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'. 

Many Observers At Different Locations Observe Fast Object
Nov. 24, 1951
Lower Michigan

Fran Ridge:
This report is case #14, on the official clearance list. of 41 formerly classified Air Technical Intelligence UFO reports cleared for Maj. Donald E. Keyhoe by Albert M. Chop, Air Force Press Desk. Northern (Southern) Michigan area, November 24, 1951. UFO observed from four locations, faster than any jet. On this date, at 2320Z, for an unexplained reason, Selfridge AFB radar ceased operation (See SECRET document MISC-PBB2-829 below). In addition, a Capital Airlines pilot confirmed the Michigan events *. (See AVCAT entry below). Possible radar confirmation. (See RADCAT) **

Received at Command Post
24 November 2320Z - 24th November at Selfridge Air Force Base Two men reported sighting a brightly large oblong brightly lighted object moving at rapid speed with no noise. Capital Airline pilot who is a senior capain on airline sighted similar object over Cooperville, Michigan. Altitude estimated at 1,000 to 1,500 feet, estimated speed 1,000 m.p.h. Atitude of capital airliner 1,900 feet. At 2330Z, tower operator at Kent City Airport, Grand rapids, Michigan, reported similar object. CAA detachment at Battle Creek received a report from private James Young from WPAFB who reported seeing in vicinity of Battlecreek, Michigan, at 0221Z cigar shaped object with faint glow at tail moving from north to south at estimated altitude of 4,000 feet.

Dan Wilson:
Nov. 24, 1951; Lower Michigan (BBU)
Six observers at five different points in the lower Michigan area report, the sighting of an unusual flying object between 24/2320Z and 24/2325Z. The object in all cases was observed in the Southeast quadrant travelling at speeds as fast or faster than a jet aircraft in flight parallel to the earth in a southwesterly, west south westerly or westerly course. Altitude estimates of the object are not conclusive in any case but indicate object was below 2,000 feet in opinion of most observers. The object was described variously as round, football shaped, egg shaped and bullet shaped.

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