Goose AFB, Labrador, September 1951September 1951

Insufficient Data

Summary

On September 13, 1951, radar operators at Goose Air Force Base in Labrador detected three unidentified objects on their scopes. The first target appeared at 0100 hours (1 a.m.) GMT. About three minutes later, a second target showed up on the radar screen. After both of those disappeared, a third target appeared.

The radar operators, using ground-controlled approach (GCA) radar, a precision instrument that guides aircraft to landing, classified the first target as strong and steady. They estimated it was flying at approximately 4,000 feet altitude and moving at about 140 miles per hour, similar to how a typical aircraft would appear on radar. The second and third targets were weaker and more intermittent on the scope, suggesting they were flying higher than 5,000 feet. The operators could not estimate their speed, though both seemed to be traveling at roughly the same velocity.

The official Air Force evaluation noted that even if the radar scope had been in a warm-up phase when it first detected the targets, the objects would not have followed such a definite course under those conditions. Because of this reasoning, and because none of the targets could be identified as known aircraft, the case was marked as unidentified. The Air Force did not pursue additional investigation, citing insufficient information for further analysis.

The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives across 12 pages of scanned records.

Reported location

Goose AFB, Labrador, September 1951

Date of incident

September 1951

State / country

? / XX

Page count

12 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 8

wig" Fh ts PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD : I. DATE k 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS | 0 Wes Boll 13 Sep 51 Goose AFB, Labrador 5 Probably Belleon | 3 DATE-TIME CROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION Q Vosntty Sulteen BD isos O Ground-Visuel EGround-Roder eg GMT 0100 O Air Visvel O AirIntercopt Roeder |D Possibly Aircroht 5S. PHOTOS 3C 0 Was Astronomical O Yes O Probobly Astronomical Hei Operators : DO Possibly Astronomicel 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 5. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE 0 Other UNIDENTIFIED Sn SR gueient Dote for Evaluation Unknown - - = three - - - 10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS Target A appeared on scope, approx 3 mins later Even if Radar scope was in arget B appeared, after Targets A & B disappeared varm up stage Targets (blips) Target C appeared. Target A was a strong and stleady would nothave followed such a target similar to that of a/c at approx 4,000 f definite course. Therefore alt. Its speed was est by GCA operators to be 1% case is UNIDENTIFIED. ph. Targets B & C were weak intermittent targets ~ |similar to a/c flying above 5,000 ft alt. No speed est for B & C but both at approx same speed. ATIC PORM 329 (REV 26 SEP $2)