Case file

The source document is the Project Blue Book files and Loren Gross’ UFO history. Gross’ entry does not add anything since it is just the Blue Book record card. Therefore, the sole source of information comes from the Project Blue Book file. Blue Book listed this as the planet Venus with “spurious radar blips”. 

The file has quite a bit of information inside of it.2 This included:

A speedletter from the Atlantic Fleet weather training unit in Key West to ATIC dated 17 Sept 1957. This speedletter has hand -written comments by Captain Gregory where he mentioned that the star Arcturus, the planet Venus, and the lighthouse in the Dry Tortugas were all in the direction the plane was looking. Most noteworthy was the comment by training unit:

“...TWO SUBSEQUENT INSTANCES INDICATE POSSIBILITY OF RANDOM SIGNALS BEING RECIEVED BY APG-51A RADAR WHEN POINTED TOWARDS VENUS”

Aeronautical charts for the region with notes for the position of the aircraft, direction of travel, and directions for Arcturus and Venus.

A message from FAWTULANT to ATIC, DTG 280545Z, with the details of the sighting. In that message, the pilots stated the UFO could not have been the lighthouse. 

Hand-written comments about the sighting by the Captain Gregory, where he mentioned Arcturus and the lighthouse.

A joint message form, dated 4 September, 1957, requesting any additional information from Chief of Naval operations that might help explain the sighting 

A message from CINCLANTFLT, DTG 141945Z, mentioning that a coast guard vessel and two Navy escort ships were located 11.2 miles at azimuth 322 from Rebecca Shoal lighthouse. They also reported that there were three F3D and 1 F3H aircraft in the region between 2100 and 2305. 

A speed letter dated 10 September 1957, that references a CNO message. There is a note written on the letter referencing the CINCLANTFLT message of 14 September (DTG 141945Z).

A joint message form, dated 4 September, 1957, requesting information from the Civil Aviation Administration that might help explain the sighting.

A joint message form, dated 4 September, 1957, requesting information from Eglin AFB that might help explain the sighting.

A message from Eglin AFB, DTG 051900Z, stating they had no operations in the region. 

A message from Patrick AFB, DTG 101515Z, stating they had no operations in the region.

Based on the information in the case file, two F3D aircraft were airborne west of Key West and saw the UFO at time 2045R (not Zulu). The UFO was described as being bright red to reddish-yellow and pulsating. At least one of the aircraft’s radar (AN/APG-51A) picked up a contact at 20 miles distance, which jumped to 30 miles distance after one minute. The duration of the sighting was approximately two minutes when the object faded from sight. 

Analysis

The aircraft’s flight path during the chase was towards a true azimuth of about 278 degrees (Gregory lists it as 290 in his notes). The message also stated the object was towards the west when first seen. It is also important to note the message used the time of 2045 Romeo, which is Eastern Standard Time and not Zulu. For Zulu time, it would have been 0145Z on the 28th of August. 

The set time for Venus at sea level was around 0139 Z on 28 August at azimuth 266 degrees. The star Arcturus set at 0400z at azimuth 292 degree. The crescent moon had set at 0128Z on the 28th at an azimuth of 262 degrees. However, the aircraft was not at sea level. It would have set approximately one minute later for every 5000 feet of altitude. Because the aircraft were at 24,000 feet, the set time for all of these objects were about five minutes later. 

Conclusion

There seems to be no good reason to dismiss the possibility that this was a sighting of Venus. The direction of flight was only about 12 degrees to the right of Venus and Venus was setting during the incident. With Venus at such a low angle of elevation, it would appear reddish. The only concern is the radar contact but it seems that the message from Atlantic fleet indicated it was possible this was just an anomalous return. Considering the fact that it apparently jumped 10 miles in single sweep of the antenna, it is likely this was the case. In my opinion, there is no reason for this to be in the Weinstein catalogue and it should be removed.

Quelle: SUNlite 4/2020