1948: Mantell Documents 1

(Last Updated On: March 8, 2021)

THINK ABOUTIT SIGHTING REPORT

Date: January 8, 1948

Sighting Time: between 7:20 and 7:55 P.M.

Day/Night:

Location: Clinton County Army Air Field, Wilmington, Ohio

Duration: 35 minutes

Full Report

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WILMINGTON, Ohio, Jan. 8– A sky phenomena, described by observers at the Clinton County air Base as having the appearance of a flaming red cone trailing a gaseous green mist, appeared in the southwest skies of Wilmington last night between 7:20 and 7:55 P.M.

S/Sgt. Gale F. Walter and Cpl. James Hudson, control tower operators at the airfield, first saw the phenomena at 7:20 P.M. and observed its maneuvers in the sky until 7:55 P.M. when it reported disappeared over the horizon. The sky phenomena hung suspended in the air at intervals and then gained and lost altitude at what appeared to be terrific bursts of speed. The intense brightness of the sky phenomena pierced through a heavy layer of clouds passing intermittently over the area and obscuring other celestial phenomena.

MSgt. Irvin H. Lewis, S/Sgt John P. Haag, Sg. Harold E. Olvis and T/Sgt. Leroy Ziegler, four members of the alert crew, joined the control tower operators in observing the sky phenomena for approximately 35 minutes. XX *30* XX

DET 103rd AACS
LOCKOURNE A. B.

COLUMBUS, OHIO

13 JANUARY 1947

SUBJECT: Report on Unusual Circumstance

TO: CO 332nd FIGHTER WING LOCKBOURNE A B

At approximately 1940 hrs Jan. 7th the Control Tower operator advised he observed an extremely strange bright light in the south west. However by the time I reached the operation steps at the entrance the light faded out. About two minutes later the Tower advised that the phenomenon was visible again. This time I saw the object at about 15 degrees above the horizon to the west south west of Lockbourne. The object was extremely bright, more so than any star. I would say about as large as and as bright as one of the runway lights at full intensity as viewed from the Control Tower. It appeared to have a tapering tail about 6 diameters long and predominantly was of a ruddy red color changing to A amber-yellow at different intervals.

The position of the object in the sky and the fact that we were reporting A high overcast at the time added to the mystery. UP until approximately 1950 hrs the object appeared to be motionless, at this time, however, it descended to the horizon in an interval of about 3 or 4 seconds, hovering there for 3 or 4 seconds and the ascended to its’ original position in an interval of about 3 seconds. It then rapidly began to fade and lower in the sky and disappeared at 1955 hrs.

AF9944 xmtd a position report to me at 1953 hrs over Columbus at 5,000 ft on round robin flight out of Wright Field to Washington and return , and reported a mysterious bright light to the west south west of his position, appearing like an oversized beacon.

Further information on reports from other stations observing the phenomenon can be obtained from flight services at Patterson.

//signed//

Frank M. Eisle

//signed//

*******, E.M.

25238

Below is typed transcription of document.

DETACHMENT 733RD AF BASE UNIT
103rd AACS SQUADRON

LOCKBOURNE ARMY AIR BASE

COLUMBUS 17, OHIO

14 JANUARY 1947

SUBJECT: Report of Unusual Circumstance

TO: Commanding Officer, 332nd Fighter Wing, Lockbourne Army Air Base, Columbus 17, Ohio.

On Wednesday January 7th between the hours of 1915 and 1939, there appeared in the sky a bright glowing object which I could not identify. At first I assumed it to be a star but the sky being overcast, I knew definitely that it was not a star nor an aircraft because the only air- craft flying in the local area was landing at the time. It was not an aircraft flare nor a balloon because it appeared to be enormous in size. I then observed it through the binoculars.

It appeared to be cone- shaped, blunt on top and tapering off toward the bottom. I could not distinguish the attitude in which the object appeared to be. It was glowd from a bright white to an amber color with a small streak trail- ing. It was at a distance between 5 and 7 miles from the control tower at an altitude of approximately 2000 to 3000 feet bobbing up and down and moving in a south-southwesterly direction at a speed exceeding 500 miles per hour.

Also the wind at the time was blowing from east to west and if it had been a balloon or lighter-than-aircraft it would have drifted in the direction the wind was blowing. There was no sound or unusual noise. Its performance was very unusual and the light emitting from it seemed to fade out at times. Just before it disappeared beyond the horizon the light changed to a sort of red color. The same object was later sighted in the vicinity of Clinton County Air Field by operators on duty in the control tower.

I have been actually engaged in aviation as an Air Traffic Control Tower Operator and a Private Pilot for a period of 5 years and thus far in all my experience, I have never encountered an optical illusion or any physical defect that would disqualify my possessions of such ratings.

//signed//

ALEX A. BOUDREAUX

Air Traffic Controller

CAF-6

Mante

Below is typed transcription of document.

DETACHMENT 733RD AF BASE UNIT
103RD AACE SQUADRON

LOCKBOURNE ARMY AIR BASE

COLUMBUS 17, OHIO

14 JANUARY 1948

SUBJECT: Report oF Unusual Circumstance

TO : Commanding Officer

332nd Fighter Wing

Lockbourne Army Air Base

Columbus 17, Ohio.

On Wednesday January 7, 1948 at about 1925 Eastern time I observed in the sky an object which I could not identify. It appeared to hover in one position for quite some time, moving very little. It disappeared once for about one minute and I assumed it entered the overcast, which was at about 10,000 feet. After descending again below the overcast it circled one place for the duration of three 360 degree turns, then moved to another position to circle some more. Turns required approximately 30 to 40 seconds each, diameter estimated about two miles.

In moving from one place to another a tail was visible of approximately five times the length of the object. Not knowing how close or how far the object was from me at the time, I could not estimate the size very accurately, but it appeared as large or larger than one of our C 47 planes, and of a different shape. Either round or oval shaped. Just before leaving it came to very near the ground, staying down for about ten seconds, then climbed at a very fast rate back to its original altitude, 10,000 feet, leveling off and disappearing into the overcast heading 120 degrees. Its speed was greater than 500 mph in level flight.

It was visible to me for a period of twenty minutes. No noise or sound could be detected. The color was amber light but not sufficiently bright to cover or obscure the out- line of the configuration was was approximately round. During up and down movement no maneuvering took place. Motions was same as an elevator, climbing and descending vertically. Exhaust trail was noticeable only during forward speed. It appeared as a thin mist approximately same color (amber) as the object. Length about 5 times length of object.

During descent it appeared to touch the ground or was very close to touching it. It was approximately 3 to 5 miles away from Lockbourne Air Base in immediate vicinity of COMMERCIAL POINT. It positively was not a star, comet or any astronomical body to the best of my knowledge of such thing. I also rule out the possibility of it being a balloon, flare, dirigible, military or private aircraft. Ltr, Subj: Report of Unusual Circumstance, 14 Jan 48 (Cont’d) I am 26 years old and in good health and have excellent vision. I have been actively engaged in aviation 6 years. I have a private pilot license and spent 3 years 10 months in the U. S. Army Air Corps as a Sergeant link trainer instructor, instrument flight observer. The statements made herein are true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and may be used for any official purpose as deemed necessary.

//signed//

ALBERT R. PICKERING

VHF/DF Operator

CAF 7