Richard Rankin Bakersfield sighting
Document coverPage 1 of 65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Serial_130 · View original on war.gov
An experienced pilot observed 10 objects flying in V-formation over Bakersfield, California on June 14, 1947 at approximately 8500 feet altitude and 350 mph, initially thought to be Navy XF5U-1 test aircraft; 7 objects returned on reverse course later that afternoon.
“At approximately 1200 noon on the 14 of June I was lying in the front yard of my home. I looked up into the sky and saw ten articles flying from the South to the North at what I would judge to be 8500 ft. The objects were flying at approximately what I would judge to be 350 miles per hour.”
Verbatim from 65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Serial_130 · View original on war.gov
Case details
- Date
- 1947-06-14
- Precision
- day
- Location
- 1806 South M Street, Bakersfield, California
- Country
- United States
- Region
- California
- Branch
- FBI
- Sensors
- eyewitness
- Shape
- Round, resembled pictures of XF5U-1 Flying Flapjack
- Altitude
- 8500 ft
Resolution
Witness initially believed them to be Navy XF5U-1 test aircraft, though only one XF5U-1 was built and never left Connecticut
Source document
Agency: FBI
File: 65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Serial_130
Case ID: 1947-FBI-22AF
View original on war.gov →Extracted via LLM. Verbatim excerpt validated.