This case cannot be found in the
original Blue Book files, the Randle PBB Exposed, or in the BB
Microfilms. It was found in the revised Catalog of Comprehensive
Project Blue Book Unknowns. It is now listed onsite as Cat 09, Radar
Case, and cross-indexed in Cat 03, E-M Effects Case. In May of 2005
Bruce Maccabee provided his paper from the September, 1978 MUJ,
regarding FBI documents in his possession. (See link below).
Comprehensive
Catalog of Project Blue Book Unknowns:
Jan. 22, 1950. Near Kodiak NAS,
Alaska. 2:40-4:40 a.m. USN P2V3 patrol plane pilot Lt. Smith and radar
officer A. L. C. Gaskey briefly detected a radar target 20 miles N,
then another target S of Kodiak at 2:48 a.m., possibly
the same target traveling 225 mph in between. Smith radioed Kodiak NAS
to look for other air
traffic but none was reported. Gaskey then noticed strong radar
interference preventing him
from tracking the target. At 3 a.m. watch officers Morgan and Carver on
the USS Tillamook
S of Kodiak island saw a maneuvering red exhaust-like or orange ball of
fire circle the Kodiak area in 30 secs clockwise beginning and ending
in the SE. At 4:40 a.m., P2V3 radar
picked up fast moving target at 5 miles which closed that distance in
10 secs (1,800 mph) to
dead ahead position, where it was seen as "two orange lights rotating
about a common center like two jet aircraft making slow rolls in tight
formation." Smith tried to pursue but object
came at him in a "highly threatening gesture." Smith turned off all
aircraft lights to
reduce visibility, object flew off to the SE disappearing in 4 mins.
(Project 1947; BB files??)
Joel Carpenter:
The Lockheed P2V Neptune involved in the case appears to have been
a P2V-3W model. The Neptune was usually used as an antisubmarine patrol
bomber, but in this case it was actually an airborne early warning
aircraft, an early type of AWACS, equipped with an AN/APS-20 airborne
search radar in a belly blister.
P2V3W Photo
It makes a little more sense out of the observation if the track was
picked up by an AWACS plane rather than just on the weather or
sea-search radar sets of a regular P2V. The APS-20 was an old standby
of airborne warning radar systems.
