May 22, 1956 — Monroe, LA
11:05 p.m. USAF 1st Lt. Earl D. Holwadel and 1st Lt. Curtis Carley are piloting a T-33 jet at 18,000 feet 58 miles northwest of Monroe, Louisiana, when they see a bright light due east. They see it again in the east at 11:15 p.m. Holwadel banks right to the southeast somewhat behind the object, which is now a great distance away. The object suddenly comes straight at them at high speed, passing in front of the T-33 at about 225 feet away. It flashes an intensely bright white light from a “greenhouse-shaped dome” or cockpit window at its front end that lights up the canopy of the T-33. The object is about 30-40 feet long, elliptical in shape, shorter than a C-47 but wider, a small steady red running light in the center, with no wings, only stubby protrusions extending 3-4 feet and 25 feet long on each side. The bottom surface is like steel with ribs extending down 2–4 feet with a wave-like appearance. It moves away then returns at high speed on a westerly course with “fantastic” maneuverability. It never changes flight attitude at any time. [Eberhart]
Sources:
Brad Sparks, Blue Book Unknowns Catalogue, Case 1188, p. 237;
Thomas M. Olsen, The Reference for Outstanding UFO Reports, UFO Information Retrieval Center, November 1966, sec. 3, pp. 44–47;
Walter N. Webb, “Inside Building 263: A Visit to Blue Book, 1956,” IUR 17, no. 5 (Sept./Oct. 1992): cover, 5;
NICAP, “Elliptical Object Comes Straight at T-33”;
Air Intelligence Report (AF-112):
