The RB-47 UFO Encounter, THE UFO CASEBOOK

An Air Force RB-47, = equipped with=20 electronic countermeasures (ECM) gear and manned by six officers, was = followed=20 by an unidentified object for a distance of well over 700 mi. and for a = time=20 period of 1.5 hr., as it flew from Mississippi, through Louisiana and = Texas and=20 into Oklahoma.

The object was, at various times, seen visually by the cockpit crew = as an=20 intensely luminous light, followed by ground-radar and detected on ECM=20 monitoring gear aboard the RB-47.

Of special interest in this case are several instances of = simultaneous=20 appearances and disappearances on all three of those physically distinct = "channels," and rapidity of maneuvers beyond the prior experience of the = aircrew. =20

Introduction
In the early morning hours of July 17, 1957, = an RB-47=20 was flying out of Forbes Air Force Base, Topeka, Kansas, on a composite = mission=20 that included gunnery exercises over the Texas-Gulf area, navigation = exercises=20 over the open Gulf, and finally ECM exercises scheduled for the return = trip=20 across the south-central United States. The RB-47 was carrying a sixman = crew, of=20 whom three were electronic warfare officers manning ECM gear in the aft = portion=20 of the aircraft. Their names are as follows: Lewis D. Chase, pilot; = James H.=20 McCoid, copilot; Thomas H. Hanley, navigator; John J. Provenzano, No. 1 = monitor;=20 Frank B. McClure, No. 2 monitor; Walter A. Tuchscherer. No. 3 = monitor. =20

I shall draw upon my interview with the crew as well as case files = which I=20 finally located. The files consist of a three-page TWX filed from the = 745th=20 ACWRON, Duncanville, Texas, at 1557Z on July 17, 1957, and a four-page = case=20 summary prepared by E.T. Piwetz, Wing Intelligence Officer, 55th = Reconnaissance=20 Wing, Forbes AFB, and transmitted to ADC Hq., Ent AFB, Colorado, in = compliance=20 with a request of August 15, from Col. F. T. Jeep, Director of = Intelligence,=20 ADC. That summary, plus a 12-page Airborne Observer's Data Sheet, was = forwarded=20 on November 17 from ADC to Blue Book, and was evidently the first = notification=20 Project Blue Book received concerning this case.

The 12-page Data Sheet (AISOP #2) was prepared by Major Chase on = September=20 10, and contains a number of points of relevance not covered in other = parts of=20 the case file. There is very relevant information in the case file as to = precise=20 times, locations, and other circumstances, and the case file does have = the great=20 virtue of representing a summary account prepared while all of the = details were=20 fresh in the minds of the crew. =20

Before describing the first ECM contact, it is necessary to explain = briefly=20 the nature of the ECM gear involved in this case. (Details are no longer = classified, although all of the basic case-file documents were initially = SECRET.) This RB-47 had three passive direction-finding (DF) = radarmonitors for=20 use in securing coordinate information and pulse characteristics on = enemy=20 ground-based radar.=20

The #2 monitor, manned by McClure, was an ALA-6 DF-receiver with = back-to-back=20 antennas in a housing on the belly of the RB-47 near the tail spun at = 150 or 300=20 rpm as it scanned an azimuth. (Note that this implies ability to scan at = 10/sec=20 past a fixed ground radar in the distance.) It's frequency range was = 1000-7500=20 MHz. Inside the aircraft, the signals from the ALA-6 were processed in = an APR-9=20 radar receiver and an ALA-5 pulse-analyzer. All subsequent references to = the #2=20 monitor imply that system. =20

Number 1 Monitor
The #1 monitor, manned by = Provenzano, was=20 an APD-4 DF system, with a pair of antennas permanently mounted on = either wing=20 tip. It was working at a higher frequency. The #3 monitor, with a = frequency=20 range from 30-1000 MHz, was manned by Tuchscherer.=20

It was not affected and will not be described here. VHF = communications were=20 likewise not affected. =20

For emphasis, it needs to be stressed that the DF receivers are not = radars=20 and do not emit a signal for reflection off a distant target. They only = listen=20 passively to incoming radar signals and analyze signatures and other=20 characteristics. When receiving a distant radar set's signal, the scope = displays=20 a pip or strobe at an azimuthal position corresponding to the relative = bearing=20 in the aircraft coordinate system.

For the case of a fixed ground radar, approached from one side, the = strobe is=20 initially seen in the upper part of the scope and moves down-scope, a = point to=20 be carefully noted in interpreting the following discussion. =20

Having completed the navigational exercises over the Gulf, Chase = headed=20 across the Mississippi coastline, flying at an altitude of 34,500 ft, at = about=20 Mach 0.75 (258 kt IAS=3D500 mph TAS). The weather was perfect and = practically=20 cloudless under the influence of a large high-pressure area extending = throughout=20 the troposphere.=20

There were no showers or thunderstorms anywhere along the flight = route.=20 Shortly after the coast near Gulfport was crossed at a point marked A on = the map=20 on page 00, McClure detected on the #2 monitor a signal painting at = their 5=20 o'clock position (aft of the starboard beam). It looked to him as if he = were=20 receiving a legitimate ground-radar signal. Upon noting that the strobe = was=20 moving up-scope, McClure tentatively decided that it must be a ground = radar off=20 to their northwest painting with 180 deg ambiguity for some electronic = reason.

But when the strobe, after sweeping up-scope on the starboard side, = crossed=20 the flight path of the RB-47 and proceeded to move down-scope on = the port=20 side McClure said he gave up the hypothesis of 180 deg ambiguity as = incapable of=20 explaining such behavior. =20

Fortunately, he had examined the signal characteristics on his ALA-5=20 pulse-analyzer, before the signal left his scope on the port side aft. = In=20 discussing it with me, his recollection was that the frequency was near = 2800=20 mcs, and he recalled that what was particularly odd was that it had a=20 pulse-width and pulse repetition frequency (PRF) much like that of a = typical=20 S-band, ground-based, search radar.=20

He even recalled that there was a simulated scan rate that was = normal.=20 Perhaps because of the strong similarities to ground-based sets such as = the=20 CPS-6B, widely used at that time, McClure did not, at that juncture, = call this=20 signal to the attention of anyone else in the aircraft.=20

The #1 monitor was not working the frequency in question, it later = developed.=20 The #3 monitor was incapable of working the frequency in question, = McClure and=20 the others indicated to me. =20

I next quote information transcribed from the summary report prepared = by the=20 Wing Intelligence Officer, COMSTRATRECONWG 55, Forbes Air Force Base, = concerning=20 this part of the incident that involved this aircraft (call sign "Lacy=20 17"):
=20

ECM reconnaissance operator #2 of Lacy 17, RB-47H aircraft,=20 intercepted at approximately Meridian, Mississippi, a signal with = the=20 following characteristics: frequency 2995 mc to 3000 mc; pulse = width of=20 2.0 microseconds; pulse repetition frequence of 600 cps; sweep = rate of 4=20 rpm; vertical polarity. Signal moved rapidly up the D/F scope = indicating a=20 rapidly moving signal source; i.e an airborne source. Signal was = abandoned=20 after observation ...

Initial Visual Contact
If nothing further had = occurred on=20 that flight to suggest that some unusual object was in the vicinity of = the=20 RB-47, McClure's observations undoubtedly would have gone unmentioned = and would=20 have been quickly forgotten even by him. He was puzzled, but at that = point still=20 inclined to think that it was some electronic difficulty. =20

The flight plan called for a turn to the west in the vicinity of = Meridian and=20 Jackson, Mississippi (Point B), with subsequent planned exercises = wherein the=20 EWOs did simulated ECM runs against known ground radar units.

The contemporary records confirm what Chase and McCoid described to = me far=20 more vividly and in more detail concerning the unusual events that soon=20 ensued. =20

They turned into a true heading of 265 deg, still at Mach 0.75 at = 34,500 ft.=20 At 1010Z (0410 CST), Major Chase, in the forward seat, spotted what he = first=20 thought were the landing lights of another jet coming in fast from near = his 11=20 o'clock position at, or perhaps a bit above, the RB-47's altitude.=20

He called McCoid's attention to it, noted absence of any navigational = lights,=20 and as the single intense bluish-white light continued to close rapidly, = he used=20 the intercom to alert the rest of the crew to be ready for sudden = evasive=20 maneuvers.

But before he could attempt evasion, he and McCoid saw the brilliant = light=20 almost instantaneously change direction and flash across their flight = path from=20 port to starboard at an angular velocity that Chase told me he had never = seen=20 matched in all of his 20 years of flying, before or after that incident. = The=20 luminous source had moved with great rapidity from their 11 o'clock to = about=20 their 2 o'clock position and then blinked out. =20

The Airborne Observer's Data Sheet filled out by Chase as part of the = post-interrogation gives the RB-47 position at the time of that 1010Z = first=20 visual contact as 32-00N, 91-28W, which puts it near Winnsboro in = east-central=20 Louisiana (Point C). =20

The descriptions obtained in the 1969 interviews with these officers = are=20 closely supported by the original intelligence report:
=20

At 1010Z aircraft cmdr first observed a very intense white light = with=20 light blue tint at 11 o'clock from his aircraft, crossing in front = to=20 about 2:30 o'clock position, copilot also observed passage of = light to=20 2:30 o'clock where it apparently = disappeared.

Chase did not observe any magnetic compass anomalies during the = flight. =20

Actions over Louisiana -- Texas Area
Immediately = after the=20 luminous source blinked out, Chase and McCoid began talking about it on = the=20 interphone, with the already alerted crew listening in. McClure, = recalling the=20 unusual signal he had received on his ALA-6 back near Gulfport, now = mentioned=20 for the first time that peculiar incident and concurrently set his #2 = monitor to=20 scan at about 3000 mcs, to see what might show up.

He found he was getting a strong 3000 mcs signal from about their 2 = o'clock=20 position, just the relative bearing at which the unknown luminous source = had=20 blinked out moments earlier. =20

Provenzano told me that immediately after that they checked out the = #2=20 monitor on other known ground-radar stations, to be sure that it was not = malfunctioning; it appeared to be in perfect working order. He then = tuned his=20 own #1 monitor to 3000 mcs and also got a signal from the same bearing.=20

There remained, of course, the possibility that, just by chance, this = signal=20 was from a real radar down on the ground and off in that relative = direction. But=20 as the minutes went by and the RB-47 continued westward at about 500 = mph, the=20 relative bearing of the 3000 mcs source out in the dark did not move = down-scope=20 on the monitors as should have occurred with any ground radar, but = instead kept=20 up with the RB-47, holding a fixed relative bearing. =20

I found these and ensuing portions of the entire episode still vivid = in the=20 minds of all the men, although their recollections for various details = varied=20 somewhat, depending on the particular activities in which they were then = engaged. =20

Chase varied speed, going to maximum allowed power, but nothing = seemed to=20 change the relative bearing of the 3000-mcs source. They crossed = Louisiana and=20 headed into eastern Texas, with the object still maintaining station = with them.

Eventually they got into the radar-coverage area of the 745th ACWRON, = Duncanville, Texas, and Chase dropped his earlier reluctance about = calling=20 attention to these peculiar matters and contacted that station (code = name=20 "Utah").

The crew was becoming uneasy about the incident by this time, several = of them=20 remarked to me. That phase of the incident is tersely described in the = following=20 quotes from the report of the Wing Intelligence Officer: =
=20

Aircraft comdr notified crew and ECM operator Nr 2 searched for = signal=20 described above, found same approximately 1030Z at a relative = bearing of=20 070 degrees; 1035Z, relative bearing of 068 degrees; 1038Z, = relative=20 bearing 040 degrees.

Note that the above time would indicate that McClure did not = immediately=20 think of making his ALA-6 check, but rather that some 20 min went by = before that=20 was thought of. Note also that by 1038Z the unknown source of the 3000 = mcs=20 radarlike signal was moving up - scope relative to the 500 mph = RB-47. =20

The Wing Intelligence Officer continued:
=20

At 1039Z aircraft comdr sighted huge light which he estimated to = be=20 5000 below aircraft at about 2 o'clock. Aircraft altitude was = 34,500 ft,=20 weather perfectly clear. Although aircraft comdr could not = determine shape=20 or size of object, he had a definite impression light emanated = from top of=20 object. =20

At about 1040Z ECM operator #2 reported he then had two signals = at=20 relative bearings of 040 and 070 deg. Aircraft comdr and copilot = saw these=20 two objects at the same time with same red color.=20

Aircraft comdr received permission to ignore flight plan and = pursue=20 object. He notified ADC site Utah and requested all assistance = possible.=20 At 1042Z ECM #2 had one object at 020 deg relative=20 bearing.

In my interviews with the aircrew, I found differences between the=20 recollections of the various men as to some of these points. McCoid = recalled=20 that the luminous source occasionally moved abruptly from starboard to = port side=20 and back again.=20

Chase recalled that they had contacted Utah (his recollection was = that it was=20 Carswell GCI, however) prior to some of the above events and that Utah = was=20 ground-painting the target during the time it moved up-scope and = reappeared=20 visually. As will be seen below, the contemporary account makes fairly = clear=20 that Utah was not painting the unknown until a bit later, after it had = turned=20 northwestward and passed between Dallas and Ft. Worth.

Chase explained to me that he got FAA clearance to follow it in that=20 off-course turn (Point D) and indicated that FAA got all jets out of the = way to=20 permit him to maintain pursuit. The Intelligence summary = continues: =20
=20

At 1042Z ECM #2 had one object at 020 deg relative bearing. = Aircraft=20 comdr increased speed to Mach 0.83, turned to pursue, and object = pulled=20 ahead. At 1042.5Z ECM #2 again had two signals at relative = bearings of 040=20 and 070 deg. At 1044Z he had a single signal at 050 deg relative = bearing.=20 At 1048Z ECM #3 was recording interphone and command position=20 conversations. =20

ADC site requested aircraft to go IFF Mode III for positive=20 identification and then requested position of object. Crew = reported=20 position of object as 10 n. mi. northwest of Ft. Worth. Texas, and = ADC=20 site Utah immediately confirmed presence of objects on their = scopes. =20

At approximately 1050Z object appeared to stop, and aircraft = overshot.=20 Utah reported they lost object from scopes at this time, and ECM = #2 also=20 lost signal.

Chase, in reply to my questions, indicated that it was his = recollection that=20 there was simultaneity between the moment when he began to sense that he = was=20 getting closure at approximately the RB-47 speed, and the moment when = Utah=20 indicated that their target had stopped on their scopes. He said he = veered a bit=20 to avoid colliding with the object, not then being sure what its = altitude was=20 relative to the RB-47, and then found that he was coming over the top of = it as=20 he proceeded to close.

At the instant that it blinked out visually and disappeared = simultaneously=20 from the #2 monitor and from the radar scopes at Site Utah, it was at a=20 depression angle relative to his position of something like 45 deg.=20

Chase put the RB-47 into a port turn in the vicinity of Mineral = Wells, Texas=20 (Point E), and he and McCoid looked over their shoulders to try to spot = the=20 luminous source again. All of the men recalled the near simultaneity = with which=20 the object blinked on again visually, appeared on the #2 scope, and was = again=20 skin-painted by ground radar at Site Utah. The 1957 report describes = these=20 events as follows:
=20

Aircraft began turning, ECM #2 picked up signal at 160 deg = relative=20 bearing, Utah regained scope contact, and aircraft comdr regained = visual=20 contact. At 1052Z ECM #2 had signal at 200 deg relative bearing, = moving up=20 his D/F scope.

Aircraft began closing on object until the estimated range was = 5 n. mi.=20 At this time object appeared to drop to approximately 15,000 ft = altitude,=20 and aircraft comdr lost visual contact. Utah also lost object from = scopes. =20

At 1055Z in the area of Mineral Wells, Texas, crew notified = Utah they=20 must depart for home station because of fuel supply. Crew queried = Utah=20 whether a CIRVIS Report had been submitted, and Utah replied the = report=20 had been transmitted.=20

At 1057Z ECM #2 had signal at 300 deg relative bearing, but = Utah had no=20 scope contact. At 1058Z aircraft comdr regained visual contact of = object=20 approximately 20 n. mi. northwest of Ft. Worth, Texas, estimated = altitude=20 20,000 ft at 2 o'clock from=20 aircraft.

Chase added further details on this portion of the events, stating = that he=20 requested and secured permission from Utah to dive on the object when it = was at=20 lower altitude.

He did not recall the sudden descent that is specified in the = contemporary=20 account, and there are a number of other minor points in the = Intelligence Report=20 that were not recollected by any of the crew.

He told me that when he dove from 35,000 ft to approximately 20,000 = ft the=20 object blinked out, disappeared from the Utah ground-radar scopes, and=20 disappeared from the #2 monitor, all at the same time. McClure recalled = that=20 simultaneous disappearance, too.

It should be mentioned that the occasional appearance of a second = visual and=20 radar-emitting source was not recalled by any of the officers when = I=20 interviewed them in 1969. =20

Actions over Texas -- Oklahoma Area
McCoid recalled = that, at=20 about this stage of the activities, he was becoming a bit worried about = excess=20 fuel consumption resulting from use of maximum allowed power, plus a = marked=20 departure from the initial flight plan.=20

He advised Chase that fuel limitations would necessitate a return to = the home=20 base at Forbes AFB, so they soon headed north from the Ft. Worth area = (Point F).=20 McClure and Chase recalled that the ALA-6 system again picked up a 3000 = mcs=20 signal on their tail, once they were northbound from Ft. Worth but there = was=20 some variance in their recollections as to whether the ground radar = concurrently=20 painted the object.

McCoid was unable to fill in any of those details. Fortunately the = 1957=20 Intelligence Report summarized further events in this part of the = flight, as=20 they moved northward into Oklahoma:
=20

At 1120Z aircraft took up heading for home station. This placed = area=20 of object off the tail of aircraft. ECM #2 continued to [get] D/F = signal=20 of object between 180 and 190 deg relative bearing until 1140Z, = when=20 aircraft was approximately abeam Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.=20

At this time, signal faded rather abruptly. 55 SRW DOI [55th = Strategic=20 Reconnaissance Wing, Director of Intelligence] has no doubt the = electronic=20 D/F's coincided exactly with visual observations by aircraft comdr = numerous times, thus indicating positively the object being the = signal=20 source.

It was Chase's recollection that the object was with them only into = southern=20 Oklahoma; Hanley recalled that it was with them all the way to Oklahoma = City=20 area (Point G); the others remembered only that it was there for some = indefinite=20 distance on the northbound leg between Ft. Worth and Topeka, their home=20 base. =20

Blue Book
The records indicate that Project Blue = Book=20 received summary information on this incident from ADC on Oct. 25, 1957 = (over=20 two months after occurrence of the event). A "Brief Summary" ends with = the=20 following paragraph:
=20

In joint review with the CAA of the data from the incident, it = was=20 definitely established by the CAA that object observed in the = vicinity of=20 Dallas and Ft. Worth was an = airliner.

This refers to a near-collision of two DC-6 American Airliners near = Salt=20 Flats, Texas, 50 mi. from El Paso at 14,000 ft at 3:30 a.m. of this day. = (See=20 the map on page 68.) The case is now carried in the official Blue Book = files as=20 "Identified as American Airlines Flight 655."

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