ufo_data/bin/rr0/tran1953.md

• January

• January 1st, 8:45 PM: At Craig (Montana), Warner Anderson and 2 women observed for 10 seconds a silver saucer-shaped object with a reddish base, flying over a river and then quickly rising while remaining in a horizontal position [[case Blue Book #2315 unsolved]]{.source}.

• 3 January : Creation of the 4602nd AISS.

• January 8, 7:15: At the Larson (Washington) USAF base, men of the 82nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, including the squadron leader, observed from the ground a green, disk or round-shaped object flying in a south-west direction for 15 minutes, with vertical and lateral wave-like movements, behind the clouds [[case Blue Book #2323 unsolved]]{.source}.

• January 9: Drafting of the "Pentacle memo".

• January 10, 3:45 or 4:00 PM: In Sonoma, California, retired Colonel Robert McNab and Mr. Hunter of the Federal Security Agency observed a flat object, like a pinhead, make a 360° turn in 9 seconds, make sharp 90° turns to the right and left, stop, accelerate, and finally fly vertically out of sight after 60 to 75 seconds [[case Blue Book #2326 unsolved]]{.source}.

• A memorandum from the British Air Ministry orders RAF personnel to ensure that UFO sighting data is not disclosed to the public.

• 13-18 January: Meetings of the Commission Robertson.

• January 17, 3:55 PM: Near Guatemala City (Guatemala) geologist and salesman J. J. Sackett observed for 22 seconds a bright green/gold object in the shape of a "Goodyear blimp" twice as long as it was high, flying horizontally at 400 miles/h, stopping, then flying away with a stop [[case Blue Book # 2337 unsolved]]{.source}.

"- January 28"

• 13 h : At Point Mugu (Mugu?), California, R. W. Love, owner of the Love Diving Co., tasked with recovering radio-controlled drones, observed for 6 minutes a flat white disc flying horizontally above him [[case Blue Book #2361 unsolved]]{.source}.

• 18 h 05 : At Corona (California), Sergeant/T. George Beyer of the USAF observed for 12 minutes 5 green spheres of 25 feet flying in a "V" formation, then passing into a single file formation and becoming red [[case Blue Book #2364 unsolved]]{.source}.

• In Albany (Georgia), the maintenance staff of the radar detected a stationary target for 20 minutes. At the same time, a visual observation was made which was explained [[case Blue Book #2365 unsolved]]{.source}.

• Starting of the supposed project Aquarius.

• Early 1953: A group of USAF intelligence officers linked to the UFO project prepare to release their most astounding cases, as well as photos of unexplained UFOs. No final conclusion is expected, although the data released strongly points to an interplanetary answer. At the last moment, fears of high-ranking officers abort the project [[Keyhoe, Someone's Watching Over Us, The True Report on Flying Saucers, 1967]]{.source}.

• Albert Bender, editor of a UFO journal called Space Review, publishes a statement where he claims to have come across information that could solve the UFO mystery but cannot publish it because he was ordered not to. He ends his statement with an extreme cautionary recommendation to other UFO enthusiasts, and stops his publications.

• February

• February 3, 5:25 PM: In Keflavik (Iceland), radar operators detect 4 unidentified targets for 24 minutes [[case Blue Book #2384 unsolved]]{.source}.

• February 4, 1:50 PM: In Yuma (Arizona), U.S. Weather Bureau observer Stanley Brown spotted with a theodolite a white oblong object flying upwards, hovering, and being joined by a second similar object. Twice, the second one flew away and rejoined the first. After 5 minutes, the two objects were lost from sight behind the clouds [[case Blue Book #2388 unsolved]]{.source}.

• February 7: The English cargo ship Ranee discovers a motorboat drifting between the Nicobar and Andaman Islands: the Holchu. The crew has disappeared. The boat is in excellent condition. It is abundantly supplied with food, water and fuel. A meal has even been prepared in the kitchen and is ready to be served. The radio works. No signs of struggle or disorder are found.

• In the Malacca Strait, the motorboat Holchu is found completely empty, drifting and in perfect condition.

• February 17, 10:04 PM: At Port Austin (Michigan), 2 officers and 3 airmen from the USAF AC&W squadron observe an object larger and brighter than a star. Furthermore, it changes color. It moves slowly for 5 minutes until 10:09 PM. The radar picks up a target at 10:08 PM. The object moves in the same direction as them for 17 minutes, at a similar speed [[case Blue Book #2419 unsolved]]{.source}.

"- February 20"

• In Pittsburg-Stockton (California), the pilots of a USAF B-25 observed a bright yellow light for 8 minutes [[case Blue Book #2426 unsolved]]{.source}.

• 22:30: Still in Pittsburg-Stockton (California), after their first observation, the same pilots saw a bright light flying with a collision trajectory, weaken and then rise very quickly [[same case Blue Book #2426 unsolved]]{.source}.

• February 24, 7:43 PM: In Sherman (Texas), Adjutant Alden and his companion saw for 3 to 7 seconds 2 round objects of a bright red color, with a large halo, flying in small circles, then ascending and disappearing into the sky [[case Blue Book #2441 unsolved]]{.source}.

• February 27th, 11:58 PM: In Shreveport (Louisiana), an USAF enlistee and private pilot observed 5 yellow discs performing circular maneuvers, pulsating. 3 of them vanished into the sky, and the other 2 flew erratically. The observation lasted 4 minutes. [[case Blue Book #2543 unsolved]]{.source}

• February 28: In Beirut, Mr. Daurces, an engineer, observes a real parade of unidentified objects above the city. By making small movements with the binoculars he has equipped himself with, he obtains discontinuous lines that lead him to deduce that the light is emitted at a frequency of 100 to 150 periods/s VSD 2007 H{.source}.

• Mars

• The UFO observed on March 3. See photo at images/1953-03-03.jpg.

• March 5: Death of Stalin, succeeded by Nikita Khrushchev.

• March 11, 4am: In Hackettstown (New Jersey), Nina Cook, an experienced private pilot and wife of an aeronautical engineer from Pan Am, sees a large light flickering between 10 and 15 times per minute, moving up and down along a mountain range. [[case Blue Book #2490 unsolved]]{.source}

• March 14, 11:45 PM: In the Sea of Japan north of Hiroshima (37° 25' North, 132° 25' East), the 10 crew members of a U.S. Navy P2V-5 patrol plane observe for 5 minutes groups of 5 to 10 colored lights, between 90 and 100 in total, slowly moving to the left of the aircraft. They are also detected by the onboard radar. [[case Blue Book #2496 unsolved]]{.source}

• March 15: First launch of the R-5 rocket of Korolev.

• March 21, 3:05 PM: At Elmira (New York), a GOC observation post spotted 6 discs flying in a group quickly and at high altitude for a few seconds. [[case Blue Book #2511 unsolved]]{.source}

• March 25, 3:05 PM: In San Antonio (Texas), the USAF captain and D. E. Cox and his companion observed for 1.5 hours several lights, some moving in a straight line, others performing 360° turns. [[case Blue Book #2521 unsolved]]{.source}

• March 27, 7:25 PM: At Mont Taylor (New Mexico), the pilot of an USAF F-86 fighter jet flying at 600 knots (700 mph) observed an orange luminous circle flying at 800 knots (900 mph) and performing 3 rapid rolls. The pilot chased the object for 4 minutes. [[case Blue Book #2524 unsolved]]{.source}

• March 29, 3:45 PM: In Spooner (Wisconsin), L. C. Gillette, observed for 50 minutes a circular object seeming to be made of aluminum flying quickly at high altitude, and reversing its course twice. Gillette reported the observation of a similar object in 1938. [case Blue Book #2526 unsolved]{.source}

• Spring: UFOs above Moscow (Russia) drop angel hair. [[Clypeus, December 1967]]{.source}

• April

• April 3: Allen Dulles renames the operation Artichoke to M-K-Ultra.

• April 8, 7:55 PM: In Fukuoka (Japan), 1st Lieutenant D. J. Pichon, pilot of an F-94B jet interceptor of the USAF, observed a bright blue light descending, accelerating, flying parallel to the F-94, increasing its speed and blinking before disappearing after 45s. unresolved Blue Book case n° 2535{.source}

• April 15, 5:45 PM: In Tucson, Arizona, Sergeant/S V. A. Locey observed for approximately 3 minutes and 30 seconds 3 orange lights. [[case Blue Book #2542 unsolved]]{.source}

• April 18: Crash in Southwest Arizona.

• April 29: Promulgation of the AFR 200-5.

• May 1st, 11:35 PM: At the USAF base in Goose (Labrador), the pilots and radar operator of an F-94 USAF jet interceptor spot a white light, as well as a controller from the control tower. They pursue it for 30 minutes, but the object escapes their interception attempt [[case Blue Book #2555 unsolved]]{.source}. Near Brady (Montana), C. M. Tenney, who was returning from Great Falls and heading towards Conrad, saw an oval object following his car while balls of fire fell on the road. A little later that same day, a colonel called him to ask him to go to the Malmstrom Air Base the next day at 10am. Upon his arrival, he was escorted to a windowless building surrounded by a metal fence. He was asked to tell his story and sign a deposition. As he signed, he saw two men carrying laundry bags that would have contained the bodies of two humanoids. [National Tattler of January 5, 1975]{.source}

• The crew of a Fouga from the Pau base (France) gave up pursuing a disc-shaped craft due to an unbearable heat felt in the aircraft [[Jimmy Guieu, Black-out on Flying Saucers]]{.source}.

• Taking advantage of the wave of UFO sightings in England and more generally in Europe, the BBC re-edits the CBS and Orson Welles experience of 1938.

• May 5: In Yuma (Arizona), chemist W. A. Webb observed an oblong white object in the sky. After 5 minutes, it moved, became circular and smaller. Webb then put on his Polaroid glasses and saw 3 concentric black rings around the object. He noticed no particular effect without the glasses, nor during the first phase of the observation.

• May 20: Fritz Wermer, working in Nevada as part of a team of scientists whose mission is to scientifically estimate the damage caused by a strictly confidential nuclear test, is called by the physicist leading the research group and is given the order to board a special flight to Phoenix. From there, he is taken into the desert on a large bus whose windows have been made opaque, along with 15 other passengers. All are given the order to keep silent during the journey.

• May 21st, evening: The group arrives and is escorted to a canyon near Kingman (Arizona), where huge spotlights illuminate a large disc embedded in the sand. The vessel, about 9 m in diameter, appears to be made of aluminum and forms an acute angle with the ground. Following the impact, the object sank 50 cm into the ground. It is guarded by military patrols. Werner is tasked with calculating the impact speed of the object. Inside there are 2 swivel chairs in an ovoid cabin equipped with many instruments. A tent is set up nearby to shelter the remains of the sole occupant. Once his report is submitted, he is taken back in the bus with blackened windows, awaiting departure for Nevada. Just before getting on the bus, he manages to take a quick look inside a tent. That's when he sees a being measuring 1.20 m, whose skin has a brownish appearance, wearing a silver suit and a cap. Signing a declaration keeping him in secrecy, Werner does not believe for a single moment that it is a top-secret American fighter jet - as the army claims. He contacts Ray Fowler in the hope of clarifying this mysterious event. Unfortunately, he proves unable to help him. However, he will publish the declaration under Werner's seal in Official UFO Magazine, in April 1976. It will be 4 years later that another ufologist, named Leonard Stringfield, will be able to collect the testimony of a 2nd witness who seems to confirm in all points Werner's version. The witness, a former pilot of the National Guard, explains to StringField who was, in the 1950s, stationed at the Wright-Patterson air base in Dayton (Ohio). It turns out that between 1948 and 1969, this base was jointly the headquarters of a UFO research project set up by the US government, as well as that of the FTD. The FTD was tasked with training specialists in the study of enemy technology that fell into the hands of the Americans. Generally, these were Soviet MIG fighters that had crashed on American soil and were likely to provide information on enemy capabilities. But nothing says that this technology did not come from more exotic sources. According to the pilot, it was during the year 1953 that boxes containing debris recovered from the Arizona desert arrived at the Wright-Patterson base. Inside were the bodies of 3 strange beings --- measuring about 1.20 m tall, with incredibly large heads and skin like parchment. They had been packed in dry ice containers to preserve their tissues. Many other boxes followed, containing various pieces of wreckage. The pilot unfortunately did not have the opportunity to examine their contents, but he nevertheless remembered that some debris bore symbols similar to Sanskrit.

• May 27th, 8:30 PM: In San Antonio (Texas), numerous unidentified civilians, including one Jacobson, observe for about 15 minutes 9 distinct lights moving sinuously [[case Blue Book #2577 unsolved]]{.source}.

• June 18: In Houston (Texas), a human figure with wings identical to those of a bat dressed in tight black and surrounded by a strange halo frightened 3 people, including Mrs. Hilda Walker: "I could see it very clearly and I could distinguish large folded wings on its shoulders. It was 6ft tall and perched on the branch of a pecan tree. Its halo of light slowly diminished and it disappeared. Immediately after, we heard a loud rustling noise above the houses on the other side of the street. And then there was a white torpedo-shaped flash. Howard Phillips, another witness, states: "I may be crazy, but I saw it, whatever it was" Keel 1975{.source}.

• June 19: Recovery of 4 bodies following a crash in Laredo (Texas).

• June 21, 7 PM: In Naha (Okinawa), 9 Japanese weather observers from Okinawa see an unidentified light moving slowly for 20 minutes unresolved Blue Book case{.source}.

• June 22, 2? h 10: At the USAF base in Goose (Labrador, Canada), the pilot and radar operator of an USAF F-94 interceptor observe a red light flying at an estimated speed of 1000 knots (1100 mph). It escapes the F-94's interception attempt after 5 minutes unresolved Blue Book case n° 2601{.source}.

• June 24

• 11:30: At Simiutak (Greenland), weather observer and 2nd Class R. A. Hill observed a red triangle hovering and rotating for 15 seconds, then ascending for 5 minutes [[case Blue Book #2606 unsolved]]{.source}.

• 23:30: At Iwo Jima (Bonin Islands), the crew of the USAF KB-29 aerial refueling aircraft spotted an unidentified target on their radar which twice approached within 1/2 mile of their aircraft, and once within 6 miles. The observation lasted 2 minutes [[case Blue Book #2605 unsolved]]{.source}.

• July

• At 7 PM: In Wollin (Poland), a 30 m metal object was seen by 5 Poles and 2 Germans as it landed in a field near the railway. It was spherical and surrounded by a flat disk with several openings Vallée, Passport to Magonia{.source}.

• July 10: Recovery of 5 bodies following a crash in Johofnisburg (South Africa).

• July 27: End of the Korean War.

• Summer, Morning: In Slobozia, Bucharest (Romania), on a sunny day Gabriela Dima, 6 years old (later an economics student), sees a strange object above the fields. In the middle of it there is a small green window and behind it a square face with strange eyes. The window then disappears and the object flies away without making a noise.

• August 3, 0:04: In Amarillo, Texas, C. S. Brown, head of the airport control tower, observed a round and reflective or translucent object flying in a straight line, stopping for 7 seconds, leaving again, stopping again, being joined by a similar object and then leaving in different directions after 56 minutes [[case Blue Book #2663 unsolved]]{.source}.

• 5-6 August : Above Rapid City (South Dakota), jets observe UFOs visually and on radar (investigated by the Condon Commission).

• August 20: First launch of the Redstone.

• 9:05 PM: Near the USAF base at Castle (California), the crew of a TB-29 bomber training aircraft observed an oval, gray object make 4 passes of their aircraft (3 times at a distance of 10 to 20 miles), then dive straight down as if it were two objects [[case Blue Book #2686 unsolved]]{.source}.

• August 27, 9:45 PM: In Greensville (Mississippi), an USAF pilot, a Chief Sergeant and other people, observed from the ground a light making sinuous movements for 50 minutes [[case Blue Book #2692 unsolved]]{.source}.

• September

• 2 September, 9:14 PM: At the USAF base in Sidi Slimane (French Morocco), sighting by Lieutenant Colonel William Moore and 1st Lieutenant J. H. McInnis [[unresolved Blue Book case]]{.source}.

• September 3: Korolev announces in a service note that the launch of an elementary satellite Prosteïchi Spoutnik [[which will give the Russian sign "PS"]{.source} is envisaged by means of the R7 rocket, a launcher project developed by Korolev.

• Ruppelt, then director of the Blue Book project, is relieved of his duties and leaves the military.

• 14-17 September: Across the British Isles, many viewers saw on their television screens the logo and call sign of a Houston (Texas) transmitter: KLEE. Local transmitters were unable to quell the strong interference, which lasted 3 to 4 minutes each time. Upon investigation, this transmitter had been inactive for 3 years. A BBC spokesperson told reporters that in this case, we are faced with circumstances that contradict everything we know about television broadcasting. It is inconceivable that these signals could have traveled around the Earth from this transmitter which had last broadcast them 3 years prior. It is physically impossible that they were randomly reflected by some celestial body in our direction from such a great distance. This leaves only one possibility, however bizarre it may be, that these signals were sent back to us voluntarily by intelligent people of unknown origin and for reasons currently impossible to determine.

• The New York Times article from September 15th. See photo at images/1953-09-15_NewYorkTimes.jpg.

• October 13: Recovery of 4 bodies following a crash in Dutton (Montana).

• November 20 : Report of personal observations of Lieutenant Jean Demery, from Air Base 107, at Villacoublay.

• November 23: Disappearance of Kinross.

• Release of the film The War of the Worlds by Byron Haskin, adaptation of the H. G. Wells novella from 1898.

• Paul Paulin's photograph on December 29. See photo at images/1953.jpg.

• 4 Thunderjet of the Georgia Air National Guard crash in flames at an altitude of about 3500 m, all together. The weather was stormy, but just before the crash of the 4 aircraft, one of the pilots said: We can't miss it!

• The US Inter-Service Command publishes the JANAP 146.

• December 17: Sighting in Hassleholm (Sweden) [[case Blue Book #2838 unsolved]]{.source}.

• December 23: René Coty is elected President of the Republic.

• December 24, 8:04 AM: At El Cajon (California), U.S. Navy Lieutenants J. B. Howard and L. D. Linhard, piloting F9F-2 fighters, observed for 5 minutes 10 oval and silver objects flying in a straight line at more than 400 knots (450 mph) [[case Blue Book #2840 unsolved]]{.source}.

• UFO Squadron Flying Over the Vatican in St. Peter's Square. See photo at images/1953-12-25_Vatican.jpg.

• December 28, 11:55: In Marysville, California, Dick Brandt, director of Yuba County Airport, observed a saucer with a bright blue light, reflecting on a nearby building, remaining stationary [Blue Book case #2844 unsolved]{.source}.

"- December 29"

    -   **3 h 45 :** Observation photographed in Paris by Paul Paulin (see below).

• On Radio Moscow: Flying saucers are mythical devices that take off from the pages of the bourgeois press every time the ruling circles of a certain capitalist country, on Washington's orders, try to get the people to accept the new burden of military spending.