Far East, August 1952August 1952

On August 23, 1952, at 3:00 a.m. near Far East (XB 28/1), a B-29 bomber aircraft conducting weather reconnaissance in the Simiju area sighted an unidentified object. The aircraft was at 22,000 feet on a heading of 044 degrees when the crew observed a clear, orange-red object described as 6 or 7 feet long with red particles shooting off at right angles. The object glowed orange-red and was first spotted about 300 feet away at the 3 o'clock position. It traveled upward at a 45-degree angle parallel to the aircraft's ceiling before disappearing when 150 feet above the aircraft. The sighting lasted about 3 seconds. Speed was estimated over 300 mph. The crew consisted of experienced combat airmen. An approving officer concluded the object was likely a rocket propelled ground-to-air missile.