 RADCAT Case Directory Category 9, RADAR Preliminary Rating: 5 |
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B-52
&
Gnd Radar / Radar Visual / Radar Freqs From UFO
March 25, 1959
Northern Montana
March 25, 1959
Northern Montana
| Brad
Sparks: March 25, 1959; N Montana (BBU) (McDonald list) Dan Wilson: March 25, 1959; N Montana At around 8:00 p.m. local time, a B-52 jet bomber flying south on a HEADSTART II type mission became aware that an object was following the aircraft. The tail gunner had picked up the object on his scope. The object was also detected by the Electronics Warfare Officer (EWO) and two radar frequencies were determined as being utilized by the UFO. The UFO was maintained on MB-9 scope for approximately one hour at ranges of 8,000 to 15,000 yards. A ground GCI station was notified upon initial contact with the object and an F-89 Interceptor was launched at the time the object penetrated the Northern ADIZ. The pilot and RO in the F-89J made visual contact with the unknown object. The object appeared to be delta-shaped. The pilot of the F-89 estimated he had closed to four miles of the object.The object changed its heading of 270 degrees to 350 degrees and increased speed and began to climb. The F-89 gave chase to the limits of the F-89J, with the object steadily pulling away. The MG-12 Fire Control System on the F-89J had radar contact until 0319Z. There was concern about this object and this statement was made, " In view of the fact that this sighting suggests a possibility of a different type of threat to the Continental United States, request this Headquarters, ATTN: ADODI, be advised of your final analysis regarding this sighting." The UFO demonstrated high performance and was painted by a high frequency radar.There was also thoughts that the object might be using radar absorbing materials. (Dan Wilson) Updated BB Cat Entry, 6 Sept 2020 Brad Sparks: March 25, 1959. S Saskatchewan-N Montana 7:36 p.m. (MST). ELINT Radar-Visual with F-89 intercept of radar-emitting UFO tailing B-52. B-52, call sign “Outcome 15,” from 92nd Bomb Wing, Fairchild AFB, Wash., was on a SAC Emergency War Order exercise, Operation HEAD START II, for continuous airborne alert carrying fully-armed thermonuclear bombs, initially flown into Canada. At 7:36 p.m. at about 52°N, 118°W (near Swift Current, Sask.) while B-52 headed 180° Mag (SSW True) at 32,000 ft traveling 375 knots (432 mph) tail gunner Tech Sgt Joe Cobb sighted an object leaving a strange, non-persistent and intermittent contrail at 2 o’clock position (to the W) and headed N. At 7:41 p.m., Cobb detected a target trailing the B-52 at 8,000 yds (about 5 miles) range on his MB-9 airborne radar. B-52 Electronic Warfare Officer 1st Lt. Robert J. Millard detected on APS-54 Radar Warning Receiver an X-band radar emission at 9135 MHz from unidentified object tailing the B-52, then also detected same signal on APR-9 ELINT Radar Receiver, for 20 mins; sweep rate 1 per second, radio frequency oscillating around 9135 MHz. Shortly after, the B-52 radar officer Capt. Feirran detected UFO on MB-9 airborne radar showing it trailing behind at a range of about 11,000 to 15,000 yds (about 6-8 miles). B-52 pilot Capt John W. Jackson radioed 1/Lt Ronald S. Murray, Senior Director on duty, ADC GCI radar site (47°31’N, 111°10’W) 801st AC&W Sq, Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls, Mont., that UFO had entered Air Defense Identification Zone by following B-52 into U.S. territory. ADC scrambled F-89J fighter interceptor call sign Board Pipe 27, pilot 1/Lt Austin E. Bond, Radar Observer 1/Lt Charles C. Abernathy, 29th FIS Sq, Malmstrom AFB, Mont. UFO had red and green bright flashing lights about 30-40 ft apart with a steady white light in between and somewhat to the rear, thus suggesting delta or swept-wing aircraft about the size of a B-57 bomber (~100 ft), described as “relatively high performance,” speed in excess of Mach 0.8 (530 mph), altitude above 53,000 ft, with a “considerable acceleration capability.” UFO lost by F-89J at 8:42 p.m. when it climbed beyond reach of pursuing F-89J at 49°50’N [50°20’N ?], 113°00’W. B-52 EWO Lt. Millard had regained UFO radar signal at 8:36 p.m. for 5 mins but at 9130 MHz; noted pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of 2,500 Hz [indicative of radar set to range of 37 mi]. (Sparks; BB files; McDonald list) 65+ mins |