FBI Doc on Phoenix UFO Sighting, June 1950 - Your Input Appreciated....

While working on an unrelated story, I came across this FBI FOIA document. I was searching ATS and other places but could not find anything related to this, so if I missed it and it’s all been discussed already, then forgive me. I also can find no other story that I could cross reference this with. I would appreciate the input of the members and any further info, if you have it.

Anyways, it‘s a FBI teletype, reporting a UFO sighting in Phoenix, AZ on June 29, 1950. I included a jpg of the teletype at the end of this text, but for better readability, here’s the content of it:
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Wash B From Phoenix Via Losa 30 10-03 AM
Director FBI Urgent
Flying Discs. At five fortyfive PM, June twentyninth last an object in the sky was observed by many citizens of Phoenix including FBI personnel. Matter immediately reported to [Name Redacted] OSI, Williams AFB, Arizona. [Name Redacted] advised today object was picked up by radar scope at six PM, June twentyninth, at which time it was estimated object was thirty to thirtyfive thousand feet in air. A B Twentynine from five hundred ninth bomb goup, Roswell, NM, was assigned to follow object and pilot reported that while traveling at twentyfive thousand feet he estimated object to be additional ten to twenty thousand feet above him. Plane was traveling at twohundredninety mph and was able to circle beneath object. Object was moving in westwardly direction in absence of wind. It was last sighted at eight fiftyfive PM at point about twenty miles north of Blythe, California, when it was lost due to heavy thunderstorms in area. [Name Redacted] estimated size of object to be very large, inasmuch as with use of binoculars he could easily see object. Nevertheless, the B Twentynine could not be observed with binoculars. OSI will submit full report after consultation with airplane crew and further study. No action being taken by (End of page one)
Page two
this office and above for your info only. Murphy
Correction pls 6th line 7th word should be thirtyfive
END
PLS ACK
HOLD PLS
Handwritten remark on page 2: cc Mr. Belmont
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The distribution slip shows that a copy each was going to D Milton Ladd and Clyde Tolson, both Asst. Director FBI, in addition to Alan Belmont. Alan Belmont joined the FBI in 1946 and in 1950 was head of the Domestic Intelligence Division.
A side note on Belmont: Belmont became Asst. Director under Hoover in 1961 and was the primary official in charge of the JFK assassination investigation. In 1964, the Warren commission sent a memo to Belmont stating that “…because of the circumstances that now exist there is a serious question as to whether or not the palm print impression that has been obtained from the Dallas PD is a legitimate latent print removed from the rifle barrel or whether it was obtained from another source..” Now that’s a bomb shell allegation, but Belmont was able to persuade the commission that the palm print was authentic. In 1953, as head of the DID, he was responsible for the Mafia investigation and plainly stated that such an organization didn’t exist. Just sayin’…he’s certainly good for a cover up or two. But “Who shot JFK” is another story…

Back to the UFO memo. I personally assign high credibility to this report for a number of reasons:

The witnesses:
When it comes to UFO sightings, the credibility of the witnesses is certainly one of the, if not the top criteria to evaluate the plausibility and veracity of the statements given.
Witness Group I: FBI Personnel
Incredulously, besides of presumably regular citizens, FBI personnel has witnessed the UFO. I know that there are many reports made by military, regular police, etc., but actual FBI agents, that is certainly rare. If one goes through FBI documents and witness statements, it is obvious that the interviews and testimonies are given and recorded in always a matter of fact fashion. The agents would have never lend themselves as witnesses if there was a chance that the phenomena was an easy to explain natural phenomenon or a regular aircraft. Hoover would have never allowed a stain on “his” FBI by agents that carelessly describe a UFO sighting.
Witness Group II: The B-29 Crew
The 509th Bomb Group, actually called the “509th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy” arguably had the most elite group of pilots and crew. The 509 flew the atomic bomb sorties in Japan and after the war formed the core of the new Strategic Air Command. Back in the day and through the cold war, a number of their Superfortress’ were in the air 24/7/365, fully loaded with atomic bombs. This was to ensure that in case of a soviet first strike, they wouldn’t be destroyed and fly the retaliation mission to Russia. The point here is that they didn’t hand atomic bombs to people that “just see things” or had any sign of mental stress or can’t tell Venus from a real flying object. These pilots and crew had to be the sharpest there were.

The actual object:
The report states that the B-29, flying at 25,000 ft could not be spotted using binoculars, the object however, which according to the B-29 pilot was flying at 35,000 to 45,000 ft, could be observed. It is obvious that the object had to be much larger than the B-29. A B-29 has a length of 99ft and a wing span of 141ft. The wing area is 1,736sq.ft. I was looking into the possibility of a balloon but it is very unlikely. Project Mogul was cancelled in 1948, and was followed up by the Skyhook program. Skyhook balloons were pretty huge with a diameter of 300 ft and would go to over 100,000ft. I’m struggling somewhat to make a call on this, but I still see a problem that the B-29 wing area of 1,736sqft, flying at much lower altitude could not be spotted, but a Skyhook Balloon at min. 35,000ft could. One more thing, let’s not blame the B-29 crew for not following the object, the B-29 had a service ceiling of 33,400ft, so they just couldn’t.

Other considerations:
Deviating a B-29 from its regular mission was certainly risky and a decision not taken lightly. Again, they were loaded with atomic bombs, what if it got shot down? After all, they didn’t know what they were chasing. Further, such a deviation must have been recorded in some log somewhere. In addition to the object being observed from the ground and by the B-29 crew, it also painted on the radar, at Williams AFB as was confirmed by OSI.

So, what do you guys think? Just another balloon? I'd appreciate any input and further info. Thanks!

Page 1 of the teletype:

I like it, nice find!

Must of been big to be seen on binocs'.. yet the B-29 was not visible!

S&F!

reply to post by nv4711


Interesting. It looks to be consistent with FBI form and memo's of that era. I know J. Edger was up in arms over what he felt that his organization was left out of the loop on a number of possible crash occasions. Who knows. But the form of the memo is consistent with what would have issued in that time by that agency. As to what it means, who knows.

Good job. I like this because it has factual data attached S&F!

Once again great job!

-SAP-

great find S&F thank you for your efforts and for posting

WONDERFUL post NV, very intriguing, I'd love to have been that pilot!

Finally, something legitimate pertaining to an Unidentified Flying Object. Excellent info OP. Now, I am going to sit back and watch the Naysayers respond. This is going to be hilarious.


Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

reply to post by nv4711


Good find.....Probably a government test without the government knowing!!

Hopefully some of the skeptics ACTUALLY read this stuff and don't sit back with blinders on!!