Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010001-0
“All the time I was observing the object, after getting visual confirmation from the ground, I was describing what I saw on radio unicom frequency. I was answering questions from the ground both from Utah Central, and Provo. The voice at Provo said that they could not see the object, but at least 8 or 10 people did see it from the ground at Utah Central Airport.
“As to seeing it again, I was returning to the field after it had departed when I was asked over radio if I still could see the object, and I reported that I could not. They said they had it in sight again. I turned back and saw it at much greater distance only for about a second or two when it completely vanished. The guys on the ground said it went straight up as it finally left, but I didn’t see that departure.”
On the NICAP report form, Mr. Harris pointed out that the UFO at one time “passed below the horizon in front of mountains to the south.” This fact rules out any astronomical explanation.
Later that month, an engineer in Pennsylvania saw a formation of four disc-shaped objects, with apparent lights or ports on the rims.
HAVE SCIENTISTS REPORTED UFOs?
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NATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE ON AERIAL PHENOMENA
1536 Connecticut Avenue N. W.
Washington 6, D. C.
NORh 7-9434
REPORT ON UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT(S)
This form includes questions asked by the United States Air Force and by other Armed Forces’ investigating agencies, and additional questions to which answers are needed for full evaluation by NICAP.
After all the information has been fully studied, the conclusion of our Evaluation Panel will be published by NICAP in its regularly issued magazine or in another publication. Please try to answer as many questions as possible. Should you need additional room, please use another sheet of paper. Please print or typewrite. Your assistance is of great value and is genuinely appreciated. Thank you.
1. Name Carl H. Geary, Jr.
Address 228 Ridge Ave., Derry, Pa.
Telephone OXbow 4-2678
2. Date of Observation October 30, 1961
Time 12:20 AM
Time Zone Eastern
3. Locality of Observation Ligonier, Pa.
4. How long did you see the object? 0 Hours 45 Minutes Seconds
5. Please describe weather conditions and the type of sky, i.e., bright daylight, nighttime, dusk, etc.
Nighttime - sporadic cloud cover - moon approximately 1/2 full.
6. Position of the Sun or Moon in relation to the object and to you.
Moon E-N-E position about 30° above horizon - objects passed just below moon - they were below cloud cover mentioned above.
7. If seen at night, twilight, or dawn, were the stars or moon visible? Moon
8. Were there more than one object? 4 If so, please tell how many, and draw a sketch of what you saw, indicating direction of movement, if any.
9. Please describe the object(s) in detail. For instance, did it (they) appear solid, or only as a source of light; was it revolving, etc? Please use additional sheets of paper, if necessary. See attached sheet.
10. Was the object(s) brighter than the background of the sky? Yes.
11. If so, compare the brightness with the Sun, Moon, headlights, etc. See attached sheet.
12. Did the object(s) — (Please elaborate, if you can give details.)
a. Appear to stand still at any time? No.
b. Suddenly speed up and rush away at any time? No.
c. Break up into parts or explode? Seemed to explode, but obviously did not.
d. Give off smoke? No.
e. Leave any visible trail? No.
f. Drop anything? No.
g. Change brightness? Yes.
h. Change shape? No.
i. Change color? No change in color, only in intensity of color.
13. Did the object(s) at any time pass in front of, or behind of, anything? If so, please elaborate giving distance, size, etc, if possible. See attached sheet.
14. Was there any wind? Yes. If so, please give direction and speed. Approx. 15 mph from West to East
15. Did you observe the object(s) through an optical instrument or other aid, windshield, windscreen, storm window, screening, etc? What? Observed objects through car windshield - open window - and out in the open.
16. Did the object(s) have any sound? No. What kind? How loud?
17. Please tell if the object(s) was (were) —
a. Fuzzy or blurred.
b. Like a bright star.
c. Sharply outlined.
18. Was the object —
a. Self-luminous? self-luminous
b. Dull finish?
c. Reflecting?
d. Transparent?
19. Did the object(s) rise or fall while in motion? They oscillated in a seemingly sideward motion from direction of travel.
20. Tell the apparent size of the object(s) when compared with the following held at arm’s length:
a. Pinhead
b. Pea
c. Dime
d. Nickel
e. Half dollar
f. Silver dollar
g. Orange
h. Grapefruit
i. Larger
Or, if easier, give apparent size in inches on a ruler held at arm’s length.
21. How did you happen to notice the object(s)? Am interested in astronomy. Noticed the 4 objects in a straight line across sky, all of same magnitude & altitude - very seldom. see celestial configurations like this.
22. Where were you and what were you doing at the time? Driving car at first sighting.
23. How did the object(s) disappear from view? Objects seemed to float over mountain top.
24. Compare the speed of the object(s) with a piston or jet aircraft at the same apparent altitude. Compares more with speed of a piper cub. I paced them in car, nearly parallel at about 20 mph.
25. Were there any conventional aircraft in the location at the time or immediately afterward? If so, please elaborate. No.
26. Please estimate the distance of the object(s). 1/2 to 3/4 mile
27. What was the elevation of the object(s) in the sky? Please mark on this hemisphere sketch:
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28. Names and addresses of other witnesses, if any. None. Tried to get Wm. Huskey of Rector, Pa. out it.
29. Please draw a map of the locality of the observation showing North, your position, the direction from which the object(s) appeared and disappeared from view; the direction of its course over the area; roads, towns, villages, railroads, and other landmarks within a mile.
30. Is there an airport, military, governmental, or research installation in the area? Nearest civilian airport about 10 miles from area.
31. Have you seen other objects of an unidentified nature? If so, please describe these observations, using a separate sheet of paper. Yes - see attached sheet.
32. Please enclose photographs, motion pictures, news clippings, notes of radio or television programs (include time, station and date, if possible) regarding this or similar observations, or any other background material. We will return the material to you. None.
33. Were you interrogated by Air Force investigators? By any other federal, state, county, or local officials? If so, please state the name and rank or title of the agent, his office, and details as to where and when the questioning took place. Did not report to Air Force. Have read Maj. Keyhoe’s books & disagree with A.F. handling of situation. Were you asked or told not to reveal or discuss the incident? If so, were any reasons or official orders mentioned? Please elaborate carefully.
34. We should like permission to quote your name in connection with this report. This action will encourage other responsible citizens to report similar observations to NICAP. However, if you prefer, we will keep your name confidential. Please note your choice by checking the proper statement below. In any case, please fill in all parts of the form, for our own confidential files. Thank you for your cooperation.
You may use my name. ( X )
Please keep my name confidential. ( )
35. Date of filling out this report: November 16, 1961
Signature: Carl H. Geary, Jr.
Skeptics have often claimed in public forums that “no astronomer has ever seen a UFO,” sometimes implying that this proved UFOs do not exist. Astronomers, other scientists, and experienced observers of many types have often made reports [Section V, VI].
One detailed report by trained observers, describing a maneuvering elliptical UFO, has been reported briefly in the literature. The full, copyrighted story is here reproduced, with permission of the publisher.
[J. Gordon Vaeth, “200 Miles Up — The Conquest of the Upper Air,” Second Edition, Revised Printing. Copyright (c) 1956, The Ronald Press Company, N. Y., ppg. 113-116.]
The General Mills, Inc., balloon personnel, who launched and tracked most of the large plastic research balloons during the 1940’s and 1950’s took little stock in UFO reports until April 24, 1949.
“On that date, a balloon crew was at the White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico, together with personnel from the U.S. Navy Special Devices Center for a special Skyhook flight to be undertaken for that Office of Naval Research activity. The author was present as Navy representative in charge of the ground handling and balloon phases of the operation.
“As part of this particular project, a balloon launching site had been established three miles north of Arrey, New Mexico. Charles B. Moore, Jr., an aerologist, graduate engineer and balloonist, and four enlisted personnel from the Navy Unit, White Sands Proving Ground, had set up facilities there to observe and record local weather data preparatory to the Special Devices Center Skyhook operation. Instrumentation on hand consisted of a stop watch and a ML-47 (David White) theodolite, a tracking instrument consisting of a 25-power telescope so mounted as to provide readings of vertical (elevation) and horizontal (azimuth) bearings.
“At 10:20 A.M. on April 24th, this group of five released a small 350-gram weather balloon for observation of upper wind velocities and directions. The balloon was followed by Moore with the theodolite until immediately after the 10:30 reading, when he relinquished the tracking instrument to look up to find the balloon with the naked eye.
“Searching the sky for the balloon, he thought he had found it when he saw a whitish spherical object right along the direction
Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010001-0