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_-RESTFRICTED pm Hh SECURITY INFORMATION — eo (CLASSIFICATION) iY “ee D 1 JUNE 1948 COUNTRY REPORT NO. (LEAVE BLANK) | Peay United States TL E-25-53 AES Q MY, . AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT Unidentified Flying Object “AREA REPORTED ON FROM (Agency) Fort Davis, Texas 97th Bomb Wing, $10th Air Div, Biggs AFB,Te DATE OF REPORT | DATE OF INFORMATION EVALUATION 1 May 1953 19 April 1953 Fe6 PREPARED BY (Officer) a \ ‘ | SOURCE H. B. BENTZ, Capt, USAF, Dir/Intel Mr. A. V. Chapin, Ft. Davis, Texas “REFERENCES (Control number, directive, previous report, etc., as applicable) __ SAF ICP, 15 Aug 52 SUMMARY: (Enter concise summary of report. Give significance in final one-sentence paragraph. List inclosures at lower left. Begin tert of report on AF Form 112—Part IL.) » SUBJECT The inclosed letter was received by the Civil Aeronautics Administration Marfa, Texas and forwarded to the Directorate of Intelligence, 97th Bombardment Wing; Medium, 810th Air Division, 2iggs Air Force Base, Texas. Mr. Grey A. Pringle, Chief of Airways Operations Service at Marfa, added that "We know of at least one jet aircraft of a type that has ‘swept-back! wings that was oper- wear 7” that vicinity at approximately the time mentioned in the attached etter. APPROVED: terol BB ) vhs £ ¥ td o- 2/31/77 He B. BENTZ Capt USAF AT gee Intelligence “es Sat INCLS. Ltr fr A. V. Chapin to Civil Aero Adm, Marfa, Texas ‘DISTRIBUTION BY ORIGINATOR Headquarters, Eighth Air Force, Fort Worth, Texas 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, ———— —_+— (CLASSIFICATION) 16—55569--1 VU. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE SECURITY INFORMATION Declassification Authority: NND 57565 P, O. Box 545 Ft. Davis, Texas April 20, 1953 Civil Aeronautics Administration Communications Branch Marfa Air Field Marfa, Texas Dear Sir: Yesterday, on April 19th, about 1:20 P, M., while observing a vapor trail just west of Ft, Davis, from horizon to horizon, and from northwest to southeast, I observed an object which appeared to be floating just west of the vapor trail, about half- way between Ft. Davis and your air field at Marfa. J at first thought it may have been a balloon released by the plane that made the vapor trail, as it appeared to be about the same altitude, but was not of a spherical shape like an ordinary balloon, and perhaps larger, somewhat oblong in shape. The object then appeared to descend somewhat and resemble an eagle or buzzard sailing, but was much too high for such; but still appeared to drift about like a buzzard and to hover at times. The object then began to swing in an are toward the north with great acceleration, and short pointed wings became visible, as it passed over, at per- haps half the altitude of the vapor trail, It continued to accelerate until the speed became uncanny and much greater than any jet plane I have ever seen. A111 the while it appeared to be an amber color, There was no sound whatsoever and no vapor trail. It followed a course a little west of north and disappeared over the horizon beyond the Davis mountains, in about 45 seconds. As it became a speck in the distance it changed directions lightly two or three times to the right, to the left, and up @nd down, and then continued on the same course as before, All the while it appeared to be going abovt a mile in two seconds, J shall appreciate your forwarding this information to proper authorities, if of importance, Yours very truly, “ ‘9 \s @, 4 ® s AVC : MM A. V. Chapin Declassification Authority: NND 57565