Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010001-0
Date & Location
Time
Number and Description
Maneuvers
Observer Rating
8-23-56
New Orleans, La.
8:35 p.m.
(1) orange light source, green flashes
Steady course, sudden reversal, violent zig-zagging...
B
11-5-57
Haverhill, Mass.
4:30 p.m.
(1) disc
Hovered, vibrated up & down, side to side [Section VII.]
A
1-10-58
New Orleans, La.
8:20 p.m.
(1) orange light source
Zig-zagged across lake at high speed.
C
4-11-58
S. Africa
night
(1) white light source, bright red when hovering
Moved back & forth in steady 30° arc, occasionally hovered. (cf., 7-1-52; Wash., D.C.)
B
4-14-58
Hot Springs, Ark
1:00 p.m.
(1) silver cigar, divided into parts
Hovered 2 minutes, split into 2 parts which moved jerkily in opposite directions at high speed came back together several times, then 3 parts...
B
4-16-58
Lincoln, Nebraska
4:00 to 6:30 a.m.
(9) round light sources, 1 large
Moved back & forth, up & down, as group moved E to W
C
6-4-58
Sarasota, Florida
8:50 p.m.
(1) white oval
High speed zig-zag path, S to N
B
8-3-58
Ontario, Canada
1:15 a.m.
(1) star-like light source
High speed W to E, zig-zagged several directions, then continued E.
C
8-9-58
Detroit, Mich
8:15 to 12:00 p.m.
(1) light source
bobbed and circled erratically, sometimes at high speed
B
5-17-59
New Orleans, La.
9:35 p.m.
(1) oblate, blue-white
Zig-zagged across sky, N to S
B
8-10-59
Wayne, Penna.
7:30 p.m.
(1) disc with dome
High speed with "quick & jerky" motions, generally moved in one direction
C
11-8-59
Ellensburg, Wash.
12:30 to 1:45 a.m.
(1) oval, pulsating,
Hovered, floated few lengths (repeatedly)...sharp turns
C
8-13-60
Red Bluff, Calif.
11:45 p.m.
(2) red elliptical, emitting red beam
Hovered, sharp reversal of direction, erratic maneuvers [Section VII.]
B
1-10-61
Benjamin, Texas
night
(1) light source
Zig-zag flight, appeared to land (observed from airplane) [Section V.]
B
2-28-61
Nr Lakeville, Mass.
3:20 a.m.
(1) yellow, elongated, dark red edge, black smoke
"Rolled back & forth" bobbed around, while moving in one general direction
C
7-1-61
Sacramento, Calif.
night
(1) star-like light source, pulsating
Spun, zig-zagged & stopped, moved back and forth
C
7-24-61
Ilha Grande, Brazil
night
(1) brightly luminous object
"...made angular turns...moved up & down, back & forth, in all directions.." [Section X.]
A
7-7-62
Dorchester, Mass.
10:30-11:00 p.m.
(1) yellow ellipse
Dropped, hovered, moved, hovered, rose...
C
Zigzagging UFOs
Another pattern is of UFOs zigzagging across the sky, usually in constant motion rather than hovering in one general area. Twelve cases (30 per cent).
Maneuvering UFOs
Most of the remaining cases involve motions which can only be described as “maneuvering.” These include UFOs which circled, darted here and there, climbed, dove, and reversed course.
D. Concentrations with Time
The word “flap” has been applied to one feature of UFO activity: periodical surges of sightings with attendant publicity. “Flap” originally was a military slang word indicating a high degree of excitement and confusion, such as might result from the unannounced visit of a V.I.P. to a military base. Its adaptation to similar reactions related to UFO sightings is very appropriate.
The UFO “flaps” have involved elements of sudden news media attention to UFO sightings concentrated in a short period of time, or relatively small geographical area; resurgence of public interest in UFOs (frequently introducing larger numbers of erroneous reports from inexperienced observers); confusion about the interpretation of these events. Analytically, it is not clear whether so-called “flaps” result from and feed on publicity, or vice versa. Does the occurrence of a “flap” really indicate a sudden increase in UFO sightings? Or does it merely represent occasional attention to something which is going on virtually all the time?
Sometimes there have been concentrations of sightings which were widely publicized. At other times there have been concentrations which received little or no publicity (these shall be termed “concentrations” rather than “flaps” here). It appears that “flaps” are the combined products of concentrated UFO activity plus a sudden outbreak of publicity and more
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Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010001-0