Category 11 Case Directory
  SIGHTINGS FROM AIRCRAFT 
 
  Preliminary Rating: 5  

                                   
     

AVCAT is a special project being conducted by NICAP, with the help and cooperation of the original compiler of AIRCAT, Dr. Richard Haines, and other sources, to create a comprehensive listing of sightings from aircraft with detailed documentation from these sources, including Projects SIGN, GRUDGE & BLUE BOOK.

The Lockheed UFO Case
December 16, 1953
Nr. Agoura, California
4:58 p.m. PST
Duration 7 mins
Aircraft WV-2
United States
 Military
multiple observers
No EMI
No radar contact

Fran Ridge:
I had heard about this report in July of 2001. Joel Carpenter had kindly advised me of its existence and confidential location. The following web page and report is a verbatim copy of Joel's site page, except that it has been divided into segments for easier downloading. As one can tell, this is an extremely interesting and important case, one that illustrates how good UFO research can actually work. And as Joel remarked to me on January 19, 2002: "I couldn't have done it without tons of help, it was a team project." To see the list of contributors and sources, see bottom of the actual report. The original article was published in the fall 2001 issue of the International UFO Reporter,  Vol 26, No. 3. Joel's original site page is listed below:

Brad Sparks:
Dec. 16, 1953; Ground site 3 miles WNW of Agoura, & a/c SW of Long Beach, Calif. (BBU)
4:58- 5:05 p.m. (PST). Lockheed Skunk Works chief Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson and wife near Agoura and top Lockheed crew aboard WV-2 aircraft near Long Beach, independently of each other, saw black flying-wing or ellipse or crescent-shaped object about 170-230 ft wide at about 15,000 ±2,000 ft altitude to the W hovering about 30-60 miles away (255° ±1° true to Johnson; 285°-290° true to WV-2 crew). At 5:04 p.m. after 4 mins (to the Johnson's) 6 mins (to WV-2 crew) object suddenly took off in a shallow climb accelerating (at about 130 g's) to approximately earth escape velocity (25,000 mph) to the W over the Pacific, disappearing in 10-13 secs (to WV-2 crew) in 90 secs (to Johnson using 8x binoculars) after reaching 90+ miles altitude.

Detailed reports and documents
reports/531216agoura_report.htm (Dan Wilson)
Comment - (Joel Carpenter)
Intelligence information preparatory to actual case report - Joel Carpenter 
The Incident Report - Joel Carpenter    
BB Doc Comparisons (Jean Waskiewicz)

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