 Category 11 Case Directory SIGHTINGS FROM AIRCRAFT Preliminary Rating: 5 |
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| 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. |
Sighting
From T-33 / Magnetic Variations Reported
June 4, 1955
Parker, Arizona
June 4, 1955
Parker, Arizona
| 6:50 p.m. PST Duration 3 mins aircraft T-33 United States |
Military observers, 1 air / 1 gnd EMI yes No radar contact |
Brad Sparks: June 4, 1955; Parker, Ariz. (BBU) (34.15° N, 114.3° W) & near Vidal, Calif. (34.1° N, 114.5° W). 7:50 p.m. (PDT). GOC observation post observer in Parker, Ariz., sighted round object in the W traveling to the W, using binoculars, appeared red on bottom, white or pale yellow in middle, blue or green on top, disappeared suddenly after 3 mins. Near Vidal, Calif. (about 13 mi W or about 260° from Parker, Ariz.) USAF flight instructor 1st Lt. B. E. Beecroft, Laredo AFB, flying T-33 trainer, with student cadet, heading 260° at 20,000 ft at 350 knots (400 mph), saw an “extremely large” white star-like stationary object high in the W that suddenly disappeared after 3 mins. Noted extreme variations in magnetic compass and slave gyro as they approached UFO location, with precession of 20° per 12 miles of flight when nearing Vidal, Calif., reaching 320° apparent (but false heading) when 30-40 miles W of Vidal, and continued until landing at Norton AFB, San Bernardino, Calif. Radar station 751st ACWRON, Mt. Laguna, Calif., noted that on nights of June 2 and 3, 1955, other aircraft approaching Vidal, Calif., experienced severe compass problems requiring radar control directions to avoid serious accidents. (Sparks; BB fikes; NICAP website; Project 1947) Dan Wilson: June 4, 1955; Parker, Arizona (BB) At 6:50 p.m. PST, 1st Lt. B. E. Beecroft flying a T-33 in a westerly direction at an altitude of 20,000 feet observed what he believed to be an extremely large star when passing over the town of Vidal, California, 13 miles west of Parker, Arizona. The light appeared to be high and stationary in the sky. Lt. Beecroft observed the object for 3 minutes before it suddenly disappeared. At the time of the sighting Beecroft encountered extreme magnetic variations in his magnetic compass and slave gyro. There had been two other occasions of pilots experiencing extreme magnetic variation in this area. A Constellation, TWA 21, reported that there was an unusual, strange looking, cloud formation in the area. Fran Ridge: The official BB sighting listing (see NARA-PBB1-128 below) says it was the planet Jupiter. According to Brad Sparks this was a gnd/air sighting, with two independent sites. The (original) 2:50 a.m. time he had listed is the Zulu time (and on June 5) while local time was 7:50 p.m. PDT, June 4. It occurred both in the air over near Vidal, California, and the GOC site in Parker, Arizona. Detailed reports and documents reports/550604parker_report.htm (Dan Wilson) bb/NARA-PBB1-128.jpg (Fran Ridge) |
