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This NICAP compilation by Dan Wilson gathers Project Blue Book records on the sighting of 24 February 1959, when American Airlines Flight 139, flying from Newark to Detroit, and two United Airlines crews saw three lights over Pennsylvania and Ohio. It includes the record card, pilot statements, Air Force letters and correspondence with an Akron UFO committee. The Air Force concluded that the lights came from three B-47s refueling from KC-97 tankers. Book excerpts disputing Captain Killian's later claims are also included.
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lights being approximately 30 degrees above the American Airlines pilot's horizon and his seeing them for 40 minutes. This coincides with the pilot's report of low speed and configuration of objects. Your letter also supports this conclusion. The tankers had a ground speed of approximately 210 knots and the United Airlines pilots' reported sighting it at 8:45 p.m., 50 miles east of Youngstown, Ohio, approximately 120 miles from Akron, Ohio. This would account for the tanker aircrafts lights being sighted over Akron at 9:15 p.m. by ground observers. These findings were made available to all media representatives through the Department of Defense press desk in Washington, D. C., on 16 March 1959. The Air Force is well aware of its obligation to keep the public adequately informed on this subject and press releases are made periodically through the Department of Defense. For your information, I am inclosing the latest Department of Defense press release on unidentified flying objects. Sincerely, Incl LAWRENCE J. TACKER Major, USAF Executive Officer Public Information Division Office of Information Services Akron 13, Ohio
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