Names / Person

Brad Sparks

Person 66 stories, 1927 to 1984

Brad Sparks is a researcher who compiled a catalogue of Project Blue Book unknowns. Case after case passes through his list. There is the Fukuoka F-61 intercept of 1948, filed as Case 123. The Guam F-86D chase of 1956 became Case 1217. In 2000 he sat down with Capt. Willis T. Sperry, then 98, for the Sign Oral History Project. He also challenged official explanations. He argued that the geometry of the 1954 BOAC sighting ruled out a mirage. And he called the 1957 RB-47 encounter the first conclusive scientific proof for the existence of UFOs.

Stories66

The Nicholas Roerich Expedition Sighting, Kukunor District, 1927
August 5, 1927 · Kukunor district, near the Humboldt chain (Danghe Nanshan / Ulan Daban), Qinghai
China
UAP · Egg · 35 sources
19Thinly documented

NICAP analyst who rebutted the balloon hypothesis in 2007

Harmon Field Disc and Cloud Hole Photographs
July 10, 1947 · Harmon Field, Stephenville, Newfoundland
Canada
UAP · Disc / saucer · 17 sources
32Partially documented

Compiler of the Blue Book Unknowns catalogue, case 37

Pro early
The Hamilton Field Escort Discs: Two Milky-White Objects Pace a P-80, 1947
July 29, 1947 · Hamilton Army Airfield, Novato, Marin County, California
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 11 sources
26Thinly documented

Researcher; lists the sighting as case 42 in his Blue Book Unknowns catalogue

Snake River Canyon Disc: The A.C. Urie Sighting
August 13, 1947 · Auger Falls Trout Farm, Snake River Canyon, near Twin Falls, Idaho
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 18 sources
23Thinly documented
Pro early
The St. Louis and Alton Giant Bird Flap (Thunderbird Sightings), 1948
April 1948 · Alton, Illinois, and greater St. Louis, Missouri, with a separate cluster around Caledonia and Freeport, northern Illinois
United States
Cryptid · Creature · 14 sources
28Thinly documented
The Fukuoka F-61 Black Widow Radar-Visual Intercept
October 15, 1948 · About 50 miles northwest of Fukuoka, off the northwest coast of Kyushu, over the Korea Strait
Japan
UAP · Cigar · 16 sources
46Partially documented

Compiler of the Blue Book Unknowns Catalogue, Case 123

Munich / Fürstenfeldbruck Radar-Visual Sighting
November 23, 1948 · Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base, near Munich, Bavaria
Germany
UAP · Orb / light · 17 sources
42Partially documented

Compiler of the Comprehensive Catalog of Project Blue Book Unknowns, the source for the base, the witness name and the radar station

Pro early
The Jackson "Megaphone" Object: Pilot Thomas A. Rush and Blue Book Incident 233 (1949)
January 1, 1949 · In the air east of Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, on approach to North Jackson Airpark
United States
UAP · Cigar · 15 sources
30Partially documented

Compiler of the Blue Book Unknowns catalogue, listing it as Case 831

Pro early
The "Two Pullman Cars" Object of Cortez Road: Captain Sames of Eglin AFB
January 27, 1949 · Cortez Road between Bradenton and Cortez, Manatee County, Florida
United States
UAP · Cigar · 11 sources
18Thinly documented

Listed the case as number 164 in his Comprehensive Catalog of Project Blue Book Unknowns

Pro early
The Camp Hood "Balls of Fire": Lights Over the Killeen Base Atomic Bomb Site
March 1949 · Killeen Base (Site Baker), beside Camp Hood, Bell County, Texas
United States
UAP · Formation · 23 sources
33Partially documented

Researcher; catalogued the events among Project Blue Book unknowns

Rogue River Disc Sighting, Gold Beach, Oregon
May 24, 1949 · Rogue River near Elephant Rock, about 2 to 2.5 miles upstream of the mouth, Gold Beach, Curry County, Oregon
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 25 sources
36Partially documented

Researcher who wrote the NICAP case summary

Mount Palomar Observatory Sightings and Cosmic-Ray Counter Anomalies
October 14, 1949 · Palomar Observatory, Palomar Mountain, San Diego County, California
United States
UAP · Formation · 18 sources
36Partially documented

Researcher who lists the case among Project Blue Book Unknowns

Pro early
Kodiak Naval Radar-Visual Encounters: P2V-3 Patrol Plane and USS Tillamook
January 22, 1950 · Naval Air Station Kodiak, Kodiak, Alaska
United States
UAP · Other · 18 sources
51Partially documented
Radar-Visual Sighting Over Dayton and Wright-Patterson AFB (ATIC)
March 8, 1950 · Dayton Municipal Airport, Vandalia, and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
United States
UAP · Sphere · 12 sources
50Partially documented

NICAP researcher who reviewed the Grudge file in 2008

Pro early
Chicago & Southern Airlines DC-3 porthole disc, Hazen, Arkansas
March 20, 1950 · Near Hazen, Prairie County, Arkansas, about 40 miles east of Little Rock, north of Stuttgart
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 19 sources
20Thinly documented

Researcher, Blue Book Unknowns catalogue case 349

Pro early
TWA Flight 117 "red wheel" sighting, Goshen, Indiana
April 27, 1950 · Over Goshen toward South Bend, Indiana
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 10 sources
27Thinly documented

Listed the case as Case 368 in the Blue Book Unknowns Catalogue

The McMinnville (Trent) UFO Photographs
May 11, 1950 · Trent farm, southwest of McMinnville, Yamhill County, Oregon
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 56 sources · 6 photos
37Partially documented
Capt. Willis T. Sperry and the American Airlines DC-6 sighting near Mount Vernon, Virginia
May 29, 1950 · About seven miles west of Mount Vernon, Fairfax County, Virginia, after departure from Washington National Airport
United States
UAP · Cigar · 13 sources
23Thinly documented

Researcher who catalogued the case as a Blue Book Unknown and co-interviewed Sperry in 2000

The Sioux City Mystery Plane
January 20, 1951 · Sioux City municipal airport (now Sioux Gateway Airport), Sioux City, Iowa
United States
UAP · Other · 18 sources
38Partially documented

Researcher whose catalogue lists the case as a Blue Book unknown

The New Delhi Flying Club Cigar
March 15, 1951 · Delhi Flying Club hangar, Safdarjung Aerodrome, New Delhi
India
UAP · Cigar · 17 sources
32Partially documented

Compiled the Comprehensive Catalog of Project Blue Book UFO Unknowns (BBU 908)

Fort Monmouth radar and T-33 sightings
September 10, 1951 · Fort Monmouth, Point Pleasant and Sandy Hook, New Jersey
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 20 sources
49Partially documented

Researcher who wrote a rebuttal of the balloon explanation

Pro early
The Kaliszewski Balloon-Crew Sightings
October 10, 1951 · About 10 miles east of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, and north of Minneapolis, Minnesota
United States
UAP · Cigar · 24 sources
37Partially documented
Pro early
Capital Airlines Flight 610 and the lighted object near Andrews AFB (Blue Book Case 1011)
November 18, 1951 · Near Andrews Air Force Base, Prince George's County, Maryland
United States
UAP · Unknown · 11 sources
27Thinly documented

Listed the case in his Comprehensive Catalog of Project Blue Book Unknowns

Project Second Storey, Canada's Interdepartmental UFO Committee
April 22, 1952 · Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
UAP · Disc / saucer · 21 sources
40Partially documented

Compiler of the Blue Book Unknowns catalogue listing North Bay

Pro early
Davis-Monthan AFB: Two Discs Pace a B-36 (The Case of the Missing Report)
May 1, 1952 · Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 19 sources
32Partially documented

Compiler of the Comprehensive Catalog of Project Blue Book Unknowns

Pro early
Savannah River Plant Discs over the 400 Area, Ellenton, South Carolina
May 10, 1952 · 400 Area (D Area heavy-water plant), Savannah River Plant, near Ellenton, South Carolina
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 21 sources
28Thinly documented

Compiler of the Blue Book Unknowns Catalogue, case 576

Goose Bay AFB radar-visual sighting: "target suddenly enlarges"
June 19, 1952 · Goose Air Base (now CFB Goose Bay), Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador
Canada
UAP · Unknown · 25 sources
44Partially documented

Compiler of the Blue Book Unknowns catalogue (case 625)

Pro early
Pottstown F-94 Starfire Encounter
July 23, 1952 · Pottstown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
United States
UAP · Other · 15 sources
26Thinly documented
Pro early
William Squyres and the Propeller-Rimmed Disc, Pittsburg, Kansas
August 25, 1952 · Yale road, about 200 yards north of US Highway 160, northeast of Frontenac, near Pittsburg, Crawford County, Kansas
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 9 sources
24Thinly documented

Listed the case as Case 795 in his Blue Book Unknowns catalogue

Pro early
Yaak Air Force Station radar-visual sightings
September 1, 1952 · Yaak Air Force Station, Hensley Hill, Lincoln County, Montana
United States
UAP · Cigar · 12 sources
40Partially documented

Researcher; catalogued the evening episode as case 808

Pro early
The F-94 Interceptor Encounter near Hanford (Odessa Case)
December 10, 1952 · Odessa, Washington (popularly placed near the Hanford plant)
United States
UAP · Sphere · 20 sources
49Partially documented

Lists the case in his Blue Book Unknowns catalogue

Pro early
F-94 and Ground Radar Sighting at Nemuro, Hokkaido, 1953
February 7, 1953 · Nemuro AF Detachment, Nemuro, Hokkaido (also listed as "Korean area" and "Okinawa")
Japan
UAP · Unknown · 12 sources
40Partially documented

Lists the case as Blue Book Unknown #927 in his catalogue

Pro early
TWA Constellation and Boston tower white-disc sighting (Captain Charles Kratovil)
June 1, 1954 · About 10 miles north of Boston, Massachusetts (in flight toward Idlewild, New York)
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 11 sources
28Thinly documented

Lists the case as Blue Book unknown no. 1038

The BOAC 'Flying Jellyfish': Captain James Howard and the Stratocruiser Centaurus
June 29, 1954 · Near the Quebec-Labrador border, about 150 nautical miles southwest of Goose Bay, Labrador
Canada
UAP · Formation · 16 sources
30Partially documented

Researcher who argued the geometry rules out a mirage

Pro early
Keflavík Airfield Ten White Objects Sighting
May 4, 1955 · Keflavík Airfield, Reykjanes peninsula, southwest Iceland
Iceland
UAP · Formation · 14 sources
21Thinly documented

Compiler of the Blue Book Unknowns Catalogue, which lists the case as Case 1124

Pro early
Senator Richard Russell's Train Sighting of Two Discs over Transcaucasia
October 4, 1955 · Baku to Tbilisi rail line between Alyat and Hajıqabul (Kazi-Magomed), Azerbaijan SSR
Azerbaijan
UAP · Disc / saucer · 19 sources
41Partially documented
Capital Airlines Flight 77: the skeptic captain and the blue-white light (1956)
November 14, 1956 · Southeast of Jackson, Alabama, on the approach to Mobile
United States
UAP · Orb / light · 18 sources
26Thinly documented

Compiled the catalogue of Project Blue Book Unknowns that lists the case

Guam F-86D Intercept: 1st Lt. Ted Brunson and Blue Book Unknown 4577
December 31, 1956 · Over and near Agana (Hagåtña), Guam, Mariana Islands
Guam
UAP · Orb / light · 12 sources
23Thinly documented

Researcher, Blue Book Unknowns catalogue Case 1217

RB-47 Radar and ELINT UFO Encounter
July 17, 1957 · Gulf Coast to Oklahoma City (Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma); first visual near Winnsboro, Louisiana
United States
UAP · Unknown · 26 sources
57Partially documented

Researcher who defended the case

Pro early
White Sands Proving Ground Army patrol sightings near Trinity Site (1957)
November 3, 1957 · Trinity Site bunkers, northern range of White Sands Proving Ground, near Stallion Site, New Mexico
United States
UAP · Egg · 16 sources
29Thinly documented

Researcher, listed the case as Case 1262 in the Blue Book Unknowns catalogue

James W. Stokes Car-Stop Encounter near Orogrande, New Mexico
November 4, 1957 · US Highway 54, about 8 to 10 miles south of Orogrande, Otero County, New Mexico
United States
UAP · Egg · 21 sources
36Partially documented

Researcher who lists the case as Case 1264 in Blue Book Unknowns

Pro early
The JB-57 "Poached Egg" Encounter North of Launceston
November 15, 1960 · About 15 miles north of Launceston, over the Tamar estuary, Tasmania
Australia
UAP · Disc / saucer · 10 sources
28Thinly documented

Compiler of the Blue Book Unknowns catalogue listing it as case 1458

Pro early
The Hallett Station Antarctic Lights
July 7, 1962 · Hallett Station, Cape Hallett, Victoria Land, Ross Dependency, Antarctica
Antarctica
UAP · Formation · 8 sources
25Thinly documented

Researcher, lists the 7 June case in the Blue Book Unknowns Catalogue

Pro early
Monticello Rectangle of Red Lights, Wisconsin 1964
April 3, 1964 · County Highway C, about 1 mile west of Monticello, Green County, Wisconsin
United States
UAP · Rectangle · 14 sources
24Thinly documented

Compiler of the Blue Book Unknowns catalogue, Case 1557

The La Madera Landing: Orlando Gallegos and the Blue Flames in the Creek Bed
April 26, 1964 · La Madera, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico (Rio Vallecitos creek bed)
United States
UAP · Egg · 14 sources · 1 photos
29Thinly documented

Researcher who lists the case as Blue Book unknown 1561

Pro early
The Pleasantville light chase (Rev. H.C. Shaw), 1964
May 26, 1964 · Pleasantville, Venango County, Pennsylvania (catalogued as "Pleasantview" or "Pleasant View")
United States
UAP · Orb / light · 9 sources
13Thinly documented

Catalogued the case as number 1570 in Blue Book Unknowns

Pro early
Houghton Lake Pilot Paced by Six Lights
July 16, 1964 · About 15 miles south of Houghton Lake, Roscommon County, Michigan (in flight at 4,500 ft)
United States
UAP · Formation · 8 sources
21Thinly documented

Compiler of the Blue Book Unknowns catalogue, case 1573

Pro early
The Lynden near-collision and Custer landing
January 12, 1965 · Lynden and Custer, Whatcom County, Washington
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 11 sources
30Partially documented

Lists the case as Blue Book Unknown #1596

Pro early
Two silent white lights pace Dr. George Walton's car near Rodeo, New Mexico
September 25, 1965 · US Highway 80 near Rodeo, Hidalgo County, New Mexico
United States
UAP · Orb / light · 9 sources
25Thinly documented

Compiler of the Blue Book Unknowns Catalogue, Case 1637

The Edwards AFB Radar-Visual Incident
October 7, 1965 · Edwards Air Force Base, Mojave Desert, California
United States
UAP · Unknown · 27 sources
51Partially documented

Researcher who documented the radar sites and equipment

Jerry Townsend's Beer-Can Beings, Long Prairie, Minnesota
October 23, 1965 · Minnesota State Highway 27, about 4 miles east of Long Prairie, Todd County, Minnesota
United States
UAP · Being / humanoid · 13 sources
29Thinly documented

Researcher who lists the case among Blue Book unknowns

Pro early
The Nederland Tadpole: Power Failure Under a Hovering Object in Texas
February 6, 1966 · 619 South 17th Street, Nederland, Jefferson County, Texas
United States
UAP · Other · 9 sources
20Thinly documented

Compiler of the Blue Book Unknowns catalogue (case 1647)

Pro early
The Temple, Oklahoma Fish-Shaped Craft on US-70 (Eddie Laxson)
March 23, 1966 · US Highway 70, about 8 miles south of Temple, Cotton County, Oklahoma
United States
UAP · Other · 18 sources
28Thinly documented

Listed the case in Blue Book Unknown Files

Pro early
The Spooner Domed Discs Over a Lake
June 6, 1966 · Spooner, Washburn County, Wisconsin
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 21 sources
28Thinly documented
Pro early
Mount Mitchell State Park Boy Scout Sighting
c. 1966 · Mount Mitchell State Park, near Burnsville, North Carolina
United States
UAP · Other · 12 sources
30Partially documented

Listed the case as Case 1681 in his Blue Book Unknowns Catalogue

Pro early
S/S Mount Vernon Victory: the expanding cloud with a light inside
June 27, 1966 · Pacific Ocean, about 400 miles east of Wake Island (19°N, 172°E)
International waters
UAP · Sphere · 11 sources
27Thinly documented

Listed the case among Blue Book unknowns

Pro early
The Cook County and Finland AFS Sighting, Grand Marais, Minnesota
September 5, 1966 · Near Grand Marais, Cook County, and Finland Air Force Station, Lake County, Minnesota
United States
UAP · Egg · 11 sources
45Partially documented

Researcher credited by NICAP for the McDonald list entry

Pro early
The Gwinner Landing: A Boy, a Silver Disc and Three Holes in the Field
September 13, 1966 · Rotenberger farm near Gwinner (also given as Stirum), Sargent County, North Dakota
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 1 sources
16Thinly documented

Catalogued the case as a Blue Book unknown

Ralph Ditter's Zanesville Saucer Polaroids
November 13, 1966 · Roseville, near Zanesville, Ohio
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 27 sources · 3 photos
35Partially documented

Researcher whose 2016 commentary corrected the analysis figures

Pro early
The Moline and Galesburg Police Sightings: Officer Bill Fisher's 8mm Film (Project Blue Book Case 11460)
March 6, 1967 · Moline and Galesburg area, Illinois
United States
UAP · Cigar · 20 sources
40Partially documented

Researcher who lists the case in Blue Book's Unknowns Catalogue

Pro early
Belt, Montana: The Truck Driver's Dome Landing and the Dawn Search
March 24, 1967 · US Highway 87/89, about 5 miles southeast of Belt, near Belt Hill, Cascade County, Montana
United States
UAP · Other · 12 sources
49Partially documented
Pro early
The Jefferson City "World War I helmet" object, Missouri 1967
April 17, 1967 · Jefferson City and Jefferson City Memorial Airport, Missouri
United States
UAP · Other · 12 sources
28Thinly documented

Researcher who catalogued the case as Blue Book Unknown 1737

Pro early
Amarillo Plate-Like Object: Truck Stop Manager, Air Force Nurse and Gate Sentry (1968)
March 6, 1968 · U.S. Highway 287 at Pullman Road and the South Gate of Amarillo Air Force Base, east Amarillo, Potter County, Texas
United States
UAP · Disc / saucer · 10 sources
28Thinly documented

Researcher credited as a source on the NICAP case page

Pro early
Eielson AFB Tower and RAPCON Radar Orange Object
July 11, 1968 · Eielson Air Force Base, near Fairbanks, Alaska
United States
UAP · Orb / light · 13 sources
48Partially documented

Researcher who catalogued the case

Skylab 3 "bright reddish object" sighting and photographs
September 20, 1973 · Skylab space station, low Earth orbit
Space
UAP · Unknown · 19 sources · 2 photos
40Partially documented

Co-author of the anomaly analysis; chief consultant for the Best Evidence expert poll

The Majestic 12 (MJ-12) Documents
December 11, 1984 · Jaime Shandera's home, Burbank, California (some sources say North Hollywood)
United States
UAP · Being / humanoid · 45 sources
30Partially documented

Researcher who called MJ-12 an AFOSI disinformation campaign