◆ SpookStack

abAPRIPYEA Far Release. 200 U0A08 iGlAaRMRRTRRP5EQR090109010010-00.20,000 tion or deceleration apparent—the changes varying in indicated length from 8 to 20 mi., with stationary epi- sodes of 3-6 min intervening. There were visual sightings at Lakenheath during this time, but the reports of these are confusing and inconclusive. Perhaps of greater significance are the investigating officer’s statements that “two ra- dar sets [Lakenheath GCA and RATCC] and three ground observ- ers report substantially the same,” and “the fact that radar and ground visual observations were made on its rapid acceleration and abrupt stops certainly lend [credence] to the report.” After “about 30-45 min,” or 2340 to 2355Z, the RAF “scrambled” a de Havilland “Venom” night fighter aircraft to investigate the Laken- heath UFO. (At this point, the account of the Lakenheath night-watch supervisor and that of the Bluebook report diverge. First, the watch supervisor says the aircraft was from a field near London and was picked up on the RATCC radar inbound from the southwest at a range of 30-45 mi. from Lakenheath. According to the Bluebook file, the fighter took off from Waterbeach RAF station (see map), which is only 20 mi. SW of range—given as 50-60 mi. for targets at 5000 ft or above. Second, the watch supervisor relates that the Venom was vectored to the then stationary URE (No. 5) at a position about 16 mi. SW of Lakenheath, and that this was the aircraft’s first and only contact with any UFO. Accord- ing to the Bluebook account, “the a/c flew over Lakenheath and was vectored to a radar target 6 mi. east of the field (No. 6). Pilot advised he had a bright white light in sight and would investigate. At 13 mi. west [of Lakenheath] he reported loss of target and white light [N.B. —this implies that the pilot had the unknown on his airborne radar as well as having had visual contact]. Lakenheath RATCC vectored him to (presumably) another target 10 mi. east of Lakenheath and pilot advised target was on radar and he was “locking on.” This target would be URE No. 5, identified by the watch supervisor as being about 16 mi. SW of Lakenheath. Except for this discrepancy, the account of the Lakenheath watch supervisor agrees with the Bluebook file from here on in virtually every detail.) The Venom fighter was vectored by the RATCC radar to the sight of the URE, which (according to the night-watch supervisor) was station- BENTWATERS-LAKENHEATH URE/UFO CONTACTS August 13-14, 1956. No. Time Radar contacts Visual contacts Remarks 1 21302 Bentwaters GCA, Not confirmed. Not AP. AN/MPN-11A, 2 ~2135—2155Z Bentwaters GCA. Not confirmed. Possible AP. 3 = 22002 Bentwaters GCA. Not confirmed. Not AP; possibly same as No. 4. 4 22552 1. Bentwaters GCA. — 2. Bentwaters Not AP; No. 5 control tower. could have been 3. C47 a/c at 4000 same “object.” ft over Bent- waters. Appar- ently same time as radar contact. 5 0010-03302 1. Lakenheath RATCC, CPS-5. 2. Lakenheath GCA, 3. Venom airborne, A-1. All coinci- dental at various times (airborne contact when a/e was on scene). Not AP or radar malfunction; may have been No. 4 from Bentwaters. tions not confirmed. 4, Pilot of Venom made visual con- tact coincidental with the three radar contacts. } Ground observa- ft about 16 mi. SW of Lakenheath. Shortly after Lakenheath told the pilot the URE was one-half mile dead ahead of the interceptor, the pilot radioed, “Roger, . . . I’ve got my guns locked on him.” (The pilot refers to a radar fire-control system.) This pilot later told a U.S. Air Force investigator that the URE was “the clearest target I have ever seen on radar.” There was a brief pause after the Venom pilot said he had gunlock on the URE and then he said, “Where did he go? Do you still have him?” The Lakenheath RATCC in- formed him that the URE had made a swift circling movement and had gotten behind the Venom. The pilot then confirmed that the target was behind him and said that he would try to shake it. Since no tail radar is mentioned, the pilot presumably saw the UFO behind him. The pilot of the Venom intercep- tor tried numerous evasive maneuv- ers, but he was unable to lose the URE, which the Lakenheath RATCC radar continuously tracked as a distinct echo behind the aircraft echo; this implies that the separation was greater than about 500 ft. Ac- cording to the Bluebook report, “Pilot advised he was unable to ‘shake’ the target off his tail and requested assistance.” After about 10 min., the first Venom pilot, who reportedly sounded “pretty scared,” said that he was returning to base- because he was running low on fuel. He asked Lakenheath RATCC to tell him if the URE followed him on the radar scopes. According to the Lakenheath watch supervisor, the URE appeared to follow the Venom only a “short distance” as the pilot headed SSW toward London [or Waterbeach], and then it resumed a stationary aspect. A second Venom was vectored by Lakenheath RATCC toward the position of the URE; but before he got close enough to pick up any- thing, he radioed that he was ex- periencing engine malfunction and was returning to his base. The fol- lowing conversation was monitored by the Lakenheath watch supervisor between the two Venom pilots: Number 2: “Did you see any- thing?” Number 1: “I saw soniething, but I'll be damned if I know what it was.” Number 2: “What happened?” Number 1: “He—or it—got be- — Approved For Retease 2001104102 Cia RDPSTROOSEUROBD TYAS TASTY 8 T could stronautics & Aeronautics