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presents
The 1958 UFO Chronology
 Enlarged and enhanced
version of one of the four Trindade Island
Photos
Jan. 16, 1958; NE of Trindade Island, Brazil Created February 24, 2006; Updated 24 April This is a 9-page report on a project involving a
number of people. A lot of the incidents do not yet
have active links to reports. Blue Book microfilms are
only processed to mid-1952, so it will be some time
before we can accomplish that goal. However, this is a
comprehensive list for 1958 and will also suffice as a
good work and checklist for our team. With the help of
William Wise (Project Blue Book Archive), and Dan
Wilson (archive researcher), the task becomes much
easier. But without Brad Sparks' updated list, the
Comprehensive Catalog of Project Blue Book Unknowns,
the entire project would have been impossible. And our
thanks also go to Jean Waskiewicz who created the
online NICAP DBase (NSID) that helped make it possible
to link from the cases to the reports themselves.
Note: Entries marked Cat. 3 are E-M (Electro-Magnetic
interference cases) from the Cat. 3 printout
where sources are listed. "UFOE" is the NICAP
publication, The UFO Evidence (Richard Hall, 1964).
NICAP Site CoordinatorFrancis Ridge The 1958 UFO Chronology______________________________________________________ DEW (Distant Early Warning) Line radar, G. (NICAP, UFOE) Jan. 1958; (Date unknown, unnamed AF base) AF base, SW United States, G,V. (NICAP UFOE) In January, Maj.
Lawrence J. Tacker's name shows up on letters from
the Air Force Public Information Office, addressed
to the National Investigations Committee on Aerial
Phenomena office in Washington, D.C.
Jan. 3, 1958; Old Westbury, Long Island, New York (BBU) 2:35 p.m. (EST). Fensterstock. (Hynek UFO Rpt p. 43; FUFOR Index) Jan. 3, 1958; Hawaii
Group of round UFOs reportedly photographed. [UFOE, VIII] 12:08 a.m. (GMT). Military aircraft pilot and
navigator saw a bright orange light streaking across
the sky on a NE heading, with airborne radar tracking.
(Project 1947; McDonald list; FUFOR Index)
Jan. 9, 1958; Biggs AFB, El Paso,
TX (BBU)
7:37 CST, 8 to 11 objects were picked up on
ground radar (CTN/18 type radar) at the RAPCON
station at Biggs AFB. The objects were tracked at
speeds from 0 to 50 knots on a irregular course
generally south for 5 minutes. (Dan Wilson, Brad
Sparks, McDonald list; FUFOR Index)
Jan. 9, 1958; Marion, Illinois
Three reports of seven red lighted objects in straight line formation. [UFOE, II] 7:30 a.m. USN pilot of P2V-5F aircraft saw a
formation of 3 lights flying at 900 knots (about 1,000
mph) tracked by airborne radar merging into one
target. [Identical to Jan. 14, 1958, incident??]
(Project 1947; McDonald list; FUFOR Index)
Jan. 13, 1958; Casino, N.S.W., Australia Interference on car radio as UFO followed car. (Item 70, 1960 NICAP report) 8:34 a.m. Military aircraft crew saw 3 lights in
triangular formation flying SW at 320 knots (about 400
mph) tracked on airborne radar. [Identical to Jan. 11,
1958, incident??] (Project 1947; McDonald list; FUFOR
Index)
Jan.
16,
1958; NE of Trindade Island, Brazil (BBU)
12, 12:15 p.m. Commander of IGY research ship and
many crew members, plus ships photographer Almiro
Barauna, sighted and photographed Saturn-shaped
object maneuvering over Trindade Island Power
failure on the boat when object sighted; power
returned upon objects departure. (Hynek/CUFOS 1982
tape interview; APRO/Lorenzen/Fontes; etc.)
Jan.
22, 1958
NICAP Director Major Donald Keyhoe is cut off
the air in mid-sentence on a heavily-controlled
major CBS television program "Armstrong Circle
Theatre." Keyhoe was about to mention a
secret U.S. Senate investigation of the AF's
secrecy policies and the TOP SECRET Estimate of
the Situation by the AF at Wright Field which
concluded that UFO's were interplanetary (see
Aug. 5, 1948, entry in the UFO
Chronology). A public controversy erupted
over the blatant censorship, which shocked many
viewers, some of whom were able to hear some of
Keyhoe's censored words which came through
faintly on another guest's microphone. CBS
admitted Keyhoe was deliberately cut off, not as
an accident or technical difficulty, by a
network producer to satisfy what they thought
the government would want, though not part of
any official orders to do so. A few months
later the IRS by letter would explicitly deny
NICAP tax-exempt status on the grounds of
NICAP's public opposition to AF policies.
(Brad Sparks) (See
actual BB docs)
Jan. 30, 1958; Lima, Peru
Lawyer and family saw a circular UFO hover; car headlights went out. Truck, bus, and car passengers felt shock, motors on all three vehicles failed as UFO descended and hovered. (Item 71, 1960 NICAP report) Jan. 31, 1958; 25 miles SW of Tokyo, Japan (BBU)
Night. USAF pilots of T-33 jet(s) saw 12 yellow-orange
lights fly S in 3 groups. (Project 1947)Feb. 2, 1958; N.S.W., Australia
Elliptical UFO with two "porthole" like markings. [UFOE, XII] Feb. 13, 1958; W. of Wake Island (BBU) 2114 hours local time. A bright, flare-like explosion was sighted by the crew of an USAF C-54 approximately 2 hours flying time west of Wake Island. During the hour within which the sighting occurred, one visual and two radar contacts were made. The actual "fireball" was observed directly by only the flight engineer. The position of the C-54 was 21degrees 19' N 161 degrees 30' E. (Project 1947; McDonald list; FUFOR Index) Feb. 19, 1958; Hokkaido, Japan (BB) While conducting surveillance of Russian aircraft, operations personnel of AC&W Site #45 at Asoiwayama, Hokkaido,observed an unusual radar return. Radar report from the Sea of Japan area. Radar return developed rapidly to a dense cloud that expanded to cover an area approximately 65 miles long and 25 miles across and rose from an altitude of 3,000 feet to 46,000 feet. Five aircraft (Russian) in the area all turned toward the return and proceeded to the general area. A seismic detection of a nuclear explosion was reported from Matsushiro. (Dan Wilson) Feb. 20, 1958; NW of Winslow, Ariz. (BBU) 6:32 p.m. MST. Twelve airmen of the 303rd Bomb Wing in a five B-47 yellow cell observed a round or cigar shaped (observer's descriptions vary) object at 60 to 70 degrees elevation at 345 degrees azimuth. The B-47's were at 29,500 feet altitude on a heading of 344 degrees. The object appeared to be stationary for the 4-5 minutes in was in sight. The observers were: Lt. Col. B. S Murphy, Sq. Comdr.; Major R. C. Ball, Pilot; Maj. B. Franklin, Pilot; Capt. L. E. Early, Pilot; Capt. R. A. Youngberg, Pilot; Capt. J. B. Ducote, Pilot; 1st Lt. B. A. Clampitt, Navigator; 1st Lt. J. E. Voss, Co Pilot; 1st Lt. L. Paskevicz, Co Pilot; 1st Lt. D. Z Decker, Co Pilot; 1st Lt. J. L. Hinton, Co Pilot; and 1st Lt. A. M. Hambor, Navigator; all of the 303rd Bomb Wing. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index) Feb. 24, 1958; Santa Antonio de Jesus (near), Brazil Cat. 3. Car motor failed; passengers then noticed a Saturn-shaped disc hovering overhead. Feb. 25, 1958; Glenwood, Newfoundland (BBU)
12:10 a.m. (AST). Johnson. (McDonald list; FUFOR
Index)
Feb. 25, 1958; Gander AFB,
Newfoundland (BBU)
2:30 a.m. AST. There was a radar sighting of an object that moved SE to NW on a very erratic zigzagging course at a range of 12 to 15 miles at an azimuth of 150 to 300 degrees. Aircraft and balloon were ruled out as the source of radar target. Later there was a ground visual sighting in the area. (McDonald list; FUFOR Index) March 2 [1?], 1958; Tampa, Florida (BBU)
7:45 [8:45?] p.m. Francis saw a balloon-shaped
object with bright light land on the airfield then
take off slowly and hover at 750 ft altitude before
disappearing. (Vallée Magonia 461; FUFOR Index)
March 3, 1958; Nr. Marshall, Texas
Family saw two bright, planet-like objects with 6 or 7 smaller lights moving around them. [UFOE, II] March 8, 1958; Korea Air Force radar tracked slowly descending UFO. [UFOE, VIII] March 9, 1958; Panama Canal Zone At around 2000 hours an unidentified object was picked up on search radar approaching the Pacific side of the Isthmus of Panama. At 2045 hours two additional blips were observed. These returns were transferred to track radar. During the period of observation the radar lock was broken, the equipment immediately picked up the target and locked on again. A second radar tracking station also locked onto the return. The manner of flight of the objects was steady, slightly circular path over the vicinity of Fort Kobbe, Canal Zone. There was such rapid movement of the object that it broke the lock of the track radar. It was assumed that these were solid objects as track radar can only be locked on a solid object. At 2400 hours, radar advised that as soon as a searchlight was employed the object became evasive. (17 docs from PBB files secured by Dan Wilson) March 14, 1958; Healdsburg, Calif. (BBU 5716)
8:45 a.m. Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Cummings and another
saw a 3 ft round, black object come from the W,
touch the ground 50 ft away in the backyard, then
take off to the E, turn S, and disappear. (Berliner;
cf. Vallée Magonia, 462)
March 20, 1958; Henrietta, Missouri
Saturn-like disc descended, hovered, moved away. [UFOE, XII] March 31, 1958; Walnut Ridge AFS, Arkansas At 12:37 p.m. local time, an object was picked up on an FPS-6 radar at 64,000 feet traveling at 1300 knots. The object was seen on radar for 6 minutes at a bearing from 141 degrees to 132 degrees. The unit picking up this target was the 725th AC&W Squadron. (Dan Wilson) April 2, 1958; Columbus, Ohio
Cigar-shaped UFO with long row of "portholes or windows." [UFOE, XII] April 4, 1958; Santa Monica, Calif.
Cigar-shaped UFO with "windows" observed in rapid vertical climb. [UFOE, XII] April
7, 1958; Dayton Airport, Ohio (BBU)
7: 30 p.m. EST. A
civilian pilot by the name of Hilt, flying in a
Piper aircraft observed a very large dark blue
cloud-like object to the south very low to the
ground. The object was last seen moving vertical
to the SW. According to the USAF Technical
Information Sheet the object appeared to stand
still for a time and then suddenly sped up and
rushed away. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)
April 7, 1958; Newport Beach, California Police watched two UFOs with flashing body lights, maneuver near coastline. [UFOE, VII] Similar sightings for two nights in El Toro and Santa Ana. April 9, 1958; Cleveland, Ohio Nine yellow UFOs in V-formation; split into two groups (5 and 4). [UFOE, II] April 11, 1958; Johannesburg, S. Africa Airport instrument inspector, others watched reddish-white UFO arc back and forth. [UFOE, X] April 14, 1958; Lynchburg, Virginia (BBU 5763) 12:20 p.m. EST. Major D. G. Tilley was flying a C-47 at 6,000 feet altitude when a grey-black rectangular object that was rotating slowly around a central axis appeared at 15 to 20 degrees above the horizon in a straight path and passed below the left wing at a distance estimated at 1,000 feet. The object appeared to be made of heavy iron of solid construction and slightly molten. The object was on a a slight descending path and was lost from sight as it plunged into the ground. The length of observation was approximately 4 seconds. (Berliner; FUFOR Index, Dan Wilson, BB files) April 14, 1958; Albuquerque, N. Mex.
Air Force Staff Sergeant saw large formation of unidentified lights. [UFOE, III] May ?,1958; Richmond, Virginia Cat. 3. Engine of car began running roughly, driver then noticed UFO following car. May 3, 1958; Flagstaff, Ariz. (BBU). 8:25 a.m. PST. A white object with the appearance
of an elongated balloon was observed by a USMC pilot
in an F3D aircraft flying at 35,000 feet. The object
was detected on airborne radar. The object was said
the be the size of a basketball held at arm's length
and appeared to be motionless. At the radar station
SM-163 (Las Vegas AFS, Nevada?), they were unable to
make radar contact with the Marine aircraft or the
unidentified object due to a local maintenance
situation. The length of the observation was 15
minutes. (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)
May 5, 1958; Pan De Azucar, Uraguay Cat. 3, 11. Aerial encounter, heat, between Piper Cub and "top-shaped" object. Well-known pilot watched a brilliant object come near his plane, felt intense heat. [UFOE, X] May 9, 1958; Bohol Island, Philippines (BBU 5800)
11:05 a.m. Philippine Airlines pilot saw an
object with a shiny, metallic surface, falling and
spinning. (Berliner)
May 15, 1958; Caracas, Venezuela (BBU) Time: ??. Venezuelan Air Force aircraft pilot saw
a formation of circular saucers disappear in the NW
at high speed. (Project 1947)
May (middle), 1958; Malmstrom AFB, Montana Nighttime. UFO approached from the north and hovered over the alert hanger, at about 1,000 feet, appeared as a round metallic looking object (called a flying saucer by the guard), no estimate of size is recalled, nor any other details on the object itself. The base radar 1-1/2 miles distant picked up the object as did the FAA radar about five miles away across the city of Great Falls. Object was apparently hovering over the alert hanger and atomic missile and bomb storage building right nearby. Object then slowly moved down the length of the runway, then moved across town (about 3 miles) to the Municipal Airport at Great Falls and hovered over the National Guard (F-89) parking ramp, then flew off. (Jan Aldrich, Bay Area Subcommittee NICAP) May 15, 1958; Fort Bragg, North Carolina (BBU)
10:57 p.m. (EDT). Military pilot Beck [?] and 2
civilian airline pilots saw an orange round object
heading N at high speed. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)
May 17, 1958; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
UFO sped away when light was shone at it. [UFOE, II] May 25, 1958; Kirchberg, Hunsruck, Germany
Circular silvery UFO observed moving through clouds. [UFOE, X] May 27, 1958; Bahia State Coast, Brazil
Varig Airlines pilot watched a brightly luminous circular object maneuver under his plane. [UFOE, X] May 28, 1958; Templehof, Germany (BBU)
1:30 p.m. (GMT). (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)
June 1958.
Richard Hall
arrives at the National Investigations Committee
on Aerial Phenomena, 1536 Connecticut Ave., N.W.,
Washington, D.C., where he served for ten years.June 4, 1958; Sarasota, Florida
White oval-shaped object zigzagged overhead. [UFOE, XII] June 9, 1958; Central Puget
Sound, Wash. (BBU)
10:17 a.m. (PST). USAF 1st Lt. Charles Scharf, pilot of F102 jet fighter (no. 1425) with 318th FI Sq. McChord AFB, Tacoma, Wash., and ground witnesses [?] saw a pinkish-whitish cylindrical object (length/width ratio 12:1) with a slight orange tint [?] and a dark circle in the center approaching at high speed at about 30° elevation with an oscillating motion. F-102 was heading S or 180° between 40,000 and 50,000 ft at about 600 mph. Pilot banked left to keep object in sight, object continued N, then climbed, decelerated, made a large 360° orbit, then circled the jet 3 times as it descended closer. Object finally pitched up 45° and accelerated in a climb, rapidly disappearing on a NW heading. (NARCAP; Project 1947; FUFOR Index) 5:26 a.m. (CDT). Military pilot saw an oval
reddish object the size of a pinhead [at arm's
length?] on a S to NE course. (Project 1947)
June 14, 1958; Pueblo, Colo.
(BBU 5852)June 13,
1958 Casino, New South Wales, Australia
23:45 hrs
local time. Brian Crittenden (21) was leaving a
property when he saw a dome-shaped light with a
long, narrow light underneath. It approached him
from the east. He got into his car and sped
homewards. The object followed him for the next
three miles, and appeared to be only about 50
yards away, and 30 feet high, during this time.
Although he was travelling at 65-70 miles per
hour, the object overtook the vehicle; hovered
for a few seconds, then swooped low over the
car. It repeated this behavior several times as
he travelled the next four miles. Crittenden
said the car radio developed interference, as
the object approached him. The weather was
cloudy; the car windows were down; and he had
drunk no alcohol. Total duration was 15 minutes.
The object disappeared in the city lights of
Casino. (Source:
Chalker, Bill. The Oz Files. 1996. Duffy &
Snellgrove. Potts Point, NSW. Pp 87-88. Citing
UFO Bulletin. 1958, UFOIC)
10:46 a.m. Airport weather observer O. R. Foster,
using a theodolite, sighted an object shaped like
Saturn, less the bottom part, silver with no
metallic luster, which flew overhead. [See new
detailed update and documents] (Don Berliner, Keith
Basterfield)
June 20, 1958; Fort Bragg, North Carolina (BBU 5857) 11:05 p.m. Battalion Communication Chief SFC A.
Parsley saw a silver, circular object, its lower
portion seen through a green haze, hover, then
oscillate slightly, then move at great speed.
(Berliner)
June 23, 1958; Nr. England AFB, Louisiana State policeman photographed two round UFOs. [UFOE, VIII] Summer 1958; Air Force Base, Southwest United States Two maneuvering UFOs evaded jet interceptors. [UFOE, VIII] July 17, 1958; Chitose AFB, Japan Radar-visual sighting of circling reddish light. [UFOE, III] July 20, 1958; 4 miles N of Glennie, Mich. (BBU)
2 p.m. (CDT). 3 independent witnesses heard an
object hit water of a private lake making a circle
10 ft across with foam on edge of circle 2-3 ft
high, making loud sound heard 200 yards away. Object
sizzled 1.5 mins, zigzagged across surface 200 ft
with violent motion, then sank into 50 ft depth of
water as circling died out. (Tony Rullan)
July 20, 1958; Crystal Lake, NW of Chicago,
Illinois (BBU)
5:07 p.m. (CDT). Pilot Allyn saw a white disc the
size of a basketball [at arm's length??] in straight
line flight. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)
Aug. 3, 1958; Rome, ItalyJuly 20, 1958; North of Hamar, Norway (BB) 9:24 p.m. local. Two bright white rocket-shaped oblong objects with blue gas trails 7 times the length of the objects were observed by a US Naval aircraft flying at 8,000 feet 12 miles north of Hamar, Norway. The objects were were on an approximate course of 330 degrees true. The object on the right appeared to be ahead. One object appeared to veer off as they came aft of the aircraft. Three witness aboard the aircraft including two experienced Naval pilots sighted the objects. Defense observers in northern Sweden reported that they had seen on the same night a huge fireball that resembled a rocket. It was seen in the northwestern sky at a height of about 1,500 feet. (Dan Wilson) July 26, 1958; Durango, Colorado Ground Observer Corps Supervisor spotted a round silvery object moving "at tremendous speed." [UFOE, VII] Luminous UFO observed passing overhead as city lights failed; one report of car radio failure. (Item 72, 1960 NICAP report) Aug. 4, 1958; Malmstrom AFB, Montana (BBU) 11:15 p.m. (MDT). <>A/2C Bejnard G. Bell,
29th FIS roving aircraft guard, observed a delta
wing-shaped object, flying directly overhead. The
object was silver in color and appeared as large as
a volleyball at arm's length, was solid in shape
with no openings, no props, no exhaust, no tail
section, and no conventional means of motivation
visible. The object made a varied pitch whistling
sound, but was much quieter than a jet. The object
moved gradually to the north and was observed for
approximately 30 seconds. The object was picked up
on the approach control radar for four sweeps at
Malmstrom AFB. No scramble of aircraft was ordered.
Officials at ATIC were not happy about no scramble
being made and apparent non-compliance with AF
Reg. 200-2, specifically Par 1, (Requirement for
rapid identification). (McDonald list, Dan Wilson)
Aug. 11, 1958; Osel Island and Gulf of Finland (BBU)
(McDonald list)
August 11, 1958Chautauqua Lake, N. Y.
Engineering professor observed unidentified lights arranged as if on oval object. [UFOE, VI] Aug. 12 [13?], 1958; 12 miles NW of Las Vegas,
Nevada (BBU)
1:30 a.m. (MDT). Witness Burgy. (Hynek UFO Rpt p.
43)
August 17, 1958; Kansas City, Kansas
Dome-shaped disc with "portholes" followed
jets, hovered. [NICAP, XII]
Aug. 18, 1958. Warren, Mich (BBU 5999) 7:05 (or 7:10) p.m. (CDT). Business machine repairman Alex D. Chisholm with Walter Milanion and latter’s wife and possibly young daughter saw an extremely bright point source light much brighter than Venus or stars when a flight of 4 aircraft drew his attention (sighting was in daylight) [sunset at about 7:31 p.m. CDT]. Object was viewed through 8x 30 mm Japanese military artillery-observer field glasses and seen to be Saturn-shaped grayish object like a “fried egg in pan” later seen when flipping over to be surrounded by another ring but elongated. Object size estimated at about 60 ft, was stationary for 5-8 mins at about 70-75° elevation 300° azimuth in the WNW, flip over and speed away [radially?] in 30 secs. (Sparks; Barry Greenwood NICAP files; BB Berliner; Martin Shough; files; etc.) August 24, 1958; Westwood, N. J.
Police reported a circular, orange UFO which hovered, sped away. [UFOE, VII] Aug. 27, 1958; South
Atlantic, 38.5 deg. South, 11.5 deg. West
02:28 GMT. Argus Test 1. High altitude missile test, 100 miles, 1.7 kiloton. Fired by USS Norton Sound. Aug. 28, 1958; Georgetown, OH 4:20 PM. Close encounter by three witnesses, two were highway patrolmen. Huge silver disc, apparently hovering over a field in broad daylight. (MORA #11, page 15) Aug. 30, 1958; South Atlantic,
49.5 deg. South, 8.2 deg. West
03:18 GMT. Argus Test II. High
altitude missile test, 182 miles, 1.7 kiloton. Fired
by USS Norton Sound.
Aug. 30, 1958; Gray AFB, Killeen,
Texas (BBU)
At 1:45 p.m. CDT, one target was observed on radar at 170 degrees at 30 miles distance. After two minutes the target disappeared on a heading of 175 degrees at a range of 140 miles. The estimated speed of the object was 3,300 knots. The witnesses stated that the target was not like any interference ever observed and did not differ from other IFF targets in any respect except speed. (McDonald list, Dan Wilson) Aug. 31, 1958; La Verde, Argentina Piper aircraft engine increased its revolutions abnormally during UFO sighting. Engine normal after UFO left. (Item 73, 1960 NICAP report) Sept. 1, 1958; Wheelus AFB, Tripoli, Libya (BBU
6027)
12:15 a.m. Philco technical representative A. M.
Slaton saw a round, blue-white object fly at varying
speeds. (Berliner)
2:06 a.m. (EDT). Pan Am airline pilot saw a
bright light move E to W, tracked on airborne radar
[?]. (Project 1947; McDonald list)
Sept. 6, 1958; South Atlantic,
48.5 deg. South, 9.7 deg. West
22:13 GMT. Argus Test III. High
altitude missile test, 466 miles, 1.7 kiloton. Fired
by USS Norton Sound.
Sept. 7, 1958; Miles City AFS, Ellsworth AFB, Nort Dakota (BBU) 5:08 a.m. (MDT). Radar returns were indicated on
MPS-14, MPS-7 and FPS-6 radars. The radar return on
MPS-14 appeared as aircraft return. The object(s)
appeared to move up and down rapidly in a circular
flight path. The object(s) appeared to orbit
NW of Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. Two aircraft were
scrambled (F-89J?) during the incident. ((Project
1947; McDonald list, Dan Wilson)
September 7, 1958; Mission, Kansas
Publisher saw white disc speed overhead. [UFOE, VII] Sept. 8, 1958; SAC HQ, Offutt AFB,
Omaha, Neb. (BBU)
6:40 p.m. (CST). SAC Operations officer-flight-engineeer-celestial navigator Maj. Paul A, Duich, USAF, plus several USAF officers from AF Ballistic Missiles Division, Los Angeles AFS, Calif., and many other Offutt AFB officers and airmen, plus Offutt air traffic control tower personnel, saw an brilliantly white elongated cylindrical object hovering in the W at about 270° azimuth elevation 30° just after sunset [sunset at 6:46 p.m. CST at azimuth 278°], object oriented vertically with blunter end highest [about 1/10 width/length ratio]. After several mins object turned dull orange-red and became sharper in outline. A swarm of about 10 "black specks" appeared to "cavort" around the lower end of the object for about 1 min before disappearing then the cylinder object began to rotate counterclockwise so no longer oriented vertically and started drifting slowly to the S from due W and dropping in elevation angle over about 5 mins [to about 20° elevation about 268° azimuth] until oriented horizontally and diminishing in angular size. Then during final 5 mins object continued angular descent and S drift and gradual decrease in angular size but began rotating orientation back clockwise to about 45° angle (10:30 o'clock) until disappearing by fading into the slight atmospheric haze in the cloudless sky at about 265° azimuth 5° elevation [angular size about 1/3 of initial size]. USAF Col. took several color photos with 35 mm camera on tripod but later claimed nothing came out. Reported to ATIC but no report in BB files. (Sparks; UFOE, III) 20 mins 25+ witnesses 10-20? Full Moons SAC HQ + photos? Sept. 14, 1958; Wheelus AFB,
Tripoli, Libya (BBU)
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. local time. There were unidentified returns on radar scopes. The returns were similar in size and intensity to returns from an aircraft. GCA detected a return at 400 feet altitude, 1-1/2 miles distant, bearing 110 degrees. GCI detected a return at 700 feet altitude 30 miles northeast of the station. GCA lost the return at 400 feet 1-1/2 half miles, bearing 260 degrees. GCI lost the return in the ground clutter approximately two miles from the approach end of runway 29. GCA reported that it entered the precision approach scope from the north and then crisscrossed back and forth on it, sometimes passing completely off the scope. GCA also reported that it showed on the area surveillance radar scope in almost all directions. GCI reported that the object was tracked inbound to the coast at which time it veered to the south. The altitude of the return varied from 200 to 1000 feet and speeds ranging from 25 to 80 knots. (Dan Wilson, McDonald files, Brad Sparks) Sept. 21, 1958. Sheffield Lake, Ohio (BBU)
3 a.m. Civilian woman (Mrs. William Fitzgerald)
inside her house saw a circular, aluminum color
flat object, 20 ft diameter, 6 ft thick, hovering 5
ft above ground, making a jet like sound. Object
wobbled and emitted gray smoke before rising and
taking off. (UFOE, IX; Vallée Magonia, 471)
Sept. 23, 1958; Kindley AFB, Bermuda (BBU) 12:20 a.m. local time. The Kindley Control Tower operator visually sighted a red light at an altitude of approximately 3,000 to 4,000 feet which appeared to be traveling at great speed. The object was in sight for about one minute. At the same time the radar operator on duty picked up an object which traveled in several directions at a speed of more than Mach 1. The object faded from the radar scope as if it were very high or low. The radar contact was made 4 times in about 7 or 8 minutes. (McDonald list) Oct. 2, 1958; Stroudsburg, Penna. (BBU 6089)
2:30 p.m. Naturalist Ivan Sanderson saw a
dull-grey object, shaped like a pickle with a flat
bottom, fly erratically in loops. (Berliner)
Oct. 3, 1958; Fukushima-Ken, JapanOctober 2,1958; Nr. Blairstown, New Jersey
Zoologist watched disc circling and maneuvering. [UFOE, VI] Cat. 3. Portable radio emitted strange buzz as green fireball passed. Oct. 3, 1958; Wasco to Kirklin, Indiana 3:10 a.m. A Monon Railroad freight train was proceeding through Clinton County when a formation of four odd white lights crossed ahead of the train. The UFOs turned and traversed the full length of the train, front to back (about a half mile) observed by the entire crew. After passing the rear of the train, the objects swung east, turned back and followed the train. The bright glow concealed the exact shape of the UFOs, but they appeared flattened and some times flew on edge. Operating part of the time in-line abreast with coordinated motions, the objects followed the train until the conductor shone a bright light on them. Immediately, the UFOs sped away, but returned quickly and continued to pace the train. Total time of observation: about 1 hour 10 minutes. Finally the UFOs moved away to the northeast and disappeared. The coordinated maneuvers in formation, reaction to a bright beam of light, and pacing of the train, all suggest some form of intelligence. (FATE, Feb 1959, NICAP UFOE, page 9) Oct. 7, 1958; Alexandria, Virginia (BBU) 6:02 p.m. (EDT). John R. Townsend, Special
Assistant for Research & Engineering to the
Asst. Secretary of Defense, saw a large stationary
sharply outlined Saturn-shaped "silvery" or
"aluminum clad" oblate spherical object (with
"gossamer" surface appearance) with a rim or girdle
around its equator in clear sky due S azimuth about
180° at about 20° elevation for about 10 secs, which
started rapidly rising at an estimated speed of
1,000 mph and disappeared due to extreme distance at
about 30° to 35° elevation still due S after 40
secs, with the impression it was heading away from
him to the S growing smaller until unable to be seen
[apparently increased distance to at least 400 miles
to drop below minimum visual resolution, at about
36,000 mph average velocity at 80 g's acceleration
to an altitude of about 200 miles, terminal velocity
about 72,000 mph]. Witness estimated angular
size 3° and actual size 600 ft at distance 3
nautical miles, using the passing and turning
Capitol Airlines Flight 407 at 2 miles distance
during the sighting as aerial distance reference
point. Townsend was familiar with standard
takeoff pattern of flights from Washington National
Airport and said that the airliner he saw during the
sighting headed S on a track about 1 mile to his
left (along the Potomac River) and then turned right
across his field of view of the object. Pilot
of Capitol Flight 407 took off in a DC-4 at 5:59
p.m. (EDT) from Washington National heading S and
climbed to 2,000 ft and as he was turning right to a
W heading out of the traffic pattern [at about 6:02
p.m.] he saw an "unidentified aircraft" with "nose
light" at about 3,000 ft heading N, seen in the
direction of or over Beacon Field 3 miles to the W
(at about azimuth 265° so object was in the glare of
the setting sun at approximately elevation 7°
azimuth 258° and may have been reflecting the
sunlight so as to appear to have a "nose
light"). Thus sighting lines crossed with
Townsend at right angles, establishing distance and
location of object by triangulation as 2 miles S of
Townsend at about 3,000 ft altitude and 1 mile W of
the airliner, or at 38°46'N, 77° 3'W, and thus
actual size as about 500 ft and angular elevation to
Townsend about 17° in close agreement with
Townsend's measurement (done by protractor after the
sighting) and in exact agreement with pilot estimate
of 3,000 ft altitude of object. No sound.
Townsend reenacted the timing by walking the half
block down the N-S running Lee Street (which runs
toward 190° True azimuth). Projected target
radiant at ascent angle of about 30° at about
azimuth 180° is at 17 hrs Right Ascension -20°
Declination. (Sparks; Jan Aldrich; Loren
Gross Oct. 1958 pp. 22-24, 26) 50 secs 2+ witnesses
6 Full Moons highest DoD R&D official;
air-ground triangulation
Oct. 7, 1958; Nantucket, Mass.
Ship's Master, others watched a grayish oval object hover for several minutes, then climb away at high speed. [UFOE, VII] Dr. Yuri I. Danikov, a leading Moscow glacier expert, was one of four of four men who were 'pestered' by a low-flying, silvery disk. (Loren Gross, 1958: OCTOBER, UFOs: A History, 54) Oct. 11, 1958; Laredo Test Center, Texas (BBU) At 1:22 a.m. local time, a radar target was picked up on a ground radar at the Laredo Test Site at at a range of 454 nautical miles and at 462 nautical miles at a height of 64 nautical miles. The targets lasted for a total of 28 seconds. One possible conclusion given says: (b) two meteors occurring in the same portion of space at very nearly the same time. According to the documents, two targets were observed. One target lasted for 27.3 seconds and the range of the target changed from 462 nmi. to 467 nmi. The target was observed in three of four beams being energized. The radar being used was an AN/FPS-17(XW-2). (McDonald list) October 12, 1958; Aurora, Illinois Police reported several yellowish UFOs moving in all directions. [UFOE, VII] Oct. 17, 1958; Grand Rapids, Mich. (BBU)
(Hynek UFO Rpt p. 44)
Oct. 26, 1958; Lafayette, Indiana
Research chemist saw 2-3 bright objects pass through field of telescope. [VI] Oct.
26, 1958; Loch Raven Dam, Maryland (BBU 6148)
10:30 p.m. Phillip Small and Alvin Cohen saw
a large, flat egg-shaped object, flying low
about 100-150 ft above the bridge, which
affected their car's electrical system and
caused a burning sensation, rose vertically and
disappeared in 5-10 secs. (Hynek UFO Exp ch. 9,
case CEII-4)
Oct. 27, 1958; Union Dale, Penna. (BBU)
Large gray cigar like object with an assembly
tail flew at treetop height, making a strong
"swishing" sound. (Vallée Magonia 472)
Oct. 31, 1958. Caledon East, Ontario, Canada
(BBU)
3:50 p.m. Civilian saw an elliptical,
aluminum-colored object at 6,000 ft altitude,
coming down to 12 ft, flying up and down by sudden
jumps, stopping at ground level less than 600 ft
away for 5 mins. A red light appeared at one end
of the object, which gradually took a fiery color,
then exploded. Witness ran away. (Vallée Magonia
473)
Nov. 1958; DEW Line (Distant Early Warning)
Radar tracked UFO which descended, moved horizontally, climbed out of radar beam. [UFOE, VIII] Nov. 3, 1958. Minot [AFB?], North Dakota (BBU)
2:01 p.m. [USAF?] Medic M/Sgt. William R.
Butler saw a bright green object, shaped like a
dime coin, and one smaller, silver round object.
First object exploded, then second object moved
toward the location of the first at high speed.
(Berliner)
Nov. 4, 1958; Pope AFB, North Carolina (BBU) 4:03 [9:03?] p.m. (EST). USAF pilot of a
landing KB-50 tanker and USAF tower personnel saw
an object with strange lights on collision course.
Pilot and crew also noticed that "strange lights"
were observed inside the cockpit. Pilot aborted
landing, climbed and flew around to observe
object. Pope AFB tower personnel had watched
object hovering above the base through binoculars
for 20 mins. (NARCAP)
Nov. 5, 1958; Conway, N. H.
Hovering light suddenly sped away. [UFOE, XII] Nov. 8, 1958. Brazilia, Brazil (BBU) 2 p.m. (EST). Brazilian [?] Air Force pilot and
500 ground observers saw a moving saucer at 40,000
ft. (Project 1947)
Nov. 13, 1958; Troy Peak & Tonopah, Nevada (BBU) 8:29 a.m.PST. Radars picked up a fairly stationary object at 279 degrees azimuth, range of 26 miles, angle of elevation was 40 degrees, moving quite slowly to the ENE. This occurred four times during an eight hour period. These objects were all in the same area at the same altitude. FPS-20, MPS-7, and MPS-14 radars were involved in the observation. (McDonald list) Nov. 19, 1958; Montauk AFB, New York (BBU)
(McDonald list)
Nov. 20, 1958; W of Calif.
coast (BBU)
At 6:15 a.m. PST, a man in the right seat of a C-118 transport flying at 11,000 feet on a heading of 60 degrees observed a round silver object traveling straight at high speed at high altitude heading toward the sun. The object was observed for 15 seconds. The C-118 was at approximately 840 miles west of Los Angeles [3447 N 133.07 W]. (Dan Wilson, BB files,Project 1947) Dec. 13, 1958, Redlands, California Photographer, John D. Penney. USAF says it was a lenticular cloud. (Vicemte-Juan Ballester Olmos) Dec. 16, 1958; Hawk Inlet, Alaska The UFO had been seen the previous day (by a fishing boat) floating on the water about 1/4 mile away. When it appeared about 70 feet above the mast, the fisherman radioed-the Coast Guard. About 5 minutes later, .the "boat's power" failed and theradio went dead. An auxiliary diesal generator was barely running but it came back to normal as the UFO flew away. (McCampbell) Dec. 17, 1958
Memorandum for Commander document on the battle between the AF and NICAP. Dec. 20, 1958; Dunellen, New Jersy Police patrol observed a bright red, pulsating elliptical object which approached, hovered, then "went straight up like a shot." [UFOE, I] |
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