ACUFO-1944-06-00-MARSHALLISLAND-1
In 1967, William J. Martin, a Navy airman from the N.A.S. of New York in VP839, a reserve unit, wrote to the U.S. ufologist Richard H. Hall, Assistant Director of the National Investigation Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), to ask how he could join this organization.
As he mentioned that he had chased a UFO back in 1944 in the Pacific, Richard Hall asked for details; which Martin gave in his next letter.
He explained that as close as he could recall, it happened in June or July 1944. He was on a patrol from Eniwetak in a PB4Y-1 (B-24D) of Squadron VB 108, commanded by E.C. Renfro. His pilot was Lt. F. Ackermann, USNR, the co-pilot was Ens. Folson, and in the crew were F. Mares, R. Kenesky, C.C. Van Willigan, H. Thompson, one Schiefelbein, R. Colberson, D.E. Turalson, one other unidentified man operating an onboard radar, and himself.
They were North-East of Truk atoll when the onboard radar picked up a blip, which the crew tracked to within 1 mile. But the only thing in sight on the perfectly clear day was a cloud ball, which the plane circled, with the radar still showing a sharp firm blip in the area where the cloud stood. The crew could see nothing around, over, or under this cloud, whatever was there was motionless inside the cloud.
They did not fly into the cloud, and they did not fire into it.
Martin believed this was reported in debriefing, as the radar of that time was something special, and the briefing personnel were very much interested in its results.
| Date: | June or July 1944 |
|---|---|
| Time: | Probable day. |
| Duration: | ? |
| First known report date: | 1967 |
| Reporting delay: | Hours, 27 years. |
| Country: | Micronesia |
|---|---|
| State/Department: | |
| City or place: | Northeast of Truk Atoll. |
| Number of alleged witnesses: | Several. |
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| Number of known witnesses: | 1 |
| Number of named witnesses: | 10 |
| Reporting channel: | Debriefing, letter to ufology group NICAP. |
|---|---|
| Visibility conditions: | Probable day. |
| UFO observed: | Yes. |
| UFO arrival observed: | ? |
| UFO departure observed: | ? |
| UFO action: | Motionless inside cloud. |
| Witnesses action: | Circle UFO localization. |
| Photographs: | No. |
| Sketch(s) by witness(es): | No. |
| Sketch(es) approved by witness(es): | No. |
| Witness(es) feelings: | ? |
| Witnesses interpretation: | ? |
| Sensors: |
[ ] Visual:
[X] Airborne radar: Yes. [ ] Directional ground radar: [ ] Height finder ground radar: [ ] Photo: [ ] Film/video: [ ] EM Effects: [ ] Failures: [ ] Damages: |
|---|---|
| Hynek: | R |
| Armed / unarmed: | Armed, machine guns. |
| Reliability 1-3: | 2 |
| Strangeness 1-3: | 2 |
| ACUFO: | Possible cloud radar echo. |
[Ref. nip1:] WILLIAM J. MARTIN:
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ENIWETAK, (IN FLIGHT)
6--44 OR 7--77 DAY
Mr. R. Hall
Asst. Dir.
N.I.C.A.P.
26 Lakeview Terr.
Sparta, N. J. 07871
11 Feb 1967
Sir:
In response to your letter about our sighting in 1944.
As close as I can recall it was in June, or July. We were on patrol from Eniwetak in a PB4Y-1 (B-24D) our squadron VB 108 Cmdr. E.C. Renfro.
My pilot was Lt. F. Ackermann USNR, Co Pilot Ens. Folson, Crew: F. Mares AMM1, R. Kenesky ARM2, C.C. Van Willigan ARM2, H. Thompson ARM3, Schiefelbein S1 (AMM). R. Colberson S1 (AMM), D.E. Turalson, AOM2, myself AOM2 and an unidentified extra man running some special radar that was installed.
This radar (ECM I think) picked up a blip, which we tracked to within 1 mile, the only thing in sight on a perfectly clear day was 1 cloud ball which we circled, with the radar still showing a sharp firm blip in the area (cloud). We could see nothing around, over, or under this cloud, whatever was there was motionless inside the cloud, we did not fly into it, neither did we fire into it. The area was NE of Truk, we were flying cover for TF58 on its way to Guam, and the turkey shoot.
I believe this was reported in our debriefing as the radar of that time was something special, and the briefing personnel were very much interested in its results, it may not have been ECM, now that I know what this is, it would not even be radar (ECM that is). (Joined) I will also be joining your organization. As I told you in my other letter, I am still flying in the Navy, from N.A.S. N.Y. in VP839 a reserve unit.
If I have anything of interest to report I will be in touch with you.
Sincerely
Wm. J. Martin
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its was to Guam, and the [?].
I believe this was reported in out debriefing as the radar of that time was something special, and the briefing personel were very much interested in its results, it may have been ECM, now that we know what this is, it would not [] the radar (ECM that is) [?] I will [?] be joining your organization. As I told you in my other letter, I am still flying in the Navy, from N.A.S. N.Y. in VP839, a recon [?] unit.
If I have anything of interest to report I will be in touch with you.
Sincerely
26 Lakeview Terr
Sparta N.J. 07871
Sir:
How can I join your organization?
I am very interested in UFOs, and I have been since we chased one back in 1944 in the Pacific.
I am in the Navy Air Reserve as an AOI, and have been flying Navy since 1943. I am also a private pilot in civilian life, besides being a [?] instructor.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely
Wm. J. Martin
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Transcript
26 Lakeview Terr.
Sparta, N.J. 07871
11 Feb. 1967
Mr. R Hall
Asst Dir.
N.I.C.A.P
Sir:
In response to your letter about our sighting in 1944. As close as I can recall it was in June, or July. We were on patrol from Eniwetok in PB4Y-1 (B-24D) our squadron VB108 Cmdr. E.C. Renfro My pilot was Lt. F. Ackermann USNR, Co Pilot Ens. Folson, Crew: F. Mares AMM1, R. Kenesky ARM2, C.C. Van Willigan ARM2, H. Thompson ARM3, Schiefelbein S1 (AMM). R. Colberson S1 (AMM), D.E. Turalson, AOM2, myself AOM2 and an unidentified extra man running some special radar that was installed.
This radar (ECM I think) picked up a blip, which we tracked to within 1 mile, the only think in sight on a perfectly clear day was 1 cloud ball which we circled, with the radar still showing a sharp firm blip in the area (cloud). We could see nothing around, over, or under this cloud, whatever was there was motionless inside the cloud, we did not fly into it, neither did we fire into it. The area was NE of Truk, we were flying cover for TF58 on its way to Guam, and the turkey shoot.
I believe this was reported in our debriefing as the radar of that time was something special, and the briefing personnel were very much interested in its results, it may not have been ECM, now that I know what this is, it would not even be radar (ECM that is). (Joined) I will also be joining your organization. As I told you in my other letter, I am still flying in the Navy, from N.A.S. N.Y. in VP839 a reserve unit.
If I have anything of interest to report I will be in touch with you.
Sincerely
Wm. J. Martin
26 Lakeview Terr
Sparta, N.J. 07871
Sir:
How can I join your organization? I am very interested in UFO s, and have been since we chased one back in 1944 in the Pacific.
I am in the Navy First Reserve as an AO1, and have been flying Navy since 1943. I am also a private pilot in civilian life, besides being a vocational Instructor. I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely
Wm. J Martin
P.S. Aircrewman (Ordnance) on a SP2E.
[Ref. jck1:] JEROME CLARK:
The author indicates that pilots in the Pacific theater also reported aerial phenomena. In June or July 1944, the crew of a Navy B-24D equipped with radar allegedly tracked a mysterious object as both flew over en 1944 in the South Pacific. In 1967 William J. Martin, one of 11 men on the plane, remembered:
“This radar picked up a blip, which we tracked to within one mile. The only thing in sight on a perfectly clear day was one cloud ball which we circled with the radar still showing a sharp, firm blip... We could see nothing around, over, or under the cloud. Whatever was there was motionless inside the cloud. We did not fly inside it; neither did we fire into it. The area was northeast of Truk. We were flying cover for (a) TF58 on its way to Guam...”
“This was reported in our debriefing as the radar at that time was something special, and the briefing personnel were very much interested in its results.”
The Consolidated B-24 “Liberator” (photo below) was an American heavy bomber used during World War II by the Allied air and naval forces.
By April 1944, some B-24s had been equipped with H2X radars. Its long range of action had allowed it roles as maritime patrols, anti-submarine patrols, and reconnaissance, in the Atlantic and the Pacific.
The U.S. Navy also used Consolidated Aircraft PB4Ys “Privateer” which were directly derived from the B-24.
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The explanation is very tempting: a radar echo caused by the moist air mass in the cloud itself.
No UFO was seen; and as the witness indicates, the radar was something new to them, so it is possible that the radar operator picked up an echo caused by the cloud itself, without having exactly the experience of this kind of echo.
Possible cloud radar echo.
* = Source is available to me.
? = Source I am told about but could not get so far. Help needed.
| Main author: | Patrick Gross |
|---|---|
| Contributors: | None |
| Reviewers: | None |
| Editor: | Patrick Gross |
| Version: | Create/changed by: | Date: | Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | November 29, 2023 | Creation, [wmn1], [jck1]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | November 29, 2023 | First published. |
