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5-2500 9-544 [SECRET] [STAMP: DECLASSIFIED] Authority: NND 857013
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NO.1 MNS. 02. 08 2 MASTERS SECRET (CNOFRN) 5-2500 T.S. Cont.# AFGIN, HQ USA COUNTRY OF ACTIVITY REPORTING CZECHOSLOVAKIA REPORT NO. IR 193-55 AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT COUNTRY OR AREA REPORT CONCERNS USSR DATE OF INFORMATION 4 OCT. 55 ACTIVITY SUBMITTING REPORT US AIR ATTACHE DATE OF COLLECTION 13 OCT. 55 PREPARING INDIVIDUAL LT. COL. THOMAS S. RYAN DATE OF REPORT 14 OCT. 55 NAME OR DESCRIPTION OF SOURCE LT. COL. B.U. HATHAWAY EVALUATION B-2 REFERENCES (BAIR Subject, previous reports, etc., as applicable) BAIR 3A; 2T2; 3A3; 13A13; 3A15. USAIRA CABLE (TS) C-103 dtd 13 OCT, '55. SUBJECT (Descriptive title Use individual reports for separate subjects) OBSERVATIONS OF TRAVELLER IN USSR SUMMARY (Give summary which highlights the salient factors of narrative report Begin narrative text on AF Form IIA unless report can be fully stated on AF Form IIA List inclosures including number of copies) This report contains an eye witness account of the ascent and flight of an unconventional aircraft in the Trans Caucasus region of the USSR This aircraft was reported by three highly reliable United States observers who were travelling by rail at the time of the sighting The three observers were firmly convinced that they saw a genuine flying saucer or flying disc Two sightings occurred at 1910 hours on 4 Oct '5 between ATJATY and ADZHIJABUL ten minutes by rail after departing ATJATY One disc aircraft ascended almost vertically at a relatively slow speed with its outer surface revolving slowly to the right to an altitude of about feet where its speed then increased sharply as it headed north The second flying disc was seen performing the same actions about one minute later The take-off area was about l-
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SECRET (NOFORN) CLASSIFICATION (SECURITY INFORMATION when filled in) SUPPLEMENT TO AF FORM 112 ORIGINATING AGENCY | REPORT NO. | PAGE 2 OF 9 PAGES US AIR ATTACHE | IR 193-55 | QUOTED below is the cable classified Top Secret which was sent to Hqs. USAF on 13 Oct 55. USAIRA control number is C-103 and text follows: "NIACT. TO: DINTA, WASH. DC. NOFORN. USAF handle as OPERATIONAL IMMEDIATE. USAF CRYPTO PASS TO CINCUSAFE AND USAIRA MOSCOW. THREE RELIABLE US OBSERVERS, SENATOR RICHARD RUSSELL, LT. COL. E.U. HATHAWAY, ARMY, MR. RUBEN EFRON, VISITED PRAGUE 12-13 OCT. ARRIVING DIRECT FROM KIEV, VIA BAKU, TIFLIS, DNEIPEPETROVSK, BLACK SEA AREA, AND REPORTED FOLLOWING TO USAIRA AND USARMA.: ON 4 OCT. 55 AT 1910 HOURS BETWEEN ATJATY AND ADZHIJABUL, TEN MINUTES BY RAIL AFTER DEPARTING ATJATY IN TRANS CAUCASUS REGION, TWO ROUND AND CIRCULAR UNCONVENTIONAL AIRCRAFT RESEMBLING FLYING DISCS OR FLYING SAUCERS WERE SEEN TAKING OFF ALMOST VERTICALLY ONE MINUTE APART. DISC AIRCRAFT ASCENDED NEAR DUSK WITH OUTER SURFACE REVOLVING SLOWLY TO RIGHT AND WITH TWO LIGHTS STATIONARY ON TOP NEAR MIDDLE PART SPARKS OR FLAME SEEN COMING FROM AIRCRAFT NO PROTRUSIONS SEEN ON AIRCRAFT WHICH PASSED OVER OBSERVERS' TRAIN BOTH FLYING DISC AIRCRAFT ASCENDED RELATIVELY SLOWLY TO ABOUT 6000 FEET THEN SPEED INCREASED SHARPLY IN HORIZONTAL FLIGHT BOTH ON NORTHERLY HEADING FLYING ATTITUDE OF DISC REMAINED SAME DURING ASC
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NO. 1 MASTER 02. OF 2 MASTERS SECRET (NOFORN) CLASSIFICATION (SECURITY INFORMATION when filled in) SUPPLEMENT TO AF FORM 112 ORIGINATING AGENCY US AIR ATTACHE | REPORT NO. IR 193-55 | PAGE 3 OF 9 PAGES because of the absence of security precautions but suggested that we meet early the next morning in my office together with Col. Thomas Dooley, the US Army Attache. Lt. Col. Hathaway said he was anxious to report his observation and that he had witnesses, fortunately, in Sen. Russell and Mr. Efron. We met at 0900 on 13 Oct in the larger office of the Army Attache and proceeded with the debriefing amid adequate safeguards for talking. Present were: Lt. Col. Hathaway, Mr. Efron, Col. Dooley and myself. Col. Dooley and I took notes and provided paper for sketches. Sen Russell was busy with the Chief of Mission and was unable to attend Due to the departure time of the group, we were unable to spend more than one hour talking, the interview ending about 1800 Col Hathaway did most of the explaining and answering with Mr Efron supplementing and adding support Lt Col Hathaway proved to be an excellent observer and Mr Efron had kept detailed notes which he referred to for times and places. Hathaway led off with "I doubt if you're going to believe this but we all saw it." Sen Russell was the first to see this flying saucer and he called us to the window, and we both saw the second one (pointing to EFRON who nodded yes). We've been told for years that there isn't such a thing but all of us saw it including Sen Russell." It was emphasized that Sen Russell saw the first flying saucer or flying disc ascend and pass over a train on a northerly course taking off from left side of train's direction which places take-off area on south side of RR line on which they were travelling. I stated that I don't disbelieve anything after having been in Czechoslovakia for 17 months The following raw notes are quoted with my additional comments after: 1 "Two flying saucer type aircraft were
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NO.1 MASTER 02 OF 2 MASTERS SECRET (NOFORM) CLASSIFICATION (SECURITY INFORMATION when filled in) SUPPLEMENT TO AF FORM 112 ORIGINATING AGENCY US AIR ATTACHE REPORT NO. IR 193-55 PAGE 4 OF 9 PAGES first flying object and recognized it as something drastically different rushing in to get Mr. Efron and Col. Hathaway to see it. Col. Hathaway stated that he got to the window with the Senator in time to see the first while Mr. Efron said that he got only a short glimpse of the first due to crowding. However all three saw the second disc and all agreed that they saw the same round, disc shaped aircraft which was the same as the first.) 11. "The take-off area was about one mile away, maybe a little further." (Searchlights were located in the same area.) 12. "There were two lights towards the inside of the disc which remained stationary as the outer surface went around." (Both agreed firmly on this point.) "The lights sat near the top of the disc." (If a line representing the diameter of the disc were divided into three segments, the lights would have been located at two points of division between middle segment and two outside segments i.e., see sketch drawn with aid of Mr Efron: RELATIVE POSITION OF 2 LIGHTS 13. "The aircraft was circular." "The aircraft was round." "It resembled a flying saucer." "It seemed to be shape of a discus, round and circular- revolving clockwise or to right." (It was definitely round or at least circular in eyes of these two observers, containing no protrusions or 'sticks' or bulges. No estimate could be obtained from either observer re thickness or diameter. 14. "There was no noticeable color!" (It was stated that dusk prevented any color impressions.) 15. "After reaching 2000 meters, it whipped off at great speed from our left to our right, or towards north from south." (Speed differential very noticeable between ascent and level flight speed.) 16. "We could see take-off on horizon to our left or south of our train." 17. "Outer part revolved slowly to
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SECRET (NOFORN) CLASSIFICATION (SECURITY INFORMATION when filled in) SUPPLEMENT TO AF FORM 112 ORIGINATING AGENCY U.SAIR A REPORT NO. IR 193-55 PAGE 5 OF 9 PAGES was passed on the outskirts of Baku on the way from the commercial field. The Intourist guide stated that this was a military training airfield and Col. Hathaway recognized some dark green transports parked there. PART C. OBSERVATIONS AT DNIEPERPETROVSK AIRFIELD The three US observers arrived at Dnieperpetrovsk airfield sometime on 9 Oct. 55 by DC-3 type aircraft. The airfield is grass-sod. The parking ramp is of octagonal brick or cement (see sketch of jet bomber and ramp brick design on page [HW:]). One jet bomber was parked at the airfield ( see description in text of cable and see profile sketch on page [HW:] ). Col. Hathaway counted 42 very stubby jet fighters parked at the field. The jet fighters were described as "short, stubby, smaller and higher horizontal tailplane, wings more forward, canopy more forward." At the time of the description I was having Col. Hathaway compare the fighter he saw with a scale model of a FAGOT. He definitely did not think they were Fagots because of the fuselage being more stubby. (Sort of rules out Frescos of which I could use a model as I don't have any.) This is my reason for citing SRI TIC 6244, as the composite configuration concludes that the SRI fighter is one third smaller than the MIG-15. I did not have time to show the composite drawing to the observer but the possibility exists that his sighting was of the SRI composite type. Further debriefing should bring out more details. PART D. OBSERVATIONS NEAR MOSCOW The three observers were escorted to a place which Senator Russell had requested to see outside Moscow. On the way, exactly at the 42 kilometer signpost from Moscow onthe Moscow to Minsk highway, on the right side ofthe road, there was a radar site (size unknown) with two radars.From sketches of Col.Hathaway they have
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NO. 1 MASTER OZ OF 2 MASTERS SECRET (NOFORN) (SECURITY INFORMATION when filled in) CLASSIFICATION SUPPLEMENT TO AF FORM 112 ORIGINATING AGENCY US AIR ATTACHE REPORT NO. IR 193-55 PAGE 6 OF 9 PAGES the Americans and proceeded to continue the party with them. The history of EGOROV, according to Mr Efron, is that Egorov was one of the original pilots who made the trans-polar Russian flight to Washington State in 1935 or 36. He told the party that he is now retired. He is a Hero of the Soviet Union and speaks fairly freely about the internal situation in the USSR. Sen. Russell extended an invitation for him to visit his office if he ever comes to the USA. USAIRA COMMENT: It is difficult for me to believe that this experienced pilot in polar navigation would be retired and doing nothing but travelling around the Trans Caucasus region with a young engineer. Egorov stated that during World War II he had shot down 17 German aircraft. Col Hathaway observed, about 20 minutes outside of SOCI, a T-34 tank that had a muzzle brake on the gun, but looked very different from any he had seen during a combat tour in Korea. The tank was on a flatcar. PART F. OBSERVATIONS AT COP AND ABOUT CZECH RAILROADS The Russell group arrived at COP, the RR border crossing point between USSR and Czechoslovakia, early on the morning of 12 Oct. 55. About 1-2 hours later at 0630, they left COP and were on their way to Prague where they arrived at 0947 (on time) p.m. (21:47 hours). Upon arrival at COP, the train was broken up. One car was marked MOSCOW-BUCHAREST and was disconnected. Another car was marked MOSCOW-PRAGUE, the group's car, sleeper, and was disconnected and taken on a spur under a red star suspended on a border arch (probably marking border of Czechoslovakia) into a long building on the Czech side. This building was lighted and its length was
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NO.1 MASTER OZ. OF 2 MASTERS SECRET (NOFORN) CLASSIFICATION (SECURITY INFORMATION when filled in) SUPPLEMENT TO AF FORM 112 ORIGINATING AGENCY REPORT NO. US AIR ATTACHE IR 193-55 PAGE 7 OF 9 PAGES factory was on the right" which was thought to be producing long, aluminum RR cars. Aluminum RR cars were seen on the siding and the observer believed that these were the plants product. Proceeding through the area on the Czech side of the border after leaving COP, Col. Mathaway observed very large RR marshaling yards with tracks stretching as far as he could see on both sides of his track. Guard towers were manned and located in the huge RR yards. There were 5 tracks at the border branching into many in the yards. As he went through the yards he observed that on his left side were loaded or full freight cars, while on his right were all the empty freight cars, "as far as could be seen." The RR route which the party travelled from COP was through KOSICE- POPRAD- ZELINA. The observer stated that electrification began at a little town shortly after the first little town which was reached ten minutes after COP. From Cop to Kosice, Hathaway believed that there were two tracks and possibly three. From Kosice on Hathaway stated that construction was going on through the mountains, the construction crews using a prefabricated technique. Piled up alongside of the right of way were prefabricated track sections with "rails already hooked to sleepers." Little buildings were spotted along the right of way where this prefabrication was taking place. Cable reels and stacks of metal towers were seen, the towers being rusty. He believed that electrification was nearly completed all the way although his train was being pulled by a steam engine. Just at dark, location enroute unknown, Hathaway passed by an area approximately one mile long with guard towers and a high fence. USAIRA COMMENT: Due to time available for debriefing and physical limitations of our office in Prague, no more can be reported from these excellent sources. END [HW: T.S.Ryan] Lt Col USAF STAMP: DECLASSIFIED Authority NND857013 By BF NARA Date
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No. 1 MASTER 02 of 2 MASTERS PAGE 8 of 9 Dnieperpetrovsk Airfield Jet Bomber Profile - 9 Oct.55 Cockpit Set Forward Canvas Covered Swayback Appearance Here Silver (not Glass) Bulge Low Set Tail Plane Nose Wheel Jet Engines Canvas Covered on Wings Severe Sweep to Mid-Wing Design of Brick on Ramp at Airfield - Asphalt Seams
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DIAGRAM OF RR GUAGE SWITCHING OPERATION AT COP 12 OCT 1955 BUILDING OUTLINE ----- WITH SIDING INSIDE CZECHOSLOVAKIA CZECH STANDARD GUAGE TRACK CZECH RR TRUCKS ARE PUSHED TO RUSSIAN TRUCKS, BANGING THEM IN DIRECTION OF USSR PIT UNDER TRACKS FLOOR TRAP DOOR RR SLEEPER CAR MARKED ON SIDE "MOSCOW-PRAGUE" FLOOR TRAP DOOR IN CONDUCTOR'S COMPARTMENT WHERE TRUCK DISCONNECT BAR IS LOCATED. RUSSIAN GUAGE TRACK RUSSIAN GUAGE TRUCK RED STAR OVER TRACK (PROBABLE OFFICIAL BORDER MAKER) RUSSIAN BROAD GUAGE TRACK