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+. & AF FGRM 112—PART | APPROVED I JUNE 1948 COUNTRY fo i ci NO. | ar ree (LEAVE a7, wy ‘L * | : “AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT ~>-—-—_—— — eS ~~ (CLASSIFICATION) SUBJECT FLY OBRPT AREA REPORTED ON ee — 7 . ————— ‘FROM (Agency) Wi ne Intelligence Officer East Prairie, Missouri _ Scott Air Force Base, Illinois DATE OF REPORT ~ | DATE OF INFORMATION eT ane | | EVALUATION 1 May 1953 ___| 28 April 1953 ome Dt, PREPARED BY (Officer) SOURCE Ma, jor James H. Webb _ be Weldon We. Watson (Civilian) REFERENCES (Control nu mber, directive, previous report, etc., as applicable) Pay 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 IL) Unidentified, unconventional flying objects were sighted by Weldon W. Watson, ll2 William Street, East Prairie, Missouri, 16 April 1953. Objects were also observed by Mrs. Watson, Mrs. Stella Shortz and a fourth unidentified persone — Objects were observed for 25 minutes between 1510 and 1535 hours (Central Standard Time) at estimated 40,000 feet. Position of objects were SE to ESE of observers and appeared to be in trail of USAF B-36. (distance in trail unknown). By comparison with B-36 objects were circular and approximately 250% in diameter and silver in color. No visible propulsion system was observed and no exhaust gases or sound was evident. “peed was estimated at L400 to 600 miles per hour in maneuvers and in excess of 600 MPH in normal flight. Weather conditions were ideal with visibility unlimited. A total of seven objects were seen during the 25 minute period. Initially only one object was seen to be trailing a B46 for an unknown time or distances After making a sharp turn to the left it was joined by three additional similar objects. The four objects then completed a tight 360° maneuver coming out abreast and continuing on the original heading, SE, (in trail of B-36) at a greatly increased speed. The four objects disappeared parallel to the trail of the B-36, Soon after the original four disappeared, three more were seen to be maneuvering to the ESE of observers. For a ten minute period one of the objects remained motionless while the remaining two were in motion in the general Vicinity. Mr. Watson further reported observing what seemed to be alternate flashing signals; but were not in Morse Code. Our investigation shows that the 85th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, often flies interception missions with SAC aircraft in this vicinity. No mission was flown at 1500, but there was a mission flown at 1000 hours 16 April 1953, however, the log of the 85th Fighter Interceptor Squadron fails to show the exact location. The weather report for Farmington, Missouri at 1500 to 1630 Central Standard Time was "broken clouds at 25,000 feet, visibility fifteen (15) miles". No definite conclusions can be arrived at by this Office. 3 ___ nets. 1. Ltr dtd 17 Apr 53 ee bore A | : 2e Ltr dtd 20 Apr 53 “oy F ‘2 c Pe ae 3. Ltr dtd 28 Apr 53 “} UAL ™, JAMES A. WEBB ‘Major, USAF Wing Intelligence Officer ‘DISTRIBUTION BY ORIGINATOR a a ets a te f Director of Intelligence, Headquarters USAF, Washington 25, D.C Chief Air Technical Intelligence Contes, ATEN: AT TAR-2e, right Patterson AFB, Ohio Commanding General, Technical Training Air Force, Gulfport, Mississippi Commanding General, Air Training Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois Se ead NOTE: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL OEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT. 50U.S.C — 31 AND 32, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON |S PROHISITED BY LAW. IT MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY OTHER THAN UNITED.ST4 PIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE, USAF. | Earn e — Auth: 48238, AFCAG-54, USAF, 20 Jul 50 Declassification Authority: NND 57565 CommeNgrus geveLsy* WIL JLeTNTWE commengq* gcorr WIL f,oL.ce psee* rryTWore QomusugrNs geveLsy* jeopnyTesy LLeTurHe yu. ponce® gntyborg® preereerbhy CHTCL Vis Leopuyosy TwreyTTTeeNeS Cevpex® VEEU! VLIVYS°* weTipe Ee epeneow Gy. p* ONTO DILOCfOL OF juLeTTT&ence® pesqdneLreLe poy? meeyTuirow sp* pene wrws yuLeTTT&eves HLLIcer. 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Dear Sir, Yesterday afternoon I, along with three others sighted several strange objects in the air. They were in controlled flight. We watched them for about 40 minutes. Please advise me if the Air Force is interested in such sightings. If so I will be happy to furnis a detailed description of our sighting from notes I made during the time they were visible. I can be found at the Post Office at any time. Yours truly, Weldon W. Watson THIS IS A CERTIFIED TRUE COPY: C Ware Zn JAMES H. WEBB Major, United States Air Force Declassification Authority: NND 57565 HEADQUARTERS SCOTT ATR FORCE BASE and 4410th Technical Training Wing SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILLINOIS 20 April 1954 Mre Weldon We Watson 112 Williams Street East Prairie, Missouri Dear Mr. Watsons Thank you for your letter of April 17- We are very much interested in the sightings of unusual objects and would like you to make a detailed reporte This report should include a brief description of the object's shape, size, color, number, formation if more than one, aero=-dynamic features, trail or exhaust, propulsion system, speed, sound, maneuvers, manner of disappearance and other pertinent or unusual features, time of sight- ing and length of time observed, location of object during sighting in relation to the observer and to the sun if possible, distance from ob- ject and an estimate of speed and altitude. We would also like to have the names of the other observers and a brief description of the weather at the time of sight. Kindly include in this report a paragraph of your own describing what you saw and your evaluation of samee Any information in relation to the above may be helpful in determining what the sightings were. Thank you for your cooperation regarding this matter e Yours truly, /s/ James He Webb JAMES H. WEBB Major, USAF Wing Intelligence Officer THIS IS A CERTIFIED TRUE COPY: CS ZZ /SMMES H. WEBB ‘Major, United States Air Force | el ty. Declassification Authority: NND 57565 East Prairie, Moe April 28, 1954. James He Webb Major, USAF Wing Intelligence Officer Scott AFB, Ille Dear Major Webb, I shall attempt to give you detailed information you asked for in your letter of April 20. Time of sightin was about 3:10 PeMe until about 5:35 PeMe The objects appeared to rounde Circular surface. Altitude= 10,000 feet upe Position from mo S.E & EeSeHeo Color= Silvers hy to 7 objects. No sounde No evidence of propulsion system. No trail or exhaust visible. Size--diameter as large as the wing span of B36. Speed=-based on speed of B36 at GOOMPH. Objects in maneuvers 00 to 600 MPH. Speed in flight far in excess of 600 MPH. Weather clear, no clouds and visibility unlimited. The first object was seen entering the trail of B36. It made a sharp left turn and was joined by three more while still turning. The three joined the first and all four circled once in tight formation then formed abreaste After forming abreast they seemed to gain speed at a tremendous rate of increase. They left and disappeared paralell to the trail left by plane. After dissapearance of the four described three were sighted north of the position. This was ESE of my position. These three maneuvered around in the general vicinity of their first appearancee One of these three was moti on= less for about 10 mine The others moved around but not fare At one time two seemed to be flashing signalse This could not have been a usual sun reflection because of the two being so close together. The flashing was alternate. It was not Morse Code. The signaling is very puzzling. I know of course, our Air Forces use voice radio for Communicatione It is my opinion that these objects were in controlled flight. They could not have been free flight weather ballons. If these objects were flat or semi-flat they were on edge. I could only see one side and it was a perfect circlee No wings, tail or other breaks in the body visible. I can not identify what I saw but I am convinced they were strange, unknown objects in controlled flight. The people who saw thes objects were my wife, my mother-in-law, Mr. Stella Shortz and a man whose name I don't know. I would not recommend a statement from Mrse Shortz because of her very poor eye sight. Although she said at the time Declassification Authority: NND 57565 she saw them it is quite possible she saw spots caused by the sun glare. My wife and I had the sun spots but I checked my sight by looking away from the objects. Then when I looked back the objects were still there. I sincerely hope my information will be of some help and if I can be of any further assistance pleas writee Yours turly, /w/ Weldon W. Watson WELDON W. WATSON THIS IS A CERTIFIED TRUE COPY: -: / ff ‘ 4 Stn _X ya LET} pz /AMMES He WEBB “ Major, United States Air Force Declassification Authority: NND 57565