1958: Object tracked on multiple radar flying at 5,000+ MPH

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THINK ABOUTIT UFO SIGHTINGS REPORT

Date: January, 1958

Sighting Time: 3 am – 7 am

Day/Night: Night

Location: Fairbanks, Alaska

Urban or Rural: Rural

Hynek Classification: RV (Radar / Visual) Observation supplemented with radar.

Duration: 4-5 hours

No. of Object(s): 1

Size of Object(s):

Distance to Object(s): 15-50 miles

Shape of Object(s):

Color of Object(s):

Number of Witnesses: 20+

Source: UFOEvidence.org

Summary: I was on duty as a radar ATC operator and observed on my radar an object flying at 5,000mph+ and making impossible 90 degree turns. I coordinated and confirmed sighting with at least 3 other radar sites.

Full Report

I was a US Air Force GCA radar air traffic controller working a midnight shift with 2 other people. This was in Jan/Feb 1958 at Eilson AFB, 20 miles south of Fairbanks Alaska. Our principal duties at this base was to host several types of recon aircraft including U-2’s, RB 66’s, RB 36’s and a group of SAC B 47’s. About 2-3 am I observed a target on our search radar (MPN-11) which was able to fly over 5,000 mph and make turns instantly of over 90 degrees! I called my team mates and we all observed the target.

We contacted other radar sites including the GCA site @ Ladd AFB in Fairbanks, a Dew line radar station about 50 miles north and even an Army radar directed Anti aircraft gun site on our base. All confirmed the sightings including the radar guns which tracked the target. Air Force practice is that the first contact (us0 becomes the primary and all other sites coordinate through us.

Our search radar antenna could be both raised and lowered and gave us a max range of about 20-30 miles and 50-55,000 feet. This feature enabled us to more accurately tell height and distance from our sight. The target continued to stay in the area and we continued to follow it within the limitations of our equipment. As the primary contact, we received reports from the others who would confirm the extreme speed and turns of the target when it was out of our range.

We continued to track the target and observe its speed and turning until about 6-8 am when both a helicopter and a T33 from Ladd AFB (now Fairbanks Int’l) where dispatched to visually inspect since the target seemed to be hovering over Ladd AFB. We couldn’t believe our ears when they reported that all they observed was an ice cloud(temperature inversion) over the Ladd AFB power station!

At that time, we had observed nothing for an hour or so. We were required to write up all the details on our shift log before we signed off our shift. Because of the extremely secret operations conducted at Eilson AFB during that period, we were told to shut up and not discuss any further. Since I was a 20 year old kid directing spy planes during the Cold War, I didn’t argue. We were never interviewed again about the incident.

Personal Background

I was an AF air traffic controller rated to work both tower and GCA (radar) form 1956 -1960. After that date, I worked in a variety of occupations mainly sales. I am currently semi retired and operate my own fire suppression company. I was on the FAA task group for cargo bay fire suppression and testified in the U.S. Congress regarding aircraft fire suppression after the ValuJet tragedy.

Reported Sighting? Yes
Reported To: USAF
Name: Gerald G. Flood
Location: Birmingham, Michigan USA
Age: 67