Franklin Eisele Statement
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CHECK-LIST UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
1. Date 7 January 1948 Incident #30c
2. Time Around 1940
3. Location Lockbourne AAB, Columbus, Ohio
4. Name of observer Mr. Eisele
5. Occupation of observer DF Operator, Lockbourne Control Tower
6. Address of observer Lockbourne AAB, Columbus, Ohio
7. Place of observation Ground, Lockbourne AAB
8. Number of objects 1
9. Distance of object from observer An estimated 5 miles although rpts f/Godman, Clinton Cy Airport & relayed rpts f/Columbus, O, indicated much greater distance
10. Time in Sight around 15 minutes
11. Altitude 5,000 ft
12. Speed 500 MPH as indicated by rpts f/Godman & Clinton Cy Airport
13. Direction of flight appeared to hover but performed elliptical , counter-clockwise course when it descended to horizon (4) remained stationary
(3) returning original position (3)
14. Tactics see 13
15. Sound No sound
16. Size about size of runway light when viewed from 500 ft apparently enormous see 9 above
17. Color red to amber-yellow
18. Shape circular
19. Odor detected N/S
20. Apparent construction N/S
21. Exhaust trails thin wisp of trail five times diameter of object
22. Weather conditions high overcast
23. Effect on clouds N/S was under overcast
24. Sketches or photographs none
25. Manner of disappearance faded and lowered into horizon
26. Remarks (over)
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Object first seen 15° above horizon in the West-Southwest of Lockbourne emitting a ruddy red light which changed to an amber-yellow at intervals not exceeding 1 to 2 seconds. Its size and magnitude were greater than that of any star a good comparison of the size and magnitude would be a runway light at full intensity viewed from a distance of 500 ft. Shape circular with the exception of a thin wisp of tail extending towards the horizon, the tail being 5 times the diameter of the object in length. For approximately 10 minutes it remained motionless, thereupon it descended to the horizon in about 4, hovered on the horizon in 3, then ascended to its original position in about 3, the course being elliptical, counter clockwise. It them faded and lowered toward the horizon disappearing at 1955. No sound was heard from the object at any time.
Note: Object appeared about 5 miles from Lockbourne, however info received f/Godman Fld and Clinton
County Tower plus a relayed report from a pilot over Columbus, O., indicated that they all had
Observed a similar phenomenon in the same general direction and position at the same time.
RELIABILITY: Witness spent 37 mos in AF in communications work including C.W. and Control
Tower Operation. Holds valid CAA Certificate fro Control Tower Operator and
Aircraft Communications and has worked at Lockbourne in this type of work for
over 1-1/2 yrs. Enthusiast of astronomy.
CORROBORATED ACCOUNT: See also Incidents 30, 30a and 30b
Source: http://www.nicap.org/bb/USAF-SIGN1-258.jpg (http://www.bluebookarchive.org/page.aspx?PageCode=USAF-SIGN1-258)
DETACHMENT 733rd AF BASE UNIT
103rd AACS SQUARDON
LOCKBOURNE ARMY AIR BASE
COLUMBUS 17, OHIO
SUBJECT: Report of Unusual Circumstance.
TO: Commanding Officer, 332d Fighter Wing, Lockbourne Army Air Base, Columbus 17, Ohio
At approximately 1940 hours January 7, the Control Tower Operator advised me that he had been observing a strange light in the Southwest for sometime. However by the time I reached the entrance steps in front of the Operations Building the light had disappeared. I had not returned to my position for more than 2 minutes when the tower operator advised the light had again appeared. I returned to the operations steps and this time I saw the object.
It was 15 degrees above the horizon to the West Southwest of Lockbourne, emitting a ruddy red light changing to an amber-yellow at intervals not exceeding 1 to 2 seconds. Its size and magnitude was greater than that of any star. A good comparison of size and magnitude would be with one of the runway lights turned on at full intensity as viewed from a distance of 500 feet.
Its shape appeared to be circular with the exception of a thin wisp of tail extending towards the horizon the tails length being 5 diameters of the object long. From the time I first saw the object to approximately 1950 hours, it appeared to remain motionless in the sky. At this time the object descended to the horizon in an interval of about 4 seconds, hovered on the horizon for about 3 seconds, and then ascended to its original position in an interval of 3 seconds. Its course was elliptical, counter clock wise. It then faded and lowered towards the horizon and disappeared at 1955 hours. There was no sound audible from the object at any time.
Its distance appeared to be about 5 miles from Lockbourne. However, information received from Clinton County Tower that they too observed a similar or the same object in the same general direction and position at the same time as our observations at Lockbourne. If the object were the same the distance would be much greater than 5 miles, and velocity well to the excess of 500 miles per hour. The object actually looked to be traveling at a speed around 500 miles per hour.
1
Incl #1
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Ltr, Subj: Report of Unusual Circumstance (16 Jan 48 (Contd) Inc #30c
Flight Service also advised that Godman Field observed a similar phenominan at the same time, and that the object disappeared at 2006 hours at Godman.
Clinton advised the object they observed disappeared about 2000 hours. It is not know to me what time either Clinton or Godman first observed the object or objects. The information from Clinton and Flight Service was received by direct line telephone communication from Clinton and Flight Service at Patterson. Our Weather Department was reporting a high overcast and not one heavenly body was visible. The object apparently being under the overcast, and its erratic movement proves that it was not an astrinomical phenominan. Air Force 9944, a C-45, relayed a position report to the Lockbourne Airways, over Columbus at 1953 hours at 5000 feet, on a round robin flight from Wright Field to Washington and return. I asked him if he had seen any strange light to the West Southwest of his position and he reported that he observed a bright light off his right wing, appearing like an oversized beacon.
I have been a member of the American Museum of Natural History which is closely associated with the Hayden Planetarium of New York City for 6 years, and have always been somewhat of an enthusiast of Astronomy.
I spent 37 months in the Air Force in communications work including Command Control Tower Operation. I now hold a valid C.A.A. Certificate for Control Tower Operator and Aircraft Communications and have worked at Lockbourne in this type of work for better than 1 ½ years.
I am of sound mind and health, and am of 25 years of age. I have described the incident exactly the way I saw it, also as to what I heard on the interphones.
FRANK M.
EISELE
Airways Operator
CAF-7
Source: http://www.nicap.org/bb/USAF-SIGN1-265.jpg (http://www.bluebookarchive.org/page.aspx?PageCode=USAF-SIGN1-265)
DET 103rd AACS
LOCKBOURNE A. B. COLUMBUS, OHIO
13 JANUARY 1948
SUBJECT: Report on Unusual Circumstance Inc #30c
TO: CO 332nd FIGHTER WING LOCKBOURNE A B
At approximately 1940 hrs. Jan. 7th the Control Tower operator advised he observed an extremely strange bright light in the south west. However by the time I reached the operation steps at the entrance the light faded out. About two minutes later the Tower advised that the phenominon was visible again. This time I saw the object at about 15 degrees above the horizon to the west south west of Lockbourne. The object was extremely bright, more so then any star, I would say about as large as and as bright as one of the runway lights at full intensity as viewed from the Control Tower. It appeared to have a tapering tail about 5 diametrs long and predominantly was of a ruddy red color changing to a amber-yellow at different intervals.
The position of the object in the sky and the fact that we were reporting A high overcast at the time added to the mystery.
UP until approximately 1950 hrs the object appeared to be motionless, at this time, however, it descended to the horizon in an interval of about 3 or 4 second, hovering there for 3 or 4 seconds and then ascended to its' original position in an interval of about 3 seconds. It then rapidly began to fade and lower in the sky and disappeared about 1955 hrs.
AF9944 xntd a position report to me at 1953 hrs over Columbus at 5,000 ft on round robin out of Wright Field to Washington and return, and reported a mysterious bright light to the west south west of his position, appearing like an oversized beacon
Further information on reports from other stations observing the phenominon can be obtained from flight service at Patterson.
Franklin Eisele
S. Kaminski, E.M.
25238
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