The RB-47 Radar/Electronic Intelligence/ECM UFO Incident of 1957
## Overview
This document summarizes the facts regarding the July 17, 1957, RB-47 incident, as documented through the investigative research of Dr. James E. McDonald. McDonald’s work was instrumental in correcting official records regarding the date and location of the incident and providing crucial context through direct crew interviews.
## Incident Details
The incident involved a six-man U.S. Air Force RB-47 aircraft equipped with electronic countermeasures (ECM) gear. The aircraft was tracked by an unidentified object for approximately 1.5 hours over a distance of more than 700 miles.
### Key Personnel
* Major (later Lt. Col.) Lewis D. Chase (Pilot)
* James H. McCoid (Co-pilot)
* Thomas H. Hanley (Navigator)
* Three Electronic Warfare Officers (including McClure)
### Methods of Detection
The object was detected simultaneously via three distinct methods:
1. **ECM Gear:** Detection via the #2 passive direction-finding (DF) radar monitor (ALA-6 receiver).
2. **Visual Sightings:** Cockpit crew observed an “intensely luminous” light that lacked standard navigational lights.
3. **Ground Radar:** Confirmed detection by ground-based radar stations.
## Key Quotes & Observations
Dr. McDonald’s analysis highlights the sophisticated behavior of the object as observed by the specialized ECM equipment:
> “But when the strobe, after sweeping up-scope on the starboard side, crossed the flight path of the RB-47 and proceeded to move down-scope on the port side, McClure said he gave up the hypothesis of 180 deg ambiguity as incapable of explaining such behavior.”
Regarding the visual encounter, Pilot Major Chase described the object’s approach:
> “At 1010Z (0410 CST), Major Chase, in the forward seat, spotted what he first thought were the landing lights of another jet coming in fast from near his 11 o’clock position… He noted absence of any navigational lights, and as the single intense bluish-white light continued to close rapidly, he used the intercom to alert the rest of the crew to be ready for sudden evasive maneuvers.”
Regarding the object’s maneuvers when the RB-47 attempted to intercept:
> “E—Area near which aircraft overshoots UFO. F—Object appears to rapidly drop 5000 ft., then blinks out as RB-47H attempts to dive on it.”
## Conclusion
Before Dr. McDonald’s intervention, the incident had been largely disregarded due to inaccuracies in official documentation. McDonald noted:
“Subsequently, James McDonald has been able to locate the case files, to correct the date of the flight and to draw additional information from the files as well as from personal interviews with the crew. At the request of the UFO Subcommittee, he describes the case… It is left to the reader to draw his own conclusions.”
h/t Kai Mk13