data available are for Key West, Fla. 0600 and 1800 LST, 5 November 1957.
They are shown in Fig s. 22 and 23. One visual and three radar obj ects were
included in this casl;'. The ship's headi.ng was 23°trtle. 'f11e first
contact was a radar h 1i 11 pi eked up at OSlO LST at 290 0
true aZimuth,
14 mL It moved south, approached the ship within 2 mi., and
return~d north along ship's port side. Contact was lost at 0514
LST. Average speed of this UFO was calculated as 250 mph. At 0516 LST
a new blip was picked up at 188~ 22 mi.; this target departed at a
computed 650 Mph., disappearing at 0516 LST at 190 0 , SS mi. The
third radar target was acquired at 0520 LST at 350 0 , 7 mi.; it ap-
peared to be :::.tationary. While the third radar target was being watched
on the scope, a visual object \\l~S observed for about 3 sec. at 0521 LST
travelling from 50uth to nortll at about 31° elevation between 270 0
and 310 0
azimuth. The third radar target remained stationary for
about 1 Min.. and then slolvly moved to the north'~ast, finally accelerat-
ing rapidly and moving off scope at 15°, 175 mi.
The visual object was described as "like a brilliant planet;"
it was undoubtedly a meteor, and in any event obviously was unrelated
to radar target number three, the only radar target visible at the
same tim€'.
The radar targets were, with the possible exception of the
first one, er.ratic and unpredictable in their movements. 'nle second
and third radar blips appeared suddenly, well wit!tin the normal
pick-up range of the Ship's radar. These two blips were probably
caused by anomalous propagati.on. 111e two Key Wes t pro n 1es, a J thot,gh
taken at some distwlce from the ship's position, are indicative of
rat~er unusual atmospheric conditions in the area, Indeed, the 1800
1.5T profi Ie is probably one of the most unusual radio refractiveilldex
profi les that has ever bl't~n obsorved, The atmospheric structute was
apparently one of al tf.'rnuting ver;r wet and verY' dry layer~. hIt terns
of this sort aTe often v(.'I)' stable in these' subtrupicaJ lail tudes.
250
data available are for Key West, Fla. 0600 and 1800 LST, 5 November 1957.
They a.re shown in Fig s. 22 and 23. One visual and three radar obj ects were
included in this cast'. The ~hip's 'leading was 23°t"rlle. '/11e first
contact was a radar hlip picked up at OSlO LST at 290 0
tl'ue azimuth,
14 mi. It moved south, approached the ship within 2 mi., and
return~d north along ship's port side. Contact was lost at 0514
LST. Average speed of this UFO was calculated as 250 mph. At 0516 LST
a new blip was picked up at 188~ 22 mi.; this target departed at a
computed 650 Mph., disappearing at 0516 LST at 190 0 , SS mi. The
third radar target was acquired at 0520 LST at 350 0 , 7 mi.; it ap-
peared to be stationary. IVhi Ie the third radar target was being watd1"Od
on the scope, a visual object \,as observed for about 3 sec. at 0521 LST
travelling from south to nortll at about 31° elevation between 270 0
and 310 0
azimuth. The third radar target remained stati onary for
about 1 T'1111.. and then 510\'Ily moved to the north'~a!>t, finallyaccelerat-
in~ rapidly and moving off scope at 15°, 175 mi.
The visual ohject was described as "like a brilliant planet;"
it was undoubtedly a meteor, and in any event obviously waS unrr:lated
to radar target number three, the only radar target visible at tIle
same timE.'.
The radar targets were, with the possible excepti on of the
first one, erratic and unpredictable in their movements. 'n1e second
and third radar blips appeared suddenly, well witilin the normal
pick-up range of the ship's radar. These two hEps weT(, probably
caused by anomalous propagation. 111e two Key West proflles, althol,gh
taken at some distWlce from the ship's position, are indicative of
ratl)er unusual atmospheric condi tioIlS in the arca. Indeed, the 1800
I.ST profile is probably one of the most unusllfd radio refractive index
profi le$ that has ever heen obscrvcLl, The atmospheric structure WaS
apparently one of alt('rnatl11g very wet and very dry layers. l'iltterns
of this sort un' often v~'ry stable in th('se suhtl'upicaJ lati tudes,
250