Goose AFB, Labrador, June 1953June 1953

On June 11, 1953, radar operators at Goose Air Force Base in Labrador spotted approximately 25 unidentified blips on their search radar scopes. The objects appeared on radar between 1103 and 1135 (11:03 a.m. and 11:35 a.m.) and resembled aircraft flying at speeds of 30 to 130 miles per hour at undetermined altitudes, all within 5 miles of the base. Tech Sergeant Skill, a Ground Controlled Approach (GCA) radar controller, reported the sighting to base intelligence officers.

The Air Force investigated immediately. A military aircraft on overflight reported no visual sightings when it passed over the area at 1053. A second radar system, GCI (Ground Controlled Intercept), could not confirm any of the blips detected by the first radar. Weather conditions at the time showed broken clouds, visibility of 12 miles, winds from the west at 15 to 18 knots, and a temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Because only one radar system picked up the objects and the overflight saw nothing, the Air Force concluded the blips were likely weather phenomena or a flight of birds.

An unrelated sighting occurred on June 22, 1953, when a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot on combat air patrol northwest of Goose saw a red ball of light and initiated a visual interception. The pilot believed the light was roughly 1,000 to 2,000 yards away. The light appeared to glow like a jet engine with afterburner engaged. After chasing the object for a few minutes, the light suddenly accelerated and climbed steeply into the overcast clouds. The pilot could not follow due to low fuel. Ground and airborne radar made no contact with the object. Weather at the time was overcast with 34 miles visibility. The Air Force evaluation of this sighting is listed as unknown.

The full case file, consisting of 17 pages, is reproduced below as held by the National Archives.