U.S. Naval Reserve Lieutenant Graham Bethune, co-pilot on Flight 125 from Keflavik, reported:
"While flying in the left seat on a true course of 230 degrees at a position of 49-50 North and 50-03 West, I observed a glow of light below the horizon about 1,000 to 1,500 feet above the water. We both observed its course and motion for about 4 or 5 minutes before calling it to the attention of the other crew members... Suddenly its angle of attack changed, its altitude and size increased as though its speed was in excess of 1,000 miles per hour. It closed in so fast that the first feeling was we would collide in midair. At this time its angle changed and the color changed. It then [appeared] definitely circular and reddish orange on its perimeter. It reversed its course and tripled its speed until it was last seen disappearing over the horizon. Because of our altitude and misleading distance over water it is almost impossible to estimate its size, distance, and speed. A rough estimate would be at least 300 feet in diameter, over 1,000 miles per hour in speed, and approached to within 5 miles of the aircraft."
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AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT
SUBJECT
Reporting of Information on Unconventional Aircraft/Objects
North Atlantic
Dir/Int, Hq NEAC
10 February 1961
C-54 crew of Navy VR-1 Sq, based Patuxent, Maryland
Attached is a report on an unidentified air object forwarded in accordance with letter, Headquarters, USAF, File AFOIC-CC-1, Subj: Reporting of Information on Unconventional Aircraft, dated 8 September 1950. Report is unconfirmed by other sightings.
APPROVED.
[signed] Kenneth J. Smith
for HUGH D. MAXWELL, Jr.
Lt Col, USAF
Director of Intelligence