May 24, 1954 — Richmond, IN
12:25 p.m. While flying on a photographic mapping mission 10 miles west-northwest of Richmond, Indiana, in a B-17, USAF Maj. Leo N. Brubaker observes and photographs a bright object below the plane for 45 seconds. The aircraft is flying at an altitude of 18,500 feet at 253 mph. The speed of the object is estimated at 506 mph. The object travels six miles at that speed. The photos are taken with a USAF T-11 mapping camera. Brubaker denies the object is a sundog. [Eberhart]
Sources:
Brad Sparks, Blue Books Unknowns Catalogue, Case 1036, p. 213
NICAP, “B-17 Photographic Mission Case”;
Letters between Brubaker and James McDonald:
