USS Franklin D. Roosevelt: Silvery Sphere Photographed During Operation Mainbrace
On September 20, 1952, personnel of the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt observed and photographed a silvery sphere during Operation Mainbrace; Edward Ruppelt of Blue Book confirmed the photos were 'excellent.'
Background
About September 20, 1952, personnel of the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, participating in the Mainbrace activities, observed and photographed a silvery sphere. The object moved across the sky behind the fleet. A reporter aboard the Roosevelt took several color photos, subsequently examined by Naval Intelligence officers and by Captain Edward Ruppelt of the USAF Project Blue Book.
Ruppelt remarked: '[The pictures] turned out to be excellent. Judging by the size of the object in each successive photo, one could see that it was moving rapidly.' The possibility of a balloon being responsible was checked out, but none of the ships had launched any. A poor print of one of the photos later appeared in the Blue Book files released.