USAF Air Intelligence Report 100-203-79

DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 897011

HEADQUARTERS USAF AIR INTELLIGENCE REPORT HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE WASHINGTON, D. C.

LOAN DOCUMENT T/S CONTROL NO. OFFICE TO WHICH LOANED DATE DUE IN AFOIN-C/DD PLEASE RETURN THIS DOCUMENT ON DATE SPECIFIED ABOVE TO AFOIN-C/DD, ROOM NO. 5C116 ATTENTION: TOP SECRET CONTROL OFFICER When the attached document is withdrawn the classification of this sheet will be…

Air Intelligence Report No. 100-203-79 ANALYSIS OF FLYING OBJECT INCIDENTS IN THE U. S. Air Intelligence Division Study No. 203 10 December 1948 Directorate of Intelligence and Office of Naval Intelligence DISTRIBUTION "C" WARNING: This document contains information affectin…

ANALYSIS OF FLYING OBJECT INCIDENTS IN THE U. S. INDEX Page SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .…

ANALYSIS OF FLYING OBJECT INCIDENTS IN THE U. S. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS PROBLEM 1. TO EXAMINE pattern of tactics of "Flying Saucers" (hereinafter referred to as flying objects) and to develop conclusions as to the possibility of existence. FACTS AND DISCUSSION 2. A DETAILED…

8. THE ORIGIN of the devices is not ascertainable. There are two reasonable possibilities: (1) The objects are domestic devices and if so their identification of origin can be established by a survey of all launchings of airborne objects. Domestic flying wing type aircraft observ…

APPENDIX "A" ANALYSIS OF FLYING OBJECT INCIDENTS IN THE U. S. AND HYPOTHETICAL TACTICS EMPLOYED 1. INTRODUCTION. To formulate the possible tactics of flying objects reported over the U. S. assumes from the outset that firm conclusions have been reached on both the existence and…

Although reported domestic incidents are widely scattered throughout the U.S., frequency of sightings and number of observers per sighting assumes a definable pattern. There is a large concentration of sightings along the Eastern Seaboard, another large concentration throughout t…

the Russian oil situation (regardless of estimated oil reserves) is quite different from that in the U.S. For example, U.S. oil industry is prepared to turn out tremendous quantities of highly fractionated petroleum products, while the U.S.S.R. cannot reasonably approach such cap…

4. FAMILIARIZATION FLIGHTS OVER U.S. TERRITORY. This possible reason is perhaps the most improbable. It is assumed that should this purpose be involved, other purposes are probably also accomplished in its execution. Provided the U.S.S.R. has unusually high performance aircraft,…

APPENDIX "B" REPORTED SIGHTINGS OF FLYING OBJECTS AS OF 1 AUGUST 1948 - 7 -

APPENDIX "C" SELECTED REPORTS OF FLYING OBJECT INCIDENTS 1. A NUMBER of reports on unidentified flying objects come from observers who, because of their technical background and experience do not appear to be influenced by unfounded sensationalism nor inclined to mis-explain ph…

ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS BY MR. RHOADS Fig. 1 Fig. 2 ENLARGEMENTS OF ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS Fig. 3 Fig. 4 - 9 -

g. On 10 July 1947, Mr. Woodruff, a Pan-American Airways mechanic reported a circular object flying at high velocity, paralleling the earth's surface and leaving a trail which appeared as a "burning up" of the cloud formation. The sighting occurred near Harmon Field, Newfoundland…

Fig. 6 h. On 29 July 1947, Kenneth Arnold, while flying near Tacoma, Washington, reported a formation of flying objects. His sketch of their shape corresponds closely to that shown in the photographs made by Mr. Rhoads. On the same day, two U. S. Air Force pilots at Hamilton Fie…

k. On 7 January 1948, a National Guard pilot was killed while attempting to chase an unidentified object up to 20,000 feet. While it is presumed that this pilot suffered anoxia, resulting in his death, his last message to the tower was, "It appears to be a metallic object....of t…

Fig. 7 - 13 -

Fig. 8 - 14 -

minutes after the initial sighting. The same light was observed by three other witnesses from the ground: Mr. L. D. Jensen, Air Traffic Controller, Mr. Manuel E. Johnson, Assistant Traffic Controller, and Dr. L. N. Cannon, Oculist. A comparison of all testimony revealed that one…

b. On 10 August 1948, at approximately 1050 hours an unidentified flying object was visible from the ground at Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky. This object was estimated to be at about 30,000 to 40,000 feet altitude, spherical in shape, bright silver color and gave a bright refle…

APPENDIX "D" FLYING WING TYPE AIRCRAFT 1. AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERS in several countries have been engaged for some time in the design, construction, and flight of flying wing type aircraft. The study of flying objects requires, at least, a brief examination of proposed and existi…

e. JUNKERS EF 130. Of the flying wing type, this project was established as a long-range, high-speed jet bomber. Span 78.8 feet Wing Area 1290 square feet Power Plant 4 HeS 011 turbo jet units Max Speed 620 miles per hour Range 37-00 miles f. ME 329. This is a tailless mid-wing…

Fig. 2 - 19 -

Fig. 3 - 20 -

3. GREAT BRITAIN. a. THE ARMSTRONG WHITWORTH. The AW 52 G, a glider, and the AW 52, a twin-jet airplane, are British designs of tailless aircraft. The vertical stabilizers are located at the tips of the swept-back wing. (Figs. 4 and 5) Data on the AW 52 appear below. Span 90 feet…

Fig. 5 - 22 -

4. UNITED STATES. a. NORTHROP B-35. This is a flying wing type aircraft, powered by four reciprocating engines and has a wing span of 172 feet and a length of only 53 feet. (See Fig. 6) Fig. 6 - 23 -

b. NORTHROP YB 49. Powered by eight turbo-jet engines, this airplane is the jet-propelled version of the Northrop Flying Wing (B 35). (See Fig. 7) Fig. 7 - 24 -

c. CHANCE-VAUGHT XF5U-1. Developed by Chance-Vaught Aircraft, this radical design promises the reality of high and low speed performance. Powered by two R-2000-2 engines, the airplane will have a speed range of from 40 to 425 miles per hour. (See Fig. 8) Fig. 8 - 25 -

d. ARUP TAILLESS MONOPLANE. Jane's "All the World's Aircraft" (1935 edition) describes this airplane as "a two-seat machine with a 70 h.p. LeBlond engine.... This has a high aspect ratio wing with straight leading-edge and built in nacelle...." In plan form, the wing is almost se…

REGISTER OF PERSONNEL HANDLING TOP SECRET MATERIAL DIVISION OFFICE SUBJECT AND DESCRIPTION OF ENCLOSURES INSTRUCTIONS The above described TOP SECRET document has been received in this office this date. The circulation of this material will be limited to the minimum number of…

AFOIN-2B3 Capt Fournet/el/55894 Wrtn 5 Jun 52 MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD PROBLEM 1. To declassify Study 100-203-79, "Analysis of Flying Object Incidents" dated 10 December 1948, if practicable. FACTS AND DISCUSSION 2. In accordance with a request from Col. W. A. Adams, AFOIN-2B,…