Radar in Knoxville detects unidentified objects

Summary

In March 1950, a radar in Knoxville, Tennessee, recorded multiple contacts with unidentified objects. Engineer S. E. Adock, known for his reliability, reported three consecutive nights of signals at altitudes up to 80,000 feet. The objects appeared stationary or slow-moving, and one was even compared to a C-47. Despite investigations, no planes or clear explanations were found. Ground returns or thermal inversion were suspected, but no weather data confirmed this. Confusion persisted, and technical support was requested to verify the equipment.

The situation raised concerns at the AEC security division, which contacted nearby air bases without success. The repetition of events in the same area and the credibility of the witness added mystery to the reports. Although planes were ruled out, the case had no definitive resolution. The files remained classified for decades until recent declassification, offering a glimpse into one of the earliest serious reports of unidentified aerial phenomena in the United States.