RB-47 multi-sensor case

Case

Overview

An Air Force RB-47 crew reported a light visually, on ground radar and on electronic intelligence receivers over a long track. The Condon Report could not explain it.

Investigative phases

Crew reports; Condon Report Case 5; McDonald analysis

Reported phenomena

Bright light and radar/ELINT signals

Public evidence status

Condon Report public; original Blue Book file not found

Alternative explanations / caveats

Airliner and ground radar sources proposed by later analysts; date discrepancies

Next research tasks

Locate the missing Blue Book file and wing records

Last reviewed

2026-11-11

Assessment

Event date

1957-07-17

Source category

Condon Report; crew accounts

Original data accessibility

Partial

Witness / instrument basis

Visual, radar, ELINT

Corroboration limitations

Original file missing; date issues

Extraordinary claim assessment

Unexplained in Condon

Current status

Open / unexplained

Priority research task

Locate wing records

Lead source ID

SRC-V86-33

Last reviewed

2026-11-11

Evidence (1)

• RB-47 visual, radar and ELINT reports; Condon Report Case 5 unexplained Reported
  CE-V86-18 · 1957-07-17 · Condon Report / crew accounts
  Gaps: Date discrepancies; missing Blue Book file

Documents gathered (1 line of evidence)

0 readable here · 1 with a linked primary record · 0 still need a document · All cases on the evidence map

• RB-47 visual, radar and ELINT reports; Condon Report Case 5 unexplained Primary record linked
  CE-V86-18 · Science in default: twenty-two years of inadequate UFO investigations (includes RB-47 case)