Why is there a missing page in the US National Archives from the Blue Book file regarding the notable 1953 Lockheed UFO sighting involving Kelly Johnson?
On the afternoon of December 16, 1953, Kelly Johnson and his wife spotted something in the sky from their California ranch, which Johnson suspected might be a UFO. Unbeknownst to him at the time, several Lockheed employees—including Roy Wimmer, Rudy Thoren, Joseph Ware, and Phil Colman—were flying offshore and also witnessed what they believed to be a flying saucer (Charlie Grugan was present on the aircraft but there is no statement confirming whether he saw the object). The following day, Johnson spoke with the other witnesses and had them write their accounts; he then submitted these statements to the Air Force, including his own and those from Thoren, Wimmer, Colman, and Ware.
I’ve heard this story multiple times. There’s an excellent reenactment of the events in a YouTube video, and the Blue Book file itself can be accessed through various sources, including the US National Archives. My interest in this incident has grown, particularly after references by Steve Justice, who described it as a pivotal moment that sparked his intrigue in UFOs.
Today, I revisited the details of the event on the CUFOS website, which provides an insightful summary. Notably, Kelly Johnson mentions in his testimony that he had been interested in UFOs for “at least five years,” which stood out to me since it would imply a fascination beginning around 1948, shortly after the Roswell incident. The CUFOS article even raises the question: “What occurred around 1948 to transform Johnson into a believer?”
Curious about the original documents, I searched archive.org and the US National Archives. Interestingly, the second page of Johnson’s statement, which details his five-year interest in UFOs and a prior encounter with his wife, is missing. While the first page is available, the subsequent page is nowhere to be found. Crucially, Johnson discusses sketches on this missing page, including one related to a sighting from November 1951.
Here’s the missing text, courtesy of the NICAP website and Project1947, highlighted in italics:
On the morning of December 17th, I returned to work, having been absent for about a week, and met with Mr. Wassell, Assistant Chief Engineer, and Mr. Carl Haddon, Chief Project Engineer, along with Mr. Rudy Thoren. Mr. Thoren stated that he had seen a flying saucer the day before. I immediately interrupted him, eager to describe my own experience. After sharing my account, Mr. Thoren was astonished and detailed his experience, as did our engineering test pilot Mr. Roy Wimmer, flight engineer Joe Ware, and chief aerodynamicist P.A. Colman, all of whom witnessed the object as described in Mr. Thoren’s memo.
I should also mention that Mrs. Johnson and I saw an object a couple of years ago that I believed to be a saucer, traveling west of Brents Junction, California. On that dark night, I could only see a distinct flame or emanation, as depicted in the attached sketch. The object moved quickly from east to west, silently, with a striking blue flame that had
This is a fascinating post that dives deep into the mysterious aspects of UFO documentation, particularly regarding the Lockheed UFO sighting involving Kelly Johnson. The missing page in the Blue Book file certainly raises eyebrows and prompts questions about the handling and preservation of these historical records.
It’s curious that both Kelly Johnson’s detailed testimony regarding his five-year interest in UFOs and the claims about earlier sightings are missing. Given his prominent position at Lockheed, one would expect his reports to be meticulously maintained. The absence of this specific page makes one ponder whether it was simply an archival oversight or if there’s something more deliberate about its disappearance.
The reference to the 1951 encounter is particularly intriguing, as it suggests an earlier experience that shaped Johnson’s beliefs long before the well-documented 1953 sighting. This could potentially indicate that there were more UFO-related experiences among Lockheed personnel than we currently know, creating a richer narrative about the era’s interest in unidentified flying objects.
Moreover, the mention of a potential second missing page in Joseph Ware’s statement, which includes an accompanying map, further adds to the mystery. It seems like there could be valuable context in those omitted pieces of information.
This scenario illustrates how UFO documentation is often riddled with gaps, mistakes, and the possibility of redacted information, which fuels much of the speculation surrounding these encounters. I share your curiosity about Johnson’s earlier experiences and his strong stance on the existence of flying saucers. Maybe further investigation could yield more insights into his beliefs and any other undocumented encounters from that time.
Thanks for sharing this thought-provoking information and for the links to additional sources! It certainly leaves us pondering the many unanswered questions surrounding these historical UFO sightings.