 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. |
Three
Objects
Shake Up Air Crew
August 29, 1952
W. of Thule, greenland, N. Atlantic
August 29, 1952
W. of Thule, greenland, N. Atlantic
| 10:50 a.m., local Duration 2-3 mins P4Y-2 aircraft North Atlantic |
Military Navy 3 observer No EMI No radar contact |
| Fran
Ridge: This report is case #2, listed on Albert M. Chop's official Air Force clearance list. I had read about this one in late 2005 but it didn't "ring a bell". Richard Hall had written about it in the Journal of UFO History, Vol. II, No. 4 (see below) and mentioned the Air Force Intelligence Report had been given to Maj. Donald Keyhoe circa 1953. Brad Sparks refreshed my memory and informed me we had the synopsis on the NICAP site in the 1952 UFO Chronology, which also had my note that it was on the Chop Clearance list (Item #2). Brad Sparks: Aug. 29, 1952. WNW of Thule, Greenland (at 77° N., 75°15' W). 10:50 a.m. (EST). US Navy Atlantic Fleet Patrol Squadron VP-23, Thule, aircraft P4Y-2 at 10,000 ft heading 000° True at 150 knots (173 mph) in a half standard rate left turn (4-min 360° turn), copilot acting as pilot Lt JG William A. O'Flaherty, and navigator LtJG R. S. Moore in the aircraft astrodome, were following an 85 ft diameter Skyhook balloon launched from an icebreaker US Coast Guard Cutter Eastwind when upon release of the parachute instrument package from the balloon they sighted 3 white discs or globes, about ˝ to almost the full apparent size of the balloon, in triangle formation slightly W of N [NNW?], clustered to the right of the Skyhook instrument package at 74,000 ft for some 2-3 minutes. [Discrepancy in 2004 account claiming that pilot Lt. John C. Callahan and aircraft commander Merchant (navigator Moore?) also observed UFO’s, though denied by the copilot report of O’Flaherty in 1952.] O’Flaherty lost the objects in the sun [in the SSE] but Moore then [flying very fast in triangular formation with a vertical banking] climbed to disappearance in 5 secs [3? secs] with no trail or exhaust or visible means of propulsion. (Sparks; Naval History magazine Oct 2004, web version; Jan Aldrich; NICAP Dan Wilson; Berliner) Jan Aldrich:
This case was release by the Air Force to Keyhoe
and is in the Chop clearance list. But it had few
details and said the location was the North
Atlantic. Since the AF wanted to investigate Chop
for security violations, here is one that wouldn't
stick, the Navy publicly release the info. And then
this second story (*) over 50 years later!
Detailed reports and documents Aug. 29, 1952; North Atlantic Area (Richard Hall) reports/520829thule_report.htm (Dan Wilson) docs/NARA-PBB1-80.pdf (Tom DeMary) Navy release of Greenland case, Oct 1952 in the Omaha newspaper (Project 1947) COSMIC CURIOSITY - Naval History Oct 2004 (Project 1947) * |