Form
97-AR
Date: Saturday, 3 December 2005
Cat:
4
To: NICAP
Animal Reaction
Feature:
At 10:20 PM, the witness and his dog went outdoors. The witness heard an intense clicking sound coming from the sky and saw a dark object as it moved against the background of stars. The witness described his dog’s reaction as follows: “My dog was with me and directed her attention in the general direction of this object’s flight throughout its course. She had been romping with me on coming out of the house but without spoken word [she] stopped and directed her attention to the previously described area [dark object flight path].”
The sighting:
This sighting is listed as a Blue Book unknown.
Weather: Castle AFB weather station reported thin/broken clouds at 20,000 feet, 12 mile visibility and surface winds as north at 9 mph. The witness reported his area (1 mile west of Merced and 7 miles south of Castle AFB) was more sheltered and had no appreciable surface wind.
The witness is a Major in the Active USAF Reserves. He is a pilot, with 2200 hours flight time, including night flying in WWII. He reported the sighting to the Intelligence Officer at Castle Field.
Duration of sighting: 35-45 seconds (including sound and visual)
The witness came outdoors with his dog and heard a “clicking noise of considerable intensity.” He stopped, locating the sound as coming from the sky about 40 degrees from eastern horizon. He observed a dark shape moving against the background of stars in a flight path to the West or NW.
He described the object as a solid mass whose size he estimated as 4-5 feet in diameter and whose altitude he estimated as considerably less than 1,000 feet. On two occasions the reflection of streetlights, located ½ block behind the witness, made the object appear to have a dull-surface and one of light colored metal. Also, the reflection of the streetlights off the surface of the object made the witness think that the under-surface was curved. No exhaust trail was seen. No lights or flame observed. No whistle or roar, only a clicking sound that maintained the same pitch and speed, but altered in loudness (see below). The clicking sound was compared to the beaters of a home mixer that were not properly meshed.
The dark object moved slowly going the West or NW, made a 90-degree-arc turn to the South or SW. The clicking sound became louder on the new heading. The clicking sound stopped when it was the loudest (seemingly overhead relative to the witness) and the witness was unable to detect the object after the sound ceased.
No EM effects or physiological effects were reported.
Source:
Memorandum to Director, FBI, from SAC, Los Angeles, dated May 13, 1949. Copy of the memorandum came from MUFON Files with thanks to John Schuessler. Memo copied below:
Office Memorandum . UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
To: Director, FBI Date: May 13, 1949
From: SAC, Los Angeles
Subject: “FLYING DISK” REPORT
INFORMATION CONCERNING
On May 5, 1949 XXXXX a reporter for the Sun-Star newspaper, Merced, California, advised Special Agent XXXXX that his paper had been contacted by Lt. Col. STANLEY JACOBS, Intelligence Officer, Castle Air Force Base, Merced, California, relative to any reports that the newspaper might have received concerning “flying disks” in the Merced vicinity.
XXXXX stated a close friend of his, one XXXXXXXXXX, Merced, had advised him that he had observed a strange object, and as he is in the air Corps Reserve, he reported same to the Intelligence Officer at Castle Field.
On the same date Mr. GEORGE BREMER, Detachment Commander, Office of Special Investigations, Castle Air Force Base, Merced, California, advised SA XXXXX
that he had heard that an individual had reported seeing a “flying disk” to the Intelligence Office at the Base but that the Intelligence Officer had not furnished the information to him. XXXXX later on the same date contacted SA XXXXX and exhibited a letter written by STANLEY F. JACOBS, Lt. Col., USAF, Adjutant (Intelligence Officer) to Commanding General, Air Material Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Wright Field, Ohio. This letter contained a statement given by Mr. XXXXXXXXXX which read as follows: “I had occasion to step from my home, located approximately one mile west of the town of Merced, on the night of April 4, 1949, at approximately 2220. My attention was diverted to a clicking noise of considerable intensity. I stopped on the sidewalk about 20 feet from the front steps and recognized the source of this clicking to be in the sky in an area about 40 degrees from the surface of the earth in an easterly direction. The sky condition was 20000 thin broken with 12 miles visibility and surface winds were reported as north nine M.P.H. at Castle Air Force weather station. My home is approximately seven miles south of Castle Air Force Base and in an area somewhat sheltered from surfac[e] winds, and no appreciable surface wind was apparent at the time the aural [aerial?] observation was made. After about ten seconds of looking into the area described previously as being the source of this sound, an object was observed blanking out stars in describing a flight path in a west or northwesterly direction. Only one object was apparent, its shape can be described as only a solid mass. Its size can be estimated as four or five feet in diameter in keeping with an estimated altitude of considerably less than 1000 (one thousand) feet. Color was shown by the reflection of ground lights on only two occasions, and appeared to be dull surfacted [surfaced], light colored metal. The only ground lights of intensity were a row of street lights behind me one half block which leads me to believe the under surface of this object to be curved in shape.
“This object when first sighted, was moving very slowly in a west or northwesterly direction. I would estimate that I had it in my range of vision for 35 seconds, after having heard it about ten seconds before locating it. It passed on beyond the house and maneuvered through an arc of turn to the left of about ninety degrees. The clicking sound was continuous throughout this turn, however, it became louder as it returned on its new heading of south or southwest. On its return the clicking sound became louder, but I was unable to see it at this time. The clicking stopped when it was at its greatest intensity and appeared to come from a position directly over head. I was unable to see the object after the sound stopped.
“This clicking sound, retained the same pitch and speed throughout the entire course observed, but intensity varied. There was not whistle or roar, but only the clicking noise which might be compared to beaters of a home mixer that were not properly meshed. No lights or flame were observed during the entire course with exception of the previous described reflections twice. No exhaust trail was distinguishable.
“My dog was with me and directed her attention in the general direction of this object’s flight throughout its course. She had been romping with me on coming out of the house but without spoken word stopped and directed her attention on to the previously described area. The clicking sound might not have been unusual to the dog, but there is a possibility of sounds on wave lengths discernable only to the dog, being emitted.”
It is to be noted that XXXXX is a member of the Active USAF Reserve with rank of Major. He attained rating of pilot in August 1941 and has approximately 2200 hours flying time. During his active duty period in WW2 he stated that he had considerable night flying experience connected with his military assignment. The Intelligence Officer in the above mentioned letter made the following statement, “An attempt to locate other witnesses in the area or through the local newspaper proved unsuccessful”.
XXXXX advised that he is planning to clear with his headquarters office and will probably conduct an investigation.
The above is being furnished for the information of the Bureau.