UFO detected by radar in 1952 in South Carolina

Summary

In December 1952, a radar at Pope Air Force Base in South Carolina picked up a bright, circular object that remained stationary with a slight circular motion. The object did not cancel out when using the moving target indicator, ruling out conventional targets. For eight hours, the radar tracked it without significant changes, while several aircraft passed through the area. Despite sending an F-51 to investigate, the pilot saw nothing unusual. The radar operators, with years of experience, considered the possibility of a weather balloon or a permanent echo caused by atmospheric conditions.

The official investigation concluded it could be a weather phenomenon, such as a temperature inversion affecting radar propagation. Although radar scope photos were taken, they were not received by the Air Technical Intelligence Center. Technical data indicated the object had the size and shape of a conventional aircraft but remained stationary. Officers involved, including Captain Albert F. Perna, suggested it might have been a false echo or an unusual atmospheric phenomenon. Without a clear explanation, the case was filed as an unresolved incident.