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'. 

Objects Sighted Near Vital Installation
May 10, 1952
New Ellenton, South Carolina

Fran Ridge:
May 10, 1952. Savannah River Plant, New Ellenton, South Carolina (BBU 1198)
10:45 p.m. Eight yellow disc-shaped objects flying over the Savannah River (nuclear) Plant were observed by four Dupont employess on five occasions over appoximately a 30 minute time period. The objects flew over the plant at a high rate of speed beginning at 2245 hours. The eighth object approached from the northeast and was traveling at an altitude so low it had to rise to pass over some tall tanks in the 400 Area. This object was also flying at a high rate of speed and was noiseless. FBI headquarters immediately reported this to the head of the AFOSI.   Project Blue Book lists this sighting as unidentified.  (Berliner, Randle, Maccabee)

FBI:
Savannah   URGENT    7:58 PM   5 - 12 - 52
Savannah River Plant, Atomic Energy Commission, Flying Disc.  At approximately 10:45 PM, May 10, four employees of Dupont Co., employed on the Savannah River plant near Ellington, S.C., saw 4 disc shaped objects approaching the 400 area from the south, disappearing in a northerly direction.  At approximately 11:05 PM, above mentioned employees saw two similar objects approach from south and disappear in northerly direction.  At approximately 11:10 PM one similar object approached from the northeast and disappeared in southwesterly direction.  One more object sighted about 11:15 PM traveling from south to north.  Employees described objects as being about 15 inches in diameter having yellow to gold color.  All of these other objects were traveling at high rate of speed at high altitude without any noise.   The... object which approached the 400 area from the (northeast) was traveling at altitude so low it had to rise to pass over some tall tanks in the 400 area.  This object was also flying at a high rate of speed and noiseless.  Witnesses stated observed objects weaving from left to (right) but seemed to hold general course.  Also stated due to speed and altitude they were only visible for few seconds.  Savannah office is not actively conducting investigation in this matter and is furnishing this info to bureau for whatever action they deem advisable."

Bruce Macabbee:
Of course this is in the FBI file, probably the most interesting sighting FBI report in 1952 before the big flap and the Newhouse film. One would think that the AEC or some organization would have pursued this. The FBI was following directive from Hoover when it took the report and then did not investigate.   However, the fact that the FBI didn't pursue it may indicate that the unstated opinion was that the objects were "flying saucers" of some sort. Had the objects looked like model airplanes the FBI might well have decided to investigate to find out who was flying model planes over a "vital installation.":

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