23857122-1478-539830-0008

Py ms AF FORM 112—PART II APPROVED 1 JUNE 1948 a AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT FROM (Agency) REPORT NO. PAGE 7 OF PAGES THE FIELD (Conway, S. C., 19 February 1953) WPLIMPS DON'T GO THAT FAST" While cruising from east to west over him, the craft gave off a low hum, Like a distant auto. Booth was able to keep pace with the vessel at an averace walking speed, it was almost directly above him when he fired at it; his bullet struck with & metallic sound. The craft shot up and away instantly and was beyond rance when Booth fired a second Gime. "It took off at a speed I'd estimate at 700 miles an how," Booth said today. "Tl never heard of a blimp going that fast.” CAkj-man Hall opimed that an investigation of the blimps now at Weeksrille would reveal a dent in the bottom of them where Booth shot it. ‘The Navy has not announced any such damage or indicated any association with the shooting since the event was reported, Reports of flying saucers have been frequent in this area during the past few weeks. One Was seen near Myrtle Beach a week befere the Booth shooting. & Marine Gorps jet pilot pursued ami lost a strange eraft along the Carolinas coast. Last Friday, anether was seen by four people at Myrtle Beach, heard by mother, then seen by six others a few minutes later over Marion, Ss. C. Latest reports were made last night when three Myrtle Beach residents saw an unidentifiable object fly inland at approximately 1000-foot altitude, THE HORRY COUNTY NEWS AMD THE LORIS SENTINEL, Loris, South Carolina, Thursday ’ February 19, 1953 BOOTH SAYS FLYING SAUCER WAS NOT A NAVY BLIMP Conway, S. Cs = Feb, 17 ~ The Horry County farmer who on January 29 became the only man in the world to shoot a flying saucer today debunked a CAA suggestion that he might actually have "wounded" a Navy blimp. Lloyd C. Booth, 29, said: "I have seen many blimps and I've even been in one. I'd certainly know a blimp when I saw one 80 feet over my head,¥ That was the height of the unidentified object which floated slowly over Boothts farm ou the eventful night and which soared away after he shot at it with a .22 pistol. Booth sighted the object after a comnotion among his livestock sen him in search of a possible prowler. The blimp suggestion came yesterday from G. W. Hall of the Cad control tower at Bluethenthal Field, Wilmington, N.C. Hall said three Navy blimps were en route from Glynto, Ga., to Weeksville » Ny Coy Of January 29 and that one-of them could easi have passed over Horry County at midnight when Booth was patrolling his farm’. High headwinds kept the blinns low, Hall said, which was why Booth ‘spotéed one Just ten feet above the lines on his land. hare ‘ x Se & Booth rejected the blimp possibility on the basis of his past experience with the craft. He added; : : ae } "I was with an anti-aircraft wit for 22 months durine the war and ied ae na 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. 1 MOS NO Be HE RODLICED IN WHOLE GS Lay OBER THAN/UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE, USAF. he 16—55570-1 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE la: 1T1C all