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| Ryukyus Islands | IR-1-53 | AF 3.6/241 |
| AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT | ||
| SUBJECT\nUnidentified Flying Object Report | ||
| AREA REPORTED ON\nRyukyus Island | FROM (Agency)\nD/I, Hq 20th Air Force, APO 239 | |
| DATE OF REPORT\n27 June 1953 | DATE OF INFORMATION\n24 June 1953 | EVALUATION\nC-3 |
| PREPARED BY (Officer) Capt. Lawrence E. Randall\nDir Current Intell. D/I 20th Air Force | SOURCE\nRyukyus Weather Service, Naha, Okinawa\nBase Weather Service, KAB, Okinawa | |
| REFERENCES (Control number, directive, previota report, etc., as applicable) | ||
| USAF BAIR 3A-15.1 AFL 200-5 dtd 29 Apr 52 | ||
| SUMMARY: (Enter concise summary of report. Give significance in final one-sentence paragraph. List inclosures at lower left. Begin text of report on AF Form 112-Part II.)\nOne object, spherical to star shaped was sighted both visually and through a theodolite by 9 Okinawan and Japanese weather observers on Okinawa from approximately 1900 I to 1920 I 21 June 1953.\nThe object, estimates of size ranging from a small star to a baseball, had no propulsion or exhaust trail but seemed to be traveling in a NW direction at an estimated speed of from 20 to 45 miles an hour at about 20,000 feet.\nAlthough the object was described as being a silvery or metallic color, all observers discounted the possibility of it being a jet aircraft. | ||
APPROVED, EVALUATION BY PREPARING OFFICER:
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402
U S A F m E M 0 7/31/78
By W G. Lewis NARS, Date 7/15/79
W G. Lewis NARS, Date 7/15/79
W. F. WILKERSON
Major, USAF
Deputy for Intelligence
FEAF DISTRIBUTION
1 CY USAF
CY G-2 HQ FEC
CY 6920 Scty Gp
CY USAirA. Tokyo
1 CY FILE
1 INCLS.
(1) Map of Sightings
1 cyg Alaskan Air Command
1 cyg ATIC, WP-AFB
1 cyg DII FEAF, AT20
G-2, Rycon, 1 cy with inclosures
VP-1, US Navy, 1 cy with inclosures
DO #3, OSI, 1 cy with inclosures
NOTE: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT, 50 U.S.C.—31 AND 32, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW. IT MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY OTHER THAN UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE, USAF.
SECURITY INFORMATION
RESTRICTED
(CLASSIFICATION)
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| FROM (Agency) D/I Hq 20th Air Force, APO 239 | REPORT NO. IR 1-53 | PAGE 1 OF 2 PAGES |
| 1. One object, spherical to star-shaped, described as the size of an average star by one observer and about the size of a ping peng ball by others or about the size of a baseball when seen through a theodolite. The object was sighted from about 1900I to 1920I hours, Sunday, 21 June 1953. The object was described as being silvery or metallic colored with no exhaust trail, moving at an estimated speed of 20 miles per hour by observers seeing the object with the naked eye. Observers using theodolite estimated the object's speed to be about 45 miles per hour. They judged this speed in relation to the movement of the clouds at this time. 2. The object produced no sound and it preformed no maneuvers. The object seemed to travel straight line estimated to be in a Northwest direction by 8 observers at Naha and toward the West-Southwest by one observer at Kadena. 3. Although the first sighting of unidentified object was around 1900I hours, 21 June 1953, this Headquarters was not notified of sighting until 23 June 1953. Upon notification this Headquarters immediately interrogated the nine observers of the unidentified object. 4. Three observers sighted the object visually and six observed the object both visually and by theodolite. Those who observed it by theodolite were from the Ryukyus Weather Service Station, Naha, Okinawa (26° 13'N; 127° 42' E). An Okinawan observer employed at Kadena Weather Station, Kadena Air Force Base (26° 21'N; 127° 46'E) was notified by telephone by the Ryukyus Weather Station of the presence of the object. Upon notification the Okinawan at Kadena observed the object for about two minutes. 5. The observers estimated the height of the object to be about 20,000' and moving from directly overhead to the Northwest, being obscured by cirrostratus clouds that were in the area at this time. Seven observers saw a pale moon but no stars were observed during observation of the object. All observers claimed to be familiar with Jet aircraft and ruled out the possibility of the object as a Jet. The only jet aircraft airborne locally at this time were two F-80s of the 26th Fighter Squadron doing acrobatics at about 15,000 feet 10 to 15 miles West South West of Naha observers. During this period the leg of Okinawa Air Traffic Control indicated no other aircraft above 5,000' in this area. During this period legs of EW radar sites in the local area indicated no sightings of unidentified aircraft tracks. A radiosonde balloon was sent aloft locally at approximately 1800I but winds aloft carried the balloon eastward. 6. All nine observers were either Japanese or Okinawan weather observers with from 6 to 30 years experience in weather observing. Their estimated reliability was good and all seemed sincere during interrogation. No U.S. military personnel reported seeing this unidentified object. 7. The weather at the time of the sighting was as follows: Kadena Weather Observation for 1756I was 4/10 cumulus clouds at 1500 feet and 8/10 cirrostratus clouds at estimated 20,000 feet. Surface winds at 15 miles per hour from SSW. Winds aloft were as follows: 5,000 ft 240° 18 Knots 10,000 ft 270° 16 Knots 20,000 ft 290° 12 Knots 25,000 ft 320° 11 Knots 30,000 ft 300° 19 Knots | ||
NOTE: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT, 50 U. S. C.—
31 AND 32, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW.
IT MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY OTHER THAN UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE, USAF.
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| FROM (Agency) | REPORT NO. | ||||
| D/I Hq 20th Air Force, APO 239 | IR 1-53 | PAGE | 2 | OF | 2 |
| PAGES | |||||
Kadena RAOB for 1809I indicated isothermal layer 600' thick between 4900' - 5500' MSL and a normal lapse rate above. No photographs or other physical evidences are available. No angles of elevation were taken by observers using the theodolite.
COMMENTS OF THE PREPARING OFFICER:
Validity of reported sighting appears doubtful because: (1) radar sites reported no track of unidentified object; (2) friendly pilots in general vicinity of sighting may have been mistaken for object while at high altitude and did not report any unusual sighting themselves; (3) radiosonde balloon aloft at this time, while moving eastward was subject to relatively light winds at high altitude; (4) no U S personnel reported seeing this object. However, sincerity during interrogation and experience (in observing weather phenomena, balloons, and aircraft) of so many skilled indigenous personnel requires that this sighting not be discounted.
Lawrence E. Paudall
Capt, USAF
COMMENTS OF APPROVING OFFICER:
This is second reported sighting of unidentified object in this vicinity during 1953. (Reference FLYOBRPT IR 1-53, Hq 6351st Air Base Wing dated 20 February 1953)
Unidentified object cited in February report was tracked on radar scope as well as seen visually by U S jet aircraft crew.
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NOTE: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT, 50 U.S.C.—31 AND 32, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW. IT MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART. BY OTHER THAN UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE, USAF. SECURITY INFORMATION
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NOTE: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT, 50 U.S.C.—31 AND 32, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW. IT MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY OTHER THAN UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE, USAF.
RESTRICTED
(CLASSIFICATION)
16—55570-1 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
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