This film reel and documentation was collected by UFO Investigator Rob Mercer, and digitized to preserve the history. This feel reel is part of the “From the Desks of Project Blue Book” Archive.

Film Reel

The post From the Desks of Project Blue Book: Tremonton, Utah, by Navy Warrant Officer Delbert Newhouse, 1952 first appeared on The Black Vault Case Files.

The post From the Desks of Project Blue Book: Tremonton, Utah, by Navy Warrant Officer Delbert Newhouse, 1952 appeared first on The Black Vault Case Files.

Location of Sighting: Near Nephi, Utah
Date of Sighting: January 14, 2016
Time of Sighting: Between 12:12 and 12:13 AM MST

Description:

This case was reported to me by Erica Lukes who is the director of MUFON for the state of Utah. She knows a radio show host who was scanning communications between aircraft and the FAA shortly after midnight on January 14, 2016. He heard a conversation between an airline pilot and Air Route Traffic Control. The pilot reported seeing an extremely long bright object that he estimated a mile wide to his right. The air traffic controller told him that he was looking in the direction of Nephi, Utah. Apparently the air traffic controller told the pilot that the object was not detected on radar. The object appeared to keep pace with the aircraft.

A Freedom of Information (FOIA) request was written to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). About six weeks later we received a response to the FOIA. The response consisted of radar returns, voice tapes and tower logs. The FAA is to be commended for their full and timely response to our request.

Research showed that the aircraft was American Airlines Flight Number 434 which was enroute from San Francisco, CA to Philadelphia, PA. The actual sighting time was between 12:12 and 12:13 AM MST on January 14, 2016. We were able to find segments of the conversation on the Air Traffic Control archives website, but much of conversation was deleted. One could hear the controller telling the pilot that Nephi, Utah was off to his right and the pilot acknowledging the transmission. However, the UFO report was not on the tape. The ham radio operator did not record the conversation so the “UFO report” could not be heard. He heard the conversation on the frequency of 127.95 mhz.

Update: March 4, 2016. The voice tape obtain from the FAA (see above) does fill in some of the transmission missing from the tape from the Air Traffic Control archives website. The only thing not confirmed from the original transmission was the estimated size of the object. The airline crew described the object as a large orange square.

The aircraft was flying at 31,000 feet and 530 knots at the time of sighting. The aircraft was headed in a ENE direction. The radar shows a “dense” area of returns at approximately the 2 o’clock position. These returns are quite isolated and very numerous. They are likely not birds, angels, ground targets or anomalous propagation.

The time is from 12:08 to 12:15 AM which is the time that the crew saw the object(s).  The map shows a large area of returns near and to the East of I-15.  The returns are not traffic as the radar is too far away to detect ground targets.

The “zoom out” map shows  the concentration of radar returns just to the SW of Nephi.  This is in the position and time observed by airline crew. Note that most of the radar map is devoid of returns except in the area immediately to the SW of Nephi.

The Doppler radar map for Salt Lake City was also obtained.  The map does show some returns to the Northeast of Nephi at the time of the sighting. The radar was operating in “clear air mode” which means that the gain is turned up making it more sensitive. (See radar map above.)

Figure 5 above shows the location of the 2 radar sites used in the analysis.  One radar (Cedar City, UT) is about 155 miles to the SSW of sighting location.  The other radar (Francis Peak, UT) is about 90 miles to the north. These returns were likely true objects and probably quite  large given the distance from the radar sites.

I also took a look at the radar returns for the entire time period of my radar request which was from midnight to 12:30 AM MST.  Figure 7 above shows all of the returns for this time period near Nephi.  Returns were found for each minute from midnight to 12:30 AM in the sighting area. In all 106 radar returns were detected. This means that the object(s) were there before and after the sighting. The returns in Figure 7 almost look a “gridded” radar map. Figure 8 shows the plot of these returns on a Google Earth relief map. It is fairly obvious that the returns are not due to the radar reflecting from higher terrain. A few of elevations are displayed. There was very little elevation change in the area of the returns.

Radar Propagation Analysis:
Atmospheric conditions can cause radar waves to bend downward or upward causing “false returns” or showing returns in the wrong location. Also there is a possibility that radar returns may be reflected off of higher terrain. (However, this is generally not the case as aviation radar is designed to not detect stationary targets.) However, Doppler weather radar can detect higher terrain and result in false returns. Figure 8 shows very little elevation change in the area of the returns.

The above slide show of photos taken by Utah MUFON Assistant State Director show no anomalies in area that could possibly cause radar returns.

Both of the aviation radars were at considerably higher altitude than the target detect area. The Cedar City aviation radar (155 miles to the SSW) was at an elevation of 10,760 feet above sea level which is over 5,000 feet higher than the target area. The Francis Peak aviation radar (88 miles to the north) was at an elevation of 9,324 feet which is nearly 4,000 feet above the target detect area. Given this scenario it is unlikely that the radar waves would be refracted abnormally because the waves would be above any surface temperature inversions over lower terrain. Figure 6 shows the locations of the two aviation radars with respect to the target detect area.

Figure 10 above is a table of computed radar refractivity gradients/1,000 Feet for the Cedar City, UT radar. Figure 11 is a similar table for the Francis Peak, UT radar. The tables show pressure levels, heights of pressure surfaces ASL, temperature, dew point temperature in degrees C, refractivity index and the gradient of refractivity index per 1,000 feet. The data were obtained from the weather balloon sounding of the atmosphere from Las Vegas, NV for the Cedar City radar. Data were obtained from the weather balloon sounding at Salt Lake City, UT for the Francis Peak radar. For both radar sites the refraction gradients are small and well within the normal atmospheric propagation of 0 to -24/1,000 feet. Given that fact the radars were at high elevations (over 10,000 feet for the Cedar City radar and over 9,300 feet for the Francis Peak radar) and given the values in the above tables the probability of anomalous radar propagation (false returns or returns in the wrong location) is nearly 0.

Comments From Martin Shough, Retired Air Traffic Controller & Radar Expert -England: As for the radar, you’re right that those primaries clustered around the interstate are not traffic and AP seems not to be relevant. You might get multiple-trip ghosts from (say) remote mountains appearing at almost any displayed range, but they’d be random with respect to local features. In this case I do get the sense of some correlation with the road, but I don’t know why. I doubt AP would look like this. There’s no significant terrain here. No airfield (although there is a small airfield and heliport to the NE at Nephi). I have absolutely no idea what they are.

Preliminary Interpretation of Voice Tapes and Radar Data:

More analysis is being conducted for this case.  My preliminary impressions follow:

1. Pilot reports a large unusual orange square of lights while flying at 31,000 feet.
2. The first conversation where the crew asked if the object was on radar & the FAA responded saying that the object was not on radar was likely redacted (see Figure 1).
3. The radar shows a dense area of returns at the exact position and time reported by the pilot.
4.  These dense returns are well removed from radar sites. The closest site was about 90 miles to the north at Francis Peak, Utah. The other radar was located at Cedar City, Utah about 155 miles to the SSW. (See Figure 6 above.)
5.  These returns are not due to military operations. There are several restricted military operations areas (MOA’s) in Utah, but Nephi is well outside of these area. (See Figure 9 above.)
6. These returns are not drones. Regular drones would not be likely detected at the long distances from the radar sites. Military drones would be detected, but they would not be in the area. (See Figure 6 above.)
7. These returns are likely not due to anomalous propagation. (See Figure 10 and 11.)
Anomalous propagation generally starts closer to the radar antenna.
8.  Birds, weather targets would not be detected in an isolated area that far from the radar sites.
9. Radar angels are sometimes observed. These are false targets, but there would not be that many of them that far removed from the radar sites.
10. The object(s) were likely at the sighting location before and after the time that the crew sighted the object(s). Figure 7 above shows returns for each minute from midnight to 12:30 AM MST.
9. Of course keep in mind that the pilot crew saw a large square area of orange lights so the radar and observation “corroborate” each other.

Where Do We Go From Here? Erica Lukes and her team of investigators have ran an ad in the local newspaper to see if other people have seen anything unusual. She conversed with the manager of a local truck stop near the sighting location and was told that UFO’s are frequently sighted in the area. One investigator believes that the crew sighted lights from a local power point (Currant Creek Plant – Mona, UT). To me this doesn’t explain the sighting as the conglomerate of radar returns suggests something unusual. Also I would expect that the same crew had flown this same route before. If this was true, why would they ask the FAA about the location?

The post Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO near Nephi, Utah first appeared on The Black Vault Case Files.

The post Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO near Nephi, Utah appeared first on The Black Vault Case Files.

The video above was posted on YouTube, and has received millions of hits since it was uploaded. It holds the following caption from the witness:

Our possible Bigfoot sighting: 
We went camping in Provo Canyon (near Squaw Peak and Little Rock Canyon Overlook) and saw some deer up on a hill that we wanted to get a closer look at. On our way up, we thought we saw a bear, until the monster stood up and looked right at us. We ran straight to the car after that, leaving our tent and everything behind. It’s probably all still up there. 

We don’t know if this was Bigfoot or what we saw, but it could have been Bigfoot.

Copyright © 2012 by Beard Card. All Rights Reserved 
Any reuse of this video must be done by written consent from Beard Card.

In addition to what was on YouTube, the following was published on November 4, 2012, by GrindTV

by Pete Thomas, GrindTV

When the black bear you think you’re looking at from a safe distance suddenly stands and begins to resemble bigfoot, and that creature stares directly at you, how do you react? The hikers who captured the accompanying footage recently in Utah’s Provo Canyon seemed to act appropriately: They bolted through the woods, with the camera still running, to get as far away from the creature as possible. “We ran straight to the car after that, leaving our tent and everything behind. It’s probably all still up there,” states Beard Card, the YouTube user who posted the video. This is one of the more realistic Bigfoot escapades in some time.

Naturally, skeptics are analyzing the video in the hopes of finding an explanation. Yet even healthy cynics are pretty impressed with what they see. They note that the witnesses don’t appear to be acting. If they were, the skeptics say, they’d likely be a lot more vocal, and fall into the overacting trap. They also didn’t stick around to get a great shot, which also rings of a very natural reaction, but didn’t help when it came to capturing a better image.

Nevertheless, the shot of what clearly looks like the animal’s big broad arms is extremely compelling, which is why Max Roth of Fox 13 caught up with Beard Card to talk about the incredible encounter.

Card told Roth how they were standing there for a good chunk of time even before recording what they believed to be a bear at the time, while he was trying to get the camera to work. During their exchange, Card hit on their reaction. Here are a few excerpts.

CARD: “But when it stood up and looked at us–and we assumed it was a bear up to that point–but, when it stood up and looked at us, it was this massive animal. We don’t know what it was. I mean, none of us believe in Bigfoot, so. …We’ve talked about it over and over again since Monday when it happened and all of us are positive that thing wasn’t a bear.”
ROTH: “You’re not a Bigfoot guy?”

CARD: “Nope…none of us have ever believed in that kind of thing.”

ROTH: “So what do you think it was?”

CARD: “I don’t know!…We don’t know what it was…I don’t know if Bigfoot exists or not but that was a huge animal.”
Below is an enhanced version of the video.

Whether this is an elaborate prank, or something really scary we don’t know for sure. But for the full interview with Card, and more debate on the incident, it’s hard to beat the Bigfoot Evidence blog, where believers and non-believers routinely square off.

Enhanced and Slowed Down video

The post Hikers take flight when what they thought was a bear resembles Bigfoot (With Video) first appeared on The Black Vault Case Files.

The post Hikers take flight when what they thought was a bear resembles Bigfoot (With Video) appeared first on The Black Vault Case Files.

Intelligent Light Formation over SLC.

I was out enjoying some exercise when I noticed a series of large, bright, spherical, red-orange lights floating south over the mountain/valley.

There were 3 in an obvious triangle formation, and a 4th floating West on this side of the mountains.

The triangle slowly grew in size and shifted, increasing the angle until they formed an arch in coordination with the 4th. As this happened, the lights grew brighter until they were illuminated a golden color.

During this process of lining up, there were many planes flying in normal formation southwest toward the airport. They looked obviously like planes, with landing lights blinking in red and white. These orbs were MUCH larger, despite being further away at first.

As the Arch lengthened and became more equidistant, I observed a 5th light come out from behind the mountain (or from the surface of it?) and join the line. Not long after the 5th showed up, a 6th appeared, blinking into existence or appearing as though it had come very quickly from the south.

The 5th slowed down and allowed the 6th to join the formation before proceeding. They all lined up in an arch and proceeded westward at an equidistance. At one point they were flying in front of a plane at the same altitude and an object flew directly in front, obscuring it. It disappeared (?) as the craft crossed its path.

Each object was perfectly spherical, starting red orange, intensifying to golden yellow as the numbers increased. Eventually several in formation seemed to begin emitting bright yellow flickers like a bright spot in an welding arc.

They looked like they were heading toward Tooele over Chipper Peak. Line of sight was lost with most of them behind a building before I left to go tell others about the event.

Special Thanks: NUFORC

The post Unknown Objects Witnessed over Salt Lake City first appeared on The Black Vault Case Files.

The post Unknown Objects Witnessed over Salt Lake City appeared first on The Black Vault Case Files.