The National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (Nicap)

# Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010001-0

Daily papers headlined story that Air Defense Command had ordered its jet pilots to pursue, and if necessary "shoot down," UFOs sighted anywhere in country (15).

28/29	1:30-5:00 a.m.	Washington, D.C.	Many unidentified targets tracked by CAA radar in belt 15 miles wide, objects moving SE. Eight to twelve UFOs on radar scopes at one time.
	3:00 a.m.	Washington, D.C.	Eastern Airlines pilot was asked to check on radar targets, reported seeing nothing. CAA official said the targets disappeared from the radar screen when the plane was in their area, "then came back in behind him."[16]
29	day	Chicago, Ill.	U.S. Rocket Society president wired Defense Department and President Truman urging them to restrain pilots from shooting at UFOs. "Should they be extraterrestrial, such action might result in the gravest consequences..."
Rumors that many prominent scientists wired President Truman expressing similar views.
29	day	Washington, D.C.	Air Force called press conference on UFO sightings, attended by more than 40 reporters. Suggested UFOs were probably temperature inversions or unexplained natural phenomena causing radar mirages, but announced USAF was calling in top scientists to evaluate sightings; setting up special grid cameras to determine nature of light from UFOs. Stressed lack of any menace to country.
29	noon	Los Alamos, N.M.	Shiny, apparently metallic UFO watched by ground observers through binoculars. Jet interceptors scrambled, observers saw UFO turn and move behind the jets.[17]
	afternoon	Albuquerque, N.M.	Air Force Reserve Colonel, at Los Alamos Atomic Energy Commission station, saw a yellowish elliptical object speed overhead.[18]
	3:00 p.m.	Nr Washington, D.C.	Air Force pilot sighted three round white UFOs 10 miles SE of Andrews AFB, Maryland. CAA Report. Other UFOs tracked by CAA radar during afternoon.
	9:35 p.m.	Miami, Florida	Marine Corps photographer obtained 40 feet of movie film showing a UFO; image described as "bowl-shaped with a projection on top."[Section VIII; Photographs.]
	About 10:45 p.m.(EST)	Michigan	Air Defense Command radar tracked a UFO, moving at 550 knots. Chased by F-94's; one got a radar lock-on; bright flashing light seen at the same time, same position.[19]
30	day	Washington, D.C.	International News Service reported:

"Radar experts and weather scientists today declined to endorse the Air Force theory that 'flying saucers' are ground objects reflected in the sky under freak atmospheric conditions. (CAA radar men) maintained that what they have seen were 'unknown objects,' twisting and swerving in an unexplainable pattern. . . A Weather Bureau official said that reflections due to such inversion ordinarily would appear on a radar screen as a steady line, rather than as single objects such as were sighted on the airport radarscope."

## The Operation Mainbrace Sightings

After UFO reports in the United States had begun to taper off in August 1952, a wave of sightings began in Europe. All over the continent, strangely maneuvering objects were seen in the skies. A particularly interesting series of reports came from the vicinity of the "Operation Mainbrace" NATO maneuvers then in progress.

The maneuvers commenced September 13, and lasted 12 days. "Units of 8 NATO governments and New Zealand participated, including 80,000 men, 1,000 planes and 200 ships . . . in the vicinity of Denmark and Norway . . ." They were directed by British Admiral Sir Patrick Brind. "It was the largest NATO maneuver held up until that time." (Information from U.S. Navy).

September 13 - The Danish Destroyer "Willemoes," participating in the maneuvers, was north of Bornholm Island. During the night, Lt. Cmdr. Schmidt Jensen and several members of the crew saw an unidentified object, triangular in shape, which moved at high speed toward the southeast. The object emitted a bluish glow. Cmdr. Jensen estimated the speed at over 900 mph [20]

Within the next week, there were four important sightings by well-qualified observers. (Various sources differ by a day or two on the exact dates, but agree on details. There is no question about the authenticity of the sightings; the British cases were officially reported by the Air Ministry, the others are confirmed by reliable sources. All occurred on or about September 20).

About September 20 - A British Meteor jet was returning to the airfield at Topcliffe, Yorks., England just before 11:00 a.m. As he approached for landing, a silvery object was observed following him, swaying back and forth like a pendulum. Lt. John W. Kilburn and other observers on the ground said that when the Meteor began circling, the UFO stopped. It was disc-shaped, and rotated on its axis while hovering. Suddenly, the disc took off westward at high speed, changed course, and disappeared to the southeast. The Air Ministry announced it was investigating.[21]

About September 20 - Personnel of the U.S. Aircraft Carrier Franklin D. Roosevelt, participating in the Mainbrace maneuvers, observed a silvery, spherical object which was also photographed. (The pictures have never been made public). The UFO was seen moving across the sky behind the fleet. Reporter Wallace Litwin took a series of color photographs, which were examined by Navy Intelligence officers. The Air Force UFO project chief, Capt. Ruppelt stated: "[The pictures] turned out to be excellent . . . judging by the size of the object in each successive photo, one could see that it was moving rapidly." The possibility that a balloon had been launched from one of the ships was immediately checked out. No one had launched a balloon. [22]

September 20 - At Karup Field, Denmark, three Danish Air Force officers sighted a UFO about 7:30 p.m. The object, a shiny disc with metallic appearance, passed overhead from the direction of the fleet and disappeared in clouds to the east. [23]

September 21 - Six Royal Air Force Pilots flying a formation of jets above the North Sea observed a shiny sphere approaching