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This USAF Project Blue Book file, distributed by NICAP, covers the radar and visual sightings at Bentwaters and Lakenheath, England, on 13 and 14 August 1956. It contains the record card, Air Intelligence Information Reports, ATIC correspondence with Dr. J. Allen Hynek, and a retired controller's later letter to the University of Colorado describing an RAF interceptor being tailed. The Air Force attributed the radar returns to anomalous propagation and meteors, and the visual sighting to Mars.
“Bentwaters”6 pages
PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD 1. DATE 14-13 August 96 2. LOCATION Bentvatera-Lokenbeath, England 3. CONCLUSIONS 3. DATE-TIME GROUP Local 21200-2720 (13 Aug) ZONE:001U-0390 (14 Aug) GMT 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION ☐ Ground-Visual ☐ Ground-Rate ☐ Air-Visual ☐ Air-Intercept Rates ☐ New Aircraft ☐ Probably Aircraft ☐ Possibly Aircraft 5. PHOTOS ☐ Yes ☐ No 6. SOURCE Radar observers - Ground observers, AF pilots ☐ New Astronomical Probably Astronomical Probably Astronomical 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION Total: Approx 5 hrs 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS Varied 9. COURSE Varied Other Anam. Propagation Health care Data for Evaluation Unreliable 1. On 14 August, between 2100-2220 21 Rentvaters radar reported 3 separate ITO breaks suddenly appearing and disappearing on their screens, within 2 hr period. 2. Rentvaters station alerted RAF radar unit at Lakenheath. On 14 Aug, the RAF unit reported objs were observed intermittantly from 00105 to 03305, going from K to SW, stopping for 5 minutes, thence NW, disappearing from scope at 03305. At first glance, the 2 messages (TT Mage 201-435, 16 Aug 56 and IDD-7135, 21 Aug 56) reporting this lighting may give the impression that observations, radar, ground and air, were simultaneous. A review of detailed report IDD-1-96, dtd 31 Aug 56, indicates that, although the observations took place within the periods given, they cannot be considered as concurrent.
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