Document · 5 March 1954
Project Blue Book case files: Nouasseur, French Morocco, March 1954
The Project Blue Book files on the sightings of March 1954 at Nouasseur Air Depot (later Nouasseur Air Base), near Casablanca, French Morocco, from the National Archives' sanitized Blue Book case files (microfilm T1206, roll 20). Our copy joins three NARA file units: two record cards for 5 March (NARA ID 28957771); the case file proper (28957774), with the later record card, the 736th AC&W Squadron's messages and controller's log, the 1975-1 AACS detachment's tower log, the base intelligence officer's report on AF Form 112 and the OSI special inquiry with the crews' interviews; and the first two pages of 28957904, the record card and message for the F-86F sighting of 12 March (the rest of that unit belongs to an unrelated Greenland case).
The pages are poor microfilm images, several printed in negative; our copy was assembled from NARA's page images, and the record cards, the OSI synopsis and the paragraphs cited in our files carry a transcription made from the scan above their OCR.
Sources: National Archives, Project Blue Book (NARA IDs 28957771, 28957774, 28957904)
Facts and claims
- documented The later Project 10073 record for 5–7 March 1954 at Nouasseur gives the source as “Military” and a three-part conclusion: “1. Radar - Ground Reflection 2. Air Visual - Insufficient Data (2135Z) 3. UNIDENTIFIED (1918, 1938, 1949”. Its summary: “Pilots of KC-97, C-47 and C-54 reported UFO making passes at them at various times. One radar site displayed stationary target on scope.” Source: doc-bluebook-nouasseur-1954.pdf
- documented The earlier ATIC record card for 5 March 1954 (ATIC #183974) has only the comment “Probably ground reflection due to inversion.” Source: doc-bluebook-nouasseur-1954.pdf
- documented The Air Force Office of Special Investigations report by Special Agent Francis J. Mousseau (dated 15 March 1954, forwarded to ATIC on 25 June) finds that the targets of Radar Site #1 were “believed to be due to "atmospheric phenomena"” and that those of the Nouasseur GCA radar were “known, permanent targets”, and that pilots from three of five aircraft reported one or two white lights approaching on the downwind leg, described as a landing light or a two-ship formation, possibly jets. Source: doc-bluebook-nouasseur-1954.pdf
- documented The record for 12 March 1954 (an F-86F pilot of the 357th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at 30,000 feet, about 30 seconds) reads “Possible a/c, however, insufficient data to conclude”, conclusion “INSUFFICIENT DATA”. Source: doc-bluebook-nouasseur-1954.pdf
Connected files
Programs
- Project Blue Book (case file of)
Incidents
- Nouasseur Air Depot radar and aircrew sightings (documents)
Mentioned in this file
- National Archives and Records Administration (Organization)
More documents
- Project Blue Book case file: Haneda AFB, Japan, August 1952
- Project Blue Book case files: Chorwon, Korea, May 1952
- Brazilian Air Defence Command report on the events of 19–20 May 1986 ("Official UFO Night")
- Spanish Air Force file 670603: aircraft and radar encounter over Montánchez, 3 June 1967
- Project Blue Book case file: Minot AFB, North Dakota, October 1968
- Project Blue Book file: Trindade Island, Brazil, 16 January 1958
Links
- National Archives catalog — Nouasseur French Morocco, March 1954 (NARA ID 28957771)
- National Archives catalog — Nouasseur, French Morocco, March 1954 (NARA ID 28957774)
- National Archives catalog — Nouasseur AFB, French Morocco, March 1954 (NARA ID 28957904)