Correspondence Relating to Project Blue Book, 1955

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Director of Flight Operations
9-7-55
Captain F. W. Cushing
FLIGHT 14 - SEPTEMBER 6, 1955
On Flight 14 of the 6th at approximately 1925 EST, geographical
position approximately 16 nautical miles north of the POU Ound
Range, 004 degree track, at 5000 ft. with a clear sky above,
unlimited visibility horizontally and a smoke layer below,
sighted an unidentified object with a blue-white exhaust flame
between a half mile or mile directly ahead at approximately
1000 ft. above our position on what appeared to be about a 200-
210 degree heading in about a 15-20 degree angle descent.
In approximately 3 seconds the object had moved from directly
in front of us to about 100 degrees from our track placing it
off our left beam and vas then omitting a lot of sparks as well
as the blue flame. At that time, it exploded with a blinding flash within,
I would say, as half mile or mile of our position.
Flight 412, who, I believe, vas in the vicinity of ALB at about
8000 ft. reported seeing the flash although he was northbound.
Southbound Flight 33, who vas approximately just south of Cox-
sackie at about 6000 ft., also reported seeing the flash.
I could not see what the object was except that it appeared
like a rocket ship - although that is, perhaps, partially
imagination because all I really got a look at Vas this trail
of flame and, just before it exploded, it seemed like pictures
I have seen of a stage falling off of a rocket. I don't think
it vas an airplane as I did not observe any position lights.
1 feel certain that 1t was not a meteor as we had been looking
in that direction and it just appeared. There vas no trace of
it until it got right in front of US. Its speed didnot seem
to have been in excess of 400-500 mph.
FWC:GA
F. W. Cushing
4. J. Schecht
First Officer