Radar · 1952 · Tokyo
A pursuit,
over Haneda.
On 5 August 1952, USAF control-tower operators at Haneda Air Base tracked an object that a pilot pursued. The object identity was never settled.
On 5 August 1952, USAF control-tower operators at Haneda Air Base tracked an object that a pilot pursued. The object identity was never settled.
Haneda matters because it is an early military radar-visual case treated by a scientific investigator — yet the object identity remains unresolved.
USAF control-tower operators at Haneda Air Base noticed an unusually bright light and tracked it.
Documented
The tower observation is documented.
A pilot was directed to pursue the object. The pursuit is part of the case.
Documented
The pursuit is documented.
Atmospheric physicist James McDonald later treated the case in his congressional statement. The object identity remains disputed.
Debated
The object identity is disputed.
No photograph is established. The case rests on tower and pilot accounts.
Unverified
Any extraterrestrial origin is unverified.
These sources do different jobs: McDonald’s statement is the scientific treatment, and NICAP is the civilian record. Neither establishes the object identity.
The scientific treatment.
The civilian record.