REPORT NO. IR-3-51E
On 10 September 1951, Major Ballard and Lt. Rogers of the 148th
Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, spotted an unidentifed object over Sandy
Hook, New Jersey.
On the same date a radar station at Ft. Monmouth reported two
targets that were unidentified, traveling over 700 mph, and giving
returns that could not be explained as being equipment malfunction,
anomalous propagation, or anything but an actual target as described in
attached report.
Bruce K. Baumgardner
Lt. Colonel, USAF
SECRET
SUBJECT: UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT
DATE OF
REPORT: 21 SEPTEMBER 1951
On 10 September, Major Ballard and Lt. Rogers were participating in a
training
flight from Dover AFB, Delaware to Mitchel AFB, New York (Direct),
when they
spotted an unidentified object over Sandy Hook, New Jersey.
The time was 1135 EDT, and the weather was CAVU. When spotted,
the object
was at an
estimated altitude of 5,000 feet. Flying at 10,000 feet the pilot
immediately
made a diving turn in his T-33 and followed and timed the object
until it
disappeared two minutes later.
Both pilots observed the strange object, which appeared to be the size
of
an F-86 but
much faster (900+ mph), disc-shaped, steady in flight with no
visible
means of propulsion, and shiny silver in color.
At 1110 EDT a radar station at Ft. Monmouth plotted an unidentified,
high
speed
(above 700 mph) object in approximately the same location.
This headquarters has no information regarding natural phenomena,
experi-
mental
aircraft or guided missiles that could have caused the observation.
Request USAF evaluation of incident be furnished this headquarters.
BRUCE K. BAUMGARDNER
Lt. Colonel, USAF
Director of Intelligence
SECRET
SECRET
On 10 September, Major Ballard and Lt. Rogers of the 148th Fighter
Interceptor
Squadron,
spotted an unidentified object over Sandy Hook, New Jersey. Their
T-33
was at
20,000 feet, the object was well below, heading southwest. Lt.
Rogers was
first to
sight the object (1135 EDT) since Major Ballard was making a position
report
Lt. Rogers followed the object in a diving turn to the left descending
to an
altitude of
about 16,000 fet with the object about 8,000 feet below and to the
right of
the aircraft. Thereafter he tried to keep a course paralleling,
but above,
that of the
object.
As soon as Major Ballard completed his radio report he was notified of
the
strange
object. Both watched it make a 90 degree turn to the left and
kept it under
observation
together while it covered approximately 20 miles before it disappeared
out to
sea. (Refer to statements of pilots and map)
Lt. Rogers, in control of the T-33, had the object in sight for about
two
minutes
with the object covering a distance of about 35 miles; Major Ballard
had the
object in
sight for less than a minute. As to the weather and description
of the
object see
attached statements.
On the same date a radar station at Ft. Monmouth reported two targets
that
were
unidentified, traveling over 700 mph, and giving returns that could not
be
explained
as being equipment malfunction, anomalous propagation, or anything but
an actual
target as described in the attached report. However, the
possibility
exists that
the news item reporting the observation by the fighter pilots could
could have
caused the imaginations of the radar observers to run wild. This
is con-
sidered
remote in view of the number of observers witnessing the scope returns
and the
fact that four such incidents are reported in two days. However,
the
possibility
is being investigated and results will be submitted upon receipt.
BRUCE K. BAUMGARDNER
LT. Colonel, USAF
Director of Intelligence
SECRET
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