Four documented cases from June 18–30, 1952.
1952: June 18th–30th
UFO|UAP & Entity Sightings Archive
The back half of June 1952 is dense even by this month’s standard: a Kirksville, Missouri radar track at over 3,600 mph, a ramming-attack pursuit over Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a Marine flight leader over Korea who watched a silver oval object circle his target and outrun a diving Corsair, a B-29 flight engineer over Kelly AFB who saw an arrow-shaped object with a red edge fall past the wing, and a pilot at Millbrae, California who watched a whistling cigar-shaped object cross about 25 miles in five seconds. This June 1952 UFO sightings archive covers June 18 through June 30, including the Chicago egg-shaped light of June 25 and the extensively documented O’Hare Airport hover case of June 29 witnessed by air policemen and Chicago firemen alike.
A green fireball over Spokane left McChord AFB “swamped,” a Kentucky National Guard lieutenant colonel saw two “giant soap bubbles,” and Blue Book’s own table of June 23–30 sightings anchors the final week; Terre Haute, Nagoya and Phoenix close the month, and the Belgorod-Dnestrovsky “horned” humanoid entry sits at the foot of the page. Where a case file survives in the uploaded set it is described in full; the remaining entries are catalog and table rows and say so. This page continues from June 1st–17th.
Date: June 18, 1952
Location: Columbus, Wisconsin
Time: 9 a.m.
Summary: R. A. Finger saw a crescent-shaped object hover, then speed away.
Source: Berliner; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1302 (Berliner)
Date: June 18, 1952
Location: Walnut Lake (Pontiac), Michigan
Time: 10 p.m.
Summary: Marion Hoffman and four relatives, using 4x binoculars, saw an orange light zigzag then hover for an unspecified length of time. This appears to be the same witness family reported in the April 27 and May 25, 1952 entries elsewhere in this archive.
Source: Berliner; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1305 (Berliner)
Date: June 18, 1952
Location: 100 miles east of March AFB, California
Time: Unknown
Summary: A UFO paced a B-25 bomber for 30 minutes. No explanation was found and the case was classified as an unknown.
Source: Ruppelt p. 146; et al.
Date: June 19, 1952
Location: Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada
Time: 2:37 a.m.
Summary: 2nd Lt. D’Agostino and an unidentified radar operator saw a red light turn white while wobbling. Radar tracked a stationary target that suddenly enlarged then returned to its previous size — possibly a disc rotating to present a wider reflective surface.
Source: Berliner; cf. Ruppelt p. 146; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1308 (Berliner)
Date: June 19, 1952
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Time: 2 p.m.
Summary: USAF pilot John Lane saw a round, white object fly straight and level.
Source: Berliner; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1310 (Berliner)
Date: June 20, 1952
Location: Near Paulette, Mississippi
Time: 8:26 p.m.
Summary: USAF pilot Lt. Milo Roberts and bombardier Lt. Julius Prottengeier (308th Bomb Sq, 310th Bomb Wing, Forbes AFB, Kansas), flying a B-29 at 190 mph and 17,000 ft, saw a cone-shaped object approach on a collision course from the 2 o’clock position. After evasive action, the object made a sharp left turn and disappeared, followed by a possible second object. Length-to-width ratio roughly 3:1, about 8–10 ft long at an estimated distance of 1,200–1,500 ft (or roughly 100 ft if actually 15 miles away).
Source: NARCAP; BB files
Date: June 20, 1952
Location: Central Korea (CT 0911/29 target grid)
Time: 3:03 p.m. (1503 I)
Summary: Four of five Marine Corsair pilots saw a silver or white oval object, 10–20 feet across, circle their target in a 630-degree turn and leave to the east faster than a diving Corsair; the flight leader, who watched it longest, was killed in action the next day. [Full Report]
Source: Air Intelligence Information Report (ATIL/FEAF); BBU 1313
Date: June 21 (or 23), 1952
Location: Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Time: 10:58 p.m.
Summary: A Ground Observer Corps post spotted a target, confirmed by ADC radar, followed by an F-47 fighter interception of a 6–8-inch white blinking light, which made ramming attacks on the F-47 between 10,000 and 27,000 ft.
Source: Ruppelt p. 43
Date: June 21, 1952
Location: Over Kelly AFB, San Antonio, Texas
Time: 12:30 p.m. CST
Summary: T/Sgt Howard Davis, flight engineer of B-29 44-86440 at 8,000 feet, saw a 3½-foot arrow-shaped object with a dark blue center, white band and red edge drop vertically past the right wing about 500 feet away in one second, trailing reddish sparks. [Full Report]
Source: Air Intelligence Information Report, 3510th Flying Training Wing, Randolph AFB; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1319 (Berliner)
Source Status: The typescript corrects the sighting date from June 22 to June 21; evaluation entry B-3 is the source-reliability code.
Date: June 22, 1952
Location: Pyeongtaek, South Korea
Time: 10:45 p.m.
Summary: Two U.S. Marine sergeants saw a 4-ft-diameter orange object dive at a runway from the north, dropping from 800 ft to 100 ft altitude over the west end of the runway while shooting 2–5 ft red flames, then heading west at roughly 300–450 mph for 2–3 seconds, hovering briefly over a hill, turning 180° over 45–60 seconds, flashing, heading east half a mile, flashing again, and blinking out. No sound was reported.
Source: Hynek UFO Report, pp. 82–83; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1323 (Berliner)
Date: June 22, 1952
Location: Millbrae, California (Hamilton AFB teletype)
Time: About 8:05 p.m. PDT
Summary: A pilot flying since 1932 saw a dark, thin, cigar-shaped object about 100 feet long cross about 25 miles in five seconds, whistling and varying altitude below the cloud layers; an F-89 was airborne nearby. [Full Report]
Source: Teletype, 4702d Defense Wing, Hamilton AFB; AIIR; ATIC follow-up
Source Status: The AIIR and follow-up read 2005; the teletype digit reads like 2305.
Date: June 22, 1952 (filed; sighting date and place not stated)
Location: Great Falls AFB, Montana (message origin); Idaho written on the copy
Time: Not stated
Summary: Part 2 of a teletype from the 29th Air Division at Great Falls AFB reports three egg-shaped objects in a straight line: the first yellowish and about 75 feet in diameter, the second reddish and about 15 feet, the third like the second but yellowish; there was no trail, exhaust or sound, and speed and propulsion were not determined.
Source: Teletype FLYOBRPT, 29th Air Division, Great Falls AFB (message copy)
Source Status: Part 1 and the sighting date and place are not on the page; “IDAHO” and “22 Jun” are handwritten on the copy. Treated as a June 22 filing with date and place unconfirmed.
Date: June 23, 1952
Location: Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Time: 3:30 a.m.
Summary: Secretary Martha Milligan saw a bullet-shaped object with burnt-orange exhaust fly straight and level.
Source: Berliner; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1334 (Berliner)
Date: June 23, 1952
Location: Unknown location; report relayed via Japan HQ (CV 4359)
Time: 6:08 a.m.
Summary: USAF pilot Wermack of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Group saw a black, coin-shaped object, 15–20 ft in diameter, approach to within 1,500 ft at 6,000 ft altitude, then make an irregular descent.
Source: Berliner; Project 1947
Date: June 23, 1952
Location: Spokane, Washington
Time: 4:05 p.m.
Summary: Airport weather observer Rex Thompson saw a round disc with a metallic shine flash and flutter like a flipped coin.
Source: Berliner; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1331 (Berliner)
Date: June 23, 1952
Location: McChord AFB, Washington
Time: 9 p.m.
Summary: 2nd Lt. K. Thompson saw a very large light fly straight and level. No further information survives in the files.
Source: Berliner; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1332 (Berliner)
Date: June 23, 1952
Location: Kirksville AFS, Missouri
Time: 7:30 or 7:35 p.m.
Summary: USAF ADC radar operators Lt. A. N. Robinson Jr. and Airman Ray H. Foote, along with five other controllers, officers, and maintenance technicians, tracked one (possibly two) unidentified targets with a clear, sharp radar return the size of a B-29’s (or B-50/B-36’s), which suddenly appeared 80–85 miles north-northwest of the radar site and moved at a constant speed of roughly 3,600–4,300 mph along a straight, roughly 120–125-mile path heading 357° (nearly due north) until disappearing off the scope.
Source: Hynek-CUFOS files
Date: June 23, 1952
Location: Spokane, Washington (and the Pacific Northwest)
Time: About 9:30 p.m. PDT
Summary: A luminous greenish ball with a tapering tail crossed the sky from British Columbia to eastern Washington; a Spokane police officer watched it for 10 to 15 seconds as it flashed from east to west, and McChord AFB said it was “swamped” with calls. [Full Report]
Source: Spokane Chronicle and Spokesman-Review, June 24; Project Blue Book “23–30 June 1952 Sightings” table
Source Status: The table splits the Spokane-area rows: Spokane (cards missing) and McChord Unidentified, another Spokane group Astro (meteor).
Date: June 23, 1952
Location: Spokane, Washington (multiple witnesses)
Time: Not given
Summary: Multiple-witness group evaluated a meteor by Blue Book.
Source: Project Blue Book table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Astro (meteor). No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 23, 1952
Location: George AFB, California
Time: Not given
Summary: Military observers; evaluated Balloon.
Source: Project Blue Book table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Balloon. No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 23, 1952
Location: Pacific Ocean
Time: Not given
Summary: Observer redacted; evaluated Astro (meteor).
Source: Project Blue Book table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Astro (meteor). No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 23, 1952
Location: Broadview, Illinois (cards missing)
Time: Not given
Summary: Observer redacted; evaluated Insufficient Data.
Source: BBU; Project Blue Book “23–30 June 1952 Sightings” table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Insufficient Data. No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 23, 1952
Location: South Korea
Time: Not given
Summary: Military observers; evaluated Other (fuel tank).
Source: Project Blue Book table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Other (fuel tank). Possibly related to the June 20 Marine report, but the table does not say so. No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 23, 1952
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Time: Not given
Summary: Military observer; evaluated Aircraft.
Source: Project Blue Book table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Aircraft. No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 23, 1952
Location: Near Owensboro, Kentucky (U.S. Highway 60)
Time: About 10:00 a.m.
Summary: A Kentucky National Guard lieutenant colonel and former engineer major walking on U.S. 60 heard an aircraft-like noise and saw two round objects like giant soap bubbles, yellow-lavender in the sun, pass north in trail in five seconds at an estimated 15,000–20,000 feet; a companion saw one. [Full Report]
Source: AFOSI report to ATIC via the 109th CIC Detachment; Project Blue Book “23–30 June 1952 Sightings” table; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1335 (Berliner)
Source Status: Berliner gives the witness as National Guard Lt. Col. O. L. Depp.
Date: June 23, 1952
Location: North of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Time: 10:34 p.m. CDST
Summary: One observer saw a vivid blue round object the size of a B-29, with a short fiery red exhaust and no sound, travel straight southeast to northwest about two miles away for one and a half to two minutes. The Madison paper reported a “huge meteor, purplish with yellow tail” east of Madison at 2245 hours the same night.
Source: Air Intelligence Information Report and teletype (4706th Defense Wing); Wisconsin State Journal
Source Status: Blue Book’s table lists a Milwaukee case on June 28 (Astro, meteor) and a Platteville and Lake Kishkonong case that date as well; the file here shows June 23. Possibly one case misdated in the table.
Date: June 24, 1952
Location: Over the Labrador coast (ocean station vessel “4YB”)
Time: About 2250 GMT
Summary: The crew of an aircraft heard an ocean station vessel try for fifteen minutes to contact an unidentified aircraft shown on its scope 35 miles away; the target was not guarding any assigned frequency. Blue Book evaluated it Aircraft.
Source: Air Intelligence Information Report, Labrador Intelligence Branch, Hq AACS; Project Blue Book “23–30 June 1952 Sightings” table
Source Status: The report offers three possibilities: no radio guard, a classified mission or friendly or unfriendly aircraft. Not an optical sighting.
Date: June 24, 1952
Location: Los Alamos, New Mexico
Time: About 9:00 p.m. MST
Summary: Several Los Alamos Protective Force personnel saw a slow bluish-green ball of fire with a red flame tail cross the sky for about ten seconds; Idaho 15 was scrambled and saw nothing. [Full Report]
Source: Air Intelligence Information Reports, 34th Air Division, Kirtland AFB; Project Blue Book “23–30 June 1952 Sightings” table
Source Status: Blue Book: Astro (meteor). One statement gives 2206 for the time.
Date: June 24, 1952
Location: Huntington/Alexandria, Virginia
Time: Not given
Summary: Observer redacted; evaluated Balloon.
Source: Project Blue Book table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Balloon. No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 24, 1952
Location: Meade, Kansas
Time: 10:00 p.m. CT
Summary: A source reported through Dodge City “intermittent fire” for two seconds west of Meade, disappearing to the northwest, with thin scattered clouds and a 40-mph wind from the west-southwest. The report is unconfirmed and no aircraft were in the area.
Source: Flight Service Center message via Wright-Patterson, CIRVIS teletype; Project Blue Book “23–30 June 1952 Sightings” table
Source Status: The file dates it June 24 at 2200 CT; Blue Book’s table lists Meade on June 25 (Astro, meteor).
Date: June 25, 1952
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Time: Unknown
Summary: Unknown — no further detail survives in the sourced record.
Source: Berliner; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1340 (Berliner)
Date: June 25, 1952
Location: Michigan
Time: Unknown
Summary: Unknown — no further detail survives in the sourced record.
Source: FUFOR Index
Date: June 25, 1952
Location: Japan-Korea area
Time: Unknown
Summary: Military witness(es); no further detail survives in the sourced record.
Source: NARA; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1347 (Berliner)
Date: June 25, 1952
Location: Santa Catalina Island, California (Camp Fox)
Time: 12:00 noon PDT
Summary: Three Boy Scouts on a hike saw a silver object, faster than a conventional jet and making a climbing turn, with no sound; no instruments were available, and a sketch was enclosed.
Source: Air Intelligence Information Report, Southern California air base group, March AFB; Project Blue Book “23–30 June 1952 Sightings” table
Source Status: Blue Book: Insufficient Data. The report notes that the reliability of the scouts could not be estimated.
Date: June 25, 1952
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
Time: Not given
Summary: Observer redacted; evaluated Aircraft.
Source: Project Blue Book table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Aircraft. No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 25, 1952
Location: Los Gatos, California
Time: Not given
Summary: Multiple witnesses; evaluated Other (searchlights), and the report notes that searchlights were operating in Los Gatos at the time.
Source: Project Blue Book table; teletype
Source Status: A teletype in the file names the searchlights; table evaluation Other.
Date: June 25, 1952
Location: Chicago, Illinois (northwest side)
Time: 9:39 p.m. CDST
Summary: Two observers a mile apart watched a bright yellowish-white egg-shaped light with an occasional red tail light circle slowly for about ten minutes, its southern arc passing over one house seven times, well above two jets and two airliners. [Full Report]
Source: AIIR and teletype, 4706th Defense Wing, O’Hare; Project Blue Book “23–30 June 1952 Sightings” table; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1344 (Berliner)
Source Status: Berliner lists this as 8:30 p.m. with two named witnesses; the teletype gives 2139 CDST, which I used.
Date: June 25, 1952
Location: Cisco, Texas (cards missing)
Time: About midnight
Summary: A man and his wife driving saw a shiny silver, pencil-like object reported as two feet across and almost a thousand feet long that traveled nose first, then turned and went with the other end first, at about the speed of their car (45 mph).
Source: Evening News clipping, June 27, forwarded by 3510th Flying Training Wing; Project Blue Book “23–30 June 1952 Sightings” table
Source Status: Blue Book: Insufficient Data (cards missing). The clipping’s dimensions are the witness’s own; the AIIR notes no electrical report was sent because of the source.
Date: June 25, 1952
Location: Eustis, Florida
Time: 0200 or 0800 (two copies read differently)
Summary: A former Air Force pilot and his wife saw a spherical or possibly flat disc-shaped object about four miles southwest of town, moving west at an estimated 500 mph for about a minute with a shallow right turn just before it passed from sight; the sky was clear and T-33s from Pinecastle AFB were flying in the vicinity.
Source: Air Intelligence Information Report, 3540th Flying Training Wing, Pinecastle AFB; Project Blue Book “23–30 June 1952 Sightings” table
Source Status: Blue Book: Aircraft (table marks the cards missing although this report is in the file). The time reads 0200 in one copy and 0800 in another.
Date: June 26, 1952
Location: Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Time: 11:50 p.m.
Summary: Assistant airport manager Mr. Wells made three sightings of flashing lights: two lights two miles apart, one flashing steadily and the other irregularly; two similarly flashing lights one mile apart; and finally a single light. Speed estimated at 150–250 mph.
Source: Berliner; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1351 (Berliner)
Date: June 26, 1952
Location: Terre Haute, Indiana
Time: 0845 GMT
Summary: A lieutenant on leave phoned the 782nd AC&W Squadron that an object passed over Terre Haute at about 12,000 feet and 600 mph due west and then stopped about seven miles southwest with no change of altitude. [Full Report]
Source: Teletype FLYOBRPT, 782nd AC&W Squadron; Project Blue Book “23–30 June 1952 Sightings” table; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1348 (Berliner)
Source Status: Berliner gives 2:45 a.m. and names the lieutenant as 2nd Lt. C. W. Povelites.
Date: June 26, 1952
Location: Spokane, Washington
Time: Not given
Summary: Observer redacted; evaluated Aircraft.
Source: Project Blue Book table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Aircraft. No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 26, 1952
Location: Baffin Island, Canada
Time: Not given
Summary: Military observers; evaluated Insufficient Data.
Source: BBU; Project Blue Book “23–30 June 1952 Sightings” table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Insufficient Data. No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 26, 1952
Location: Kissimmee, Florida
Time: Not given
Summary: Observer redacted; evaluated Aircraft.
Source: Project Blue Book table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Aircraft. No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 27, 1952
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Time: 6:50 p.m.
Summary: Forbes AFB USAF pilot 2nd Lt. K. P. Kelly and his wife saw a pulsating red object change shape from circular to a vertical oval as it pulsed, first stationary then moving.
Source: Berliner; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1355 (Berliner)
Date: June 27, 1952
Location: Urbana, Maryland
Time: Not given
Summary: Observer redacted; evaluated Astro (meteor).
Source: Project Blue Book table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Astro (meteor). No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 27, 1952
Location: Mitchel AFB, New York
Time: Not given
Summary: Observer redacted; evaluated Balloon.
Source: Project Blue Book table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Balloon. No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 27, 1952
Location: Orlando, Florida
Time: Not given
Summary: Observer redacted; evaluated Aircraft.
Source: Project Blue Book table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Aircraft. No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 27, 1952
Location: Bronx, New York
Time: Not given
Summary: Multiple witnesses; evaluated Insufficient Data.
Source: BBU; Project Blue Book “23–30 June 1952 Sightings” table
Source Status: The case cards are in the file but the handwriting is illegible; the table row stands.
Date: June 27, 1952
Location: Lemoyne, Pennsylvania (near Harrisburg)
Time: 2:55 a.m. EST
Summary: A woman and her husband saw a large illuminated oblong, disc-shaped object with a very smooth surface lit by an intense yellow light from inside, with an intense yellow flame from a tail; it traveled south then west at constant altitude, faster than any jet she had seen, in three or four seconds. A Martin 202 airliner was in the area, and a civilian guard said he had seen a meteor at the same moment.
Source: Air Intelligence Information Report, Middletown Air Materiel Area; Project Blue Book “23–30 June 1952 Sightings” table
Source Status: Blue Book: Astro (meteor). The date and time are read from a poor copy.
Date: June 28, 1952
Location: Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Time: 1:20 p.m.
Summary: Two observers with CARCO air service saw two silvery disc-like objects high in the sky, moving slowly south and noiselessly, before suddenly climbing nearly vertically at high speed — one heading SSE, the other almost due east.
Source: Hynek UFO Exp, ch. 6, case DD-7
Date: June 28, 1952
Location: Lake Koshkonong, Wisconsin
Time: 6 p.m.
Summary: Metcalfe saw a silver-white sphere become an ellipse as it turned and climbed away very fast.
Source: Berliner; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1361 (Berliner)
Date: June 28, 1952
Location: Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and California
Time: 10:50 p.m.
Summary: A USAF C-47 pilot saw a very bright light pass across the flight path from left to right.
Source: Project 1947
Date: June 28, 1952
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Time: Not given
Summary: Civilian observer; evaluated Astro (meteor).
Source: Project Blue Book table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Astro (meteor). The file shows a Milwaukee-area sighting on June 23 (see above). No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 28, 1952
Location: Platteville, Wisconsin
Time: Not given
Summary: Observer redacted; evaluated Astro (meteor).
Source: Project Blue Book table
Source Status: The Blue Book table lists this case with the evaluation Astro (meteor). No case file for it is in the uploaded June files.
Date: June 28, 1952
Location: Nagoya, Honshu, Japan
Time: About 1:00 a.m. local
Summary: An Air Force Electronics Countermeasures Officer outside his home saw a dark blue ellipse with a pulsating brighter border pass silently overhead from southwest to northeast at 700–800 mph before vanishing above solid cloud. [Full Report]
Source: AIIR, Japan Air Defense Force; Project Blue Book “23–30 June 1952 Sightings” table; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1363 (Berliner)
Source Status: Berliner lists 4:10 p.m. and Capt. T. W. Barger; that is consistent with a GMT conversion of about 0110 local, which is what the report’s weather time suggests.
Date: June 29, 1952
Location: O’Hare Airport, Chicago, Illinois
Time: 5:45–6:30 p.m.
Summary: Three USAF air policemen of the 83rd Air Base Sq (S/Sgt. Lopez, A/1c Weber, A/3c Korkowski) saw a bright silver, smooth-surfaced, flat oval object roughly 30 ft across, about 500–1,000 ft up and 2–3 miles away, reflecting sunlight and surrounded by a blue haze for the first 20–25 minutes while hovering between the radio towers of stations WGN and WBBM, seven miles away, near the setting sun. The object then moved very fast — left, right, up, and down relative to the towers — far faster than any jet fighter, rocking on its longitudinal axis and appearing oval (roughly 2.2:1 major-to-minor axis ratio) when vertical, thin and hard to see when horizontal. It receded at high speed and disappeared “like shutting off a light,” with no trail and no noise. Independently witnessed by Chicago firemen several miles away. [Full Report]
Source: Jan Aldrich; unpublished Ruppelt manuscript; Project Blue Book unknown BBU 1364 (Berliner)
Date: June 30, 1952
Location: Columbia, Missouri
Time: 1:46–3:54 a.m.
Summary: A U.S. Weather Bureau observer, tracking an object at extreme distance through a theodolite, recorded it irregularly changing color from red to green, appearing to move away to the north-northeast, with only “small” angular movement across 14 recorded position measurements over two hours.
Source: Jan Aldrich
Date: June 30, 1952
Location: Sea of Japan
Time: 7 p.m.
Summary: Three USAF crew members of a C-54 transport saw a circular object, flattened on top and bottom.
Source: Weinstein; BB files
Date: June 30, 1952
Location: West 35th Avenue (Lateral #15), outside Phoenix, Arizona
Time: About 9:00 p.m. MST
Summary: A couple stopped their car to watch a brilliant round white light, like a welding torch, dive in an arc, blink out, reappear near the horizon, rise at tremendous speed and flash out again over about thirty seconds, in silence. [Full Report]
Source: AFOSI Report of Investigation, 17th OSI District, Kirtland AFB, July 10, 1952
Source Status: Not on the Blue Book table, which ends June 29. Jan Aldrich and the FUFOR Index record the witness as Gaudet (possibly Wolf); the names are redacted in the OSI copy.
Date: June 30, 1952
Location: West 35th Avenue (Lateral #15), outside Phoenix, Arizona
Time: About 9:00 p.m. MST
Summary: A couple stopped their car to watch a brilliant round white light, like a welding torch, dive in an arc, blink out, reappear near the horizon, rise at tremendous speed and flash out again over about thirty seconds, in silence. [Full Report]
Source: AFOSI Report of Investigation, 17th OSI District, Kirtland AFB, July 10, 1952
Source Status: Not on the Blue Book table, which ends June 29. Jan Aldrich and the FUFOR Index record the witness as Gaudet (possibly Wolf); the names are redacted in the OSI copy.
Date: June or July 1952 (cataloguing date)
Location: Belgorod-Dnestrovsky (Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi), Odessa region, Ukraine, near the Akkerman fortress
Time: Night (as told)
Summary: Local legend holds that horned humanoids live in the tunnels beneath the Akkerman fortress, avoid daylight and surface at night to take food. The best-known anecdote has an insomniac pensioner in a one-room house watch several horned figures in a neighbor’s garden; the apple trees were stripped by morning. No craft is involved. [Full Report]
Source: Yuriy Misyuk, a local-lore student, quoted in Komsomolskaya Pravda; legends collected by Vladislav Chelpanov and Sarvar Sklyar
Source Status: Case status Explained (folklore / local legend, not a sighting event). The earlier CE-III label is incorrect because no craft is involved. The “June or July 1952” date is a cataloguing artifact, there is no interviewed primary witness, and the legend gives four incompatible origins. The location is Ukraine’s Odessa region, not Russia.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Kirksville’s 3,600-mph Radar Track, an Oak Ridge Ramming Pursuit, and the O’Hare Hover Case
The back half of June 1952 delivers three of the month’s standout cases in close succession. On June 23, Kirksville AFS radar operators tracked a target moving at a constant 3,600 to 4,300 mph across a 120-mile straight-line path, among the highest confirmed speeds in the entire Blue Book radar record. Two days earlier, an Oak Ridge, Tennessee GOC post and ADC radar had confirmed a small blinking light that made repeated ramming attacks on an intercepting F-47 fighter. And on June 29, three air policemen and independent firemen watched a silver oval hover for over twenty minutes between two Chicago radio towers before it vanished at a speed “much faster than any jet fighter.”
Korean-theater pilot and radar reports continue throughout, from the Marine Corsair flight of June 20 to Nagoya on June 28, alongside the Kelly AFB, Millbrae, Spokane, Owensboro, Chicago and Phoenix files and the usual mix of brief, thinly documented civilian light reports. Blue Book’s own June 23–30 table records roughly 40 sightings in eight days, about a third of them left Unidentified.
“The object receded at high speed then disappeared like shutting off a light. No trail, no noise.”
— USAF air police report, O’Hare Airport, Chicago, June 29, 1952
