Category: 09; Radar Cases
Subject:
Secret Report: Unidentified Radar Return
Date:
April 4, 1952
Location:
Duncanville, TX
Francis
Ridge:
I had discovered MAXW-PBB9-1289
(see
below) while looking for something else. It was an AIIR (Air
Intelligence Information Report) about a radar sighting at Duncanville,
TX . The report stated it had happened on April 5th. Since I was
working on White Sands cases I set it aside. The, a week later, I
stumbled across another reference. NARA-PBB85-654 mentioned an
unidentified radar return. It was marked with brackets as secret.
However, it was listed as having occurred on April 8th at 2000 hours
(8:00 PM). I checked the NICAP Db and it wasn't there, so I then went
to the "Bluelist", the outdated PBB Unknowns. Duncanville was listed,
as Item 1095, as April 5th. Finally, I went to the best source, the
Comprehensive Catalog of Project Blue Book Unknowns by Brad Sparks and
found this:
April 4, 1952. Duncanville,
Texas (32°38.8' N, 96°54.3' W). 8:30 p.m. (CST)
USAF
Cpl. Billy D. Greer and PFC John W. Harrington of the Radar Maintenance
Section,
147th AC&W Squadron, tracked unidentified target by FPS-10 radar
first to
the
NW at 310°-315° azimuth at about 70 nautical miles (80 miles)
moving
at high speed of about 2,160 knots (2,500 mph) until it disappeared off
the scope
at maximum range of 260 n.mi. (300 miles). Height-finder reading
not
taken, estimated at 42,000+ ft due to radar beam coverage at max
range.
(Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)
For
reports, documentation, analysis or discussions - see below:
