Evening star., 1952-07-28
Experts Study
objects Seen
In SkiesAgain
Flyer Says Lights
He Sighted Might
Have Been Sturs

Have Been Sturs
Air Force experts continued
their investigation today Of what
is becoming a popular weekend
phenomenon-mysterious objects
in the skies.
For the second Saturday, Wash
ington area radarscopes picked UP
as many as a dozen "blips," OBJ
servers told of seeing moving,
unidentif1able objects, and this
time the Air Force sent jet planes
in pursuit.
About a dozen of the strange
objects first showed up on the
Air Route Traffic Control Center
radar screen at National Airport
This was at 9:08 pm. About Is
minutes later the scope at An
drews Air Force Base revealed
similar speckS.
The Air Force decided to GO
into action. but there were no in
terceptor units at Andrews at the
time. The Air Defense Command
units usually based there have
Temporarily moved to other quart
ers during reconstruction Of rum
ways.
Jets Sent From Delaware.
So F-94 jets of the 142nd fighter
interceptor squadron were sent
from Newcastle, DEL. about 80
miles away.
At 1925 pm, First 1t. William
L. Patterson reported seeing two
or three lights about 10 miles
away, but he could not rule out
the possibility that they were re-
fiectionS of ground lights, or even
stars. They soon disappeared.
At 11:49 he reported seeing a
bright light S or 10 miles away,
but when he zoomed toward it to
investigate, it disappeared about
two miles distant.
Again 1t. Patterson was not
sure the light was anything more
than a reflection, or star.
A companion jet piloted by
Capt. John w. McHugo reported
nothing from a higher altitude.
The planes went back to their
base at 1:40 am, when two other
Jets took off from the Delaware
base. They remained aloft until
300 am. without sighting any,
thing.
Brought Quick Response.
Last Saturday nights recur-
renee brought quick response.
CAA observers Immediately noti-
fed Military Flight Service at
Middletown, Pa. The Air Defense
Command, Air Force Intelligence.
Air Force Operations and Air
Force Public Information all were
notified.
An intelligence officer and pub
lie information officer were on
hand for most Of the radar sight
ings. All information will be
turned over to the Air Technical
Intelligence Center for further
study.
reports that the Air Force is
cloaking this in secrecy are not
correct" one information officer
said. 1.-The Air Force definitely
does not know what the objects
are. It is doing everything pos
sible to learn, and to get the facts
to the public"
Air Defense Command sources
said no especial alert had been
given for "saucers," pointing out
that it is the business Of the
command always to be ready for
any emergency.
Sharp Difference in Reports.
There was a sharp difference
of opinion in the reports Of radar
operators at Andrews and one
version of what the jet pilots saw.
Radar experts said the objects
moved at a slow rate Of speed
80 to 80 miles an hour. The Air
Force report said:
lone Of the jet pilots reported
sighting four lights in front ap-
proximately 10 miles and slightly
above him but he reported he had
no apparent closing speed. They
disappeared before he could over
take them" .t III.
A week ago the scope at Ma
tional Airport recorded a similar
array Of little dots and two air.
line pilots reported will-o'-the-
wisp objects which danced up and
down, and then disappeared.
Experts At Work.
That incident brought in Air
Force flying saucer" experts, and
a promise that leading scientists
would sift all available . informa-
ton in quest Of a solution.
Capt. E. j. Ruppelt of the Air
Technical Intelligence Center at
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Dayton, Ohio, came here to in
vestigate.
Experts agree that radar is not
infallible. But the fact remains
that three area radars picked up
the unknown objects Saturday.
The third was the control tower
at National Airport.
Radar normally does not regis
ter anything without substance
such as lights. But it can pick ur
such things as a bird in fight OF
a cloud formation.
3 Reports at Lynchburg.
Last night three persons re-
ported sighting a fast-movini
silent object over Lynchburg, Va