Pilot Sees Flying Saucer

Naval Aviation News February, 1953

Naval Aviation News

VC-3 Leader is Only Observer 

VC-3—Four Corsairs from this squadron were flying down to San Diego for a qualification cruise abroad the Valley Forge when Lt. C. A. Johnson saw something that made him come alert.

Like a dutiful flight leader he called his three squadron mates to say “plane 12 o’clock about 20”.  Shortly after he noticed the “plane” was much nearer and heading straight for the flight on an opposite course and below.

     

F4U 5N Corsair in US Navy VC-3 Livery

He called the flight again, and while thus occupied the object passed directly below them “like a bat out of ----!”

Before he could stutter, “Hey, look at the flying saucer!” it was gone.

Johnson swears it was a saucer, about 30' in diameter, clam-shaped, of a dull aluminum finish and with no visible means of propulsion.

The rest of his flight, consisting of Lts. Crowley and Henke and Lt. (jg) Overton, saw nothing, heard nothing and ain't saying a word.

Project 1947