Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects (the Condon Report, complete, three volumes)

transmitter tower normally just visible from their location). The
report was relayed to the Rapid City Filter Center, and three air-
men from the radar site were sent olltside to looy. for the UFO. 'nley
sah' what was undoubted ly a meteo!', judging from thei r description.
The radar operator when informed of the new sighting began to search
for unidentified target". He found wany.
Over the course of the next four hOl::CS a large number of un-
ldentified blips appeared on the Rapid City radar. Many of those
were transitory, moving blips with a fairly short lifetime, usually
being "lost in the ground clutter. 1t An F-84 fighter was vectored in
to a stationary bl ip near Blackhawk, and the pilot "chased" a UFO
which he found at the location on a heading of 320 0 M. without gain-
ing on it. 'I1le F-84 was probably chasing a star, in this cast:
Pollux (mag. 1.2) which was in the correct location (3~SO true azimuth,
near the horizon).
When the Blackhawk GOC post called in that the original object
had returned ~or a third time, another F-R4 was vectored in on the
visual r~port. as no radar contact could be made. l~e pilot made
a "visual contact" and headed out on a 360 0
magnetic (''v 15° true)
v{'ctor. At this point the radar picked up what apparently was ghost
echo, that 15, one that "paced" the aireL"aft, al\.;ays on the far side
from the radar. TIle fighter in this instance was probably chasing
another star, the image of which may have been sOlilewhat distorted.
11,E' pilot'6 rE'FJort that the visual UPO wa:; "pacing" him appears to
have strengthened the radar operator's he lief that he was actually
tracking the UFO, und not a ghost echo. l~e star in this instance
rna)' well have been Mirfak (mag. 1.9), which, at 2040 LST, was at
azimuth 15" ami ahout SO to 7() elevation anhlc. 'l~c second pilot,
upon being Interviewed by Dr. Hynek, stated that he felt he had
been chasing a star, although there were some aspects of the
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transmitter tower normally just visible from t:leir location). 'TI)e
report was relayed to the Rapid City Filter Center, and three air-
men from the radar site were sent outsiue to look for the UFO. nlCY
sal... what was undoubtedly a meteor, judging from their description.
The radar operator when informed of the new sighting began to search
for unidentified target3. lie found 1l':1I1Y,
Over the course of the next four hot::cs a large numher of un-
ldentified blips appeared on the Rapid City radar, Many of those
were transitory, moving blips with a fairly short lifetime, usually
being "lost in the ground clutter." An F-84 fighter was vectored in
to a stationary blip near Blackhawk, and the pilot "chased" a UFO
which he found at the location on a heauing of 320 0 M. without gain-
ing on it. 'll1e F-84 was prvbilhly chasing a star, in this cast!
Pollux (mag. 1.2) which was in the correct location (335° true azimuth,
near the horizon).
When the Blackhawk GOC post called in that the 0riginal object
had returned :or a third time, another F-R4 was vectored in on the
visual rAport. as no radar cantact could he made. lbe pilot made
a "visual crmtact" and headed out on a 360 0
magnetic ('\' 15 0 true)
vector. At this point the radar picked lip what apparently was ghost
echo, that 15, one that "paced" the airc:..'aft, always on the far side
from the radar, '111e fighter in this instance was probab 1)' chasing
another star, the image of which may have been sor.18what distorted.
TIlt' p i.lot I ~ relJort that the visual lJ F) wa:; "pacing" him appears to
have strengthenedti1e radar operator'~ helief that he was Rctually
tracking the UFO, und not a ghost echo. 1be star in this instance
may well have been Mirfak (mag. 1.9), which, at 2040 1.5'1', was at
azimuth 15~ amI a\1out 50 to 7 n C'levation anf,le. 'lbe second pilot,
upon being Interviewed by llr. lIynek, stated that he felt he had
been chasing a star, although there were some aspects of the
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