Kelly AFB, TexasJanuary 1954

Unidentified

Summary

On January 14, 1954, radar operators near Kelly Air Force Base, Texas tracked unusual returns on their scope. The contacts, called blips, showed speeds ranging from about 100 to 6,000 miles per hour within a roughly 30 mile area. The objects stayed on the radar scope in different positions for about one hour and 50 minutes.

The general motion was to the southeast. At one point three objects joined together for about three minutes, then separated and moved off on a definite heading. The objects disappeared when local aircraft entered the area and returned after the aircraft left. An aircraft was scrambled but made no contact. The weather was foggy with rain.

The Air Force, in its Project 10073 record (the official file for unidentified flying object reports), concluded the returns were weather effects on the radar, based on the estimated speeds, the long duration, and the way the sightings persisted.

Reported location

Kelly AFB, Texas

Date of incident

January 1954

State / country

TX / US

Page count

3 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unidentified

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 20

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 3

View transcribed text

» ££» i
sl PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD § :
1. DATE B LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
O Was Balloon
14 Jan S54 Kelly » "8, Texas O Probably Bellon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION » Tey Sue
Locot Loic tebe COM | "0 GuméViwd  RKGround-Rodar S Dothaiy Revere
oMT [cL Gre Air Visual O Air-Intercopt Radar |O Possibly Aircraft
OTC . SOURCE 0 Was Astronomicol
OVYes 0 Probably Astronomical
2 Ne militar O Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION . NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. Counse 1B Pliny
p hours 1-3 SE a manag a ¢ Cvajvaohon
10. BRIE® SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS oR J
y- blips on PPI Scope with speeds of 100 to [Weather effects as indicated by Motion :
»0C0 mph in 30 mile area. (A radar. Remained estimated speeds and duration and
on scope in various positions for L hr 50 min. [persistance or sightings.
General motion to SE. Fog and rain. Afe
scramble with no contact.
ATIC PORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52) aligns

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28957338