Air Materiel Command Report on Unidentified Flying Objects, 1947-1948

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(6) On 4 August, 1947, the pilot and co-pilot of a DC-3, flying for Al Jones, were near Bethel, Alaska, when they saw a flying disc larger than their DC-3. Their airplane was flying 170 mph, but the disc flew out of sight in four minutes.

(7) On 12 November, 1947, two flying discs trailing jet-like streams of fire were sighted from the bridge of the tanker Ticonderoga, according to Second Officer Claude Lee Williamson. The Ticonderoga was 20 miles off the Oregon shore. Williamson said the two discs were in sight 45 seconds, moving at a speed estimated at 700-900 mph out of the north horizon and curving westerly in a long, low arc.

c. Typical of the observations made of lights and trails rather than discs or objects, are these three:

(1) On 28 June, 1947, four USAF officers observed a light from some object which did not fly like a conventional aircraft. The light was sighted over Maxwell Field, Alabama.

(2) On 6 July, 1947, several persons, including a USAF sergeant, saw a strangely moving light over Birmingham, Alabama. A photograph was taken.

(3) On 12 September, 1947, the pilot and co-pilot of a Pan American aircraft, passing Necker Island at 0558 OCT, on route from Midway to Honolulu, saw a blue-white light approaching, changing to a reddish glow upon withdrawal. The pilot estimated speed of the light at about 1,000 knots.

d. The three United States radar intercepts of unidentified radar targets flying near or over Japan are as follows:

(1) On 1 July, 1947, a GCA radar at Chitose AAB, Hokkaido, Japan picked up a target at 16 miles, speed in excess of 500 mph. This target split up into two targets, each larger than a P-51.

(2) On 28 August, 1947, a MEW radar at Fukuoka, Japan picked up a target at 26 miles in instrument weather. Target withdrew in a climb to 54 miles before it faded.

(3) On 16 September, 1947, the same MEW radar at Fukuoka, Japan picked up a target at 89 miles and tracked it in to 19 miles, where it faded. Speed was 840 to 900 miles per hour. This observation indicates use of a homing receiver; fading at short range further indicates the possibility of good radar evasion technique. The speed measurement is believed accurate, since it was made by a good crew, through a 70-mile long track.

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