PROJECT 1947

The Project Blue Book case index indicates a number of cases are characterized as “missing.”   Many of these of these are actually misfiled or interfiled in other case files.  Some were found in the 4602d Air Intelligence Service Squadron files or in the Office of Special Investigations files.  Others are contained on Project SIGN microfilms.  Some, however, are in fact just missing.

Dr. Hynek, especially during the latter days of Project Blue Book, received copies of UFO-related messages, investigations and case files.  Sometimes Hynek had material which was listed as missing, or had additional information for cases which were not found in the Project Blue Book files at all.  The following material regarding the Philippine Sea case, while summarized in the ATILO FEAF Radar cases report, is not listed as an actual Project Blue Book case.

Military correspondence passing up and down the chain of command usually has the last comment on top with the initial correspondence next, then the intermediate comments are attached.  To enable an easier understanding of the timeline of events, the following documents from Dr. Hynek's private files are displayed in chronological order.

The first item is a teletype Priority message from the Philippine Sea to the Commander Naval Forces, Far East (COMNAVFE) dated 0645 hours 03 Feb 1952 Zulu (Greenwich Mean Time) which seems to be the initial report of the sighting.  Handwritten on the message is "To CNO" with Priority circled.  This probably indicated that the message was to be re-transmitted to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in Washington, D. C.  Information copies were sent to the Commander 7th Fleet (COM7THFLT) and the Commander of Task Force 77 (CTF 77) (The Navy elements which were conducting operations off Korea.)

Next is a deferred teletype message from the CNO to the Philippine Sea with questions concerning the report dated 2122 (0922 P. M.) 6 Feb 52 Zulu time.  Information copies also routed to COMNAVFE, COM7THFLT, and CTF 77.

Another deferred message from the Philippine Sea to the Chief of Naval Operations dated 8 February 1952 answering questions from the CNO posed in an earlier message (6 Feb 52, page 7).  Copies also to 7th Fleet and Task Force 77.  A Deferred message probably refers to a message which was delayed by other higher-rated messages or because teletype circuits were inoperative or down for maintenance.

A letter from the Commanding Officer of the Philippine Sea dated 11 February 1952 to Commander Naval Forces, Far East describing the sighting.  The letter contains one enclosure which is a sketch of the radar sighting from the plotting board.  This is a more formal report with the visual aid of the plotting board.  Since it has to move from the ship at sea in the combat zone to Naval Forces Headquarters, Far East in Japan, it takes time for all this information to be received and processed.

The letter from the Commander of Naval Forces Far East to the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D. C., dated 8 April 1952 transmitting the radar-visual report.  Note that the letter comments that this seems to be the first (Navy) incident of both radar and visual sighting of a high speed target.  This letter acts as a letter of transmission and also lets the higher commander know that the intermediate commander is cognizant of the material.

Note that the letter is dispatched by Registered Mail which means that each person who touches the pouch in the delivery process must sign for it.  This also slows down the transmission of the information.  The stamp of the receiving mail room indicates that it was received on 21 April and it is routed to “32”.  The number 32 indicates the Office of Naval Intelligence.

Finally a communication signed by C. L. Gilbert dated 31 May 1952, under the letterhead of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).  The Director of Naval Intelligence also used this letterhead.  This is a letter of transmission sending documents related to the sighting to ATIC.  Copies are also sent to the USAF Director of Intelligence, Commander-in-Chief, the Pacific Fleet, Commander, Naval Forces, Far East, Commander of the Seventh Fleet, and USS Philippine Sea. 

Please note that the item is forwarded under reference from instructions issued in 1950.  While newer requests for information and reporting instructions had been distributed, they had apparently not yet reached all areas of the intelligence collection and handling system.  Besides the distribution to Naval Intelligence, the routing indicates copies were also sent to Air Force Intelligence.

Hynek’s handwritten comment in the upper left corner is “Sigma 4 C 7 Radar-Vis” Sigma indicates level of Strangeness while “C” indicates a Credibility rating.  (See next document.)

Note that the chronology of the Navy documents and the events surrounding the Life Magazine article are quite interesting.

Both the Navy and the Air Force are dealing with a UFO hot potato.  The Air Force with the twin sightings at Sunchon and Wonsan for 29/30 January and the Navy for the Philippine Sea sighting just a few days later on 2 February 1952.  In the meantime, other UFO events are happening.  The incident involving the Secretary of the Navy, Dan Kimball, (Ruppelt in his papers said he only heard rumors of this, there was no official report.)  It occurred just about the time the press got wind of the Sunchon/Wonsan incidents, Senator Russell's request for information and the formal report from the Philippine Sea arriving in Washington.  This must have made for some interesting internal discussions within both services.  A good question would be: Was the AF aware of the Philippine Sea incident before 31 May?  Did the Navy share the messages sent back and forth from Korea?