 Case Directory Category 1, Distant Encounters Preliminary Rating: 5 |
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| A Hynek
Classification of Distant Encounter is usually
an incident involving an object more than 500
feet from the witness. At night it is
classified as a "nocturnal light" (NL) and
during the day as a "daylight disc" (DD). The
size of the object or the viewing conditions
may render the object in greater detail but
yet not qualify the sighting as a Close
Encounter which is an object within
500'. |
Project
GRAB BAG Sighting
Oct. 15, 1953
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Oct. 15, 1953
Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Brad sparks: Oct. 15, 1953. Minneapolis, Minn. (BBU) 10:10 a.m. (CST). General Mills Aeronautical Lab research engineers James A. Winker, Fletcher L. Bartholomew (MIT meteorologist-engineer and former AF pilot), and Richard J. Reilly (private pilot with degree in aeronautical engineering and supersonic aerodynamics). During tracking of Project GRAB BAG 79-foot long tear-drop shaped Skyhook balloon at 73,000-74,000 ft [about 40 miles away if at about 20-25 elevation], a 40-50 ft object was spotted, appearing to be over Ft. Snelling 12 to 14 miles SE of observers, at about 130°-140° azimuth, 23°-25° elevation, about 5° below balloon, leaving vapor or smoke trail. Object traveling S in horizontal flight 10° in 9 secs at about 40,000 (to 50,000) ft altitude, roughly 900 to 1,100 mph, passed below the sun [at 31° to 32° elevation, 148° to 149° azimuth]. Object left white vapor trail that immediately dissipated so as to keep constant 5° to 8° length during travel of emitting object. Went into “dangerous” vertical dive at about 175°-180° (or 160°-170°) azimuth for about 10-15 secs dropping about 10° to about 15°-20° (or 18°-20°) elevation, object leveled out in a curve 3°-5° azimuth back to the left and vapor trail ceased to be emitted, then object glowed or flashed in the sun 2-3 times for 1 sec each as if metallic and reflective, seen as a gray mass in the theodolite. Disappeared suddenly with flash of light. Angular size about same as GRAB BAG balloon [that was about 40 miles away, thus about 1.3 arcmins]. (Sparks; Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 113-4; Hynek UFO Exp ch. 6, case DD-9; Saunders/FUFOR Index; Project BB Microfilm Roll 19, pp. 1225-1264) |