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

The pilot and co-pilot computed the "speed" of the UFO at 4, 5:).}
4,800 mph. from the times of contact near Utica and at Boston. Tnere
are a number of inconsistencies in this report, aside from thf~
most obvious one: the absenc'~ of a devastating sonic boom, which
should be generated by a 150 ft. ellipsoidal object travelling at
Mach 6 or better in level flight at 3,500 ft. It does seem likely
that the Boston GCA report was coincidental and involved ad! Herent
object.
The residue is a most intriguing report, that must certainly
be classed as an unknown pending further study, which it certainly
deserves. Statements from some of the other witnesses i~vol~~d
\vould help in analyzing the event, and should prove useful even 13
years after the fact. It does appear that this sighting defies
explan~tion by conventional means.
lO-X. [371-8.] Continental Divide, N. M., 26 January 1953,2115-
2200 1,5T. Weather: high, thin cvercast, low scattered clouds, very
good vis ibi 1j ty. AI: airman stationed at the 769th AC&W Squadron at
Continentd Divide (elevation 7,500 ft.) observed a "bright reddish-
wh i te ob j ect" about 10 mi. WJ?S t of the :l'sdar s i to and approx imate ly
2,000 ft. abuve the terrain. The radar subsequently paintcu a strong,
strady return at 9 mi. range and about 2,500-7,50n ft. above the
surface. '111i5 object passed behind a nearby hill and reappeared,
heading north at abt'ut 10-15 mph. Hadar truck confirmed this. 'J1lC ob-
ject th(m moved to the west at 12-15 mph to a !Wll1t 18 l11i. west of the
radar 5 i te. I t then turned north for about 10 mi., anu subsequent 1y
turned back on a heading of 128 0
inbound to the station. Hadar and
visual contact wa.5 lost Ileal" the area ""here the object was first de-
tected. Before disappearing, the object seemed to shrink in size ~nd
fade in color to a dull red.
TIlere seems to be little doubt ill this ca~c that the visual and
~'adar contacts were in fact of the same ohject. The obviolls
214
The pilot and co-pilot computed the "speed" of the UrO at 4,5:1.'
4,800 mph. from the times of contact near Utica and at Boston. Tnere
are a number of inconsistencies in this report, aside from the
most obvious one: the absenc'~ of a uevastating sonic boom, which
should be generated by a 150 ft. ellipsoidal object truvelling at
Mach 6 or better in level flight at 3,500 ft. It does seem likely
that the Boston GCA report was coincidental and involved ad' Herent
object.
The residue is a most intriguing report, that must certainly
he classed as an unknown pending further study, which it certainly
deserves. Statements from some of the other witnesses invol~~d
I.ould help in analyzing the event, and should prove useful even 1.)
years after the fact. It does appear that this sighting defies
explall8tion by conventional means.
lO-X. [371-13. J Continental Divide, N. M., 2{, January 1953, 2115-
2200 LST. Weather: high, thin cvercast, low scattered clouds, very
good visibility. All airman stationed at the 769th AC&W Squadron at
Continentlll Divide (elevation 7,500 ft.) observed a "bright reddish-
whi te ob j ect" about 10 mi. w'?s t of the l'adar s i to and approx imate ly
2,000 ft. abuve the terrain. The radar subsequently paintcu a strong,
5 trady return at 9 mi. range and about 2,500-7, soo ft. above the
surface. '111i s ob j ect passed bt'hind a lie am y hi 11 and reappeared,
heRding north at about 10-1S mph. Hadar truck confirmed till!;. 'J11O ob-
ject th!m moved to the west at 12-15 mph to a P')lllt 18 mi. west of the
racldr ~ite. It then turned north for about 10 mi., and subsequently
turned back on a heading of 128 0
inhound to the station. Hadar and
visual contact was lost near the area ",here the object was fi rst dl'-
tected. Before disappearing, the object seemed to shrink in size ~lTld
fade in color to a dull red.
TIlere seems to be little douht jll this case that the visual and
~'adur contacts were in fact of the same ohjcc(. 'nw obvIolls
214