UFOs—the fastest sightings

In no particular order, here are some of the fastest radar reports of UFOs.

Notes: the links provided do not always directly link to the particular sighting I have mentioned as there are many sightings on the page. You can hit control/command F and then type in the title of the case (shown above the ‘link’) to find it quickly.
I also want to make one other thing clear. These twenty cases are CEARTAINLY not the only cases involving high speed UFOs. In the nicap database there are litterally hundreds of UFOs that flew off at ‘incredible’ or ‘tremendous’ speed. The only reasons such sighitings are not included in this thread is that there is no way to determine exactly how fast an object actally traveled.
Also I know I am no where close to getting all the fast UFO reports. Additions and suggestions are welcome!

One more thing: Some of the cases in here are chosen because of what time period they are in. For example, I will be more likely to include a UFO observed traveling 3,000 miles an hour in the 1950s then I will a 3,500 mile per hour UFO observed in the 1990s.

Case one: UFO speeds over the Indian Ocean—1984

Link: www.nicap.org...

“May 5, 1984; Over Indian Ocean & in Space At 1400 hours GMT a ultra-sensitive orbiting US DSP (Defense Support Program) spy satellite detected the entry of an unknown object that passes 15 miles in front of it, and then flew below it over the Indian Ocean. An alert was triggered at the North America Air Defense Command. Object moving at 22,000 miles per hour., changed course, and flew back out into outer space. (Source: Michael D. Hall, UFOs: A Century of Sightings, p. 324).”

Case two: Oct. 24, 1969; Chilian Navy, Chile

Link: www.nicap.org...

12:43 a.m. Chilean Navy destroyer radar detected UFO. The radar officer reported a long-range flying contact. A minute later the "contact" was at 400 miles. Because of the "object's" speed, the operator suspected a malfunction in his equipment. In the next minute the contact was approximately 150 miles away closing from 331 degrees of true north. But the operator and officer in charge during the late night duty (an officer of second-class rank) speculated that the contact was a "plane flying southeast" --but at 213 miles in a minute: 12,780 mph!

Case three: Aug. 13, 1956; RAF Bentwaters, England, UK (BBU)
(as this is such a popular sighting the short snippit from nicap will not do. I will include a link to a great thread on this incident)

Links: www.nicap.org... ufocasebook.com... www.abovetopsecret.com...&addstar=1&on=6647693#pid6647693

9:55 p.m. Extremely high speed radar-visual approximately 18,000 mph E-W radar track of brilliant white light, from about 30 miles E to 30 miles W passing directly over the radar site, “streaked under” C-47 at 4,000 ft near base. Radar track provides height-finding data confirming extremely low altitude, roughly 2,000 ft, also estimated by ground visual observers.

Case four: Sept. 4, 1956; Copenhagen, Denmark
Radar tracking of several UFOs at about 1800 mph. (UFOE, VIII)

Link: www.nicap.org...

(this case isn’t particularly interesting because of the lack of data. Still, I thought it was worth a mention.)


Case five: Nov. 8, 1956; Miami, Florida
Pan American Airways radar tracked a UFO at 4000 mph. (UFOE, VIII)

Link: www.nicap.org...


Case six: Nov.11, 1956; El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, Calif. (BBU)

9:30 p.m. (PST) and continuing for up to 8 hours many targets were tracked on radar at speeds of 50 knots to 15,000 mph. At times lights were seen in the area where the radar targets were being detected. At times smaller objects appeared to join larger object and merge with it to form a larger blip. A few seconds later the smaller objects would depart and dash all over the screen leaving the larger blip in its original size. ( (Weinstein; FUFOR Index, .Dan Wilson, Brad Sparks)

Link: www.nicap.org...

Case seven: April 23, 2000; northern NV

6:40 PM . A mathematician flying on a commercial airliner from Denver, Colorado to San Jose, California saw a "circular silvery object with a rounded top" speed by several thousand feet below him somewhere over northern Nevada. He was able to calculate that the domed disc-shaped craft would have had a diameter of 55 feet, and a speed of about 3,000 mph. (Sources: Peter Davenport, National UFO Reporting Center, Seattle, April 2000 archived webpage; Lynn Picknett, Mammoth Book of UFOs, p. 182; UFO Magazine (USA), September 2000, p. 28).

Link: www.nicap.org...

Case eight: Jan. 26, 1951; Sea of Japan off coast of South Korea (BBU)

2:05 p.m. During an ASP coverage flight a target echo was observed on the aircraft's radar (APS-15). During a 15 minute period between 2:05 p.m. and 2:20 p.m. local time, the object was observed to make what appeared to be a run over the tanker being escorted (the USS Passumpsic) and seven runs over the observing aircraft at speeds computed at 3,000 knots. (Dan Wilson)

Link: www.nicap.org...

Case nine: Feb. 15, 1951; Sea of Japan, off coast of South Korea

In the early afternoon five radar contacts with high-speed objects were made by a Navy patrol plane using a AN/APS-15B radar. Objects were tracked at estimated speeds from 12,600 mph to 14,400 mph. The radar equipment appeared to be working normally.(Jan Aldrich, Dan Wilson)

Link: www.nicap.org...

Case ten:

July 30, 1951; Selfridge AFB, Mich. (BBU)
At 7:14 a.m. EDT, an unidentified object was observed on the scopes of an AN/CPS-6B radar at the 752nd AC&W Squadron at Empire, Michigan. The speed of the blip varied from 3,000 mph to 28,000 mph. The length of the observation was 18 minutes. (McDonald list; FUFOR Index, Dan Wilson)

Link: www.nicap.org...

Case eleven: Sept. 18, 1951; Empire AFS, Mich.; Elkhorn AFS, Wisc.; Finland,AFS, Minn. (BBU)

4:35-5:31, 7:10 a.m. Air Defense Command sites P-34 & P-31, P-69, respectively. USAF CPS-6B and CPS 5 radar tracks of 6,000 mph targets. (McDonald files; Jan Aldrich; Grudge Rpt 1; FUFOR Index)

Link: www.nicap.org...

Case twelve: Oct. 3, 1951; Kadena AFB, Okinawa (BBU 984)

10:27 (8:27?) p.m. Radar operators Sgt. M. W. Watson, Pvt. Gonzales and another Sgt. saw a large, sausage-shaped blip [arc shape due to radar display?] tracked at about 4,800 mph. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)


Link: www.nicap.org...

Continued in next post:

Continued...

Case thirteen: Jan. 13, 1967; SW New Mexico, NW of El Paso, Tex., to Flagstaff-Winslow, Ariz. (BBU)

10 p.m. Pilot Carl M., an FO, and a passenger Jimmie Moran on a Lear Jet 23 en route from Houston, Tex., to Las Vegas, Nev., at 41,000 ft and 300 knots airspeed (Mach 0.82 or about 540 mph TAS) on a 300° heading saw a flashing [?] red oval luminous object in the 10 o'clock position. Object split into 4 similar red oval objects vertically a number of times, each separated by about 2,000 ft and each emitting a "red ray," then retracting the lowest objects up into the top object. Albuquerque radar tracked the object 39 miles ahead of the Lear jet moving on the same heading, with no transponder signal and at that moment the object blinked off visually for 30 seconds then blinked on. Albuquerque control contacted a National Airlines DC-8 over Casa Grande, Ariz., whose pilot confirmed the Lear pilot's reports. Albuquerque control warned the Lear that the object suddenly darted towards the Lear at high speed within seconds until the radar blips merged [possibly 39 miles in 10 seconds or roughly 14,000 mph].

Link: www.nicap.org...

Case fourteen: June 24, 1967

During the evening hours of the 20th anniversary of the Kenneth Arnold sighting, numerous witnesses in Argentina, England, and Paraguay reported UFO sightings which garnered press attention. In Argentina many people, including pilots and control tower personnel, saw a squadron of UFOs in six provinces with estimated speeds up to 3,700 mph. (Unidentified clipping, 6/27/67, copy in NICAP files.)

Case fifteen: April 15 (approx. date), 1966 , Interior, SD
UFO tracked on USAF radar over Minuteman ICBM complex. Two tracking radar systems that were looking for a Low level B-52 at the time got a lock on to a UFO that was later confirmed to be hovering over a missile silo. Object then reportedly accelerated to 5000 mph when they lost track. It came to within one mile of the site and was observed visually as well on radar track X-Y plotter tape and on video tape. (Magnetic anomaly was experienced but not described in report.)

Link: www.nicap.org...

Case sixteen: Aug. 4, 1965. Calumet AFS, Mich. (BBU)

USAF radar tracking of 10 targets in V-formation traveling from the SW at about 9,000 mph over Lake Superior at 5,200 to 17,000 ft (1-3 miles). Other targets other Duluth chased by USAF jets. (UFOE II, Section VII; Todd Lemire; UFOCAT)

Link: www.nicap.org...

I'll be adding more soon. Please feel free to suggest more cases.

Continued...

Case seventeen: Oct. 2, 1963; Mediterranean, Off the coast of Sardinius
At approximately 2:00 a.m. local time, Radar operator Harry Jordan, on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42), was on watch when he saw a radar contact 600 miles down range at 80,000 feet altitude. The object moved to 300 miles at 35,000 feet and then to 10 miles range at 10,000 to 15,000 feet. The object was tracked at speeds up to 4,000 mph. and flew in a Z-pattern making right angle turns. The officer of the deck was informed and woke up the Captain, who ordered the scramble of two F-4 Phantom II jets. The object was moving closer to the ship and suddenly disappeared from the radar scope. The object reappeared and was getting closer to the Roosevelt. The object came to within several hundred feet of the ship as at least 15 persons with binoculars watched the object hover for a moment. This was at approximately at 2:32 a.m. The object then disappeared. (Dan Wilson)

Link: www.nicap.org...

reply to post by thesearchfortruth


The Stephensville, Texas UFO case back in 07 or something tracked a UFO that had tremendous acceleration if I remember correctly.

reply to post by galactictuan


OK thanks for the suggestion.

I will try to include that case soon.

Very cool post. Thank you.

My default state is skeptic, but, at the same time, I recognize 'something' is going on.
What that something is, we've yet to discern.

Very interesting thread. Thanks again.

Very good thread mate, most interesting reading it



Mod Note: One Line Post – Please Review This Link.

Cool thread and some of the more credible reports nowadays being as they have been seen by radar indicating a solid object travelling at tremendous speed through our atmosphere, makes you wonder just how many pass by on a regular basis?

Mod Note: One Line Post – Please Review This Link.

I've seen a UFO do some quick maneuvering. unfortunately it was coming right at me. seemed like the speed of light but in slow motion. when it got to me? i don't know its like it just reversed the way it came. but for a split second it was like I was almost engulfed by it.

Case eighteen:

Feb. 16, 1952; About 60 miles E. of Pusan, Korea (BBU) 2:40 and 3:50 p.m. USMC GCI Sq 3 at Yongil (36° N, 129° E) CPS-5 radar tracking of unidentified target traveling at 4,320 knots (5,000 mph). 2nd track at 3:50 at position 36°30' N, 129°30' E (a few miles off the coast of South Korea) of large target equivalent of 6-8 jet aircraft, traveling 1,380 knots (1,600 mph) target heading 170°, faded momentarily, then continued on 120° heading until lost. Visual sighting of contrail in direction of radar track. (Jan Aldrich; McDonald files; FUFOR Index, Dan Wilson)
Link:www.nicap.org...

Case nineteen:

April 9, 1952; Bet. Shreveport and Barksdale AFB, Louisiana (BBU) 2:30 p.m. (CST). USAF C-46 crew [pilot and copilot] flying E at 90° heading at 9,000 ft saw a 30-40 ft cream color disc-shaped object ahead of the plane at about 4,000 ft, object reversed course heading E [but was overtaken by C-46 and passed under it ??], C-46 and object both [?] made 360° turns, object climbing into clouds at 12,000 ft at 200­400 mph. Similar sighting at 2:45 p.m. by another C-46 5-6 miles N of Barksdale AFB of an object disappearing on a N heading at 11,000 ft. (BB Status Rpt 6; cf. NARCAP)
Link: www.nicap.org...

Case twenty:

April 30, 1952; Moriarty AFS, New Mexico (BBU) 7:40 and 7:46 a.m. (MST). CPS-5 radar tracking of 4,000 mph first target at 230° azimuth (about SW) at 149 miles range moving 11 miles per 10-sec sweep for 4 sweeps heading into the radar site. 2nd track at 7:46 a.m. of 4,000 mph target at 280° azimuth (about W) at 140 miles moving 11 miles per 10-sec sweep for 6 sweeps [toward the radar] until disappearing at about 70 miles range. (McDonald files; Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)
Link: www.nicap.org...

Case twenty one:

July 14, 1952; 20-25 miles N of Norfolk, Va (BBU 1444) [CCL Item # 24] 9:12 p.m. (EDT). Pan American Airways FO William B. Nash, Second Officer William H. Fortenberry, in a DC-4 airliner at 8,000 ft heading 200° magnetic, sighted a total of 8 large, round, glowing red coin­shaped objects, 100 ft diameter 15 ft thick, maneuvering in two groups of 3 then joined slightly after by another 2. Objects approached head on at high speed estimated at about 12,000 [27,000] mph at about 2,000 ft altitude [about 2° depression angle] silhouetted against the ground, to a position almost directly below their airliner, in a stack formation then suddenly making a 150° hairpin turn like balls bouncing off a wall, joined by 2 more identical but much brighter red objects which came from behind on the right under the aircraft at about the same 2,000 ft altitude as the first 6 objects joining formation by falling in behind, all silhouetted against the black background of bay water, with one moment when all 8 objects blacked out then reappeared. At about 10 miles S of Newport News objects ascended as a group in fixed formation in an arc to the right towards Newport News to about 10,000 ft altitude [about 0.4° above level or about 2° above horizon line] out to disappearance by blinking out randomly, after covering a total distance of roughly 90 miles from start to finish (35 miles on approach, 55 miles to departure). Possibly 7 ground observers. (Sparks; McDonald; Tom Tulien; Joel Carpenter)

Link: www.nicap.org...

More coming soon...

(thanks for the reminder about the ex tags greeneyedieo)

I recall squadron sized radar contacts being spotted over the UK...these formations made three or four configurations...i believe a z was one.....
They were observed for multiple days passing from east to west at the exact same time of day.......
I forget their speeds but they repeated the formations every overflight.......dissapearing out over the north atlantic.....
I mention them mainly because they were obviously controlled craft....the flying was precision....though i think they were faster than ours at the time, and possibly higher.....
USOs too have reached some incedible speeds under thousand of feet of water.....
Our subs, maybe go seven max.....these were 22,000 ft down.....
Interesting to note the raw numbers, the bare mega watts of power that is required to duplicate the manouvers and speeds, are beyond anything we have publicly imagined......
Even a flying nuclear power plant....yer only getting a gig out of the average on now....and look at the size....
Say try to fly the power plant of a nuclear carrier......
The power to weight ratio of the comparative structures....(and here we may be dead wrong) but our style of matalurgy...
and i would suspect anti matter and hydrogen....
On the other hand, if as they say the skin of the craft is incedibly light andd strong....maybe the power wouldnt be that unattainable?
What would the gigawatts be if the craft only weighed a half ton?or even lighter?
The electro gravitic concept may not require that much raw power with the right materials.....

22k mph flight ; your craft is encased in it's own ionosphere that helps it motivate through space in altered time.

The science is really very simple! I've been describing the physics of how and why for years on my youtube. Recently 72 videos were deleted. I'll be reposting what I can.

There was a Russian scientist by the name of Grebennikov, ; he found how wasp wings of a certain species would repel objects, and ended up fastening them to japanese fans, mounting them under a box aiming down, and using a pair of clutch handles would open the fans front/ back, fly around at 900mph est.; inside an ionosphere that deflected birds safely.
I explain all the physics of this, have various plans for various ufo types. You don't need disclosure anymore, the answers are all here.

That whole "small blips leaving and merging with bigger blip, which soon departs" routine is getting boring.

Come on aliens, at least carry out some new maneouvers while we sit here pretending you don't exist.

Originally posted by Morg234
That whole "small blips leaving and merging with bigger blip, which soon departs" routine is getting boring.

Come on aliens, at least carry out some new maneouvers while we sit here pretending you don't exist.

Actaully if you looked at all of the cases you wouldn't be dissapointed.

Originally posted by mikefromspace
22k mph flight ; your craft is encased in it's own ionosphere that helps it motivate through space in altered time.

The science is really very simple! I've been describing the physics of how and why for years on my youtube. Recently 72 videos were deleted. I'll be reposting what I can.

There was a Russian scientist by the name of Grebennikov, ; he found how wasp wings of a certain species would repel objects, and ended up fastening them to japanese fans, mounting them under a box aiming down, and using a pair of clutch handles would open the fans front/ back, fly around at 900mph est.; inside an ionosphere that deflected birds safely.
I explain all the physics of this, have various plans for various ufo types. You don't need disclosure anymore, the answers are all here.

Please, for crying out loud, post a thread on your amazing knowledge!!!!!!! I knew someone out there knew what we are all striving for here, and we just waded through enough idiotic hokum and blurry youtube videos that someone like you would come through and give us the BREAKTHROUGH!!!! (bombastic exclamation added for excitement) we all need.

More to the point of this thread (ignoring the USELESS one liner post from the thread author that does nothing to add to the subject matter other than to bump his/her thread....which screams "look at me!!! I know how to use the internet and I can also copy/paste!!!! That gives me the appearance that I am "more in the know" that you!!!!") But yeah, more to the point of this post, yes there has been some very fast radar returns reported by operators over the years. While some of it is compelling, the point of really discussing it is pointless, as no one around here even understands how radar returns work, how they are calculated, how you can get a return off a different object that you "painted".....etc..... So anomalous radar returns are fascinating to most around here for that reason.

Although SOME radar returns are very interesting to me (two in this thread), it is pointless to get into it because most don't understand the actual technical matters behind them (an know, that's not an insult to anyone, I don't know how to change a diaper or bake a cake, but I do know how radar works, so we all have knowledge to one degree or another)

reply to post by thesearchfortruth


No need to post every single case. One link to the website is enough. Thank you.

reply to post by MainLineThis

no one around here even understands how radar returns work,

I do know how radar works,

OK, since your so knowledgeable why don't you explain to the rest of us humans.

We'd like to learn too!

All these are violations to the intergalactic protocol which requires visitors of uninitiated civilizations to travel in "stealth" mode.

Originally posted by TinkererJim
All these are violations to the intergalactic protocol which requires visitors of uninitiated civilizations to travel in "stealth" mode.

Yes, this is true.

They were also breaking the speed limit.