Murphy Dome AFS: Radar tracks UFO, F-94 intercepts
Radar at Murphy Dome AFS in Alaska detected a fast-moving object at 1,500 mph. Three F-94 jets were scrambled, tracking it closely, but no visual sightings occurred; Air Force attributed to weather.
Background
Event
On January 22, 1952 at 0:20, radar at Murphy Dome Air Force Station in northern Alaska located an unidentified object at 23,000 feet travelling at a high speed of about 1,500 mph.
Pursuits
An F-94 fighter was dispatched. The target halted, reduced speed, changed direction, and closed to within 30 miles of the station before disappearing. The pilot returned to refuel; a second fighter received strong radar echoes. The object at first appeared almost motionless, then dived abruptly and was located again. A third F-94 closed to 900 feet but broke away, as the target was practically stationary.
Assessment
No pilot saw the object visually. The Air Force concluded that the echoes were weather-related, which the pilots disputed. The case is regarded as a significant radar contact without visual confirmation. (Sources: NICAP, Sparks, Ruppelt, Blue Book Reports)