box Incident Summaries 173-233

Mr Tom Rush, a pilot with Dixie Air Service, Jackson, Mississippi, and his wife (private pilot), sighted an unidentified aerial object 2 miles east of Jackson, Mississippi, at 1700 C, 1 Jan 49 while coming in for a landing at the Dixie Airport. Object was first described as being cigar-shaped with short stubby wings resembling a rocket. (Second report states there were no wings) Mr Rush specifically states in a signed letter "as the object made its turn, it was then that I noticed the object didn't have wings." Object was first thought to be a large tow target about 60 feet long and about 10 feet in diameter at one end and about 4 ft at the trailing end. The tail even fluttered like a target but there was nothing towing it and the object moved at greater speed than tow targets. When the object crossed in front of the plane Rush estimated the speed to be about 200 MPH and stated that the object crossed some 500 feet in front of them. After the turn, the object was within 1,200 feet of the plane. Mr Rush attempted to point out the object to the pilot but the pilot did not understand and apparently did not see the object. As the object turned to the southwest it accelerated its speed and flew out of sight. Object seen for some 10 to 12 seconds. Color was dark blue or black. Speed at first sighting - 200 miles per hour, later thought to have accelerated to between 400 to 600 mph.

Object was sighted by the above persons who were passengers in a Stinson civilian aircraft. No photographs were taken since a camera was not available. The Stinson was flying at about 1,800 feet. Investigation of flight schedules of adjacent airfields could throw no light on the incident.