t e m p o r a l
d o o r w a y
9/1950 - "Mr. Douglas" and five other Navy flight crew personnel, approx 100 mi south of the Yalu River; 7 AM
| Report Summary | "...three fighter bombers took off from the flight deck of
a U.S. carrier riding off the coast of Korea. The sun hadn't risen yet...
Two men - a pilot and a radar gunner - occupied each of the planes assigned
to a routine mission, bombing and strafing a truck convoy that combat intelligence
expected to be winding along the floor of a valley about a hundred miles
from the Yalu river... At about 7 AM, just as the sun was breaking above
the mountains in the east, the aircraft were proceeding north, ten thousand
feet above the valley floor... "I was watching the ground below for the convoy... and I was startled to see two large circular shadows coming along the ground from the northwest at a high rate of speed. We were flying north above a valley which was surrounded on the east and west by mountains, with a pass directly ahead of us to the north... [The objects] were huge [based on the radar returns and the visual impression]. They were also going... about 1000 or 1200 miles an hour. My radar display indicated 1.5 miles [to] the objects... when the objects suddenly seemed to halt, back up, and begin a 'jittering' or 'fibrillating' motion... I readied my guns, which automatically readied the gun cameras... the radar went haywire. The screen 'bloomed' and became very bright. I tried to reduce the brightness by turning down the sensitivity, but this had no effect... my radar had been jammed and was useless. I then called the carrier... and my reciever was out - blocked by a strange buzzing noise. I tried two other frequencies, but couldn't get through. Each time I switched frequencies, the band was clear for a moment, then the buzzing began... "...the objects were still ... out there ahead of us, maintaining our speed... [and then] the things began manuvering around our planes, circling above and below... Before my radar was put out of commission, I used the indicated range plus points of reference on the canopy to determine their size. They were at least 600 or possibly 700 feet in diameter... "The objects had a 'silvered mirror' appearance, with a reddish glow surrounding them. They were shaped somewhat like a coolie's hat, with oblong ports from which emanated a copper green colored light which gradually shifted to pale pastel colored lights and back to copper green again. Above the ports was a shimmering red ring which encircled the top portion... "... in the middle of the underside was a circular area, coal black and non-reflective... although the whole object 'jittered' while manuvering, the black circular portion on the bottom was steady and showed no indication of movement... "... all of the men in the flight had noticed a feeling of warmth in the airplane and... a high-frequency vibration. "...the objects seemingly finished their inspection of the Navy planes, they took off in the direction from which they had come, and disappeared at a high rate of speed... the instrument dials on their [aircraft] had become extremely luminous and all the gun camera film was fogged or exposed, although none of the crews had used guns or cameras."[footnote 1] |
| Hynek Classification | CE-II |
| Original Vallee Classification | Type IV b/c |
| Current Vallee Classification | CE2 |
| Minimum Distance | 1-1.5 mi |
| Object Appearance | "Coolie hat" shape with black filled circle on bottom, a row of pulsating copper-green to pastel color ports and a luminous red ring encircling the upper portion. Black circle remains apparently unaffected by object 'jittering'. |
| Object Behavior | Flew up from behind aircraft, overshot 1.5 mi, paced aircraft, then manuvered over and under aircraft as if inspecting. Objects appeared to constantly 'jitter'. After some minutes of this behavior, objects departed back the way they had come at great speed, disappearing into the distance. |
| Physical Effect | Radar traces, radar interference / radar screen 'blooming', radio interference (buzzing), sensation of heat, vibration transmitted to aircraft, gun camera film exposed / fogged, luminous dial paint excited. |
| Medical Effect | None |
| Possible Geographic Location | 100 mi south of the Yalu, there appears to be many candidate
valleys in the Kaema Plateau.[footnote
2] "Korean KAEMA-KOWON, tableland, northern North Korea. Called the roof of the Korean Peninsula, the Kaema Highlands are bounded on the north by Paektu Mountain (9,003 feet [2,744 m]), on the west by the Nangnim Mountain Range, on the east by the coast of the Sea of Japan (East Sea), and on the south by the northern tip of the T'aebaek Mountains. The heights rise 3,300-6,600 feet (1,000-2,000 m) and are approximately 15,500 square miles (40,000 square km) in extent. Agriculture in the highlands depends upon traditional burning of the fields for cultivation of millet, beans, oats, and potatoes. There are abundant forest resources."[footnote 3] "In early September 1950, heavy losses suffered during attacks against U.N. forces reduced the "North Korean People's Army" to a mere fragment of its original size. On September 15, U.N. troops landed far to the north at Inchon, isolating the remnants of the North Korean Army still deployed around the Pusan perimeter. An offensive was then launched by the U.N. forces into North Korea, including the dropping of paratroopers near Pyongyang, the capital of the aggressor nation. By late October, U.N. forces had advanced northward through most of North Korea."[footnote 4] This indicates that the mission mentioned is plausible for the time period; in fact the referenced suggest that prior to this period, most of the fighting had been driven to the far south, near Pusan. Navy experience is summarized as "Carrier forces also flew deep support missions, attacked enemy supply lines, roamed over enemy territory looking for targets of opportunity, bombed enemy bridges, interdicted highways and railroads, attacked refineries, railroad yards and hydroelectric plants, and escorted land-based bombers on special missions. All were carried out effectively, but were new experiences for units trained to interdict enemy sea-lines of communication and ward off attack by enemy naval forces."[footnote 5] A record of the deployment of aircraft carriers during the conflict indicates that the cited date is incorrect. "October 10--The carrier force moved into action off the east coast of Korea with strikes and sweeps from Wonsan to Chongjin in preparation for amphibious landings at Wonsan. When a heavy concentration of mines in the harbor delayed the scheduled landings, the carrier attack shifted northward and inland to assist the advance of United Nations forces which by the time the landings were made on the 26th, had swept past the intended objective area and were advancing toward the Yalu River." This appears to be the first use of carriers north of Seoul or Pyongyang. The following are the mentions of carrier use in the area: "July 3--Carrier aircraft went into action in Korea for the first time. Valley Forge, with Air Group 5, and HMS Triumph operating in the Yellow Sea, launched strikes on airfields, supply lines, and transportation facilities in and around Pyongyang, northwest of Seoul. This was the first combat test for the Grumman F9F Panther and the Douglas AD Skyraider. It was also the occasion for the first Navy kills in aerial combat during the war and the first shoot-down by a Navy jet, as F9F pilots of VF-51, Lieutenant (jg) L. H. Plog and Ensign E. W. Brown shot down two Yak-9's on the first strike over Pyongyang." "July 18--Valley Forge and HMS Triumph returned to action with strikes on airfields, railroads and factories at Hungham, Hamhung, Numpyong, and Wonsan, and did particularly heavy damage to the oil refinery at Wonsan. For the remainder of the month, this force struck deep behind enemy lines and flew close support missions as required while shifting entirely around the peninsula from the Sea of Japan to the Yellow Sea, in operations intended to relieve the pressure on UN forces which were fighting a delaying action while withdrawing toward Pusan." "August 3--Marine Fighter Squadron 214, operating from the escort carrier Sicily in Tsushima Strait, began the combat operations of the First Marine Aircraft Wing in Korea with a rocket and incendiary bomb attack on Chinju. Badoeng Strait, with VMF-323 on board, joined the action 3 days later and thus began a long service of close air support by Marine squadrons from light and escort carriers." "August 5--Valley Forge and Philippine Sea began what was to become almost 3 years of continuous fast carrier operation, with attacks on enemy lines of communications in southwestern Korea and close support missions on the Pusan perimeter." "Sept 15--Landings at Inchon--Under heavy support by naval gunfire and aircraft, elements of the First Marine Division landed on Wolmi Island at 0630 and, after landing craft were regrouped and the tide was again favorable, followed up with a successful assault of the mainland at Inchon. Beginning 12 September carrier support was provided by two carriers in preliminary strikes in the objective area and on highways leading into Seoul, and was augmented by two escort carriers the day before the landing and by the arrival of the Boxer on D-day. The HMS Triumph, operating with the Blockade and Covering Force, provided air defense for the assault forces enroute. As the troops advanced inland, carrier support continued until 3 October with close air support missions and strikes against enemy lines of communications." "Sept 19--Two days after the capture of Kimpo Airfield by troops working inland from Inchon, the first elements of the First Marine Aircraft Wing arrived from Japan, and early the next morning began air operations from Kimpo with strikes supporting troops advancing on Seoul." All of these strikes seem focused far south of the Yalu, much further south than the operation on Oct 10, which could very likely have entered the mountains of the Kaema Plateau. Note that "Oct 29--The fast carrier force retired to Sasebo, Japan, as the advance of United Nations forces toward the Yalu River rapidly reduced the area which could be attacked and there was no further need for its services." Thus, it would seem the mission in question would have occurred between Oct 10 and Oct 29. The carriers returned in November, attacking again in the east, however, bridges across the Yalu were the primary targets. Since the same reference indicates that the first use of carrier based jets as bombers was on April 2 1951[footnote 6], if the date is even correct as to year, the aircraft in question must have been a propellor aircraft. One candidate group is "...designated as Carrier Air Group Three (CAG-3) on 25 September 1943, then CVG-32 in 1946, the air wing began to reflect its modern composition including two fighter squadrons flying the F4U Corsair and two attack squadrons flying the AD Skyraider. Following Mediterranean deployments on board USS Kearsarge (CVA-33) and USS Leyte (CV-32), CVG-3 flew strikes in support of U. S. forces in Korea from October 1950 to January 1951. These actions included the Pusan perimeter, invasion of Wonsan, the Hungam salient and strikes on the Yalu River bridges."[footnote 7] The Skyraider seated one pilot until the AD-5, which had a wider cockpit seating 2 side by side.[footnote 8] It is indicated that the Skyraider had an APS-20 radar, but that this was limited to the early versions of the AD-5 which had a cabin for 2 or 3 radar operators on AEW missions (this does not fit the profile). However, another reference indicates that the AD-4W carried radar.[footnote 9] The F-4U is also a candidate. It carried a radar in one wing as standard equipment on the night fighter versions. However it appears to be strictly a single seater. Finally, we have the F9F-2 jet fighter, which "went on the deliver more ordnance against enemy ground targets than any other jet aircraft flown during the Korean Conflict. 87% of the US Navy and Marine Corps jet aircraft flown in Korea were "Panthers". The 715 F9F's flown in Korea flew a total of 78,000 sorties, averaging about 110 missions apiece. One F9F set a record for the greatest tonnage of delivered ordnance by a single aircraft in the war. This particular aircraft delivered over 400,000 lb. of bombs, fired over 100,000 rounds, and wore out no less than 16 guns in combat." While there is no information indicating a two seat variant of the F9F-2, there is circumstantial information that they flew missions very similar to the one in the report. "The air to ground missions were almost equally divided between close support and interdiction... Interdiction missions [included] what we called 'road recces', which were armed reconaissance missions against targets of opportunity on the main North Korean lines of communication... The 'road recces' were usually considered to be the most interesting and were flown in an unusual formation. The low man would fly between 30 and 90 meters off the deck, over the road... above him would be the two so-called 'pouncers' flying at 300 to 900m."[footnote 10] If AD-4Ws were also flying these formations of three, then the AD-4Ws would be ideal candidate aircraft. Another hint that we are looking at Skyraiders as the aircraft involved is "Due to its heavy gross weight, the Skyraider cruised to the target at 140 knots indicated airspeed at a maximum altitude of approximately 10,000 ft. This equated to approximately three miles per minute over the ground."[footnote 11] Note the 10,000 foot altitude, identical to that in the account. The following is the "Carrier, carrier-based squadrons and non-carrier-based squadron deployments during the Korean War"[footnote 12] during the likely time of the account. Boxer (CV 21) with CVG-2 (24 Aug 1950-11 Nov 1950) Squadron; Aircraft; Tail Code VF-23; F4U-4; M VF-63; F4U-4; M VF-64; F4U-4; M VF-24; F4U-4; M VA-65; AD-2; M VC-3 Det; F4U-5N; NP VC-11 Det A; AD-3W; ND VC-33 Det; AD-4N; SS VC-61 Det; F4U-4P; PP HU-1 Det; HO3S-1; UP Leyte (CV 32) with CVG-3 (6 Sep 1950-3 Feb 1951) Squadron; Aircraft; Tail Code VF-31; F9F-2; K VF-32; F4U-4; K VF-33; F4U-4; K VA-35; AD-3; K VC-4 Det 3; F4U-5N; NA VC-33 Det 3; AD-4N; SS VC-12 Det 3; AD-3W; NE VC-62 Det 3; F4U-5P; PL HU-2 Det 3; HO3S-1; UR Princeton (CV 37) with CVG-19 (9 Nov 1950-29 May 1951*) Squardon; Aircraft; Tail Code VF-191; F9F-2; B1 VF-192; F4U-4; B VF-193; F4U-4; B VA-195; AD-4; B VC-3 Det F; F4U-5N; NP VC-11 Det; AD-4W; ND VC-35 Det 3; AD-4N; NR VC-61 Det; F9F-2P; PP HU-1 Det; HO3S-1; UP *Air Group transferred at Yokosuka, Japan, CV 37 remained in WestPac. Valley Forge (CV 45) with CVG-5 (1 May 1950-1 Dec 1950) Squadron; Aircraft; Tail Code VF-51; F9F-3; S VF-52; F9F-3; S VF-53; F4U-4B; S VF-54; F4U-4B; S VA-55; AD-4/Q; S VC-3 Det C; F4U-5N/AD-3N; NP VC-11 Det; AD-3W; ND HedRon 1 Det; F4U-5P; AZ HU-1 Det; HO3S-1; UP Philippine Sea (CV 47) with CVG-11 (5 Jul 1950-26 Mar 1951*) Squadron; Aircraft; Tail Code VF-111; F9F-2; V VF-112; F9F-2; V VF-113; F4U-4B; V VF-114; F4U-4B; V VA-115; AD-4/Q; V VC-3 Det 3; F4U-5N/AD-4N; NP VC-11 Det; AD-4W; ND VC-61 Det 3; F4U-4P; PP HU-1 Det 3; HO3S-1; UP *CVG-11 crossdecked with CVG-2 from CV 45; CV 47 returned to San Diego, Calif., 26 March with CVG-2. Bataan (CVL 29) (16 Nov 1950-25 Jun 1951) Squadron; Aircraft; Tail Code VMF-212; F4U-4; LD (aboard 11 Dec-5 Mar) VMF-312; F4U-4; WR (aboard 5 Mar-6 Jun) HU-1 Det 8; HO3S-1; UP Bairoko (CVE 115) (14 Nov 1950-15 Aug 1951) Squadron; Aircraft; Tail Code VS-21; TBM-3S/W; BS (aboard 3 Dec-16 Feb) VS-23; TBM-3E/S/W; MI (aboard 17 Feb-15 Aug) HU-1 Det; HO3S-1; UP Badoeng Strait (CVE 116) (14 Jul 1950-7 Feb 1951) Squadron; Aircraft; Tail Code VMF-323; F4U-4B; WS HU-1 Det; HO3S-1; UP Sicily (CVE 118) (4 Jul 1950-5 Feb 1951) Squadron; Aircraft; Tail Code VMF-214; F4U-4B; WE (aboard 1 Aug-13 Nov); VS-21; TBM-3E/S; BS (aboard to 3 Dec) HU-1 Det; HO3S-1; UP Navy Patrol Squadrons Deployed to Korean Area Squadron Designation; Arrived; Departed; Tail Code; Aircraft VP-1; 7 Aug 1950; 27 Jul 1953; CD; P2V-3/5 VP-2; 1 Sep 1951; 1 Dec 1951; SB; P2V-4 VP-6; 28 Jun 1950; 15 Jan 1952; BE; P2V-3 VP-7; 30 Jun 1953; Jan 1954; HE; P2V-5 VP-9; 29 Jun 1952; 16 Nov 1952; CB; P4Y-2/2S VP-22; 14 Nov 1950; 30 May 1953; CE; P2V-3/4/5 VP-28; 14 Jul 1950; 30 Nov 1952; CF; P4Y-2/2S VP-29; 27 Sep 1952; 5 Apr 1953; BF; P2V-5/6 VP-40; 1 Jun 1951; 24 Feb 1953; CA; PBM-5/5S VP-42; 21 Aug 1950; 2 Jun 1952; SA; PBM-5/5S2 VP-46; 15 Jul 1950; 15 Mar 1952; BD; PBM-5 VP-47; 25 Jun 1950; 1 Jun 1953; BA; PBM-5 VP-48; 29 May 1952; 15 Mar 1953; SF; PBM-5/5S2 VP-50; 5 Jul 1953; 27 Jul 1953; SE; PBM-5 VP-57; 29 Mar 1953; 27 Jul 1953; BI; P2V-5 VP-722; 1 Jan 1951; 1 Aug 1951; P4Y-2/2S VP-731; 29 May 1952; 8 Dec 1952; PBM-5 VP-871 Det A; Oct 1951; Mar 1952; CH; P4Y-2/2S VP-892; 23 Nov 1950; 1 Sep 1953; PBM-5 Note:; Tail codes not available for three Reserve Patrol Squadrons, VP-722, VP-731 and VP-892.; PB4Y-2 aircraft designations were changed to P4Y-2 in 1951. |
| Comments / Conclusion | It would seem that this account refers to a mission flown
over N. Korea between October 10 and October 29 by AD-4W aircraft from a
carrier in the Sea of Japan.The mission probably flew down one of the valleys
of the Kaema Plateau. The original September date is probably in error,
since missions 100 mi from the Yalu River were not undertaken at that time,
as far as can be determined. The date error was probably due to the 6 year
span between the event and when it was related to the Lorenzens. The witness was probably the radar gunner of the aircraft, not the pilot. It may be possible to determine the specific mission and potential witnesses based on the additional details in the account. |
Footnotes
1. Flying Saucers, Lorenzen, 1966, Signet, p 30
2. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Planet Earth, Exeter, Bisacre et. al. 1979 ISBN 0-89673-015-8 p 343
3. Encyclopaedia Britannica, http://www.eb.com/cgi-bin/g?keywords=%22Kaema+Plateau%22&DBase=Articles&hits=10
4. http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/history/korea/kc4.htm
5. http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/avchr7.htm
6. "Two F9F-2B Panthers of VF-191, each loaded with four 250- and two 100-pound general purpose bombs, were catapulted from Princeton for an attack on a railroad bridge near Songjin. This was the first Navy use of a jet fighter as a bomber."
7. http://www.ncts.navy.mil/homepages/cvn69/cvw3bio.htm
8. The Encyclopedia of World Air Power, ISBN 0-517-53754-0
9. "...along came an AD-4W flown by a friend of mine, Charlie Haskell... he said, "Don't pay any attention to the ship. They're confused now. We'll back off about 20 miles and my radar operator and I will bring you in." - Flying The World's Great Aircraft, p 251-252, ISBN 0-517-377438
10. Flying The World's Great Aircraft, p 259-260, ISBN 0-517-377438
11. http://skyraider.org/hook/facts.html
12. http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/koreaob.htm