23857122-1412-535137-0004

At 1927 (Pacific Standard Time), 9 January 1953 over the city of ‘ Santa Ana,, California, om a heading of 330° my co-pilot, Lt. Charles ¢. Loveless, called my atténtion to a formation of lights approaching the aircraft from a position of 02:30 O'clock level. The lights approached at a very rapid rate of closure and I immediately effected a turn to the left. The lights stopped and appeared to hold the same position momen~ tarily and then made a slight rise and disappeared. The total time of sighting was approximately 5 seconds. I immediately called Los Angeles radio and informed them of time, altitude and position of the objects. The weather was clear in the vicinity at: the time of the sighting. As both pilots were familiar with the reflection characteristics of the B-29 cockpit,. these were checked to insure it was not a ground reflec- tion within the cockpit. There was no aircraft in the immediate vici- nity and none was reported by Air Traffic Control and Military Flight Service. The lights seemed to appear in a slightly bent V formation and were blue in color. The formation appeared to change from a bank to a level position then stopped and banked away just. before disappear- ing. The radar winds for the position were 227/12 knots. My co-pilot and myself were the only members of the crew to view the lights. Our altitude was 16,500 feet. I further state that I am an Aircraft Commander (1234¢) assigned to a combat crew of the 93d Air Refueling Squadron, 93d Bomb Wing (M), Gastle APB, California. I have been on flying status 3% years. I en- close a drawing of the appearance of the objects. LO WELL i/l&. USAF W & yf : oe ‘ axar mmeunn. PESERIGEEN Declassification Authority: NND 57565