Blythe, CA: Manta-ray object pursued by F-84 pilots
USAF Captain Roderick D. Thompson and two student pilots sighted a large manta-ray shaped object at high altitude over Blythe, California. Thompson pursued it, capturing gun camera footage as it climbed and split into two.
Background
Sighting and Witnesses
On March 3, 1953 at 13:25, USAF Captain Roderick D. Thompson of the 3600th Fighter Training Group, flying out of Luke AFB near Glendale, Arizona, was in an F-84 at 25,000 feet over Blythe, California. He spotted an object 300–500 feet across that left a contrail and crossed his path from left to right, at 35,000–45,000 feet and about 400 mph. It was visible only through vapour coming off its flat, manta ray-shaped surface. Two student pilots, Lt. Jack E. Brasher and Lt. Thomas W. Hale, in further F-84s confirmed the observation but did not pursue it.
Pursuit and Maneuvers
Thompson turned toward it, whereupon the object dipped slightly, veered northwest, and climbed at 20°. It appeared extremely thin, formed a dense trail some 1,000 feet long, and split apart. He reached 30,000 feet and closed to within 5–10 miles over the Colorado River north of Parker Dam on the Arizona border.
Evidence and Significance
He shot 151 frames with a 16 mm N-9 camera (probably 16 fps, 1/40 second exposure). This military encounter with film footage is regarded as a well-documented early instance of visual and photographic evidence in UAP history, cited in sources such as NICAP and Ruppelt.