◆ SpookStack

\ \ On 10 September 1951 as AN/MPG-1 radar set picked up a fast moving ; he flying target (exact alt undetermined) at approximately 1110 hours SE of Fort Monmouth at a range of about 12,000 yards. The target appeared to approx- \imately follow the coast line changing its range only slightly but changing fits azimuth rapidly. The radar set was switched to full aided azimuth tracking which normally is fast enough to track jet acft, but in this case S yhvze too slow to be resorted to. The target was lost in the NE at a range \U Vof about 14,000 yards. This target also presented an unusually strong return , \ . , . ° \4 \O| for an acft being comparable in strength to that usually received from a } . to\, PA) \ coastal ship. The operator initially identified the target as a ship and KY {* then realized that it could not be a ship after he observed its extreme \ \ “speed. On 10 September 1951, 1515 hours, an SCR 584, serial no. 433 tracked a target which moved about slowly in azimuth N of Fort Monmouth at a range of about 32,000 yds at the extremely unusual elevation angle of 1350 mils. (Altitude approximately 93,000 ft) On 11 September 1951, 1050 hours, 2 SCR 584 serial nos. 217 and 315 picked up the same target NE of Fort Monmouth at an elevation angle of 350 to 300 mils at a range of approximately 30,000 yards. (Approximate altitude 31,000 ft) the sets track automatically in azimuth and elevation and with aided range tracking are capable of tracking targets up to a speed of 700 mph. In this case however, toth sets found it impossible to track the target in range due to its speed am the operators had to resort to manual range tracking in order to hold the target. The target was tracked in this manner to the maximum tracking range of32,000 yards. The operators judged the target to be moving at a speed several hundred miles per hour higher than the maximum aided tracking ability of the radar sets. This target provided an extremely strong echo at times even though it was-at maximum range, however the echo signal occasionally fell off to a level below normal return. These changes coincided with maneuvers of the target. i » 7 3 § I if On 11 September 1951 at about 130 a target was picked up on‘an SCR 5&, radar set serial no. 315 that displayed unusual maneuverability. The target was approx. over Navesink NJ as indicated by its 10,000 yard range, 6000 ft altitude and due N azimth. The target remained practically stationary on the scope and appeared to be hovering. The operators looked out of the van in an attempt to see the target since it was at such a short range, however overcase conditions prevented such observation. Returning to their positions the target was observed to be changing its elevation at an extremely rapid rate, the change in range was so small the operators believed the target must have risen nearly vertically. The target ceased its rise in elevation at an elevation angle of approx 1500|mils at which time it proceeded to move at an extremely rapid rate in rangepinasoypherly direction once again the speed on the target exceeding the gidedt Bist ability of the SCR 584 so that namual tracking became necessary. THe Sadr tracked the target to the maximum range of 32,000 yards at which time the target was at an elevation angle of 300 mils. The operators did not attempt~to judge the speed in excess of the aided tracking rate of 700 mph.