San Diego: Navy plane tracks fast UFO on radar
A Navy S2F-1 Tracker aircraft from NAS North Island was directed to a bright light over Point Loma, tracking it on radar at speeds up to 3,500 mph. Project Blue Book attributed it to Arcturus or a balloon, despite inconsistencies.
Background
Incident
On October 14, 1957 at 19:00, the control tower at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California directed a Navy S2F-1 Tracker anti-submarine aircraft toward a bright light over Point Loma. The pilot, Lt. Allen L. Ries, tracked the object on the aircraft's radar.
Observations and Data
The target made sudden accelerations averaging 1,700 mph (peak speed 3,500 mph) and 1,100 mph relative to the aircraft (peak 2,200 mph). Radar showed it about 12 miles ahead. After 3 minutes it disappeared both visually and from radar.
Attempted Explanations
Project Blue Book at first attributed it to the star Arcturus, which was however in the wrong part of the sky, and later switched to a balloon. (Sources: NICAP, Blue Book documents; Clark III 389–390; Clark IV 434–436)
Significance
This military radar contact points to the object's high manoeuvrability and resists conventional explanation, which has intensified the debate about UAP.