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(Search term: “Unidentified Flying Object” “1950” )
(“Unidentified Flying Objects” “1950” )
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(“UFOs” “1950” )
(“Unidentified Object” “1950” )
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(“Unidentified Objects” “1950” )
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(“Flying Object” “1950” )
(“Flying Objects” “1950” )
(“Flying Saucer” “1950” )
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UFO news article:
“Air Guard Members Wary Of Identifying
Strange Object Over Key Field”
14 April 1950
(The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi)
Source: Newspapers.com
The whole article:
“Not that they were afraid of being criticized or disbelieved, but members of the 153rd Fighter Squadron Thursday would neither confirm nor deny the identity of flying object sighted at 8:25 Wednesday night [12 April 1950] over Key Field as a flying saucer. However, several pilots confirmed sighting an unidentified object ‘of extreme speed’ identified only by a white flickering light, not a normal aircraft light, as it raced south-southeastward.
“Not that they were afraid of being criticized or disbelieved, but members of the 153rd Fighter Squadron Thursday would neither confirm nor deny the identity of flying object sighted at 8:25 Wednesday night [12 April 1950] over Key Field as a flying saucer. However, several pilots confirmed sighting an unidentified object ‘of extreme speed’ identified only by a white flickering light, not a normal aircraft light, as it raced south-southeastward.
The object ‘definitely out of propeller type aircraft
classification’ due to its speed, was seen but 15 seconds during its flight
near Key Field.
Several F-47 Air National Guard fighter planes were in
the air and were radioed to proceed toward the southeast quadrant to get a view
of the lighted but otherwise unidentified flying object. These planes were in
the area within 30 seconds, but failed to sight the intruder the object was at
an estimated 2,500 feet
altitude. The light followed a straight course, bearing southward and slightly
east on a horizontal plane, indicating it was a piloted or controlled object
rather than a meteor.
‘It was definitely not propeller driven due to the
speed,’ veteran pilots observed. ‘It could have been a jet plane but there were
no regular red and green running lights and the flickering light streak was
unexplained. Also jets generally fly at a much higher altitude.”
NOTE: Key Field was a Strategic Air Command (SAC)
base, according to NICAP.org.
Wikimedia article: “Meridian Regional
Airport
Quote from the Wikipedia article:
“Meridian Regional Airport[1] (IATA: MEI[3],
ICAO: KMEI, FAA LID: MEI) is a public use airport located at Key
Field,[2] a joint use public/military airfield. It is located 3 nautical
miles (5.6 km ;
3.5 mi )
southwest of Meridian, a city in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, United
States.[2] The airport is owned by the Meridian Airport Authority.[2] At 10,003 feet (3,049 m ), Key Field is home
to the longest public use runway in Mississippi.[4] It is mostly used for
general aviation and military traffic, but is also served by one commercial
airline with scheduled passenger service subsidized by the Essential Air
Service program.
Air National Guard use
Key Field is home to the Mississippi Air National
Guard's 186th Air Refueling Wing (186 ARW), at the Air National Guard enclave,
Key Field Air National Guard Base. Operationally gained by the Air Mobility
Command (AMC), the 186 ARW operates a fleet of KC-135R Stratotanker aerial
refueling and cargo aircraft.[4]
Key Field is also home to the Mississippi Army
National Guard's 111th Army Aviation Support Facility, Company B. The 111th
operates a fleet of CH-47 Chinook helicopters, a multipurpose transport/cargo
helicopter capable of carrying 55 troops and gear or can also sling-load up to 25,000 pounds .[4]
Navy T-45 Goshawk aircraft from nearby NAS Meridian
and Air Force T-6A, T-1A and T-38C
aircraft from Columbus AFB also frequently practice approaches and other
procedures over Key Field.
Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) capabilities
are provided by the Air National Guard. Due to their mission as an air refueling
wing, the ANG ARFF assets provide the entire airport with firefighting
capabilities that will rival any airport in the Southeastern United States.”
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Aerial image of
(tageo.com photo)
