Aug, 21, 1956; near Hamilton AFB, California (BB)

At 11:35 a..m. PST, a round silver object the size of a dime held at arm's length was observed first by the radar operator, Lt. John W.Curtiss, of an F-89D aircraft at 20,000 feet. The object was observed for approximately one minute when the pilot, 2nd Lt. Robert C. Morelli went for a closer look and the object appeared to go between the F-89 and a contrail above the interceptor. This led the pliot to believe that the object was close and he initiated maximum performance of the F-89 to intercept, climbing at 250 knots IAS but the object appeared to pull away and up. Fuel became low on the F-89 and the intercept was terminated and the pilot turned toward home base at Hamilton AFB. The object was observed for approximately 10 minutes. The radar was inoperative on the F-89D.

Fran Ridge:
See rating above. An average of these (1-5) would put it somewhere around 2 or 3, maybe 2 1/2 - Possibly or probably explainable with more data, though with elements of strangeness. See thread below.

Martin Shough:
Tom (DeMary) now agrees with my arguments ruling out a daylight sighting of Venus in this case.