ufo - UFOs at close sight: ACUFO catalog - Case in the East of Okinawa, Japan, on May 6 or June 18, 1945

In the archive of the ufology groups National Investigation Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), there is a UFO sighting report form and a letter of July 20, 1961, by Richard J. Eberley, a pharmacist of Sterling, Illinois, USA.

Eberley reported his sighting of unidentified flying objects in the East of Okinawa, when he was the Navigator on board a R5E aircraft in flight to Okinawa from Guam. According to his flight log, the date was either May 6, 1945, or June 18, 1945, as these were the only two dates when he made a flight to Okinawa. If it was May 6, 1945 a Lt. Mc Cauley was the pilot, if it was June 18, 1945, a Major Canney was the pilot. Eberley explained he did not remember the full names of the pilots, not the names of the copilots or radio man.

On the NICAP report form, Eberley described the conditions as bright daylight, with very few clouds, the Sun was about a 30° angle from the objects.

There were 3 round, disk-shaped objects, and one much larger cigar-shaped object; they were reflecting, metallic looking, like aluminum.

The disc-shaped objects suddenly sped up and rushed away towards the cigar-shaped object, and disappeared behind the latter.

In the part of the form asking for an angular size by comparison with known objects helf at arm's length, Eberley failed to answer and instead gave a size estimate as “about 20 feet”. He estimated the UFOs to be an 1/4 mile from him, and their altitude at 8,000 or 9,000 feet.

Eberley indicated that the sighting lasted 2 minutes, that the speed of the smaller objects was unbelievable when they took off to go towards the larger cigar shaped object. He specified he saw no other UFO since that sighting.

Eberley said that when the crew landed, they were separated and interrogated individually by an Army Air Force officer, whim he believed was an intelligence officer whose name he had forgotten.

This intelligence officer told them not to discuss the sighting among themselves or with anyone else. A month or two later, he said, he was transferred very suddenly out of his squadron and out of Iwo Jima Island. and was called in to see an intelligence officer of the squadron there, who asked a few questions about what he had seen and then told him not to say anything about it.

Eberley explained that one of his former navigation instructors, a Sgt. O'Keife, whom he hadn't seen him for a year and didn't know where he was stationed, now a plotter in the Command Information Center for the Okinawa Island mission, told him they had the same objects on the radar and on their plotting board, and the reason he came down to the flight base was to try to get a chance to talk to one of the crew who had been very close to these objects.

At that time, Eberley said, he thought the objects were advanced or experimental U.S. aircraft, even after his former navigation instructor told him they did not know what it was and were very worried.

Data:

Temporal data:

Geographical data:

Witnesses data:

Ufology data:

Classifications:

Sources:

Date:	May 6, 1945, or June 18, 1945
Time:	Day.
Duration:	2 minutes.
First known report date:	July 20, 1961
Reporting delay:	16 years.

Country:	Japan
State/Department:
City or place:	East of Okinawa

Number of alleged witnesses:	3
Number of known witnesses:	1
Number of named witnesses:	1 or 3

Reporting channel:	Witness letter and sighting report form to NICAP.
Visibility conditions:	Bright daylight.
UFO observed:	Yes.
UFO arrival observed:	No.
UFO departure observed:	Yes.
UFO action:
Witnesses action:	3 discs approach cigar.
Photographs:	No.
Sketch(s) by witness(es):	Maybe.
Sketch(es) approved by witness(es):	Yes.
Witness(es) feelings:	Puzzled.
Witnesses interpretation:	Secret U.S. aircraft, later UFO.

Sensors:	[X] Visual: 2. [ ] Airborne radar: [X] Directional ground radar: Yes. [ ] Height finder ground radar: [ ] Photo: [ ] Film/video: [ ] EM Effects: [ ] Failures: [ ] Damages:
Hynek:	DD / RV
Armed / unarmed:	?
Reliability 1-3:	2
Strangeness 1-3:	3
ACUFO:	Extraterrestrial craft of invention.

NATIONAL INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE ON AERIAL PHENOMENA
1536 Connecticut Avenue N. W.
Washington 6, D.C.

NOrth 7-9434

REPORT ON UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT

This form includes questions asked by the United States Air Force and by other Armed Forces' investigating agencies, and additional questions to which answers are needed for full evaluation by NICAP. After all the information has been fully studied, the conclusion of our Evaluation Panel will be published by NICAP in its regularly issued magazine or in another publication. Please try to answer as many questions as possible. Should you need additional room, please use another sheet of paper. Please print or typewrite. Your assistance is of great value and is genuinely appreciated. Thank you.

1. Name Richard J. Eberley

Address 1001 West 3rd St. Sterling - Ill.

Telephone MA5 3656

Place of Employment [...] Drug Store

Occupation Pharmacist

Education High School - Pharmacy College

Special Training Commercial pilot and

Military Service Instrument Flight Instructor Navigator Army Air Corps

2. Date of Observation May 6, 1945 or June 18

Time PM

Time Zone Okinawa

3. Locality of Observation East of Okinawa

4. How long did you see the object? 2 minutes

5. Please describe weather conditions and the type of sky; i.e., bright daylight, nighttime, dusk etc. Very few clouds

6. Position of the Sun or Moon in relation to the object and to you. Sun about 30° angle from the objects

7. If seen at night, twilight, or dawn, were the stars of moon visible?

8. Were there more than one object? Yes If so, please tell how many, and draw a sketch of what you saw, indicatin direction of movement, if any.

N = 1 + 3 - 3 round and 1 cigar shaped

9. Please describe the object(s) in detail. For instance, did it (they) appear solid, or only as a source of light; was it revolving, etc.? Please use additional sheet of paper, if necessary. Round disc shaped - just [...] to me looking [...]

10. Was the object brighter than the background of the sky?

11. If so, compare the brightness with the Sun, the Moon, headights, etc. Skinner - metallic - aluminum

12. Did the object(s) - (please elaborate, if you can give details.)

a. Appear to stand still at any time?
b. Suddenly speed up and rush away at any time?
c. Break into parts and explode?
d. Give off smoke?
e. Leave any visible trail?
f. Drop anything?
g. Change brightness?
h. Change shape?
i. Change color?

Disappeared behind a cigar shaped and much larger object

13. Did the object(s) at any time pass in front of, or behind of, anything? If so, please elaborate giving distance, size etc., if possible.

14. Was there any wind? If so, please give direction and speed.

15. Did you observe the object(s) through an optical instrument or other aid, windshield, windowpane, storm window, screening etc? What? From an aircraft - R5E

16. Did the object(s) have any sound? What kind? How loud?

17. Please tell if the object(s) was (were) -

a. Fuzzy or blurred.
b. Like a bright star.
c. Sharply outlined.

18. Was the object -

a. Self-luminous?
b. Dull finish?
c. Reflecting?
d. Transparent?

19. Did the object(s) rise of fall while in motion?

20. Tell the apparent size of the object(s) when compared with the following held at arm's length:

a. Pinhead
b. Pea
c. Dime
d. Nickel
e. Half dollar
f. Silver dollar
g. Orange
h. Grapefruit
i. Larger

I estimated the diameter to be about 20 feet

Or, if easier, give apparent size in inches on a ruler held at arm's length.

21. How did you happen to notice the object(s) Pilot called my attention to the object

22. Where were you and what were you doing at the time? Navigator in flight to Okinawa from Guam via [...]

23. How did the object(s) disappear from view? Behind the cigar shaped object

24. Compare the speed of the object(s) with a piston or jet aircraft at the same apparent altitude. Fantastic speed

25. Were there any conventional aircraft in the location at the time of or immediately afterwards? If so, please elaborate.

26. Please estimate the distance of the object(s) 1/4 mile

27. What was the elevation of the object(s) in the sky? 8 or 9,000 feet Please mark on this hemisphere sketch:

28. Names and addresses of other witnesses, if any.

29. Please draw a map of the locality of the observation showing North; your position; the direction from which the object(s) appeared and disappeared from view; the direction of its course over the area; roads, towns, villages, railroads, and other landmarks within a mile.

30. Is there an airport, military, governmental, or research installation in the area?

31. Have you seen other objects of an unidentified nature? If so, please describe these observations, using a separate sheet of paper. No

32. Please enclose photographs, motion pictures, news clippings, notes of radio or television programs (Include time, station and date, if possible) regarding this or similar observations, or any other background material, We will return the material to you.

33. Were you interrogated by Air Force Investigators? yes By any other federal, state, county, or local officials? If so, please state the name and rank or title of the agent, his office, and details as to where and when the questioning took place.

Were you asked or told not to reveal or discuss the incident? yes If so, were any reasons or official orders mentioned? Please elaborate carefully.

34. We should like permission to quote your name in connection with this report. This action will encourage other responsible citizens to report similar observations to NICAP. However, If you prefer, we will keep your name confidential. Please note your choice by checking the proper statement below. In any case, please fill in all parts of the form, for our own confidential files. Thank you for your cooperation.

You may use my name ( )

Keep my name confidential ( )

35. Date of filling out this report:

Signature:

Attached to the report, was this sketch, with the name “Theresa Franz” below:

The NICAP archive also contained this July 20, 1961, letter by the witness to NICAP:

To Dick [= to Rchad Hall, NICAP assistant Director]

JUL 24 1961 [Date received.]

Okinawa
1945 May 6 or June 18

July 20, 1961

Dear Sir,

Searching in my flight log book it was either May 6 or June 18, 1945 - my only two flights into Okinawa. If it was May 6 a Lt. Mc Cauley was pilot, if it was June 18 a Major Canney - don't know their initials; nor the names of the copilots or radio man.

When we landed, we were separated and interrogated individually by Army Air Force I believe, intelligence officer One of my former navigation instructors, a Sgt. OKei[?]e - I hadn't seen him for a year and didn't know where he was stationed and came to f[?] and he was a plotter in the Command Information Center for the Okinawa Island mission and he told me they had the same objects on the radar and on their plotting board and the reason he came down to flight base was to try to get a chance to talk to one of the crew who had been very close to these objects.

We were told by the intelligence officer, whose name I don't remember at all, not to discuss it among ourselves

or with anyone else. A month or two later I was transferred very suddenly out of my squadron and out of Iwo Jima Island and was called in to see an intelligence officer of the squadron there who asked a few questions about what I'd seen and then said I wasn't to say anything about it. I was a little stupid. I thought it was a real advanced or experimental plane of ours, even after my former navigation instructor told me they didn't know and were plenty worried.

I haven't seen a thing since that one time. Their speed was unbelievable when they took off to go towards the cigar shaped object.

Yours truly
Richard J. Eberly

Around the same time [1945], the crew of a Marine transport plane encountered two different types of UFOs in the skies near the same island. At a distance of about 1/4 mile in clear weather, they spotted a large, cigar-shaped object trailed by three smaller, disc-shaped objects. The discs appeared to be metallic. As they watched, the trio of discs seemed to enter into the larger object, which then flew off at tremendous speed and disappeared from view. (258)

Aircraft information:

This could only have been was the Sikorsky R5 helicopter (photo below), successor of the R4, also designated either R-5, S5, S-48, S-50, S-51 or VS-327. “R” meant “Rotative” and the letter designated helicopters in the U.S. Army at that time.

In 1945, it was used by the U.S. Army Air Forces, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guards.

The R-5E or R5E was apparently a variant of the R5A converted into dual-control helicopter; there were apparently only 5 of them. Some source call those 5 the YH-5E instead of R-5E.

However, there may be a problem here, because Eberley also indicated that on-board the observing aircraft, there was him, a pilot being either a Lt. Mc Cauley or a Major Canney, and a co-pilot and/or a radio man. This would be from 3 to 4 people onboard. The first R5 had two seats in tandem; I was unable to determine for sure whether the R-5E had two or three seats - 4-seat versions existed but only as post-war civilian versions.

Second problem, Eberley tells us about a flight from Guam to Okinawa. It would be a flight of more than 2,200 kilometers. Which is obviously out of the reach of an R5, capable of covering at best 450 kilometers.

All this leaves me with the impression that Eberley was not in an “R5E” at all but in a large B-29 bomber, or B-24 type bomber or its Navy version. But no such aircraft had a designation beginning with “R”, reserved for helicopters. And yet this “R” is clearly readable in the report.

Discussion:

Obituaries sources indicate that Richard Joseph Eberley was born on March 23, 1915, in Sterling, Whiteside County, Illinois, USA, and died at 57 on November 4, 1972 in Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois, USA.

So far I failed to find any document about him being in the Army during WWII, and did not find any information either about a Lt. Mc Cauley, pilot, of a Major Canney - this is in no manner evidence that they did not exist or weren't involved.

Evaluation:

Sources references:

* = 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	July 1, 2024	Creation, [nip1].
1.0	Patrick Gross	July 1, 2024	First published.
1.1	Patrick Gross	July 27, 2024	Addition [pre1].

ACUFO:

East of Okinawa, Japan, on May 6 or June 18, 1945:

Case number:

Summary: