Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:33:01 +0000 (GMT)
Fran Ridge:
A very interesting radar incident. After Dan Wilson located 10 documents (see below) Brad Sparks was able to expand his original synopsis of the case which is also presented in the link below.

Brad Sparks:

March 20, 1955. Johnson AFB, Tokyo, Japan. (BBU)
4:21 p.m. CPS-1 air traffic control radar of the USAF 1954th AACS Sq, Johnson AFB, Tokyo RATCC, detected 4 unidentified targets due N at about 32 miles, then after adjusting manual scan found 16 unidentified targets in 6 separate formations N of base at ranges of about 20 to 28 miles, which slowly moved [about 50 mph] from radar scope azimuth 0° to 20° while heading about 145° over 10 mins until 4:31 p.m. F-86D was scrambled from Yokota AFB (about 30 mi ENE of Tokyo airport and RATCC) at 4:32, piloted by USAF 1st Lt. G. D. Merrick, takeoff at 4:36, heading N (350°) at 10,000 ft then W then S then N on a search pattern [roughly around the Yokota AFB] since ADC control site “Butterfly” at Chiba Peninsula did not detect targets on radar. Meanwhile targets on CPS-1 ground radar had become erratic, leaving trails on radar scope like jet aircraft, then became almost stationary at 4:35. USAF 5th AF went on Yellow Alert due to radar tracks. About 4:51 the F-86D pilot while heading N on the search pattern detected on airborne radar 2 unidentified targets at 45° azimuth (NE), then turned towards them but lost the targets. The F-86D radar then picked up another target at 30° at 22 miles and headed towards it on afterburner at about 560 mph, with closure rate 100-175 knots. F-86D got radar lock-on at 15 miles, closed on UFO to closest range 2.5 to 3 miles, was within 15 secs of firing position, dropped afterburner to not overtake too quickly, but UFO began to accelerate to 50 knots faster than the F-86D despite the pilot going on afterburner again. When the UFO pulled out to 7 miles range it made a left turn, the F-86D turned to follow, then the UFO made 90° right turn and F-86D followed, back onto 20° (~N) heading. ADC site “Butterfly” cleared F-86D pilot to fire on the UFO. UFO began climbing while F-86D closed to 5 miles and climbed to 16,000 ft on afterburner to follow, overshot the UFO, leveled off altitude of 15,000 ft then went into a shallow dive back to 15,000 ft reaching Mach 0.98 (~650 mph). UFO then began to pull away to 9 miles range, increasing speed to 200 knots faster than the F-86D [or ~880 mph supersonic], then gradually turning left 45° while pulling away to 15 miles range, breaking the F86D’s radar lock, and pilot broke pursuit at ~5:05 p.m. No visual confirmations, and no direct correlation of specific ground and air radar targets due to lack of specific reporting. (Sparks; Project 1947; NICAP)

Dan Wilson: