Capt. James Duesler
Statement
Source: http://www.nicap.org/bb/MAXW-PBB3-719.jpg (http://www.bluebookarchive.org/page.aspx?PageCode=MAXW-PBB3-719)
HEADQUARTERS
315
AF BASE UNIT (RES TNG) A/hmg
GODMAN FIELD,
9 January 1948
At approx 1420, 7 Jan 48, I accompanied Lt. Col. E.
G. Wood to the Godman Field Control Tower to observe “an object hanging high in
the sky south of Godman”.
Shortly after reaching the tower, Col Guy F. Hix,
the Commanding Officer, was summoned; it was at that time that I first sighted
the bright silver object.
Approximately five minutes after Col. Hix came into
the tower, a flight of four P-51’s flew over Godman. An officer in the tower
requested that the Tower Operator call this flight and ask the Flight Leader to
investigate this object if he had sufficient fuel. The Flight Leader (Capt.
Thomas F. Mantell) answered that he would, and requested a bearing to this
object. At that time one member of the flight informed the leader that it was
time for him to land and broke off from the formation. This A/C was heard
requesting landing instructions from his home field, Standiford, in
In the meantime the remaining three P-51’s were
climbing on the course given to them by
Those of us in the Tower lost sight of the flight,
but could still see this object. Shortly after the last transmission, the
Flight Leader said he was at 15,000 ft, and still climbing after “it”, but that
he judged its speed to be the same as his. At that time a member of the Flight
called to the leader and requested that he “level off”, but we heard no reply
from the leader. That was the last message received from any member of the
flight by Godman.
/a/James F. Duesler, Jr.
JAMES F. DUESLER, JR.
Captain, USAF
“A CERTIFIED TRUE COPY”
JAMES F. DUESLER, JR.
CAPTAIN, USAF
Source: http://www.nicap.org/bb/NARA-PBB2-832.jpg (http://www.bluebookarchive.org/page.aspx?PageCode=NARA-PBB2-832)
CHECK-LIST – UNIDENTIFIED
FLYING OBJECTS
1. Date 7
Jan 48
Incident # 33c
2. Time 1420
CST
3. Location Control
Tower, Godman Fld
4. Name of observer Capt J. F. Duesler, Jr.
5. Occupation of observer Capt, USAF
6. Address of observer Godman Fld., Ky
7. Place of observation Godman Field Control Tower
8. Number of objects 1 at 1420
9. Distance of object from observer N/S
10. Time in Sight from 1420 to 1600 CST – Over an hour and a half
11. Altitude N/S
12. Speed 360
MPH – according to statement of Mantell
13. Direction of flight Apparently from 234° to 259°
South to west
14. Tactics N/S
15. Sound N/S
16. Size Believed
to be large
17. Color Silver
- bright
18. Shape like
tear drop – round; later, object seemed fluid
19. Odor detected N/S
20. Apparent construction N/S
21. Exhaust trails No
tail -
22. Weather conditions N/S - scattered but clear
23. Effect on clouds N/S
24. Sketches or photographs None
25. Manner of disappearance Obscured by clouds
26. Remarks (over)
Source: http://www.nicap.org/bb/NARA-PBB2-833.jpg (http://www.bluebookarchive.org/page.aspx?PageCode=NARA-PBB2-833)
At
approx 1420 7 Jan 48, Duesler accompanied by Lt Col E. G. Wood went to Godman Control
Tower to observe an unidentified aerial object. Shortly after their arrival Col
Hix, the Commanding Officer was summoned. At about this time Duesler first
sighted a bright silver object. Then Col Hix arrived. Shortly thereafter a
flight of four P-51’s flew over Godman. Leader was contacted to pursue object.
He assented and three P-51’s climbed on the course, the fourth P-51 returning
to base. Flight leader called to observe that “object was twelve o’clock high.”
Asked to describe it, he stated “it is bright and climbing away from me.” He
stated at first that it was going about 180 MPH. Then Control Tower lost sight
of the flight but could still see the object. (In connection with this, Lt Col
E. Garrison Wood, who witnessed the sighting stated that while it appeared
about 1/10 the size of a full moon, if the thing were a great distance away, as
compared to the diminishing size of the P-51’s flying toward it, it would seem
that it was at least several hundred feet in diameter.) Shortly after NG 861, the
flight leader, stated that he was “at 15,000 ft and still climbing” He stated
that he judged the speed to be the same as his or approx 360 MPH. One of his
planes then asked him to level off but no reply was heard from the flight
leader. That was the last message received from any member of the flight.
After
dark, another or the same object appeared in approx 234° from Godman at 6°
elevation. This body moved to the west (259°) and then down. The shape was
fluid but generally round with no tail, the color changing from white, to blue,
to red to yellow and had a black spot in the center at all times.
At
1600 CST it was obscured by clouds.
NOTE:
Later, an
astronomer was contacted who attempted to account for this phenomena as either
Venus or a comet.
SEE
ALSO: Report of civilians and state
police and corroborated version of this incident.
Source: http://www.nicap.org/bb/NARA-PBB2-834.jpg (http://www.bluebookarchive.org/page.aspx?PageCode=NARA-PBB2-834)
PFC
Stanley Oliver was on duty at the Control Tower at Godman Fld when Col Hix’s
office informed the tower that an unidentified object (Supposedly some 250 ft
to 300 ft in diameter) was sighted over
RELIABILITY: Witnesses: Col. Hix, (CO), Capt. Carter, Lt.
Orner & M/Sgt Blackwell
NOTE: The report of alerting the P-51 aircraft
contained in PFC Oliver’s statement and the witnesses correlates material in
the other reports.
