The RB-47 UFO Encounter of 1957

On July 17, 1957, a U.S. Air Force RB-47H electronic reconnaissance aircraft encountered an unknown object during a training mission that would become one of the most scientifically significant UFO cases on record. For over 1.5 hours and 700 miles, from Mississippi to Oklahoma, the six-man crew tracked an object that appeared simultaneously on their electronic countermeasures equipment, ground radar, and visual observation. Most remarkably, the object seemed aware of the aircraft’s actions - blinking out when pursued and reappearing when the aircraft turned away.

The Aircraft

RB-47H

The platform:

• Electronic reconnaissance aircraft
• 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
• Sophisticated ECM equipment
• Multiple sensor systems
• Professional crew

The Crew

Six officers aboard:

• Major Lewis D. Chase - pilot
• Captain James H. McCoid - copilot
• Captain Thomas H. Hanley - navigator
• First Lieutenant John J. Provenzano - ECM Monitor #1
• First Lieutenant Frank B. McClure - ECM Monitor #2
• First Lieutenant Walter A. Tuchscherer - ECM Monitor #3

The Mission

Training Flight

The context:

• Test/training mission
• Departed Forbes AFB, Kansas
• Gulf Coast region operations
• ECM equipment checks
• Routine procedures

ECM Capabilities

What they could detect:

• Electronic signals
• Radar emissions
• 2800 MHz capability
• Sophisticated sensors
• Multiple monitors

The Encounter

Initial Detection

Over Mississippi:

• ECM Monitor McClure detected signal
• Unknown source at 2800 MHz
• Not matching known aircraft
• Unusual characteristics
• First indication of presence

Visual Confirmation

Over Louisiana:

• Cockpit crew gained visual
• Intensely luminous light
• Bright, distinct object
• Not conventional aircraft
• Matched ECM detection

Ground Radar Confirmation

From Duncanville, Texas:

• Site Utah tracked object
• Confirmed RB-47 position
• Confirmed unknown target
• Independent verification
• Three-sensor confirmation

The Object’s Behavior

Apparent Awareness

The strangest aspect:

• Object seemed to know when pursued
• When RB-47 turned toward it - blinked out
• Disappeared from ALL sensors simultaneously
• Visual, ECM, and ground radar all at once

Return Pattern

When aircraft turned away:

• Object would reappear
• On all sensors again
• Same position approximately
• Resumed following
• Pattern repeated multiple times

Extraordinary Maneuvers

What the object did:

• Dropped to 15,000 feet instantly on one occasion
• Paced aircraft at various distances
• Outmaneuvered RB-47 consistently
• Demonstrated superior capabilities
• Maintained apparent surveillance

Duration and Distance

Extended Encounter

The scope:

• Over 1.5 hours duration
• More than 700 miles covered
• Mississippi to Oklahoma
• Sustained contact
• Multiple phases

Geographic Tracking

The path:

• First detected over Mississippi
• Visual contact Louisiana
• Ground radar Texas
• Final fade over Oklahoma
• Continuous through multiple states

Triple Verification

Why This Case Matters

Three independent systems:

1. ECM equipment aboard aircraft (2800 MHz signal)
2. Ground radar at Site Utah, Duncanville
3. Visual observation by cockpit crew

Simultaneous Confirmation

The significance:

• All three showed same object
• All three lost it simultaneously
• All three regained it simultaneously
• Cannot be equipment malfunction
• Something real was there

Investigation

Project Blue Book

Initial handling:

• Information not received until October
• Over 2 months after incident
• Delayed reporting unusual
• Eventually documented
• Never explained

Condon Committee

Later analysis:

• Studied case in depth
• Remained unexplained
• Considered significant
• Scientific interest high
• No conventional explanation found

Dr. James McDonald

Scientific assessment:

• Atmospheric physicist
• Called it one of most significant cases
• Multiple-sensor confirmation
• Experienced military witnesses
• Scientifically compelling

Analysis

What It Demonstrated

The object showed:

• Detectable electromagnetic signature
• Physical presence (radar return)
• Visual luminosity
• Apparent intelligence
• Superior performance

The Awareness Problem

The disturbing implication:

• Object responded to aircraft actions
• Knew when being approached
• Knew when pursuit ended
• Coordinated disappearance/reappearance
• Suggested intelligence or technology

The Question

July 17, 1957. Somewhere over America.

An RB-47H, one of the most sophisticated reconnaissance aircraft in the world, crewed by six trained officers, encounters something impossible.

They detect it on their electronic equipment. A signal at 2800 MHz. Unknown source.

They see it with their eyes. An intensely luminous object. Following them.

Ground radar sees it too. Site Utah, Texas. Tracking both the RB-47 and the unknown.

Three different systems. Three different types of detection. All showing the same thing.

And then it gets stranger.

When Major Chase turns toward the object - it vanishes. Not from one sensor. From all of them. Simultaneously. ECM. Ground radar. Visual. All at once.

When he turns away - it comes back. On everything. At the same time.

It knows.

Whatever it is, it knows when they’re looking.

For 700 miles and 90 minutes, this dance continues. Over Mississippi. Louisiana. Texas. Oklahoma. The object follows, or leads, or paces. Dropping 15,000 feet in an instant. Appearing and disappearing at will.

The ECM operators are electronic warfare specialists. They know what signals should and shouldn’t exist. This one shouldn’t.

The pilots are experienced officers. They know what aircraft look like. This isn’t one.

And ground radar confirms it all.

The RB-47 encounter.

The case Dr. James McDonald called one of the most scientifically significant on record.

Three sensors. Six witnesses. 700 miles. 90 minutes.

And an object that knew when it was being watched.

Still unexplained.

Still impossible.

Still waiting for an answer.