Walesville, New York: F-94 Starfire Crashes Pursuing UFO, Kills Family of Four
On July 1, 1954, an F-94 Starfire scrambled from Griffiss AFB to intercept a radar-tracked unknown suffered suffocating heat upon closing with a gleaming disc. The jet crashed in Walesville, killing a family of four and injuring five.
Background
The Intercept
Tragedy struck the town of Walesville, New York on July 1, 1954: before noon, air traffic controllers at Griffiss AFB tracked an unknown moving across the state. An F-94 Starfire with a two-man crew was scrambled. Onboard radar vectored the plane to the targeted area. Breaking through cloud cover, the men spotted a gleaming disc.
Suffocating Heat
As they closed in, a suffocating heat suddenly filled the cockpit. They were unable to continue and bailed out. The jet careened downward, striking a building in the town then a passing automobile. Its occupants — a couple and their two children — were killed. Five others nearby were injured.
Cover-Up
The pilot and radar operator parachuted to safety outside the town. They were still dazed from the experience when a news reporter came upon them. The pilot was conveying to him the circumstances in the air and the onset of extreme heat when a sedan with an Air Force logo arrived. The men were whisked into the car, which immediately left.
Significance
This is one of the most tragic UFO-related incidents in history — four civilians killed as a direct consequence of a military UFO intercept. The suffocating heat effect reported by the crew has parallels with the 1953 Norfolk Naval encounter and other EM/thermal effects cases.
Significance
Four civilians killed in F-94 crash during UFO intercept — the most lethal known consequence of a military UFO pursuit.