January 21, 1952 — Long Island, New York
9:50 a.m. A Navy pilot lieutenant commander in a TBM Avenger chases a white, dome-shaped object over Mitchel AFB [now closed] on Long Island, New York. It accelerates rapidly, makes a 180° turn, and heads out to sea. He estimates it is traveling at least at 300 mph. It looks like a parachute canopy and has a dark undersurface. Although there is a balloon in the area, but its flight path is completely different. [Eberhart]
Record Card:
Sources:
Brad Sparks, Blue Books Unknowns Catalogue, Case 502, p. 118;
Edward Ruppelt, The Report On Unidentified Flying Objects, 1956, pp. 121–123;
Project GRUDGE Rpts. No. 3, p. 8, No. 4, pp. 9-12ff.;
NICAP, “TBM Chases Climbing and Accelerating Object”;