ACUFO:

January 26, 1952

Dear Sir:

I ll try to give a brief rundown of the situation leading up to this sighting. There were 50 B-29s on this mission. The planes left Ceylon at intervals of a few minutes. The first ones went in and mined the river leading to Palembang to trap Tankers moored at the docks. The target was the largest “Gas Cracking” plant in the S. Pacific. My plane was number 50 and I in addition to dropping bombs, had a number of photo flash magnesium bombs that I was to drop, suspended by parachutes, then make a few photographic runs over the target.

When we arrived at the target area we made our first run by radar, dropping our regular bombs. The cloud cover was almost sold, probably 9/10 under us and visibility was bad. We circled around and the area below improved in visibility, but was still occasionally obliterated by clouds. The gunners reported the gas-cracking plant was a sea of flame and they could see storage tanks disintegrating one after the after. I took movies of the area, but they didn't come out too well. On and off I was hung up on several searchlights and waves shake loose from them for a few minutes, only to get caught up again.

At this time myself or none of my crew, were familiar with the term of flying saucers and after conjecturing and discussing the object we saw, we agreed it must have been some new, probably radio-controlled device the Japs had sent up, to track us for anti-craft fire. During interogation [sic] we reported it, because it was so unusual and as far as an answer from the Interrogating Officers I don't recall one. I think there was a bit of ribbing and joking connected with it, and the fact that we had been flying about 19 hours, so were seeing things. Life was quite unusual in those days and we had experienced many things in China and India, so we didn't attach too much importance to it only that after the war it was one of those experiences that remains with you. Most of them, especially combat action seems to dim with the years. Of the eleven men in my crew who saw it there are only two of us left. The co-pilot Ney M. Fowler 1st Lt. is the only other survivor. He came from some small town in Arkansas and I seem to have lost track of him. He was very seriously disabled and I think probably had been in hospitals since the war.

If I could take the liberty, I will add my opinion.

If there are vehicles from outer space and with the burning of the target area, the tremendous brilliance from the photo-flash bombs, the searchlights, couldn't it have been just possible that they came down to look over the situation?

Sincerely,

Alvah M. Reida

---

5. Layers of fast moving scud clouds below clear above - we were at about 17,000 to 18,000 feet night time - quite dark - I don't recall if the moon was visible.

9. It appeared tear drop shaped. Seemed to have an aura or corona around it. Seemed to have body on depth to it and appeared to be pulsating, contracting and expanding. At the tail it was discharging fire or some type of exhaust. The colors of flame were most distinctly as burning copper would give forth, a bluish green.

10. As far as brightness was concerned, it was quite visible and had sharp definition. In other words it wasn't necessary to scan the sky to find it, all that was necessary to look to starboard and it was there.

12. The right gunner called in over inter-com saying there was an unidentified object at 3:00 o clock. Said he didn't see it and then it was suddenly there. I went into evasive action assuming it was a Jap plane or some mechanism sent up to pace for anti-aircraft fire. Whichever altitude or direction I assumed it stayed with us at 3:00 o clock position. When it left it just went straight up and was gone.

14. Our airspeed was about 220-240 mph there was wind, but can't recall the direction.

20. Distance at night is deceiving, but we didn't fire at it realizing it was out of gun range which was 1000 yards. I would be hazarding a guess in saying it was probably 3-5000 yards away and appeared to be about the size of a small automobile.

25. There were no other planes in the area that I knew of.

Alvah M. Reida
Box 816. Palmer School Chiropractic
Davenport, Iowa

SIGHTING BETWEEN CEYLAN AND PALEMBANG - SUMATRA, 1944

“During World War II as a B-29 pilot in the C.B.I., I was on a mission from Ceylon, bombing Palembang, Sumatra... The date was August 10, 1944, time shortly after midnight. There were 50 planes on the strike going in on the target at about 2 or 3 minute intervals. My plane was the last one on the target and the assignment was for us to bomb, then drop photo-flash bombs attached to parachutes, make a few runs over the target area, photographing bomb damage from the preceding planes. The weather was broken clouds, with an overcast above us. Our altitude was 14,000 feet, indicated air speed 210 mph.

About 20 to 30 minutes after we left the bombing area my co-pilot reported a strange object pacing us about 500 yards off the starboard wing. At that distance it appeared as a spherical object, probably 5 or 6 feet in diameter, of a very bright and intense red or orange in color. It seemed to have a halo effect. My gunner reported it coming in from about the five o'clock position at our level. It seemed to throb or vibrate constantly. Assuming it was some kind of radio - controlled object sent to pace us, I went into evasive action, changing direction constantly, as much as 90 deg. and altitude about 2 000 feet. It followed our every maneuver for about 8 minutes, always holding a position of about 500 yards and about 2 o'clock in relation to the plane. When it left it made an abrupt 90 deg. turn, up and accelerating rapidly it disappeared into the overcast.” A.M.R.

The nationwide Air Force debunking campaign, launched in December to avoid Congressional hearings on UFOs, now has backfired severely on AF headquarters and its official UFO spokesman, Lt. Col. Lawrence Tacker.

[...]

This report not intended personal attack on Col. Tacker. For over four years, he has been the AF's chief UFO spokesman, assigned to explain away UFOs. Undoubtedly he was directed to write the official AF-UFO book and to spearhead the debunking campaign. Perhaps his tactics also were ordered, and not his own choice.

Regardless, the spokesman's claims and the official book prove determination hide the facts. Typical excerpts from “Flying Saucers and the U.S. Air Force” follow:

p 12. Re: World War and Korean cases: “Our flying personnel jokingly referred these strange objects or sightings as 'foo-fighters' or 'gremlins'.”

AF explanation the UFOs: Static electricity. (Reports by B-29 C.O. Capt. Alvah Reida, B-17 C.O. Maj. Leet, and other WWII AF pilots show fear the obviously controlled objects, which appeared singly or in formation, pacing or making high-speed passes at planes. Some AF reports describe firing at UFOs.)

Date & Location	Witnesses	Description
8-10 Sumatra	Capt. Alvah Reida, B-29 pilot	Pulsating spherical object paced bomber, maneuvered.

Bomber Paced By UFO - August 10, 1944

Capt. Alvah M. Reida, during his military flying career, was an airplane Commander on B-26's, B-24's and B-29's. At the time of the sighting, he was based at Kharagapur, India, in the 468th Bomb Group, 792nd Squadron, XX Bomber Command. All quotes from his report, on file at NICAP.

“I was on a mission from Ceylon, bombing Palembang, Sumatra. The date was August 10, 1944, time shortly after midnight. There were 50 planes on the strike going in on the target at about 3 minute intervals. My plane was the last one in on the target and the assignment was for us to bomb, then drop photo-flash bombs, attached to parachutes, make a few runs over the target area, photographing damage from the preceding planes. The weather was broken clouds, with an overcast above us. Our altitude was 14,000 feet, indicated air speed about 210 mph.

While in the general target area we were exposed to sporadic flak fire, but immediately after leaving this area it ceased. At 20 or 30 minutes later the right gunner and my co-pilot reported a strange object pacing us about 500 yards off the starboard wing. At that distance it appeared as a spherical object, probably 5 or 6 feet in diameter, of a very bright and intense red or orange in color. It seemed to have a halo effect. Something like this:

[Scan]

My gunner reported it coming in from about five o'clock position at our level. It seemed to throb or vibrate constantly. Assuming it was some kind of radio controlled object sent to pace us, I went into evasive action, changing direction constantly as much as 90 degrees and altitude about 2000 feet. It followed every maneuver for about 8 minutes, always holding a position of about 500 yards out and about 2 o'clock in relation to the plane. When it left, it made an abrupt 90 degree turn, up and accelerating rapidly; it disappeared in the overcast.”

Capt. Reida added: “During the strike evaluation and interrogation following this mission, I made a detailed report to Intelligence, thinking it was some new type of radio controlled missile or weapon.”

On 10 August, 1944, Capt. Alvah M. Reida, Commander of 468 Bomber Group, 792nd Squadron based at Kharagapur, India, had an encounter with a UFO. In a later report to N.I.C.A.P.* he said:

“I was on a mission from Ceylon, bombing Palembang, Sumatra. The date was 10 August, 1944, time shortly after midnight. There were 50 planes on the strike going in on the target at about two or three minute intervals. My plane was the last one in on the target and the assignment was for us to bomb, then drop photo flash bombs, attached to parachutes, make a few runs over the target area, photographing damage from the preceding planes. The weather was broken clouds, with an overcast above us. Our altitude was 14,000 feet, indicated air speed about 210 m.p.h.

“While in the general target area we were exposed to sporadic flak fire, but immediately after leaving this area it ceased. At about 20 or 30 minutes later the right gunner and my co-pilot reported a strange object pacing us about 500 yards off the starboard wing. At that distance it appeared as a spherical object, probably five or six feet in diameter, of a very bright and intense red or orange in colour. It seemed to have a halo effect. Something like this:

“My gunner reported it coming in from about five o'clock position at our level. It seemed to throb or vibrate constantly. Assuming it was some kind of radio controlled object sent to pace us, I went into evasive action, changing direction constantly as much as 90 degrees and altitude about 2,000 feet. It followed our every maneuvre for about eight minutes, always holding a position of about 500 yards out and about two o'clock in relation to the plane. When it left, it made an abrupt 90 degree turn, up and accelerating rapidly, it disappeared in the overcast.”

Capt. Reida added, “During the strike evaluation and interrogation following this mission, I made a detailed report to Intelligence, thinking it was some new type of radio controlled missile or weapon.”

* National Investigation Committee of Aerial Phenomena in U.S.A. (Has the greatest supporting membership in the world and no doubt is the best informed civil organisation for the study of UFOs.)

Sometimes the foo fighters roamed far a field. While returning to Ceylon from a bombing raid on Palembang, Sumatra, in August 1944, Captain Alvah M. Reida and his crew observed a spherical object, five or six feet in diameter, very bright and reddish-orange in color. It paced the plane about 500 yards off the starboard wing. The captain noticed that it seemed to have a halo effect, and appeared to throb or vibrate constantly.

“I went into evasive action,” Captain Reida reported, “changing direction constantly as much as 90 degrees and altitude about 2,000 feet. It followed our every maneuver for about eight minutes, always holding a position of about 500 yards out and about two o'clock in relation to the plane. When it left. it made an abrupt 90-degree turn, up and accelerating rapidly; it disappeared in the overcast.”

Four months later [than April 1944], approximately 100 miles north of Palembang, Sumatra, an American bomber was chased by a bright, glowing object. The airplane commander, Captain Alvah M. Reida, was assigned to the 468th Bomb Group, 792nd Squadron, 20th Bomber Command, based at Kharagapur, India. On August 10, 1944, Reida flew the last of fifty planes on a bombing run over Palembang.

“While in the general target area,” Reida said, “we were exposed to sporadic flak fire, but immediately after leaving this area it ceased. About twenty or thirty minutes later the right gunner and my co-pilot reported a strange object pacing us about 500 yards off the starboard wing. At that distance it appeared as a spherical object, probably five or six feet in diameter, of a very bright and intense red or orange in color. It seemed to have a halo effect...

“My gunner reported it coming in from about five o'clock ... at our level. It seemed to throb or vibrate constantly. Assuming it was some kind of radio-controlled object sent to pace us, I went into evasive action, changing direction constantly as much as ninety degrees and altitude about 2,000 feet. It followed our every maneuver for about eight minutes, always holding a position of about 500 yards out and about two o'clock in relation to the plane. When it left, it made an abrupt 90° turn, and, accelerating rapidly, it disappeared in the overcast.”

Reida emphasized that he made a detailed report to Intelligence after the mission. Whether Intelligence acted on the information is not known.

One American pilot testified:

“I was on a mission from Ceylon, bombing Palembang, Sumatra. The date was August 10, 1944, the time shortly after midnight. There were 50 planes on the strike going in on the target at about 2 or 3 minute intervals. My plane was the last one in on the target and the assignment was for us to bomb, then drop photoflash bombs, attached to parachutes, made a ten runs over the target area, photographing damage from the preceding planes. The weather was broken clouds, with an overcast above us. Our altitude was 14,000 feet, indicated air speed about 210 mph.

While in the general target area we were exposed to sporadic flak fire, but immediately after leaving this area it ceased. At about 20 to 30 minutes later the right gunner and my co-pilot reported a strange object pacing us about 500 yards off the starboard wing. At a distance it appeared as a spherical object, probably 5 to 6 feet in diameter, of a very bright an intense red or orange in color... My gunner reported it coming in from about 5 o'clock position at our level. It seemed to throb or vibrate constantly. Assuming it was some kind of radio controlled object sent to pace us, I went into evasive action, changing direction constantly as much as 90 degrees and altitude 2,000 feet. It followed our every maneuver for about 8 minutes, always holding a position of about 500 yards out and about 2 o'clock in relation to the plane. When it left, it made an abrupt 90 degrees turn, up and accelerating rapidly; it disappeared in the overcast.”

Shortly after midnight on Aug. 10, 1944, a B-29 was returning to Ceylon after a bombing mission over Palembang, Sumatra, when, as the pilot said “my copilot reported a strange object pacing us about 500 yards off the starboard wing. At that distance it appeared as a spherical object, probably five or six feet in diameter, of a very bright or intense red or orange in color. It seemed to have a halo effect.

“My gunner reported it coming in from about the five o'clock position at our level. It seemed to throb or vibrate constantly. Assuming it was some kind of radio-controlled object sent to pace us, I went into evasive action, changing direction constantly, as much as 90 degrees and altitude about 2,000 feet. It followed our every maneuver for about eight minutes, always holding a position about 500 yards out and about two o'clock in relation to the plane. When it left, it made an abrupt 90 degree turn; accelerating rapidly, it disappeared into the overcast.”

[...] since 1943, the presence of mysterious craft in our airspaces had begun to interest many States, despite initial skepticism. American, English and Canadian aviators had seen strange luminous globes during air raids. Captain Alyan Reida [sic], at the controls of his B. 29, observed on August 1, 1944, during a bombing on the oil installations of Sumatra, a strange gray and oval flying machine which left behind a bluish gray trail and which followed him for several minutes.

A few weeks later, on August 10, a B-29 pilot on a mission between Ceylon and Palembang (Sumatra) observed a “pulsing sphere” which accompanied the aircraft for several minutes.

1944 Aug 10/Palembang, Sumatra/Lore-Deneault

Two pulsating objects, one red-orange, the other blue-green, paced the airplane. Although the pilot maneuvered sharply the objects followed and then left straight up. Also, 100 mi. north a red-orange sphere, 5 to 6 ft. in diam., followed another airplane 500 ft. off a wing for 8 min. It eventually made an abrupt 90° turn and left rapidly.

“Foo-fighters” also were seen in the Asian Theater. On August 10, 1944, Capt. Alvah M. Reida was piloting a B-29 on a bombing mission over Sumatra. After leaving the target area he and his crew saw an orange spherical object with a halo effect that paced off the starboard wing. Reida took evasive action, but the UFO followed every maneuver for about 8 minutes. “When it left,” he said, “it made an abrupt 90 degree turn, up and accelerating rapidly.”

On 10 August 1944, Captain Alvah M. Reida was piloting a B-29 bomber based at Kharagapur, India, on a mission over Palembang, Sumatra, when his right gunner and co-pilot noticed a sphere 'probably five or six feet (1.5-1.8m) in diameter, of a very bright and intense red or orange in color' that constantly throbbed, about 12,500ft (3750m) off the starboard wing. It paced the B-29, then flying at 210 mph (340km/h) at 14,000ft (4200m). Reida jinxed his plane to shake it off, but it stayed in the same relative position until, after eight minutes, it 'made an abrupt 90° turn and accelerated rapidly, disappearing in the overcast.'

1944, August 10

ASIA, between CEYLAN and SUMATRA

A B-29 pilot on a mission observed a pulsing sphere which accompanied the aircraft for several minutes. (Michel BOUGARD: “La chronique des OVNI”, Delarge 1977 - p. 269 gives the date 10.8.44)

OTHER VERSION: Captain Alyanb [sic] Reida, at the controls of his B 29, observed on August 1 during a bombing on the oil installations of Sumatra, a strange gray and oval flying machine which left behind a bluish gray trail and who followed him for several minutes. (S. DELLO STROLOGO: “Ce que les gouvernements vous cachent sur les S. V.”, De Vecchi 1975, p. 31, which says August 1. In fact it is August 10).

OTHER VERSION: “Shortly after midnight, we were returning to Ceylon, after a bombing mission on Palembang in Sumatra. At that moment my co-pilot informed me of an object overtaking us at 500 m, at this distance it appeared as a spherical object, 5 to 6 feet in diameter, and a very intense and bright orange-red color. It seemed to have a halo. This thing seemed to be constantly vibrating or pulsing and I thought it was a radio-controlled thing to locate us, so I performed evasive maneuvers by constantly changing direction at 90° at 200 feet altitude. This thing was behind us the whole time, in each maneuver, for 8 minutes. Finally it left, turning abruptly at an angle of 90°, accelerating and disappearing from sight.” (The Mysterious Foo Fighters of WWII. - Jeroen Wierda UPORI, 19.5.1997)

In 1944, an American B-29 came under close scrutiny of a UFO over the Indian Ocean, as related by the plane's co-pilot: “A strange object was pacing us about 500 yards off the starboard wing. It appeared as a spherical object, probably five or six feet in diameter, of a very bright and intense red or orange. It seemed to have a halo effect (and) seemed to throb or vibrate constantly. Assuming it was some kind of radio-controlled object sent to pace us, I went into evasive action, changing direction constantly as much as 90 degrees. It followed our every maneuver for about eight minutes, always holding a position about 500 yards out. When it left, it made an abrupt 90-degree turn, accelerating rapidly, and disappeared into the overcast”. (277)

506: 1944/08/10 00:10 12 96:00:00 E 9:45:00 N 3333 OCN IND MLC 6:9
CEYLON><SUMATRA:B29/BOMBING RUN PACED:2M ORB:90 TURNS:GOES^^:/r242p23+/r65
Ref# 46 KEYHOE, Maj Donald: F.S. TOP SECRET Page No. 83: IN-FLIGHT

*N - 1944.08.10 - Night, Japan

B-29, 40th Bombardment Group, two aircraft crews reported seeing a green flare followed by an amber-orange flash horizontally across the nose of the aircraft. (There were no fighters, or searchlights on this mission and flak was meager. 40th Bomb Sq History)

D - 1944.08.10

The Records of the 792d Bombardment Squadron's history confirms that Lt. Reidas [sic] was indeed on the mission described by him on this date. There are no details about the mission or bombing results. (792d Bomb Sq History)

Case 45

August 10, 1944

Between Palembang (Sumatra) and Ceylan

In the evening, Capt. Alvah M. Reida and the crew of a USAAF B-29 bomber (468th Bomb Group, 792nd squadron, 20th Bomber Command based at Kharagapur, India) returning to their base after a bombing mission over Sumatra observed a bright orange spherical object (diameter: 2 meters) with a halo effect that paced off the starboard wing at about 500 yards. At that distance it appeared as a spherical object, probably 5 or 6 feet in diameter of a very bright intense red or orange light. The pilot took evasive action, but the object followed every maneuver for about 8 minutes. According to the pilot “When it left, it made an abrupt 90° turn up an accelerating rapidly. The co-pilot and right gunner saw also the phenomenon. According to the gunner, it corned from 5 o'clock at our level and seemed to vibrate or throb constantly.

Sources: The UFO Evidence, Richard Hall, NICAP, 1964 / The UFO Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Jerome Clark / Lumieres Dans la Nuit # 330 / Uninvited guests, Richard Hall, p.198 / Mysteries of the skies, Gordon Lore &Harold Deneault, NICAP, 1968 / US S-2 Flash report, aircraft No 4494, pilot Reida / Strange company, Keith Chester, 2007

[1944] Aug. 10/11, 1944; Palembang, Sumatra

Reddish orange balls, about the size of a baseball; spherical object, probably 5 or 6 feet in diameter, of a very bright and intense red or orange in color. (Page 71-74 Ref.1)

[1944] Aug. 10, 1944; Sumatra

Sighting of maneuvering UFO which paced B-29 (Reida case) during mission. [NICAP UFO Evidence, 1964, Hall, III]

Date: Aug. 10, 1944

Location: Sumatra

Time:

Summary: Sighting of maneuvering UFO which paced B-29 (Reida case) during mission.

NICAP UFO Evidence, 1964, Hall, III

Date: August 10, 1944

Location: Kharagpur, India

Time:

Summary: On August 10, 1944, Captain Alvah M. Reida was piloting a B-29 bomber based at Kharagpur India, on a mission over Palembang, Sumatra, when his right gunner and co-pilot noticed a sphere “probably five or six feet in diameter, of a very bright and intense red or orange in color” that constantly throbbed, about 12,500 ft off the starboard wing. It kept up with the B-29, then flying at 210 mph. Reida tried to shake it off his plane, but it stayed in the same relative position until, after eight minutes, it “made an abrupt 90 degree turn and accelerated rapidly, disappearing in the overcast”.

Source:

1944

[... other cases...]

August 11

Shortly after midnight. Capt. Alvah M. Reida is piloting a B-29 bomber based at Kharagpur, India, on a bombing mission over Palembang, Sumatra, Indonesia, when his right gunner and copilot notice a sphere “probably five or six feet in diameter, of a very bright and intense red or orange in color” that constantly throbs, at about 12,500 feet, pacing them about 1,500 feet off the starboard wing. It keeps up with the B-29, then flying at210 mph. Reida tries to shake it off his plane, but it stays in the same relative position until, after 8 minutes, it makes an abrupt 90° turn and accelerates rapidly, disappearing in the overcast. (UFOEv, p. 23; Strange Company 71 - 75; Good Above, p. 19)

[... other cases...]

10th August, 1944, Captain Alvah M. Reida reported that his right gunner and co-pilot both observed a sphere, five or six feet in diameter, whilst flying his B-29 Bomber over Palembang, Sumatra. The sphere was described as “of a very bright and intense red or orange, that constantly throbbed” and calculated that the object was at 14,000 ft. in height. The object followed the B-29 for eight minutes despite attempts to lose it and eventually turned away, accelerating rapidly out of sight.

1944

India, Kharagapur: On August 10, 1944, Captain Alvah M. Reida was piloting a B-29 bomber based at Kharagapur, India, on a mission over Palembang, Sumatra, when his right gunner and co-pilot noticed a sphere 'probably five or six feet in diameter, of a very bright and intense red or orange in colour' that constantly throbbed, about 12,500 ft off the starboard wing. It kept up with the B-29, then flying at 210 mph. Reida tried to shake it off his plane, but it stayed in the same relative position until, after eight minutes, it 'made an abrupt 90 degree turn and accelerated rapidly, disappearing in the overcast.'

On August 10, 1944, a B-29 bomber based at Kharagpur, India, was on a mission over Palembang, Sumatra, bombing Japanese gas facilities in that part of enemy-occupied Indonesia.

The bomber was one of fifty flying the mission. This particular plane had dropped its bombs, and then, by releasing photo flash bombs, its crew began filming the destruction they'd wrought on the Japanese below.

Once their mission was complete, they turned back for their home base, flying at 14,000 feet. About a half hour into this return trip, though, two of the B-29's crewmembers spotted an oval-shaped object 1,500 feet off their right wing.

About six feet in diameter, the object's surface was very bright and pulsating vigorously. Its color was changing from intense red to orange, and it was spewing a blue green exhaust plume.

Thinking this was some kind of enemy device, the B-29 pilot put his plane through a series of extreme evasive maneuvers, all while flying at more than 200 miles per hour. Climbing, diving, turning, banking, the object stayed with the big plane through all of it, keeping pace and never missing a beat.

At the end of ten minutes of wild flying, the object finally broke off contact. Climbing straight up, it accelerated to tremendous speed and disappeared overhead.