May 1955: Oklahoma City

Object was half moon shaped or upside down soup bowl. around the open edge were pulsing orange lights. 

 

Korean War UFO's

 

It Went That Away!: Tinker AFB, October 1953

 Witness drawing of course of object seen.

RELIGION AND THE ISSUE OF EXTRATERRESTRIALS: A PROTESTANT CHRISTIAN VIEW

The question may rank up there with the famous "how many angels can dance on the head of pin" level of theological debate but it is a valuable question for those of Christian faith to contemplate. The Christian faith has many streams, some over lap and others diverge wildly as if escaping being on the same continent; the issue is thus complex.

The range of Christian thought should be viewed as a continuum. At one end are those labeled "Fundamentalist", "literal" and "hyper conservative."  At the other end are those who open themselves to the "suggestions of holy writ, believe morality and ethics are largely situational and that it is up to humanity itself to pull on the bootstraps and improve themselves and their world.  In the middle is a wide range of people with a great many similarities but important differences of governance, interpretation and application of faith teaching and church doctrines. 

Most often the Fundamentalist end of the spectrum will be most likely to view the subject of "extraterrestrials" as demons, fallen angels, or evil spirits. The source of knowledge and the call to authority is the written scriptures contained in the Bible.  They may argue based on two points:

1. E.T. is not mentioned in the Bible.

2. E.T. is not mentioned as being in heaven.

Since there are many specific things not mentioned in the Bible and knowledge of the content or nature of heaven is found only in the Bible, it is clear that the argument is not very strong.

It is also clear that same source does affirm that God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1) and that "God made all things" (Colossians 1:16). It seems plausible to accept that if such alien beings are proven to exist that they were created by the same God who "created all things."

Additionally, Psalms 19:1 says the "Heavens declare the glory of God."  Psalms 8:3-4 : "3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" Finally, Hebrews 11:3 " 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." 

This is by no means complete or detailed. It does begin a dialogue about the potential interaction for people of Christian faith to contemplate the issue. For a deeper look at the subject read this: "Theology and Extraterrestrials" 60.1.1.pdf (theologicalstudies.net)

“The Lord is not serious. In fact, it is a little hard to know just what else He is except loving. And love has to do with humor, doesn't it? For you cannot love someone unless you put up with him, can you? And you cannot put up with someone constantly unless you can laugh at him. Isn't that true? And certainly we are rediculous little animals wallowing in the fudge bowl, and God must love us all the more because we appeal to his humor.”

― Ray Bradbury, The Martian Chronicles

Hard to Find Hayden C. Hewes Work: Piedmont, Missouri 1973

The small self-published work called EARTHPROBE, by Oklahoma based investigator Hayden C. Hewes, chronicled the strange events at Piedmont, Missouri in February of 1973.  Dozens of citizens, including police officers, reported strange sightings, odd happenings and more. Events related to the incident may have been noted as far away as southern Illinois.  Read an article from a North Carolina newspaper here: UFOs Found In TV Broadcasts (realtvufos.blogspot.com).

Photographs were taken but it is unclear what became of them, there is a connection to nearby Clear Lake and a possible sighting of an object leaving the waters of the lake. 

Hewes, as lead investigator and founder of the International UFO Bureau based in Oklahoma City at the time, went to Missouri to do on-site research. In this window of time it is known he traveled to Kansas, Texas and Missouri doing research with teams related to UFO's and other mysterious events. 

Today his books are mostly found in research libraries, private collections, and an occasional archive. 

From the WorldCat record it is described as: "First printing July 1, 1973"--Page 2 of cover.; Description: 26 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm; Responsibility: by Hayden C. Hewes ; [edited by Daniel Garcia].  A search of their catalog will list libraries or collections holding copies of his work. See:Earthprobe : the complete story of the "Piedmont unexplained" : statements taken from over 200 eyewitnesses : complete with illustrations and unexplained photos (Book, 1973) [WorldCat.org]

UFO'S THROUGH ARTISTIC EYES

Dave Pate's sketch for the newspaper (Pate, Dave. [Photograph 2012.201.B1320.0340], photograph, February 28, 1971; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc650707/m1/1/?q=Laxson: accessed April 20, 2022), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society) 

W. "Eddie" Laxon sketch from Project Blue Book of the craft he saw near Temple, Cotton County, Oklahoma in March of 1966.  Laxon would share his story in the early 1970's at a UFO conference produced by Hayden C. Hewes and others associated with the IUFOB (International UFO Bureau) in Oklahoma City. Hynek's book on the UFO Experience will mis-identify the location as "Temple, Texas" but the event was in Oklahoma. Laxon at the time worked as an engineer at the Air Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. 

Laxson provided some detailed measurement estimates, and as can be seen, the artist took some liberties changing the squat, "perch fish" shape into a sleeker craft. 

The same thing happened with Kenneth Arnold and his story as it appeared in Ray Palmer's publications.  Arnold's original sketch (found in both FBI files and Project Blue Book files) was shoe heel shaped (that wide flat disc or fat triangle with a flat back noted in early military estimates of the situation reports for investigators to be on the look out for...).  As the objects appeared after with their artist renditions the craft were sleek, different in shape and had details lacking from Arnold's account. The artistic rendering was cover copy to attract the fantasy and science fiction audience of Palmer's readership. 

Mystery Photo October 1965 in Oklahoma: UPDATE?

Has this mystery been solved? One person has suggested that this was Tulsa and another that it was the area where Alan Smith, the 14-year-old who took the famous color photo of the UFO, August 1965 lived. The Smith family lived then at 4719 S. 29, in "west Tulsa."  

Maybe someone can provide some information on this scene. It is in a Project Blue Book file labeled "OklahomaReports 6978166 9984 " and contains this one photo. It is dated October 1965. 

The cases for Oklahoma for 1965 do not include any with an October date. What is there are three files for Hinton (Jan.), Hugo (Feb) and Tulsa (August).   

The Tulsa is a photo file with attempts to duplicate the UFO photo of a 14 year old Tulsa boy (possibly the first color UFO photo). That file is number 08 6977940 9666, Given the hundreds of cases and firsthand reports of the summer of 1965 in Oklahoma the sparse files in intriguing. Especially, when the "reports" and data for Oklahoma can be found in two other MASSIVE files for other locations instead. 

If anyone knows where this photo was taken and what event it represents, please leave your information through the comment form portion of this webpage. 

Marilyn A. Hudson

BURNED BY A UFO!

 Recently (2022). a British tabloid released information they said they had obtained via a FOIA request. The alleged declassified Pentagon records state that people reported encounters with UFOs had left those witnesses with a variety of conditions, listed as ranging from abductions to radiation burns. 

More than a thousand pages of documents were released in early April 2022, according to the  The Sun , what some label a British tabloid, submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), a part of the U.S. Department of Defense.

The Sun released the report, titled “Anomalous Acute and Subacute Field Effects on Human Biological Tissues,” on its website on April 5, 2022. The report, conducted by the Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program (AATIP), looked at the supposed health impacts on humans who claimed they had paranormal encounters with unidentified objects or alleged occupants. 

In the files of UFO cases there are several instances of people claiming - and often having medical support - burns. In those cases, often the story is supported by other accounts of people seeing strange things or also observing the same objects reported. When injuries are claimed by people who have encountered a UFO the resultant diagnosis is often "radiation burns."

Radiation burns can refer to a simple sunburn but usually the reference is related to one of three groups of radiation.  (1) Radiation, or ionizing radiation which is the release of free radicals. (2) Microwave is radiation producing heat and the effecets of this thermal rdiation may not appear until sometime after the exposure. Then there is (3) Electro-magnetic, a range of radiation including radio frequency engergy (REF) and extra-low frequency (ELF).

For cancer specialists the conern , according to the Cancer Society website, is ordered as thermal, radio frequency energy, and ionizing energy. In 1946, the danger in the concept of radiation was largely ignored and forgotten as the killer of Marie Curie and many others. After the bombs fell on Japan, in an attempt to halt a global war and reduce projected future casualities, the word took on a new and more horrorific reality. One of the number one topics of science-fiction post WW2 was not flying saucers as some have promoted but the impact of using such a weapon on the environment and its human population: the mutants, the end of the world, and the monsters were the real fear. 

It is most probable that most UFO alleged burns are the result of very Earth based attempts to harness nuclear power or electro-magnetic forces for power or flight, or they were the result of encounters with experimental craft with some serious leaks or design flaws.

It must remembered that several gorvernment jobbers contracted to design new technology and aircraft were contracted by the CIA, NSA, DOD and others unnamed.  Most of these companies have blanks in their records covering years they held top-secret contracts and records were destroyed. Agencies were working behind the scenes to develop some super-secret craft, working with EM power sources,, and other systems that are only now making their way into mainstream awareness.  A recent news piece spoke about one major research agency was looking into making "teleportation" a reality. 

Some of the major stories of encounters and burns:

1951 - In Korea, GI's 60 miles north of Seoul reported in May an object caused burning and tingling sensations on skin and other effects.

1957 - Several "accidents" occurred : September Mayah, Russia, a Plutonium plant accident; October 10, Windsalk, UK labeled the worst UK accident; November 10, an incident at Madison, Ohio.

1964 - April 24, a 10 year old year reported seeing an object, and then reported burns, New Mexico, Sharon Stull, was also reported to have had rapid growth spurt.

1967, May - In Oklahoma county, Oklahoma, a 11 year old girl reported to have been burned on seeing a UFO in  her back yard. 70 % of body burned but clothes not burned, according to story.

1967, May 20, Falcon Lake, Canada, a miner was marked by a grid pattern burn on his chest through his clothes.

1977 - January 22, Laguna, Mexico, a man was burned

1978 - Fresno, California, a police officer was burned and a spot where something was did not grow anything for years.

1980 - December 29, The Case-Landrym Case in Texas. Two women and a little boy saw an object, 20 or more helicopters, felt heat and received classic "radiation" burns per doctors. 

The last case, probably the strongest from an evidence standpoint, has seen the victims attempt to gain restitution from the military and the government. This was based on the witnesses seeing helicopters of that look during the sighting. To date both have denied knowledge of the object, the 20 or more helicopters reported or of the case at all. 

Since, reasonably, the only entity in the country to have access to that many helicopters of the styles reported or be near an experimental craft the size of the one described would be the military or the government the likelihood of this being a run-amuck government experiment run high.

Aliens, it might be expected, arriving at our planet in the galactic equivalent of a run-down junk heap, held together with wire and hope, seems an unlikely scenario.  Too many accidents, like too many crashes argue for human testing - and carelessness - rather than advanced power systems and equipment malfunctioning so often in and around the planet. 

Rebuilding alien technology could be a source of the much noted advances of technology and account for the numerous "accidents" when average citizen encounters something strange. 

THE BARIUM AND COPPER OXIDE LAUNCH: SEPT. 24, 1966

 On September 24, 1966, from the Wallup Island, Virginia launch site, at 043 EST (5:13 am) a Javelin rocket was launched with a payload of barium and copper oxide. This was then ejected at 319 and 570 statute miles.  The dispersal created a cloud two times the size of the moon and most witnesses reported a) a cloud of first green tinged with red and blue, b) others saw a bright blue comet coming straight toward them. This object expanded to a size 1 1/4 miles and 100 feet deep that moved eastward in a ball shape. It gradually disappeared from view. but it left a tail or streak.

There were numerous visuals by ground and air September 24, at 0913z.

The cloud that resulted generated reports from Alabama, Louisiana, Ohio and Arkansas. The Wallop Island site was located on the Atlantic coast of Virginia but the drift of the "cloud" was to the east. In 2017, a similar test was conducted to "stain" the atmosphere.  (Project Blue Book, 1966-09-6978900, File 8295987, with two photos).

LIGHTS AND SHADOWS: MARS

I had reason to re-examine the whole face on Mars story and the images of 1976 and the more recent ones that look so different.  At the same time, I was looking at maps of the surface of Mars I was intrigued by the fact that some shadows seemed to have slightly different slants to them. This might be explained by the overlapping of layers of photographic scans taken at different times. It is an interesting point and it was difficult to find a source that explained the process of stellar cartography to the point that how maps of Mars are created is explained in detail.

Playing with the older image I wondered how it would look if the two halves were placed together. The resulting image was interesting. If  you mirror the one side the end result seems to suggest a long haired dog; so those who claim DOG is GOD spelled backwards may have been close...

From a 1990's image. 

The 1970's image

In 2001 a close flyby with a better grade of camera produced this shot:

UPCOMING BOOKS

 Several projects are winding down. Still time to add your stories though! Just use the comment form to submit your story (see the tips page). 

Two monographs are also in the works. These will be chronological lists of sightings, with significant historical events providing informative context, influences, and consequences.  These draft covers are the direction of the series of "UFO SKIES".

LOOKING FOR THE STORY: Saucers at the Cinema (A Drive-In)

Project Blue Book closed in 1969, the office packed up by 1970 and yet the reports of people seeing things in the skies continued. Sometimes they garnered no story of their own but were merely mentioned in another news piece. Events common knowledge by word-of-mouth in a community sometimes never made into the pages of the newspaper. 

That was the case of the CIGAR SHAPED OBJECT over a drive-in theater in Norman, Oklahoma in 1971.

Having lived in the university town when there was no drive-in, I was intrigued. To my amazement, there were actually two drive-ins in the town plus three traditional movie theaters. There was the Rancho Drive-in managed at one time by OU Alum Jim Shrewberry.  It was located in the area of Alameda and 12th Street.  The one most people seemed to remember was on that remained open into the 1980's and the Riverside Drive-in Theater, 1 1/2 mile southwest of Norman.

The incident was briefly recounted in an article of November 1971 in the college newspaper, Oklahoma Daily, discussing a science fiction literature class deciding to do a survey of campus and public related to the UFO phenomena. In passing it was mentioned that several different people had reported seeing the same object over a local drive-in theater. It was described as "cigar shaped", and of "lighted metallic" material and that when it disappeared, it did so by raising straight up. 

CAN YOU HELP? Anyone have any personal, first-hand information about this event? Use the contact form on this page to send it to me. The volume 2 of SOONER SAUCERS is coming to a close but your information just might make the publishing date!

A final note, those who like to argue that most UFO sightings of the 1950-1960 period were caused by movies at the theater or the drive-in or on television. Turns out there were more horror movies made in those years than UFO movies and so with that logic there should have been a lot more "monster" sightings in that time frame. Oddly, there were not.  Also, a comparison of sighting details and reports indicates the same re-occurring shapes and movements from 1947 were consistently reported through the years of Project Blue Book.  Good, academic-sounding, reports on the topic but deeper looks into the facts appear to indicate something else. 

Thanks, and "keep watching the skies!"

Marilyn A. Hudson

The 54/12 Group (1964): Who Watches the Watchers?

An edition of the A.P.R.O. newsletter of 1964 mentioned the "54/12 Group" and reading the context it was clear that this was a group said to be functioning in the manner later attributed to the so-called MJ-12 or Majestic secret government group.  (See The Invisible Government - 1 (bibliotecapleyades.net) and the APRO issue here AFU 19641100 APRO Bulletin November : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive ).

Fast forward to the sweeping uncensored history of Area 51 and the revelations of the super-secret compartmentalization of a level of government that could easily produce both the 59/12 and the MJ-12 scenarios easily. (See AREA 51 | Annie Jacobsen) 

The concept of the ultra secret hidden government takes on a level of realism and possibility that can cause shivers to the thoughtful person.  Especially, when on replays the answer of one head of the CIA when asked to reveal something to a sitting President. He was informed that he - leader of the United States and global leader -  did not have clearance for the requested information.

Juvenal asked :  “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes."  A phrase that, roughly translated, means, "Who will Guard the Guardians, or Who watches the watchers.”

Accountability and supervision are crucial to insure laws are honored, rights maintained, greed and hubris are contained, values are upheld and actions always align with mission and goals.

Who is watching today's watchers and how will we know when they do not?

CHILDREN - AND OTHERS - BURNED BY UFO'S

 In 1964 in New Mexico a boy, on June 2, Charles Davis near Hobbs, was burned on his ears by an object - elongated - that appeared to swoop down and hover briefly over him. It left a sooty residue and he began to swell and burn immediately.  (see AFU 19641100 APRO Bulletin November : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive)

Another 1964 Mew Mexico report of Susan Stull, who said she saw a craft fly over her school yard and then had after effects.  She elsewhere in this blog her story (UFO SKIES: Growth Spurst After Seeing Egg Shaped Object? High Strangeness from 1964.).

Within the next several years there are numerous burned cases of individuals of all ages receiving burns that appeared radiation related.

Given the recent release of data that people have been burned by the UAP's a re-examination of those cases might be a good thing. 

THE ALIEN VISITORS: Small Statured Beings

Science Fiction of the 1940's and 1950's featured the BEM - The Bug-Eyed Monster. The aliens were always weird, tentacle, creatures drawn more from Lovecraft and Shelly.

The first reports of being seeing other "beings" fell into three camps, one was the mirror being or those who looked like us, who looked human, only always attractive. Two was the short statured being that was child size. This group was the earliest, and the most reported. A subset of this were those who might be termed by mythic labels of dwarf-like and fairy.  It is clear that probably all parts of the second group and its subset might be one group. There is a third, possibly anomalous group, or robot-like, hairy beast, movie inspired, and "other" forms that we will discuss later. 

The First Group of Humanoid Beings that seemed to mirror all the best qualities of humans (looks, stature, movements, and knowledge) are found almost exclusively among the group known as "Contactees." Those who visited the earth, found a special individual to impart messages and take rides in their space craft to distant worlds. More research needs to be done but it is more than possible dividing the two groups (Contactee and UFO Experiencers, shall we say) may provide clues to the source of the divergent descriptions.  

The Second Group of Humanoid Beings - a group that constitutes the most numerous of non-Contactee experiences - are small statured, large heads, dominate and all dark eyed, move with a fluid, floating or gliding style, have small or nonvisible ears, noses and mouths.  As one textbook used in an elective course at the U.S.A.F, Academy for many years:" The most commonly described alien is about three and one-half feet tall, has a round head, arms reaching to or below the knees, and is wearing a silvery space suit or coveralls They have particularly wide (wrap around) eyes and mouths with very thing lips." (Major Donald G. Carpenter. Introductory Space Science, Vol. 2 (1968), pg. 461).  Additionally, a study conducted by the Center for UFO Studies in 1976 indicated the smaller being predominated in reports (David Webb, An Analysis of the Fall 1973 UFO/Humanoid Wave (Evanston, ILL; CUFOS, 1976, pg. 52).

The Third group - may reflect attempts by third party agencies and organizations to manufacture sightings in order to test methods of mind control, behavior modification or to generally discredit a witness who may have seen something top secret.  Strangely, many of these reports are coming out of South America and other international locations. Cultural variations in a mythology may play a role but a closer look needs to be made in tracking these events in the context of clandestine government projects.

DO FILMS ABOUT UFO'S LEAD TO HIGHER SIGHTING REPORTS?

 This has been a theory for many decades, academic and government reports liked to drag this out but the jury is still out. One of the problems is stats are always so easy to manipulate to support either side of an argument.

In the mid 1990's a British study argued that the increase in popularity of series such as the "X-Files" and movies such as "Independence Day" were behind the increase in sightings. See Report: UFO Sightings Coincide with Popular Sci-Fi Films, TV - Universe Today

Other's have suggested such films as cause for subsequent reports. These tend to avoid any statistical data that might support their claim. In one case it was clear the nearest film actually arrived in the area months after the reported sightings and nothing similar had been shown prior.

A look at the popular (and thus most seen) films of the time in question can be informative.

1940's - -  Most movies were along the "monster" line, with some comic book inclusions, such as "Flash Gordon" and similar serials designed for before the feature and to run as matinees on a Saturday. In 1949, King of the Rocket Men" was a popular series. Oddly, the first reports of "aliens" from the 1947 time frame were of "little men", small statured, dominant eyes, tight fitting dark or silvery body clothing (most often processed as similar to a jumpsuit or flyers tight fitted clothing) and a disc shaped craft. This profile will regularly crop up and always be termed "little green men" by the ridiculing press or in comments by those investigating. Most often the skin tone was described as a normal range of  flesh tones (tan to paler) through a gray or pale white.

1950 - - The popular science fiction at the box officer were "Destination Moon", "Flying Saucer" (that carried the flying discs as the work of Soviet operatives in Alaska so it may have been a propaganda film), "Rocket ship X-M "(aiming for the moon they land on Mars), "Flying Disk Men from Mars", 

1951 - - The year that the Psychological Strategy Board would be created, the top science fiction were the pacifist sub-text film "Day the Earth Stood Still" (a call for peace by all humanity for fear the space guardians or bullies would do us in; a probable metaphorical message of the cold war, "The Thing from Another World" (an alien saucer crashes, small group battles and wins, warning at the end to "watch the skies."; again a probable metaphor film of the cold war) as was "Man from Planet X." 

1952 - - July will see "flying discs" over Washington D.C. and making headlines in a major "flap." The popular films of the year were "Red Planet Mars" (many astronomers of the time felt that Mars was the only other possible place life might exist with Venus a close second), and, oddly,  a documentary featuring Flying Disc Advocate Donald Keyhoe called "Flying Saucer Mystery."

1953 - - "It Came from Outer Space", 'Invaders from Mars", "War of the Worlds."

1954  - - The stand out film appears to have been "Them!" a film about the negative impact of nuclear fallout resulting in giant insects.

1955 - - A bit better budget, "This Island Earth", the story with an impact since its creature inspired a 1957 alien sighting in Argentina,  [I proposed a theory  earlier that some of the South American sightings of this era might have been induced through mind-control or drug projects by clandestine or covert groups. It was the era of MK-ULTRA and other government sanctioned programs. Utilizing a media created interpretation of an alien would have been effective.]

1956 - - Another message film was "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and many critics feel the film was a commentary on the impact of the McCarthy trials and blackballing of artists and directors, Shakespeare was transformed and set in outer space in "Forbidden Planet". The colorful film based on "The Tempest" was creative, well made, and is listed as one of the best such films ever made.  Also, one of surprising quality was "Earth vs. the Flying Saucers." This last was inspired by Donald Keyhoe's best seller book the year before. 

1957 - - Numerous date night films were being made by minor production companies for drive-in theater use and it might be debatable how many were truly watched in the circumstances. From this point through the early 1960's a popular theme was misunderstood or ignored teens see something, authorities do not believe teens and teens must save the town from [monsters, aliens, giant creatures formed from mis-use of radiation or chemicals or experiments], teens win lasting gratitude and grudging respect for their actions.  As a genre format that will be seen repeatedly.  "Invasion of the Saucer Men." 

1958 - - The format came into its own with films now considered classics in that genre with "The Blob" and "I Married a Monster from Outer Space."

1950 - The film presented the idea the "saucers" were really Soviet machines. Could it have been a propaganda film due to the strong push of that idea by the military from 1947-1949?

Also from 1950, the serial film tapped into the current events, "ripping a topic from the headlines".

The most influential science fiction movie of the 1960's might be the 1968, "2001 - A Space Odessey."  A clear cause and effect films and media on the number of reports of unidentified flying objects is an interesting study but much more work needs to be done to prove that point. It assumes people are of such a "low intelligence" that they will easily led to confuse reality and fantasy (life vs. a film) but then, in 1952, that was what was implied in the special report produced then by the Scientific Advisory Panel of the Air Force. It was the reason why a person might confuse normal things extraordinary things...children...mentally disturbed and low intellects. 

Indeed, a lot more research is required to prove this line of thought. Consider too that learning via the instructive film shorts of new planes, balloons, and a dozen other "normal" things to see in the sky people might also have had their awareness raised as to what might constitute unusual. 

See also:

Graham_Alford_Article_Final Version (wordpress.com)

Sam Burton (wou.edu)

'THE FALLING LEAF" OR PENDULUM MOTION in UFO Reports

 The motion was described as falling or moving through the sky like a "falling leaf." It was description of the back and forth, swaying, twirling or rotating motion noted by some observers of unidentified flying objects. Some of the most intriguing cases indicate a unique motion observed. Arnold in June 1947 noted the nine objects moved like stones or saucers skipped across water ( visualizing that it might be termed a bump, glide, bump, glide), others would indicate something of a swaying back and forth with a hint of a twirling motion, and some others would note a rotation or oscillation in the object or objects seen. 

Here are some dates and places for such reports:

Oct. 11, 1951 - Minneapolis, Minnesota

March 19, 1952 - Oakland, California

Feb. 6, 1957 - Philadelphia, PA

September 3, 1965- Exeter, New Hampshire

1966 - Washlenaw County, Michigan "Swamp Gas" case.

See Richard Halls' 1964 book "UFO Evidence" and Hynek's "What You Should Know About UFO's."

THE UFO PRESIDENT: Jimmy Carter

 “It was the darndest thing I’ve ever seen. It was big, it was very bright, it changed colors, and it was about the size of the moon. We watched it for ten minutes, but none of us could figure out what it was. One thing’s for sure: I’ll never make fun of people who say they’ve seen unidentified flying objects in the sky.” - - - Former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter following his sighting along with many others of a UFO at Leary, Georgia in October 1969.

A Hoax or a Plant?

There is an Oklahoma file in PBB that is interesting on more than one level. It is labeled a hoax but it does not include the normal filing papers, reports, or connections to Wright-Patterson AFB. The following, is from the upcoming book, SOONER SAUCERS, VOL. 2 (due out later this year).

"1953, June (Summer), Muskogee, Oklahoma [Hoax Image]; 3 files (one spelled Miskogee), this case is  a fascinating story featuring somewhat of a mystery man, a postal worker from Tulsa, who left a lunch room in Muskogee (50 some miles southeast of Tula), saw the object, just happened to snap a photo. The most questionable aspect may be the fact it was one report that involved the OSI out of Tinker (the law enforcement arm of the Air Force) and a letter from or to the Inspector General of the Air Force. 

The unnamed witness reported  the sighting and his photograph to the 11th Division Office of Special Investigations Detachment Commander, Tulsa.  The file has a communication with the OSI head office and a “spot intelligence” report. 

The witness reported an object traveling 300-500 mph, at 6000-7000 ft. altitude on a level horizontal plane. It was about 65 to 5 ft. in diameter and moved southward. He had delayed reporting it because it did not want to get involved. in   The witness had his Super Ikonta type camera with him. 

This file lacks the normal filing papers of a normal UFO report of the time via Project Blue Book. The photo was deemed questionable validity; it did look much like an outdoor light fixture. The file appears to not have been deeply investigated and does contain the image (1 image and 1 negative). There is no evidence, also, that the image is what the man photographed.  Source: Project Blue Book, online files, 6982463 (photos); 8712953 (see also 1954); 7275579 (photos); 6384127; Super Ikonta was a German made camera with plants in both East and West Germany (information at http://camera-wiki.org/index.php?title=Ikonta). 

The object in the photograph "lacked veracity" said the cover sheet of the PBB file, and it was uncategorically labeled a hoax. They did, however, include the speed, height and size provided by the witness.  Why did they do that?

Why did this case not go through normal PBB filing channels, as required by AFR 200-2. Instead, the regulation cited is AFR 124-1.  This case was handled not as a UFO but as a criminal act. Was espionage suspected? Had the witness seen a super-secret craft and his photo replaced by the image in the file? 

Images from the two files; apparently one was darkened by it is unclear which was the "original" submitted.  Given the fact the witness said it was clear and bright day with only a few clouds neither image seems to fit. The witness also said he had finished lunch in Muskogee; was he in town, on the road, so many questions are missing as well as their answers.  The altitude and the speed are not represented in this image that looks like an outdoor light fixture. If a hoax, a most obvious attempt. If a hoax, why was this not touted by the AF as a sample of the things people did to "prove" the phenomena?

Is it possible, this was not the photo taken?

The original negative was, according to the file, returned to the witness. 

1949 USAF Scientific Advisory Board (Presumed)

With the writing of a new report, a new list of "consultants" was added to the report on data collected by the USAF Project Blue Book. It is assumed that these constituted a new, or added version, of the Scientific Advisory Board.  This was at a time when Project SIGN was being changed to Project GRUDGE. As many have noted the name may have indeed reflected the attitude of the USAF for the task dumped into their lap. Later notations and reports will indicate the fact that at various times the project was one they wished to terminate. Yet, some agency unnamed repeatedly pushes the task right back into the USAF lap

Among those listed as "consultants" were:

Ohio University

The RAND Corporation

Dr. G.E. Valley

Dr. Paul Fills

Air Weather Service

the 3610th Electronics Section

the U.S. Weather Bureau

Dr. J. Allen Hynek.  

Source: 1966 Project Blue Book Report. History section (February 1,1966) (February 1,1966).

1948 USAF Scientific Advisory Board

For the subject that most spokespersons of the government and military were calling "bunk", the SAB of 1948 was pretty heaving hitting.  

Dr. J. Allen Hynek, consultant on astronomy to the USAF Project Blue Book; Involved with Project Moonwatch and Project Stork. Northwestern University professor of astronomy and as chairman of the department of astronomy and director of the Lindheimer Astronomical Research Center. 
His early professional fields of interest were in Stellar spectroscopy; F type stars; stellar scintillation.

Dr. Irving Langmuir, G.E. Research Chief, "He found out why, and his studies resulted in the invention of the gas-filled lamp which is the universal incandescent lamp of today except in the very smallest sizes. It also led to the invention of atomic hydrogen welding, and later some of his work became directly applicable to the studies he made on electron tubes, which were a large element in laying the foundation for broadcasting."

Dr. G.E. Valley, MIT.   "In 1946, Dr. Valley became a professor of physics at MIT, where he conducted research in cosmic ray physics that included operation of a high-pressure cloud chamber at 12,000 feet on Mt. Evans, CO. His interests continued in air defense as a member of the US Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (1946-64). "

Dr. James E. Lipp, RAND Corporation. "Working for the Rand Corporation, James Lipp wrote one of two scientific overviews for the final report on Project Sign (later called Project Grudge and Project Blue Book), which was completed in February 1949 and classified Secret."

So far, no female scientists or consultants have been identified as associated with the government programs. 

[Watch for other lists of members of the SAB over time]

CIA COMMENTS OF JULY 1952

From a memo to N.S.A. ER-3-2808:

"4. Recent reports reaching CIA indicated that further action was desirable and another briefing by the cognizant A-Z and ATIC personnel was 25 November. At this time, the reports of incidents indicated convince us that there is something going on that must have immediate attention." [Emphasis added]

The details of some of these incidents, the memo continued, have been discussed by AD/SI with D-T, sightings of unexplained objects at great altitude and traveling at high speeds in vicinity of major U.S. defensive installations, are of such nature that they are not all attributable to natural phenomena or known types of aerial vehicles.

CIA Memo 29 July 1952

re recent sightings unexplained objects to Deputy Director/Intelligence from Assistant Director, ....Ralph L. Clarke, 23 July 1952.

"Walter D. Smith Memo on subject of U.F.O. (flying saucers)..."#2 It is my view that this situation has possible implications for national security that transcends the interests of a single service."

He referred to the fact the Air Force was the sole investigative group. 

National Security Council Directive, Subject: U.F.O. - - - Draft

Pursuant to provisions of Section 102 of the National Security Act of 1947.

1. The Director of Central Intelligence shall formulate and carry out a program of intelligence or research activities as required to solve the problem of instant identification of unidentified flying objects.

3."...coordinate with the military services and the research and development board of the DOD, with the Psychological Strategy Board, and other covert agencies as appropriate." [Emphasis added]

In December 1952, the concept of what would become known as the ROBERTSON PANEL would be set in motion. 

WORLD-CIRCLING SPACESHIPS: How the RAND Corporation Envisioned the Satellite (1946).

 The May 2, 1946 memo with the preliminary design concepts

Mental Floss article at The Rand Corporation: The Think Tank That Controls America (mentalfloss.com)

Download the "Plans" for free here: Preliminary Design of an Experimental World-Circling Spaceship | RAND

The RAND Corp. - think tank -  was the child of General "Hap" Good and the CEO of Douglas Aircraft as they considered the vast mental resources of the MANHATTAN PROJECT being wasted as the war ended.

Identified as a non-profit organization its roots were with the military and the industrial complex grown large through the vast national war effort. A power block that later President Eisenhower would warn the American people against as he left office. The potentials for misuse of all that research, loss of that brain power, and the encouragement of continued 'out of the box' thinking was a tremendous lure and temptation. America had grown into a "Might" as it answered the challenges in a global conflict but he was also aware that might did not always equate with right. 

The great issue facing everyone in those days was the development of weapons and projects devoid of ethical or moral compasses. The embodiment of adopting methods and rationales out of step with both of those in a form of "fighting fire with fire."  In becoming a world power, there was the great risk we would lose our souls.

Fear, paranoia, and unguided science paved a way for the American people to one day gaze into the Abyss and see ourselves reflected. 

The old saw about being "able to do something did not mean that was something that should be done" was alive and well in a ethical and moral desert of post-WW2.  War (with its suspicions, paranoia, and hate) was the devil we knew and so we continued to dance into the future with that partner.