Group /Category 9 - Radar Case

J. Allen Hynek:
An account of a Radar-Visual sighting by the captain of a Trans-Texas airliner illustrates not only the prototype of these cases but, once again, the ever- present reluctance, especially on the part of technically trained people, to report a UFO. The member of the 4602nd Air Force intelligence squadron who interviewed the pilot in this case and prepared the report to Blue Book.

Brad Sparks:
8:30 [9:35?] -9:30? p.m. (CST). Shortly after takeoff from Shreveport Airport, heading for Lake Charles, La., and climbing, Capt. Lynn Kern and FO Abbey Zimmerman flying Trans-Texas Airlines Flight 103 were told by the control tower that a small light was visible nearby. They saw the star-like blue-green pulsating [?] object hovering (approaching?) at their 10 [2?] o'clock position at about 400 ft then climbing rapidly to 1,000 ft paralleling the airliner then at 110 knots speed (130 mph later 165 mph) but at higher altitude and 1/2 mile away. Kern flashed landing lights and object responded with a beam [?] of light. 2nd blue-green pulsating object joined the first on the opposite side of the airliner (then at 9,000 ft), air crew confirmed from tower that it had both objects on radar and visually through binoculars, objects headed S at 170° climbing to about 10,000 ft and followed airliner to Converse, La., (about 45 miles S of Shreveport) where pilot queried ADC radar site, England AFS, Alexandria, La., which confirmed the 2 targets in the airliner's vicinity at 9,700 ft. Objects disappeared from sight in a cloud deck to the SW. (Hynek UFO Exp ch. 7, case RV-6; NARCAP) 1 hr ?