DELTA WINGED CRAFT: 1940 FORWARD

In April 1950 newspapers carried a news story stating that the "Navy is building advanced models of flying saucer type craft" and that these were "originally constructed and successfully flown by US engineers in 1942."  The source quoted went on to state, in reference to reports of "flying saucers" and "discs" that the physical descriptions of the Navy craft was "circular", diameter of about 105 1/2 feet, apparent "jet nozzles" along edge, could land at low speed (35 mph). The article was clear that the craft being seen and those on the drawing board were the property of the U.S. Nacy.

Since the first objects seen and named in the press as "flying saucers" were actually flying wedges or deltas that was the place to start. Had an early delta wing craft been mistaken by Arnold in 1947?

The first true delta wing airplane was conceptualized in the late 1930's.  A good working design apparently was the result of work by Northrup in 1940 with what was termed the N-1M. It was also called a "jeep" and featured a laminate over a wooden frame wing. The next incarnation was the X-9M that birthed the XB-25. 

1943 - Northrup brought out the XP-56 or "Black Bullet"

1948 - YB-49 (January) Northrup brought out the Radical flying wing bombers.

1949 - February the YB-47 was ordered by President Truman to fly over Washington D.C. on the way to Andrews AFB and come right down over Pennsylvania Avenue and the Capitol.

Other instances, as seen from these report sketches, were obviously experimental aircraft and rockets that got away (and there were a lot of those!).

The time period for this fights the adoption of bright strobe type lights and the colors could easily be standard and mandatory aircraft lights.

Flat trajectory, shape and actions all conform to this being a "MIS" guided rocket or missile lost during a test of practice. 

Shape confirms to this being a sighting of an early stealth type craft (the flying triangle with three lights, two at the front and one at the back have appeared early).

Again shape, actions and other elements all suggest a mis-guided test rocket or missile.

All actions, shape, event setting, the "friendly" markings noted on the underside of the wing, all suggest a top-secret experimental craft. 

In March of 1949, the UAF announced a highly radical delta-wing craft. 

("Answers still lacking, " El Reno, Oklahoma, April 1950). 

The truth is that some reports in Project Blue Book and elsewhere were experimental craft, weather balloons, and missiles that "got away."  All of which had to remain secret for one reason or another.  Yet, there are other reports of objects acting outside the norms of known flight at the time and remain unexplained, even when there are pages of supporting evidence. Project Blue Book focused on those cases, bragged with them to support the idea that everything was under control and no threats existed.

Despite the continued banging of that drum the topic and the sightings continued...and remain today.