Bergstrom AFB, Austin, TexasJanuary 1953

Unidentified

Summary

On January 23, 1953, a radar operator at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas detected an unusual target on his scope. T/Sergeant Gerald V. Kelley was working the ground-controlled approach radar, which helps guide aircraft to safe landings. While monitoring the 30-mile range setting, Kelley spotted a blip moving at high speed across his screen. The object appeared roughly twice the size of a normal aircraft target and had fuzzy, diffused edges.

Over the next hour, Kelley tracked the target as it moved in and out of range. The object would stop, remain stationary for short periods, then move again at speeds he estimated exceeded 350 miles per hour. He switched between the 30-mile and 15-mile range settings to handle routine air traffic control, but kept returning to check on the unusual target. At one point, he radioed the control tower and asked them to scan the area with binoculars. They reported seeing nothing. The target remained on his radar scope until approximately 1559 hours (3:59 p.m.) when it faded and disappeared.

The Air Force investigated the sighting thoroughly. An Electronics Branch officer at the Air Technical Intelligence Center noted that the target's behavior and appearance were unusual compared to known aircraft. However, that same officer also concluded that atmospheric conditions, particularly heavy rain clouds or ice-laden clouds, could have caused the radar return. The investigator requested additional weather data from the National Weather Service office in Asheville to help determine if anomalous propagation (unusual bouncing of radar signals through layers of the atmosphere) might explain the sighting. No scope photographs were taken, and no interception was attempted.

The case file contains 22 pages of original Air Force documentation held by the National Archives.

Reported location

Bergstrom AFB, Austin, Texas

Date of incident

January 1953

State / country

TX / US

Page count

22 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unidentified

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 17

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 22

View transcribed text

Pe 1 ME Tad Na) Bnd be ob Lgl Th " SE ERak ag Ta peti] RR 1 $i 3% s p .
: ol > won hie MOG saab bat RIE COA 70 Lo DARI in wh 2 ASUS AUB 1 5 37 a Pon dL 43 nse
EL tn J 0 BRA WV BAW, SARIN. § w— OGRE PY ve ~~. !
)\. DATE - T/ME GROUP TT FER »
pi . ge. '
sn 1) Arr - ie Eloisa - :
| Twa &2 273 / 1.07 laraat rm AT prieT.1"n ovrne
“) ‘ i aire rn i  ——— ————— + WN © mi Wy wt maha N
13. SOURCE 10. CONCLUSION - 3
te :
be Alram VIZATEZER EFFECT Oli RADAR
¥ 4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS
i Oe SAFE Fn SARRTIR SEAN, RE EE CARRE od
: 5. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS
19 Mimt os rece shiechbed uniden ti i od - wv ANT ADIL Terry !
IN Ny - = & sD o L ed he} Et ® Ed 444A G0) is oh oh » - did s 4 EY PUY a” ® . ) 4 oli, i
6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION DpaTe wang on 0 ard 15 mile range setting, Size of blip was t
3/16" in width ard 3/0n in length with fuzzy edges, Sneed :
My nl Daan BR tt © Leh tl aii ame A a ER “°0 £5 Fe J }
row d=2adar from stationary to as fast or faster than jet a/cs lo a/c
7. COURSE in the vicinity and no other obzervations reported, leather
data from weather Central at Asheville requested,
Not Renorted COMMITS: : |
1 ™Mid a alohddnes swrnes mea FN and asumwnd oa va Rossa
8. PHOTOS 1. This sighting was sent to Zlectronics (Mr. James) for
analysis and the evaluation below was concluded, ’
oO eg 2. Targets caused by WX conditions such as ice, clouds or :
® rein clonds
9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
O Yoes ¢
|
u Neo
Y J DRANG. BT :
FORM §
FTD sep 63 0-329 (TDE) Previcus editions of thie form may be used, !
Ba: masta tx +r kin dA as wa I TE ey
TE. Tae Yo 7 x wl 3 RARE Le L, « Ere et LONER ~L AGRE RTH © w ER CRI 451" EL ois 8 i ee . A YLT

/ 22

Use ← → keys to navigate · scans hosted by the U.S. National Archives

Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28952711