23857122-1480-540021-0005

4 5 March 1953 SZLTALTEMENI On 3..March,1953 while leading a flight of three F-S4 aircraft on a simulated combat ‘strike. to Nellis AFB convoy #5, I observed a high altitude condensation pattern of an aireraft or object of peculiar and unfamiliar shape and size, At the time of observation we were cruising at 25000 feet altitude at 500 MPH true airspeed and on a heading of 305° magnetic course. My position was approximately EJGE 4525 on the, GEOREF grid, and the pattern first appeared at 10 o'clock high and was estimated to be approximately over EJFE 5520 at 35 to 45000 feet. My first view was at about 2 plan view and I estimated it to be about 300 feet in diameter, however, size and distance was difficult to determine since there were no known dimensions or references, I called the object to the attention of my flight but no one was able to identify it. The main peculiarity, other than size, was that the object making the pattern remained invisible, but the pattern began with a smooth knifelike leading edge and developed back into a a perfect erescent shape, very thin in depth and with an irregular trailing edge. at this time there were no condensa- tion trails of the familiar type often made by jet-or conventional aircraft when flying at altitude, but rather appeared as if an entire wing surface of high sweep- back or circular design was preducing a thin condensation from the leading edge back, I turned toward the object and began a climbing chase at full power, The object made a slight dipping turn toward the northwest and began climbing at about 20 degrees of climb, At this time I was at about right angles and the pattern appeared as a sharp nosed and very thin object with an irregular, whispy trailing edge and about 300 - 500 feet long, Immediately thereafter a heavy condensation trail began to form behind it and extended for perhaps a thousand feet or so back, at which point it separated and a double trail extended for perhaps another thousand feet and then ended abruptly. The contrail stayed with the object and did not extend back across the sky as exhaust contrails generally do. I attained 30,000 feet and about 560 MPH true airspeed and chased him for about 50 to 60 miles. I was carrying a full armament and fuel load, however, I was closing fairly well. I estimated his speed at about 400 MPH true. I fired about 30 feet of gun camera film and at this time was over the river just north of Parker Dam, I figured it would take quite a long chase to catch him and that it was probably some craft out of Murec AFB, so I breke eff the chase and continued to Nellis AFB. The object was first observed at about 1325 hours and I chased him for about seven minutes before breaking off. I was unable to get into position for a picture of the plan view, but did get some excellent pictures of the side view, Neither I nor any member of the flight was able to identify or to actually see the object itself. This statement is submitted only as an incident report of aerial phenomenon observed in flight, Declassification Authority: NND 57565