================================================================ PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD -- TRANSCRIPTION File: 1952-05-9613233-Ellenton-SouthCarolina.pdf Transcribed from document image by Claude Sonnet 4.6 ================================================================ FIELD 1 -- DATE: 10 May 1952 FIELD 2 -- LOCATION: Ellenton, South Carolina FIELD 3 -- DATE-TIME GROUP: Local 2245 EST / GMT 11/0340 Z [May 11 at 0340 Zulu; 2245 EST on May 10 = 0345Z May 11, so this is accurate.] FIELD 4 -- TYPE OF OBSERVATION: Ground-Visual [X] Ground-Radar [ ] Air-Visual [ ] Air-Intercept Radar [ ] FIELD 5 -- PHOTOS: No FIELD 6 -- SOURCE: 4 civilians FIELD 7 -- LENGTH OF OBS: [not recorded -- individual sightings lasted a few seconds each; total observation window approximately 2245 to 2315.] FIELD 8 -- NUMBER OF OBJECTS: 4 [ATIC card records 4; FBI source documents record 8 total objects across four separate observation events within the 30-minute window. See COMMENTS and Supplementary Documents.] FIELD 9 -- COURSE: [not recorded; see COMMENTS for directional breakdown by event] FIELD 10 -- BRIEF SUMMARY: Yellow color. Disc shaped. Straight and level -- one object pulled up to clear object on ground. Some weaved on course. None -- near balloon launch time. Could be similar to the report that turned out to be ducks, but no proof. FIELD 11 -- COMMENTS: 2245 - 2 objects S to N 2305 - 2 objects S to N 2310 - 1 object NE to SW 2315 - 1 object S to N [Note: ATIC card records 2 objects at 2245; FBI source documents specify 4 objects at that time. The discrepancy may reflect condensing of the initial observation. All source documents agree on the 2305, 2310, and 2315 events.] FIELD 12 -- CONCLUSIONS: Unknown [X] Form: ATIC Form 329 (REV 26 SEP 52) [Standard revised form. No ATIC NO. or AF NO. recorded.] ================================================================ SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENTS IN THIS FILE ================================================================ This file contains a substantial collection of related and contemporaneous documents bundled with the primary ATIC card. 1. UNCLASSIFIED REPORT, AF 45200?185, dated approximately 22 MAY 1952. Subject: Unidentified Objects Sighted by Four Employees of the DuPont Company, Savannah River Plant, Ellenton, S.C., at 2245 Hours. To: Documents and Dissemination Branch, Collection Division, Dir. of Intelligence, DCS/O; Counter Intelligence Div, Dir. of Special Investigations, The Inspector General. Code 192, X-140. Signed: Gilbert R. Levy, Chief, Counter Intelligence Div, Dir. of Special Investigations, The Inspector General. Paragraph 1 transmits FBI telephonic report of 14 May 1952. Full FBI-reported narrative (verbatim): "At approximately 2245 hours, May 10, 1952, four (4) employees of the DuPont Company, employed at the Savannah River Plant, Ellenton, South Carolina, saw four disc shaped objects approach the 400 area from the south, disappearing in a northernly direction. At approximately 2305 hours, the same employees saw two similar objects approach from the south and disappear in a northernly direction. At approximately 2310 hours, one similar object approached from the northeast and disappeared in a southwesternly direction. One more object sighted about 2315 hours traveling from south to north. Employees described objects as being about fifteen inches in diameter, having yellow to gold color. All of these objects were traveling at a high rate of speed and at high altitude without any noise. Eighth object approached the 400 area from northeast; was traveling at altitude so low it had to rise to pass over some tall tanks in 400 area. This object was also flying at high rate of speed and was noiseless. Witnesses stated that they observed objects weaving from left to right but seemed to hold general course; also stated that due to speed and altitude they were only visible for a few seconds." Paragraph 2: "The Atomic Energy Commission was furnished the foregoing information by the FBI. The FBI advised that no further investigation into the matter was contemplated by that Bureau." Paragraph 3: Foregoing information telephonically furnished to Major Roswurm of your Directorate on 15 May 1952. 2. SPOT INTELLIGENCE REPORT, FILE NO. 24-0, 26 MAY 1952. Department of the Air Force, Headquarters USAF Washington. Inspector General USAF, 8th District Office of Special Investigations, Robins Air Force Base, Robins Field, Georgia. Subject: SIGHTING OF UNCONVENTIONAL AIRCRAFT, 2240 HOURS, 10 MAY 1952, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, SPECIAL INQUIRY. To: Director of Special Investigations, HQ USAF, Washington 25, D.C. CC: CG, AMC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, ATTN: MCIS. Signed: Leo H. Johnson, Lt Colonel, USAF, District Commander. Synopsis: Information from Augusta Office FBI indicates four individuals sighted four disc-shaped objects at 2240 hours, 10 May 1952, while working at the DuPont Savannah River Project across the river from Augusta, Georgia. [Action: No action contemplated by 6th District OSI; if needed, witness names available from Augusta FBI office.] 3. EXTRACT FROM STATUS REPORT NO. 7, entry for 10 May 52. Date: 10 May 52. Time (Local): 2240. Location: Augusta, Ga. [Plant in Ellenton, SC, across the Savannah River from Augusta.] Length of time observed: Few Seconds. Sound: Unknown. Speed: High. Altitude: High except for last which was very low. Heading: N. Source: Civilians. Action or Comments: Pending. Description: Initially four discs observed then, 20 minutes later, one more was observed and finally, 10 minutes later another disc was observed. The discs appeared to be 15 inches in diameter and yellow or gold in color. 4. MAY 11-31 1952 SIGHTINGS STATUS TABLE (Blue Book summary for the period). Provided as context. Includes the entry for Greenville, South Carolina, May 13, evaluated as "Other (BIRDS)." The ATIC evaluator's comment on the Ellenton card -- "could be similar to the report that turned out to be ducks" -- appears to reference this nearby South Carolina case from three days later. 5. PHOTOGRAPHS. Two photographs are included in this case file. The physical file note reads: "this case includes Two (2) 8x10 photos." The photographs (pages 3-4 of the PDF) show what appears to be a small dark oval object in the sky, with ground-level equipment (possibly photo analysis instruments or theodolites) visible in the lower frame. These photographs appear to be associated with a separate report also bundled in this file (see item 6 below) rather than the Ellenton sighting, which the ATIC card records as having no photographs. 6. REPORT TO CIVILIAN SAUCER INVESTIGATORS, June 6, 1952. Date of sighting: Sunday, May 4, 1952. Location: San Francisco, California. Subject: Object seen and photographed by [redacted] (12 years old). Narrative: The 12-year-old boy saw a whitish-orange object (apparently round, though from his angle it appeared oblong) descend rapidly from the sky and stop stationary over the neighbor's house while playing in his backyard. He ran inside, retrieved his Brownie camera, and photographed the object as it changed attitude and began to rise. Developed film showed an oval object. The investigator states the boy is truthful and sincere. The two 8x10 photos in this file are likely the enlargements of this Brownie camera photograph. [This case is a separate sighting bundled in this file.] 7. NORTHWEST BUSINESS RESEARCH AND ADVISORY SERVICE LETTER, May 11, 1952, Portland, Oregon. From: [redacted], Office of Service Director. Report of blue-green light over Portland, Oregon, 10:15 to 10:30 PM on May 10, 1952. Observed through thin cloud layer in northeast sky, approximately 70-80 degrees above horizon. Appeared as a short straight streak/bar, brighter than a searchlight reflection on clouds, with more color (bluish- green). Remained stationary for at least 15 minutes. Not the moon (confirmed when clouds moved away). Wife confirmed color as bluish-green. Vanished by 10:40-10:45 PM along with the clouds in that area. ATIC replied with standard acknowledgment and questionnaire (signed Robert E. Kennedy, Major, USAF, Air Adjutant General). [Separate case, same date, bundled in this file.] 8. HYDROGRAPHIC BULLETIN ENTRY, 10 May 1952, Pacific Ocean. At 1532 GMT on 10 May 1952, at lat. 24 degrees 14' N., 153 degrees 32' W., a cooperating observer reported a meteor with a long spreading tail, appearing under the star Vega at 55 degrees altitude (bearing 280 degrees), traveling south and disappearing at 28 degrees altitude (bearing 345 degrees), visible for approximately 2 seconds. [Unrelated case, same date, bundled for contemporaneous filing.] 9. AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT IR-23-52, ATIL Office D/I FEAF. Extracted from FEAF "Intsum" no. 717, 13 June 1952. Enemy balloon activity in Korea, evaluated B-3. Reports of unidentified objects in Korean theater (white changing to red then green, egg-shaped or round, 1000- 10,000 feet altitude, 10 May and 4-7 June 1952); one sighting observed by Air Technical Intelligence specialist for over an hour; forward observer subsequently confirmed a balloon being raised and lowered on a cable near front lines. D/I FEAF evaluated as free balloon or tethered communication balloon. [Unrelated Korean theater case, bundled contemporaneously.] ================================================================ SEARCH INDEX TERMS ================================================================ Ellenton South Carolina 1952 May Savannah River Plant DuPont nuclear facility Atomic Energy Commission AEC FBI classified disc shaped yellow gold color four civilians four objects eight objects speed high altitude weaving course pull up water tanks noiseless 400 area Augusta Georgia Savannah River Project ground visual unknown conclusion balloon hypothesis birds ducks Inspector General OSI 8th District Robins AFB Spot Intelligence Report Status Report 7 Counter Intelligence FBI AEC USAF chain San Francisco Brownie camera photograph oval object 12 year old Portland Oregon blue green light May 1952 Korean balloon FEAF IR-23-52 pre-summer 1952 wave sensitive installation classified ================================================================ CASE ANALYSIS -- Claude Sonnet 4.6 ================================================================ THE LOCATION: WHY THIS MATTERS Ellenton, South Carolina, in May 1952 was not an ordinary town. It was being demolished. The community had been displaced to make room for the DuPont Company's Savannah River Plant, which the Atomic Energy Commission had contracted DuPont to design, build, and operate beginning in 1950. The facility was one of the most classified military-industrial projects in the United States -- a production complex for tritium and plutonium for nuclear weapons, built along the Savannah River across from Augusta, Georgia. By May 1952 it was still under active construction, operating under extraordinary security protocols. The four civilians who observed what they reported on the night of 10 May 1952 were DuPont Company employees working at this facility. Their report was taken seriously enough to travel upward through the FBI, to the AEC, to USAF Counter Intelligence, to the Inspector General's 8th District OSI at Robins AFB, and ultimately to ATIC at Wright-Patterson. This is a more serious intelligence chain than most Blue Book cases trigger. THE OFFICIAL CONCLUSION "Unknown" -- the strongest negative result in the ATIC lexicon short of UNIDENTIFIED. The evaluator noted two possible conventional explanations -- balloon launch timing coincidence and a comparison to a nearby bird case from three days later (Greenville, South Carolina, May 13, evaluated as birds/ducks). But both explanations are marked as unconfirmed. The ATIC comment ends with "but no proof." The distinction between "Unknown" and "Insufficient Data for Evaluation" is meaningful. "Insufficient Data" means there isn't enough information to evaluate. "Unknown" means the evaluation was made and no explanation was found. WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS Between approximately 2245 and 2315 EST on 10 May 1952, four DuPont employees working the night shift at the Savannah River Plant observed a total of eight separate objects in four sequential events over a 30-minute window: 2245 EST: Four disc-shaped objects approach from the south, passing over or near the 400 area of the plant, disappearing to the north. 2305 EST: Two similar objects approach from the south and disappear to the north. 2310 EST: One similar object approaches from the northeast and disappears to the southwest -- the only reversal of the predominant south-to-north direction. 2315 EST: One final object traveling south to north. This object was at sufficiently low altitude that it had to rise to clear tall water storage tanks in the 400 area of the plant. Objects were described as disc-shaped, approximately 15 inches in apparent angular diameter, yellow to gold in color, traveling at high speed, at high altitude (except the final low-altitude object), silent throughout, and visible for only a few seconds each. The witnesses noted the objects appeared to weave from left to right while generally maintaining their heading. The FBI received the report on or about 14 May 1952 from the Augusta, Georgia FBI office (the plant was across the Savannah River from Augusta). The AEC was notified. The OSI's 8th District at Robins AFB filed a Spot Intelligence Report on 26 May. The Air Force Counter Intelligence Division filed its own report the same week. WHAT THE OFFICIAL CONCLUSION MISSED OR GOT RIGHT "Unknown" may be the most defensible conclusion here, but the reasoning in the ATIC evaluator's notes deserves examination. The balloon hypothesis: The ATIC card notes the sighting occurred "near balloon launch time." In 1952, regular meteorological balloon launches were a standard part of weather observation at many locations. However, weather balloons do not fly at high speed. They do not pass through an area in groups of four, then two, then one over 30 minutes. They do not approach from different compass directions (south and northeast). They do not navigate around structures. And critically, a weather balloon caught in wind currents would not be observed to "pull up" to clear water storage tanks -- it would either fly over them or drift around them passively. The balloon hypothesis accounts for none of the described behavioral characteristics. The bird hypothesis: The ATIC evaluator explicitly references a contemporaneous South Carolina case (Greenville, May 13, evaluated as ducks). Birds in flight at night can appear as luminous objects when illuminated by ground lighting, and an active nuclear construction site would have substantial lighting. Flocks of migratory birds passing through South Carolina in May is entirely plausible -- this is a major flyway region. Migrating birds can appear to weave and can travel in groups consistent with the numbers reported (4, then 2, then 1, then 1). The "few seconds" visibility also fits birds crossing an illuminated area. But the bird explanation has a significant problem: the eighth object. An object traveling at altitude so low it had to rise to clear the tall water storage tanks in the 400 area is not consistent with a migratory bird flock. Birds flying at rooftop height over an industrial facility at night, passing close enough to individual tanks to require a course correction -- this is a very specific and unusual behavior that doesn't fit the pattern of a normal bird migration at altitude. Birds at rooftop level would also be more likely to be identifiable as birds by experienced outdoor workers on a night shift. The evaluator himself acknowledges "no proof" for the bird hypothesis. The classification context: This is the dimension the ATIC card cannot fully address. The Savannah River Plant in May 1952 was one of the most sensitive sites in the United States. Unknown aerial objects passing low over a nuclear weapons production facility -- including one maneuvering at rooftop level near tall storage tanks -- would have been an intelligence concern quite apart from the question of what they were. The FBI→AEC→ USAF routing reflects this. The fact that the OSI filed a Spot Intelligence Report to the Director of Special Investigations, Headquarters USAF, with copy to the Commanding General, AMC at Wright-Patterson, indicates this was not treated as a routine misidentification. WHAT MAKES THIS CASE NOTABLE 1. The Savannah River Plant location. A nuclear weapons production facility is not just any industrial site. Aerial observation of the plant -- particularly at rooftop altitude -- would have been a serious security concern in May 1952 under any circumstances. The FBI's involvement and the AEC notification reflect the sensitivity of the site, not merely of the sighting. 2. The "pull up" behavior of the eighth object. This is the detail that most resists conventional explanation. An object at low enough altitude to need to rise to clear water storage tanks demonstrates either active navigation or flight characteristics incompatible with conventional natural phenomena. Weather balloons don't pull up. Migratory birds at rooftop level over a nuclear facility at night are extremely unusual, and a bird requiring a course correction to clear tanks is hard to reconcile with typical migratory behavior. 3. The 30-minute observation window with sequential discrete events. Four objects, then two, then one, then one, across four separate observations over 30 minutes, approaching predominantly from the south -- this is a structured pattern, not the random scatter of misidentified natural phenomena. 4. The FBI and AEC involvement. The reporting chain in this case (site employees → Augusta FBI office → AEC → Counter Intelligence Division → OSI → ATIC) is more elaborate than the typical civilian-reported Blue Book case. This reflects the security classification of the site and the institutional concern about what was seen there. 5. The ATIC evaluator's honesty. "Could be similar to the report that turned out to be ducks, but no proof" is a more candid assessment than many Blue Book card entries. The evaluator considered the most plausible conventional explanation, acknowledged it was possible, and declined to adopt it without evidence. That restraint is notable in the context of a program that often defaulted to conventional explanations. 6. A note on the bundled photographs: The two 8x10 photographs associated with this case file appear to be enlargements of a Brownie camera photograph taken by a 12-year-old boy in San Francisco on May 4, 1952, six days before the Ellenton sighting -- a separate case forwarded to ATIC via civilian UFO investigators. The photos show a small oval object photographed in the afternoon sky, stored physically with this file. The Ellenton case itself has no photographs. BOTTOM LINE The Ellenton case is more carefully documented than its brief ATIC record card suggests. The FBI, AEC, OSI, and Counter Intelligence Division all filed reports. The witnesses were employees of a classified nuclear facility, not random members of the public. The evaluation is "Unknown" -- not a dismissal and not an explanation. The bird hypothesis remains the most defensible conventional explanation for most of the observations: May migration, night illumination from construction lighting, multiple birds in groups. But the eighth object -- low-altitude, maneuvering to clear water tanks -- sits outside that explanation. The ATIC evaluator reached the same conclusion: possible but unproven. Eight objects in a 30-minute window over a nuclear weapons production facility, one of them at rooftop height navigating past storage tanks, all silent, all fast, and all yellow-gold in color. The case is not resolved. The OSI closed it without action but preserved the option to reopen it. ATIC marked it Unknown. Neither judgment amounts to an explanation. ================================================================ END OF DOCUMENT ================================================================ GlitchyMatrix.com/bluebook/ -- Project Blue Book Archive