Hanford: F-94 spots large round object
An F-94 pilot and radar observer from Moses Lake AFB sighted a large white round object with reddish lights over Hanford nuclear plant. Ground radar saw nothing, but airborne radar locked on as it evaded pursuit.
Background
Incident
On December 10, 1952 at 19:15, the pilot and radar operator of an F-94 from Moses Lake AFB (today Grant County International Airport) observed a bright object over the Hanford nuclear site near Richland, Washington. They were flying at 26,000 feet and reported it to ground control, which had no aircraft registered in the zone and whose radar remained empty.
Observation and Pursuit
The object appeared large, white, and round, with a faint reddish light from two windows. Visual contact was lost, but their ARC-33 airborne radar picked it up. On approach it reversed course, dived, and forced the F-94 to change course several times to avoid collision.
Witnesses and Evidence
Military pilots as primary witnesses; radar-visual confirmation by the airborne system. No ground radar track. The repeated approach attempts underlined its manoeuvrability.
Significance
The case is regarded as a classic radar-visual military contact near a sensitive nuclear facility; documented in NICAP, Ruppelt, McDonald, and the Condon Report. Notable for the evasive manoeuvres and the absence of ground confirmation.