1950
• Argentina, Lago Argentino: A rancher, Wilfredo H. Arevalo, saw two objects, one of which landed. He walked within 150 m of the aluminum-looking craft which gave off a greenish-blue vapor and “an intense smell of burning benzine.” A large, flat section on top was revolving above a glass cabin in which could be seen four tall men, dressed in something like cellophane, working at various instruments. They saw him and shone a light in his direction while a blue light illuminated the craft; the vapor increased and flames (alternately reddish and greenish) shot out of the base while the object rose with a faint hum. Both craft flew away toward Chile, leaving bluish trails.
• Brazil, Porto Novo: Mr. Campello and several others in a car saw two large, silvery objects by the side of the road, one on a hillock, the other on flat ground, about 50 m away from each other. They came within 600 m of the objects, which went away at “an incredible speed,” causing a rush of air that rocked the car.
• Canada, Steep Rock Lake: A man and his wife saw a double saucer with portholes and a rotating antenna come to rest on the surface of the lake. Ten figures, 1.20 m tall, dressed in shiny clothing, emerged and walked on deck like robots “changing direction without turning their bodies.” Their faces could not be seen. One of them wore a red cap, had darker arms and legs and “seemed to be their chief.” They immersed a hose in the lake, then took off. Fishermen later reported a green moss forming on the lake.
• Italy, Abbiate Guazzone: Bruno Facchini heard and saw sparks coming from a dark, hovering object, near which a man dressed in tight-fitting clothes and wearing a helmet seemed to be making repairs. Three other men were seen near the craft. When the work was finished, a trap through which light had been shining was closed and the thing took off. The witness had the time to note many details of the machine and its occupants.
• USA, Alaska, Juneau: Mikel Konrad made a movie of eight disks he saw landing and taking off 60 km north of Juneau.
• USA, Arkansas, Stuggart: Chicago & Southern Airlines Capt. Jack Adams and First Officer G. W. Anderson, Jr. reported witnessing one 100′ circular disc with 9-12 portholes along the lower side emitting a soft purple light, and a light at the top which flashed 3 times in 9 seconds, flew at not less than 1,000 m.p.h. It was seen for 25-35 seconds.
• USA, California, Pasadena: A producer for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, was driving home with his wife when they said they witnessed three revolving disks traveling at great speed. The next day, a group at Caltech reported seeing the same objects.
• USA, Colorado, South Table Mountain: Mr. Quintana of Denver saw a silvery-green ovoid object hovering about 15 m above a slope and landing slowly in a small ravine. Then it shot upward at very high speed. Its diameter was about 20 m, and it had a revolving middle band. A greenish light flashed under it, and the witness felt a rush of air and a pungent smell.
• USA, Illinois, Red Bud: On April 23, Mr. Dean Morgan, a part-time photographer, was coming down the south side of a wooded hill from Red Bud, when he saw an unidentified flying object and got one photograph of it.
• USA, Indiana, Kokomo: A metal worker was awakened by his dog and observed an object 60 m away at low altitude. It was a gray metal disk, 5 m in diameter, shaped like a top with a kind of turret. It was oscillating, spinning slowly, and had three portholes shining with a blue-white light. It hovered for about 2 min, left toward the north, very fast.
• USA, Nevada, Ely: A couple and their grandson were returning from a picnic when, about 14 km south of Ely, they saw a silvery-white object at treetop level. It hovered for 10 min, then oscillated “as if attempting to rise” and suddenly flew out of sight at high speed.
• USA, New Mexico, White Sands: Daniel W. Fry of Merlin, Oregon, claims the distinction of being the first Earthman to ride in a spaceship. Fry, who identifies himself as a scientist, author, and lecturer, he came upon a flying saucer resting on the ground on the evening of July 4. He reached out to touch it, Fry says, when suddenly a friendly voice warned: “Better not touch the hull, pal, it’s still hot.” Fry says there was no crew aboard the craft, so that the voice apparently came from a “Mother Ship” hovering above. He says he was invited to enter the saucer, did so, and made a round-trip flight from White Sands to New York – a distance of several thousand miles – in approximately half an hour.
• USA, Oregon, Mcminnville: Just after dinner on May 11, 1950, Evelyn Trent was out feeding her rabbits when she noticed a disc like craft hovering in the sky just to the northwest of her. She called out to her husband Paul who came out and took pictures of the object, rewound the manual rewind as rapidly as possible, and took another picture 30 seconds or so later. Afterwards, he put the camera away as the role was not used up yet and later finished the role on Mothers Day activity’s. He then took the role of film to town for developing at a drug store on Third Street in McMinnville. The day Paul Trent developed the film he told banker Ralph Wortman about what had happened out on his property and about the pictures he took. Mr. Wortman later told Editor Phil Bladine of the local paper the Telephone-Register, who in turn, put journalist Bill Powell on the story. It wasn’t long before the story had gone nationwide, being called by many publications as the first authentic UFO pictures to be published.
• USA, Texas, Amarillo: David and Charles Lightfoot, 12, and, 9, saw a disk land behind a hill and touched it. It was the size of a car tire; about 30 cm high, with a rounded top that rotated and a pivot between the base and the top. It took off very fast. The faces and arms of the boys later became red.
• USA, Texas, Lufkin: Jack Robertson was driving about 13 km west of town when he saw a round object about 3 m in diameter hovering about 7 m above him with a dull red glow. It took off with a “swooshing roar” as sparks flew from a slot under it. Minutes later the witness feIt a burning sensation on his face.
1950 Project Blue Book Unknowns
• Canada Aug. 30, 1950; Sandy Point, Newfoundland, Canada. 1:30 p.m. Witnesses: three local employees, including Kaeel and Alexander, of the Air Force Base. A dark, barrel-shaped object with a pole down from it into the water, flew at 3-5 m.p.h. and 15-20′ altitude for 5 minutes.
• Bermuda Aug. 25, 1950; approx. 250 mi. SW of Bermuda (29′ 40′ N., 67* 28′ W.). 8 p.m. Witness: B-29 radarman S/Sgt. William Shaffer. Radar observation, plus possible blue streak 3 minutes later. B-29 followed unidentified target, then passed it at l/4-mile distance, target followed for 5 minutes, then passed B-29 and sped away. Total time of tracking: 20 minutes.
• Chile March 28, 1950; Santiago, Chile. 3:15 p.m. Witness: M/Sgt. Patterson, of the office of the U.S. Air Attache. One white object observed for 5-10 seconds through binoculars while it flew high and fast, crossing 30^ of sky.
• Cyprus Aug. 20, 1950; Nicosia, Cyprus. 1:30 p.m. Witnesses: USAF MATS liaison officer Lt. William Ghormley, Col. W. V. Brown, Lt. col. L.w. Brauer. One small, round, bright object flew fast, straight and level for 15-20 seconds.
• Kenya Dec. 2, 1950; Nanyika, Kenya. 10:50 a.m. Mr. and Mrs. L. Scott. One pearly, iridescent object with a flattened top, spun while hovering and made a sound like bees buzzing. Only data in files.
• Okinawa March 27, 1950; Motobo, Okinawa. 10:30 a.m. Witness: USAF radar operator Cpl. Bolfango. Tracked on radar for 2 minutes while it was stationary and then moved at 500 m.p.h.. Visual observation not detailed, only mentioned in summary.
• USA, Alabama July 13, 1950; Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. 5 p.m. Witnesses: two skilled Arsenal employees including Mr. Washburn. one object, shaped like a bowtie, and like polished aluminum. Flew straight and level, then one triangle rotated 1/4 turn in the opposite direction and returned to its original position. The object then made a right-angle turn and accelerated away after at least 30 seconds.
• USA, Alaska Dec. 11, 1950; l0 mi. NW of Gulcana, Alaska. 10:13 p.m. Witnesses: crew of Northwest Air Lines flight 802. Two white flashes, followed by a dark cloud which rose and split in two.
• USA, Colorado Sept. 20, 1950; Kit Carson, Colorado. 10:49 a.m. Witness identified only as a “reliable source”. Two large, round, glowing objects and three smaller, internally lit objects. Two hovered for 1 minute, moved, and three smaller ones came from behind or within the two larger objects, and all sped upward and away.
• USA, Florida Dec. 6, 1950; Ft. Myers, Florida. 5 p.m. Witnesses: former aircraft purchasing agent Harry Lamp and four boys, using lO-power binoculars. One 75′ object, 3-4′ thick, bubble on top, silver with a red rim having two white and two orange jets along it. The center revolved when the object hovered; then it flew away very fast.
• USA, Indiana April 8, 1950; Kokomo, Indiana. 2 a.m. Witness: Earl Baker. One grey metallic disc, 50′ in diameter, 15′ thick; top-shaped with a “conning tower” at the top and three ports on the rim giving off a blue light. It hovered for 2 minutes, then flew away. Baker aroused from sleep by his dog.
• USA, Michigan March 3, 1950; Selfridge AFB, Michigan. 11:05 p.m. Witness: 1st Lt Frank Mattson. One intense, dull yellowish light descended vertically, then flew straight and level very fast for 4 minutes.
• USA, Massachusetts Feb 5, 1950; Teaticket, Massachusetts. 5:10 p.m. Witnesses: Marvin Odom, former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, USAF Lt. Philip Foushee, pilot from Otis AFB, and two others. Two thin, illuminated cylinders, one of which dropped a fireball, maneuvered together and then disappeared high and fast after 5 minutes.
• USA, Nevada May 7, 1950; Nine miles sough of Ely, Nevada. 6:45 p.m. Witnesses: Mr. and Mrs. George Smith and their grandson. One silvery white object hovered at 100′ altitude, moved back and forth for 10 minutes and then flew up and away. Note in case file: “No investigation.”
• USA, New Jersey April 14, 1950; Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey. 2:30 p.m. Witness: Army M/Sgt. James. Four rectangular, amber objects, about 3′ by 4′. changed speed and direction rapidly; the group of objects rose and fell during the 3-4 minute sighting.
• USA, New Mexico Feb. 24, 1950; Albuquerque, New Mexico. 1:55 p.m. Witnesses: Municipal Airport Weather Observers Luther McDonald, Harrison Manson. One white, slightly elongated oval was watched for 1.5 minutes through a theodolite while it flew straight and level.
• USA, New Mexico Feb. 25, 1950; Los Alamos, New Mexico. 3:55 p.m. Witnesses: Twelve Atomic Energy Commission security inspectors. One cylinder with tapered ends, silver and flashing, flew slow and hen fast, fluttered and oscillated, and changed course. observations by individuals varied from 3 seconds to 2 minutes.
• USA, New York Aug. 4, 1950; approx. 100 mi. SE of New York City (39′ 35′ N., 72′ 24.5′ W.). 10 a.m. EDT. Witnesses: Master Nils Lewring, Chief Mate Jacob Koelwyn, Third Mate, of M/V Marcala. One 10′ cylindrical object at 50-100′ altitude, flying with a churning or rotary motion, accelerated at end of 15 second sighting.
• USA, North Carolina Oct. 15, 1950; Pope AFB, North Carolina. Witness: Daniel. Listed as “unidentified” in folder index, but no supporting data could be found.
• USA, North Carolina Oct. 23, 1950; Bonlee, North Carolina. 12:42 p.m. Witness: ex-USAF pilot Frank Risher. One aluminum object shaped like a dirigible or Convair C-99 cargo plane, with 3 portholes, arrived from southeast, hovered 3-5 seconds and flew away to the south- south-east at end of 40 second sighting.
• USA, Tennessee March 29, 1950; Marrowbore Lake, Tennessee. 7 a.m. Witnesses: real estate salesmen Whiteside and Williams. Six-twelve dark objects shaped like 300-lb. bombs, estimated 5 feet long. Flew 500 m.p.h. and descended, making a noise like wind blowing through the trees.
• USA, Tennessee Oct. 15, 1950; Oak Ridge, Tennessee. 3:20 p.m. Atomic Energy Commission Trooper Rymer, J. Moneymaker, Capt. Zarzecki. Two shiny silver objects shaped like bullet or bladder. They dove with a smoke trail and one vanished. The other hovered at 5-6, altitude, 50′ away, left and returned several times somewhat further away.
. USA, Tennessee Nov. 5, 1950, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. 11:55 a.m. Witness: Fairchild Aircraft illustrator Don Patrick. One translucent object, light grey with dark core, shaped like a pear or bean. Flew for 5-10 minutes with rapid, darting movements.
• USA, Texas June 27, 1950; Texarkana, Texas. 7:50 a.m. Witnesses: Terrell and Yates, employees of Red River Arsenal. One object, bright, shaped like two dishpans face-to-face, flew straight and level, fast for 4-5 seconds.
• USA, Washington Sept. 3, 1950; Spokane, Washington. 2 p.m. Witnesses: Maj R.J. Gardiner, Mrs. Gardiner and neighbor (former saw three objects, others saw one). Metallic bronze discs, 20-30′ long, 2-6′ thick. Moved independently and erratically for 5 minutes.