28953183.pdf

|  1. DATE - TIME GROUP | 2. LOCATION  |
| --- | --- |
|  4 Feb 53 5/0050Z | Blythe, California  |
|  3. SOURCE | 10. CONCLUSION  |
|  Aircrew Members | BALLOON  |
|  4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS |   |
|  0-8 |   |
|  5. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION | 11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS  |
|  5 Min. | Bright round white object appearing from behind some clouds was observed at a stationary position for a period of approx 5 minutes. Object disappeared behind some clouds.  |
|  6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION | Air-Visual  |
|  7. COURSE |   |
|  8. PHOTOS | COMPUTER: 1. Upper air of black balloon was determined to be in are…

AF FORM 112—PART I
APPROVED 1 JUNE 1948
UNCLASSIFIED

|  COUNTRY | REPORT NO. | (LEAVE BLANK)  |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  United States of America | IR-12-53 |   |

# AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT

|  SUBJECT | FLY08RPT  |
| --- | --- |
|  AREA REPORTED ON | Blythe, California  |
|  FROM (Agency) | 31st Strat Rcn Sq 5th Strat Rcn Wg, (H) Travis AFB, Calif.  |
|  DATE OF REPORT | 7 February 1953  |
|  DATE OF INFORMATION | 5 February 1953  |
|  EVALUATION | B-2  |
|  PREPARED BY (Officer) | 1st Lt James F. Wood, Sq Intell Officer  |
| --- | --- |
|  SOURCE | Interrogation of RB-36 crew memb…

INFORMATIONS SHEET
APPROVED 1 JUNE 1948
UNCLASSIFIED (CLASSIFICATION)
AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT

|  FROM (Agency) | 31st Strat. Rcn Sq 5th Strat. Rcn Wg (H) Travis AFB, Calif. | REPORT NO. | PAGE 2 OF 2 PAGES  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

While flying on a ferry mission from Fort Worth, Texas to Travis AFB, California in the vicinity of Elythe, California, an RB-36 crew of the 31st Strat. Recon Squadron, 5th Strat. Recon Wing, observed a unidentified object. The RB-36 was maintaining a True Air Speed of 200 knots, a ground speed of 180 knots, and a true heading of 283 degrees at an a…

This case includes one (1) 9 1/4" x 5 1/2" photographed World Aeronautical Chart.

WORLD AERONAUTICAL CHART

(404) (405)

CAUTION AREA
(C.P.H.)

CHOLESTER
ENROUTE
FROM
FORT WORTH

UNCLASSIFIED
STATEMENT
UNCLASSIFIED

On the 4th of February 1953 I was scheduled to ferry aircraft 52-1372, an RB-36, from Convair aircraft company to Travis AFB, California. While flying on airways from Blythe to Riverside my pilot reported an object at seven (7) o'clock high. The time was 1650 pacific standard time and we were located approximately 5 miles East of Desert Center, California, flying at 20,000 feet. The object appeared to me the same as sun rays reflecting off of a metal surface. No vapor trails were visible from the object. It's relation to our aircraft stayed the same, for ex…

STATEMENT UNCLASSIFIED

On a ferry trip from Ft. Worth, Texas to Travis AFB, California on 4 February 1953 at 1650 pacific standard time, Captain David Smith the pilot sighted an object through the navigator's astradome at 7 o'clock high. He called by attention to it and I looked out the navigator's astradome and saw a white object which appeared to be round in shape. As to size and how high the object was above us I could not say; but it appeared to be about the size of an aircraft which is at 30,000 feet above the ground. The object appeared not to move while I was observing it. The exact lo…

UNCLASSIFIED

At 1650 pacific standard time on 4 February 1953 while 15 NILES NNE
of Salton Sea approaching Palm Springs intersection I observed a shinning
object above us and to the rear (at about 7 o'clock). It might have been
an aluminum aircraft. We were at 20,000 feet heading about 275° magnetic.
The object appeared considerably higher than we were, I would judge 50,000
feet altitude. I was in the right seat as pilot and observed the object
over my left shoulder through the astrodome.

David M. Smith
DAVID M. SMITH
Captain, USAF

DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS
…