Journal of UFO History - Vol 2 No 6

Magazine Overview

Title: Journal of UFO History
Issue: Vol. II, No. 6
Date: January-February 2006
Publisher: Brentwood Press
Editor: Richard H. Hall

This issue of the Journal of UFO History marks the completion of two years of publication, comprising two volumes and twelve issues. The editorial highlights the ongoing chronologies of UFO sightings, covering the early years up to 1953, with plans to report on the largely unheralded international sighting waves of 1954 and 1955 in subsequent issues. It notes the significant increase in "alien sightings" and reports of humanoid UFO occupants during this period. The editorial also touches upon the Air Force's Project Blue Book investigation going into a more covert phase and the establishment of the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) in 1956, emphasizing the importance of the mid-to-late 1950s for understanding UFO history. A correction is noted regarding the cover illustration caption from the previous issue.

Articles and Features

UFO ENCOUNTERS WITH BALLOONS: A SURVEY

This extensive article details numerous instances of UFOs interacting with high-altitude balloons, particularly the U.S. Navy's "Skyhook" cosmic ray balloons, from 1949 to 1954. It begins with a 1952 sighting over the North Atlantic where three disc-shaped objects attached themselves to a balloon's instrument package, then accelerated rapidly out of sight.

• Several cases are presented:
• April 24, 1949, Arrey, New Mexico: General Mills and Navy personnel observed a whitish spherical object moving rapidly via theodolite, which disappeared in a sharp climb. The object was described as ellipsoid, gleaming white with a light yellow underside, and visible to the naked eye.
• January 16, 1951, Artesia, New Mexico: General Mills personnel witnessed two disc-shaped objects approach a "Skyhook" balloon rapidly, circle it, and speed off.
• February 14, 1951, near Holloman AFB, New Mexico: Two Air Force officers in a C-47 tracked a silvery-white, disc-shaped object descending near a research balloon. It hovered for several minutes before speeding away, emitting three bright flashes.
• October 10-11, 1951, St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin: General Mills balloon launch personnel, including J.J. Kaliszewski, reported seeing a rapidly moving object high above their balloon, which executed a sharp turn and climb.
• October 11, 1951, Minneapolis, Minnesota: J.J. Kaliszewski observed a brightly glowing object with a halo, moving rapidly, then slowing and climbing in lazy circles.
• October 15, 1953, Minneapolis, Minnesota: General Mills personnel tracked a balloon and observed an object moving horizontally, then diving vertically with a glow, ceasing its vapor trail.
• February 1, 1954, near Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Office of Naval Research aircraft crew members observed six objects flying over and around a Skyhook balloon, hovering, and ascending vertically out of sight.

The article includes a quote from Dr. Urner Lidell of the Office of Naval Research, who stated in LOOK Magazine (February 1951) that "There is not a single reliable report of an observation [UFO] which is not attributable to the cosmic balloons." The author counters this by noting the intelligence analysts' awareness of these cases and the intriguing body of reports from scientists, pilots, and technicians involved in balloon tracking. The article concludes by suggesting that UFOs' "interest" in aircraft, rockets, and missiles during the 1940s and 1950s implies curiosity, exploratory behavior, and intelligence.

Central Intelligence Agency UFO-related Documents Online Analysis and Opinion

This section analyzes the UFO-related documents released by the CIA through its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) website. The author notes that the CIA's "Electronic Reading Room" contains documents pertaining to the original NICAP and Maj. Donald E. Keyhoe, as well as administrative documents confirming CIA investigations into UFO sightings around Washington, D.C., in 1964-1965 and the CIA's "window" into the University of Colorado UFO Project.

A key document discussed is a January 26, 1965, memo titled "Evaluation of UFOs," signed by Donald F. Chamberlain, Assistant Director, Scientific Intelligence. This memo debunks "news media reports" and concurs with Air Force conclusions, citing the Project Blue Book statistics to show a low percentage of unexplained cases. The author expresses skepticism about this evaluation, particularly Chamberlain's dismissal of radar cases and his alleged lack of thorough scientific study. The author, having been personally involved in two such radar cases, suspects the document was deliberately distributed to conceal the true nature of UFO investigations, suggesting a "cover-up" rather than a "foul-up" within the CIA, similar to the Air Force's handling of UFO reports.

Landing-Trace Case in Lithuania

This report details a case from June 25, 1996, where two police officers in Vilnius, Lithuania, witnessed the landing and take-off of a spherical UFO. The object was described as pulsing, alternately shrinking and expanding, and emitted a sound like an "electric or electronic crackle." When the officers approached, the sphere moved away, rose higher, and departed rapidly. The area where the object had hovered showed flattened grass in a 10-meter radius. The report notes that Lithuanian scientists have not yet commented, but the Police Commissioner vouched for the officers' psychological health. The distribution list for this translated report indicates 43 recipients, including various U.S. government agencies.

Late 1953 UFO Sightings Chronology and Other Developments

• This section provides a chronological listing of UFO sightings and related developments in late 1953:
• June 1, 1953: The Air Force distributed Videon cameras with diffraction gratings to bases for photographing luminous UFOs, but the gratings were found to be faulty.
• July 24, Mt. Vernon, Ohio: A silver object was reported circling overhead at high altitude.
• Summer, Yaak, Montana: An Air Force radar site detected six unidentified objects making abrupt changes of direction, which were also visually observed in trail formation. Their speed was estimated at 1,400-1,600 m.p.h.
• August 9, Moscow, Idaho: Ground Observer Corps spotters reported three F-86 jets intercepting a large glowing disc that accelerated rapidly and sped away. Project Blue Book evaluated this as "probably light reflections on clouds."
• August 12, Rapid City, South Dakota: Ground Observer Corps members observed a UFO hovering and moving over the city. An F-84 jet was scrambled, and the pilot reported the object accelerated each time the jet closed in. A second F-84 was scrambled, and the pilot became frightened when the object stayed just ahead of him.
• August 20, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: A representative of Project Stork visited Blue Book to report on the status of their computer study of UFO reports from 1947 to 1952.
• August 23, Port Moresby, New Guinea: An Australian aviation official obtained motion picture film of an elongated silver, metallic UFO at high altitude that climbed steeply and disappeared at high speed. The film was analyzed by the CIA.
• August 26, Washington, D.C.: Air Force Regulation 200-2 was issued, establishing procedures for reporting UFO sightings and restricting public release of information.
• September 7, Cleveland, Ohio: A technical writer for Goodyear Aircraft Corporation observed a grayish-blue object moving overhead, shaped like an equilateral triangle with rounded sides, rotating around a central axis.
• September 7, Vandalia, Ohio: A naval reserve pilot and his wingman observed a bright white, flashing light moving rapidly at a lower altitude. The object pulled up and climbed out of sight. Later, they observed a similar object that changed positions rapidly, dove, and pulled up ahead of them.
• September 11-13, Chiloquin, Oregon: Police Chief Lew Jones and other witnesses observed top-shaped UFOs with visible body lights over a three-night period.
• September 30, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: Project Blue Book Status Report No. 12, classified "Secret," published reporting on events for June-August 1953.
• October 18, English Channel: British airline pilots encountered a UFO shaped "like two shallow saucers with their rims together."
• November 3, London, England: A huge circular metallic UFO was tracked on radar, seen by interceptor pilots, and observed through a telescope.
• November 23, Kinross AFB, Michigan: An Air Force F-89 interceptor vanished while chasing a UFO. (This is referenced as a separate story on page 11).
• December 1, Washington, D.C.: The Air Force announced the setup of special "flying saucer" cameras nationwide.
• December 17, Sweden: Capt. Ulf Christiernsson and his flight mechanic observed a circular object that flew beneath their DC-3, described as "unorthodox, metallic, symmetrical, round."

The Kinross Affair: Air Force jet-UFO Collision?

This article, referenced on the cover and in the chronology, details the disappearance of an Air Force F-89 interceptor while chasing a UFO on November 23, 1953, at Kinross AFB, Michigan. The full details of this incident are likely covered in the article on page 11, which is not included in the provided OCR text.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the historical investigation of UFO phenomena by government agencies and civilian researchers, the nature of UFO sightings (particularly those involving high-altitude balloons and aircraft), and the analysis of official documents. The editorial stance appears to be one of continued inquiry and a critical examination of official narratives, suggesting that the early years of UFO history, especially the mid-to-late 1950s, are crucial for understanding the subject. There is a clear emphasis on presenting documented cases and analyzing their implications, with a critical eye towards potential government cover-ups or misrepresentations of evidence.

Title: AIR FORCE F-89 INTERCEPTOR DISAPPEARS WHILE CHASING UFO OVER LAKE SUPERIOR. RADAR SHOWS AIRCRAFT AND UFO IMAGES MERGING
Issue Date: November 27, 1953
Publisher: The Evening News, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue details the perplexing disappearance of an Air Force F-89 interceptor on the night of November 23, 1953, while it was engaged in chasing an unidentified radar target over Lake Superior. The article, excerpted from Maj. Donald E. Keyhoe's 1955 book "Flying Saucer Conspiracy," challenges the official Air Force explanation and presents evidence suggesting a more mysterious event.

The Incident of November 23, 1953

The event began on a cold, dark night when Air Defense operators at an isolated radar station detected an unknown radar target flying over the Soo Locks, a critical Canadian-U.S. border area. As no scheduled aircraft were in the vicinity, the Ground Control Intercept (GCI) officer deemed it necessary to identify the object swiftly.

An F-89 all-weather interceptor from Kimross Field was scrambled. Piloted by Lieutenant Felix Moncla, Jr., age 26, with Lieutenant R.R. Wilson, 22, acting as radar observer, the jet was guided by GCI toward the unknown. The GCI controller observed on his radarscope as the F-89's blip moved towards the UFO's blip. The strange craft then altered its course.

Moncla was given a new bearing and saw that the F-89 was now over Sault Sainte Marie. The UFO, traveling at speeds comparable to a jet airliner (over 500 m.p.h.), headed towards Lake Superior, with the F-89 in pursuit across Whitefish Bay.

The Merging Blips and Disappearance

After approximately nine minutes of tense pursuit, the F-89 closed the gap. The article describes the moment when the two blips on the radar scope suddenly merged into one, as if the two machines had locked together in a collision. For a moment, the combined blip remained visible before it quickly disappeared off the scope.

The apparent collision occurred far offshore, about 100 miles from Sault Sainte Marie and 70 miles from Keweenaw Point. Despite extensive search plane deployments, no trace of the F-89 or the object it was chasing was ever found.

Media and Official Accounts

The Sault Sainte Marie Evening News reported on November 25, 1953, that bad weather was hampering the search for the missing pilots. Air Force spokesmen confirmed that the plane was followed by radar until it merged with an unidentified object 70 miles off Keweenaw Point. Two days later, the newspaper reported that the "UFO" might have been a Canadian Air Force C-47, but reiterated that contact was lost with the jet at 8,000 feet altitude after the merging of the two blips.

Post-Incident Investigations and Explanations

In 1956, the pilot's brother-in-law contacted Maj. Donald E. Keyhoe, who had included the case in his book. Keyhoe also received a letter from an Air Force officer who claimed to be a friend of the widow, Mrs. Moncla. This officer criticized Keyhoe for including Moncla's name, stating it caused "untold misery" to the widow. Keyhoe sent an apologetic letter, to which the brother-in-law replied that Mrs. Moncla was not upset and was pleased by the interest shown in the case.

According to the brother-in-law, Mrs. Moncla was initially told her husband had intercepted a C-47, flown too low, and crashed. Later, she was told the aircraft exploded in flight. The Air Force continued to promote the C-47 explanation even into the 1960s. However, the Royal Canadian Air Force, in response to inquiries from NICAP, twice denied that one of their C-47s was involved.

The microfilmed history of the F-89 squadron, obtained by Project 1947, indicates that the F-89 was being directed from 25,000 feet down to 7,000 feet when the radar merge occurred. It also noted that radar and radio contact was lost with the F-89 at this time, and the aircraft was never sighted again.

Object Characteristics

The unidentified object was described as circular or slightly elliptical in outline, approximately 10 meters in diameter, and possessed a metallic luster. The pilot compared it to a "flying lozenge." It was observed visually for about 4-5 seconds at a distance of roughly 1,500 meters, and for an additional 5 seconds when it passed beneath the aircraft. The object was flying at speeds comparable to a jet airliner, over 500 m.p.h.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The article strongly implies a cover-up or obfuscation by the Air Force regarding the F-89 incident. The repeated, contradictory explanations and the denial by the Royal Canadian Air Force of involvement cast doubt on the official narrative. The inclusion of the case in Keyhoe's "Flying Saucer Conspiracy" highlights its significance within the UFO research community as an example of a military encounter with an unexplained aerial phenomenon that resulted in the loss of an aircraft and its crew.