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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.
“Nevers”20 pages
analysis and evaluation of the written report to be submitted. The pilots report also suggested the possibility that he had witnessed a man serial refueling operation. Upon analysis and evaluation, this sighting turned out to be B-47 type aircraft accomplishing night refueling from KC-97 tankers. The American Airlines pilot's report of the sighting confirmed this and Air Force records show that three B-47 type aircraft were in the geographical area mentioned above on a night refueling operation. The tanker has several groups of lights which at a distance would appear to be one or more lights. The time duration of a refueling operation varies, can last well over an hour, depending on the type of operation. The KC-97 refueling a B-47 will fly at an altitude of approximately 17,000 feet at around 250 knots true air speed (ground speed 210 knots). This would account for the lights being approximately 20 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. 60 miles east of Youngtown, Ohio, approximately 120 miles from Akron, Ohio. This would account for the tanker aircraft lights being sighted over Akron at 9:10 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 De partment of Defense. Uncertainty. LAWRENCE J. TACKER Major, USAF Executive Officer Public Information Division Office of Information Services This letter was quite interesting, however it still left several questions unanswered. I wrote to the Air Force again and received the following letter: ## 2 September 1960 Dear Mr. Kirsch: This is to acknowledge your letter of 9 August 1959 concerning the American Air Line sighting of 24 February 1959 near Bradford, Pennsylvania. The Air Force did not release an incorrect explanation for this signaling. However, since the American Air Lines pilot stated that the intervals of the three lights were identical to the belt in the constellation Orion, this was merely initially mentioned as a possibility with the statement that the final conclusion would be based upon a complete evaluation by the Air Technical Intelligence Center. It did not take months for the Air Force to identify its own planes. The Air Technical Intelligence Center identified this fact quickly in the course of these investigation and the findings, after a complete analysis, were released to all newspapers through the Department of Defense press desk in Washington D. C., on 18 March 1650, only several days after the sighting. I cannot answer your query can terning the radar equipment aboard airlines planes. I would suggest you ask this question of the airline involved. Most radars to commercial aircraft are located in the nose and only scan directly to front of
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