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.

Col. Blakeslee / F-84 Incident
December 29, 1952
Chitose AFB, Misawa, Japan

Fran Ridge:
This report is case #13, 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. USAF crews of B-26 (Ashley and Wood) and F-84G (Col. Donald J.M. Blakeslee) saw object emitting 3 beams of light and tracked on airborne radar. (Weinstein; FUFOR Index) Several other incidents at the same time. Flying in an F-94 (Sallee and Rivkind) at 20,000 feet observed a brilliant object very low to the horizon that appeared to change color. The crew ended observation after 15 minutes when they were vectored to another target by Ground Control Intercept (GCI).

Brad Sparks:
Dec. 29, 1952; Chitose AFB, Misawa, Japan (BBU)
7:30 [7:39? 7:48?] p.m. USAF crews of B-26 (Ashley and Wood) and F-84G (Col. Howard Blakeslee) saw object emitting 3 beams of light and tracked on airborne radar. 7 mins. (Weinstein; FUFOR Index)

Dan  Wilson:
In "Flying Saucer Conspiracy" (page 46) Keyhoe mentions that he has by an Air Force error mistaken Colonel Curtiss Low for Colonel D. J. Blakeslee in the December 29, 1952, rotating lights UFO incident. Also, in a Painesville, Ohio, Telegraph Newspaper article, January 22, 1953, the headline reads "Blakeslee Flies Jet in 600 MPH Chase After Mysterious Sky Balls." According to the article the objects were seen on December 29, 1952 and January 9, 1953, according to Col. Curtis Low, Commander of the 39th Air Division. Low reported "I've had our best brains trying to guess what they were." Donald J. M. Blakeslee was born and raised in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, two miles north of Painesville, one time home of Don Berliner who used to write for the Painesville Telegraph.

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