually an incident involving an object more than 500 feet from the witness. At night it is classified as a "nocturnal light" (NL) and during the day as a "daylight disc" (DD). The size of the object or the viewing conditions may render the object in greater detail but yet not qualify the sighting as a Close Encounter which is an object within 500'. 

Base Personnel Sight Strange Objects
March 21, 1950
Kirtland AFB area, New Mexico

Fran Ridge:
March 21, 1950; Kirtland AFB, New Mexico (BB)
1:00 p.m. A sgt. from HQ & HQ Service Company, 8450th M.P. Group, Sandia Base, reported four, round, silver to shady gray objects to the northeast. His location was east side of the pit area. Object appeared to be more maneuverable than any known aircraft. The tactics used were similar to the change of positions during dog fights involving two aircraft, but there seemed to be no similarity to the maneuverability of a conventional plane. Objects more maneuverable, made right angle turns, also appeared to reverse (back up) the direction of flight. Duration about 30 mins. Objects appeared to be at a great distance, approximately 40,000 to 60,000 feet.  Another witness at Albuquerque reported objects in the east traveling southeast at 1:15 p.m. His position was  from the Ordnance Area, Sandia Base. Two, white objects, smaller than a fist at arm's length at about one mile range were observed. One object changed direction to the east after completely circling the other object just prior to disappearing. Speed: Approximately 600-700 mph. Time in sight: Approx. 5 mins. Another observer at 1:20 p.m. from the 1100th Special Reporting Group, Sandia Base, New Mexico was at a checkpoint 200 yards east of the Pit Area when he reported two objects, silver in color, approximately size of dime at arm's length, round, at a considerable distance in the East, heading southwest. The ten minute observation showed no conventional turns and the objects moved up and sideways in excess of jet speeds until both objects moved out of sight in the southwest.


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