 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. |
Two
Helicopters Encounter Venus (CIRVIS)
Aug. 11, 1954
Lawson AFB, Columbus, Georgia
Aug. 11, 1954
Lawson AFB, Columbus, Georgia
| 8:54 p.m. EST Duration 35 mins aircraft 2 helicopters United States |
Military 4 + observers No EMI No radar contact |
| Brad Sparks: Aug. 11, 1954. Lawson AFB and Columbus Airport, Columbus, Georgia [not Maxwell AFB, which was reporting agency] 8:54 p.m. (EST). Lawson AFB Tower Operator AFC Chase E. Lewis, 1926-3 Det. AACS, observed strange stationary object in the W at azimuth 270° at about 2500 ft, varying in brightness, changing color from white to red to orange to white again, with seeming high speed motions [due to autokinesis]. Army helicopter 267 piloted by WO-JG R. T. Wade (506th Helicopter Co., Ft. Benning, Ga.) sent to investigate, heading 270° at 2,500 ft, located object at 20 miles W of Lawson AFB Tower (Ft. Benning) at 2,000 ft, abandoned pursuit due to low fuel after less than 2 mins, at about 8:54-8:56 p.m. AFC Lewis reported to Base Operations Dispatcher A/2c O. A. Register, Hqs Sq, Lawson AFB. At 8:56 p.m. Airdrome Officer and driver sighted object at Lawson AFB. At 9:05 p.m., two additional Lawson Tower operators included AFC William N. Watson, 1926-3 Det AACS. Second Army helicopter, no. 294, on mission piloted by WO-JG G. [U.?] S. Tarma (506th Helicopter Co., Ft. Benning, Ga.) diverted to object at 9:27 p.m., sighted it then it disappeared still at 270° azimuth (due W) at 9:29 p.m. Seen again next night in the W at 8:15 p.m. for 6 mins lost in two layers of scattered clouds. [Probable Venus IFO, as Venus was low on W horizon at azimuth 264°-268° and elevation 7° to 0° until setting at about 9:30 p.m. time of object’s disappearance. BB conclusion of Mars grossly in error, with erroneous astro calc of SW at 20° elevation when Mars in fact was in the S at azimuth 177°-186° elevation 30°-25°, rising not setting, during time of sighting.] (Paul Dean, Mike Tarbell, Sparks; NICAP website; BB files; Weinstein; Saunders/FUFOR Index) Detailed reports and documents reports/540811lawson_report.htm (Dan Wilson) docs/540811lawson_doc1.pdf [page 1 of 2] (Paul Dean) * docs/540811columbus_docs.pdf [fold docs] (Mike Tarbell) |