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Contents
1. The 1976 Iranian UFO Incident - The basic story
2.The DSP Connection - Defense Support Platform detects an anomaly
3. The FOIA Documents - The documented proof that something happened
4 The DIA Defense Information Report Evaluation
5. The TV show "Sightings" does their investigation - Real Audio clips #1 and #2
In our opinion, one of the best UFO cases available in the public record is the 1976 Tehran, Iran UFO incident. It involved multiple witness accounts, a possible landing, and the attempt by two Iranian Air Force F-4 Phantoms to intercept the unknown.
Some of our readers are likely rolling their eyes at this point, with the mention of Iran. But before discounting the story as "so much Saddam nonsense," we must remember that we are not talking about the present-day Iran -- disjointed and terrorized by a less than level-headed government.
The Iran of 1976 was still under the administration of the Shah, and was a steadfast ally of the United States. With the benign attitude of the country toward the West at the time, one can safely accept that the Shah and the corporate infrastructure of Iran was squarely into the pockets of the United States. Their oil production and reserves were a very important logistic point for our economic game plan at that point in history.
Just as important, from a military perspective, was the fact that Iran's Air Force was not the piece-meal product of "get it where you can" hardware-procurement during this period. The United States supplied and helped maintain their aircraft, and their fighter pilots were trained and supported by our own Air Force.
With this understood, our readers can more clearly see the scope and reliability of the people involved in this incident.
The objects seen over Iran in this incident were witnessed by numerous persons, both civilian and military, from several locations. The reports do vary somewhat in description, but the fact remains that these objects could be seen both by the naked human eye and by military radar. In-fact the radar at Mehrabad airport indicated the object was the size of a Boeing 707 tanker. And some of the naked eye sightings were reported from as far away as seventy miles.
At the height of intensity during this affair, two F-4 fighters were scrambled to investigate the intruders. As these state-of-the-art, American-built aircraft approached the unknowns, they lost all of their communication and instrumentation facilities. Under these circumstances, the confused (and probably frightened) pilots were forced to turn away from the pursuit. Strangely, once the chase was abandoned, the planes regained their electronic capabilities. This effect of electrical instrument malfunction has been reported in other UFO encounters, and is quite functionally demonstrated in the Iranian incident.
An impressive breakthrough in the confirmation of this encounter was uncovered by researchers Lee Graham and Ron Reghr, of Aero-Jet in California. They confirmed that the UFO sighting over Tehran was, in fact, tracked by the United States military's DSP-1 satellite.
Some of our readers may be aware that the primary responsibility of the DSP-1 satellite is to detect the launch of ballistic missiles. This deep-space platform detects infrared heat through sensors that are mounted on the body of the satellite. ANYTHING that emits infrared heat is detected by this apparatus. It can determine different types of aircraft simply by comparing the "signature" of the infrared signals displayed by an object against an intensely complete database of all known aircraft. The DSP-1 was, as we now know, responsible for the detection of Iraqi SCUD missile launches during Operation Desert Storm.
During their investigations, Graham and Reghr have located computer print-outs from the time frame of the the Iranian UFO overflight, which show that the DSP-1 definitely detected an "anomalous object" in Iranian air space.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the ONLY case in history where we have confirmation of a UFO sighting by the DSP-1. The magnitude of this revelation should not be overlooked. It would be an interesting project to compare DSP-1 records to other reported anomalous sightings around the world.
== Bill and Glenn ==
Lee Graham was a guest on Don Ecker's UFOs Tonite radio show on 10/31/93. During the show Don and Lee talk about this particular incident.
You can listen to a Real Audio clip from the show by clicking here.
PRIORITY UNCLASSIFIED
OCT1 MSG654 PAGE 01 267 0813
ACTION: NONF-OR.
INFO:
ATCZY UW RUFK JCS 97 17 76-0810 MTMS-CCCC--RJFFHQA_.
NY CCCCC
P 2308107 SEP 76
FM JCS
INFO RUSHC/SECSTATE WASH DC
RUFAIIF/C I A
RUFOIAH/NSA WASH DC
RUFADWW/WHITE HOUSE WASH DC
RUFFHQA/CSAF WASH DC
RUFNAAA/CNO WASH DC
RUFADHD/CSA WASH DC
P 2306307 SEP 76
FM USOAO TEHRAN
TO RUFK.ICS/OIA WASH DC
INFO RUFKUCS/SECDEF DEPSECDEF WASH DC
RUFRBAA/COMIDFASTF OR
RUDOECA/CINCUSAFF LINDSEY AS GE/INCF
RHRAAB/CINCUSAFF RAMSTEIN AB GE/INOCN
RUSNAAA/FUDAC VAIHINGEN GER
RUSNAAA/UGCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GER/ECJ-2
RT
C O N F I D E N T I A L 1235 SEP76
THIS IS IR 6 846 0139 76
1. (U) IRAN
2. REPORTED UFO SIGHTING (U)
3. (U) NA
4. (U) 19 & 20 SEP 76
5. (U) TEHRAN. IRAN: 20 SEP 76
6. (U) F-6
7. (U) 6 846 008 (NOTE RO COMMENTS)
8. (U) 6 846 0139 76
9. (U) 22SEP 76
10. (U) NA
11. (U) `INITIATE' IPSP PT-1440
12. (U) USDAO. TEHRAN. IRAN
13. (U) FRANK B. MCKENZIE. COL. USAF. :DA TT
14. (U) NA
15. (U) THIS REPORT FORWARDS INFORMATION CONCERNING THE SIGHTING OF AN
UFO IN IRAN ON :19 SEPTEMBER 1976.
A. AT ABOUT 1230 AM ON 19 SEP 76 THE -------------------------------
-!--------------------------RECEIVED FOUR TELEPHONE CALLS FROM CITIZENS
LIVING IN THE SHEMIRAN AREA OF TEHRAN :SAYING
PRIORITY UNCLASSIFIED
PRIORITY UNCLASSIFIED
OCT1 MSG654 PAGE 02 267 08L3
THAT THEY HAD SEEN STRANGE OBJECTS IN THE SKY. SOME REPORTED A KIND OF
BIRD-LIKE OBJECT WHILE OTHERS REPORTED A HELICOPTER WITH A LIGHT ON.
THERE WERE NO HELICOPTERS AIRBORNE AT THAT TIME.------------------------
-!----------------------- AFTER. HE TOLD THE CITIZEN IT WAS ONLY STARS
AND HAD TALKED TO MEHRABAD TOWER HE DECIDED TO LOOK FOR HIMSELF. HE
NOTICED AN OBJECT IN THE SKY SIMILAR TO A STAR BIGGER AND BRIGHTER. HE
DECIDED TO SCRAMBLE AN F-4 FROM SHAHROKHI AFB TO INVESTIGATE.
B. AT 0130 HRS ON THE 19TH THE F-4 TOOK OFF AND PROCEEDED TO A POINT
ABOUT 40 NM NORTH OF TEHRAN. DUE TO ITS BRILLIANCE THE OBJECT WAS
EASILY VISIBLE FROM 70 MILES AWAY. AS THE F-4 APPROACHED A RANGE OF 25
NH HE LOST ALL INSTRUMENTATION AND COMMUNICTIONS (UHF AND INTERCOM).
HE BROKE OFF THE INTERCEPT AND HEADED BACK TO SHAHROKHI. WHEN THE F-4
TURNED AWAY FROM THE OBJECT AND APPARENTLY WAS NO LONGER A THREAT TO IT
THE AIRCRAFT REGAINED ALL INSTRUMENTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS. AT 0140
HRS A SECOND F-4 WAS LAUNCHED. THE BACKSEATER ACQUIRED A RADAR LOCK ON
AT 27 NH. 12 O'CLOCK HIGH POSITION WITH THE VC (RATE OF CLOSURE) AT 150
NHPH. AS THE RANGE DECREASED TO 25 NH THE OBJECT MOVED AWAY AT A SPEED
THAT WAS VISIBLE ON THE RADAR SCOPE AND STAYED AT 25 NH.
C. THE SIZE OF THE RADAR RETURN WAS COMPARABLE TO THAT OF A 707 TANKER.
THE VISUAL SIZE OF THE OBJECT WAS DIFFICULT TO DISCERN BECAUSE OF ITS
INTENSE BRILLIANCE. THE LIGHT THAT IT GAVE OFF WAS THAT OF FLASHING
STROBE LIGHTS ARRANGED IN A RECTANGULAR PATTERN AND ALTERNATING BLUE-
GREEN, RED AND ORANGE IN COLOR. THE SEQUENCE OF THE LIGHTS WAS SO FAST
THAT ALL THE COLORS COULD BE SEEN AT ONCE. THE OBJECT AND THE PURSUING
F-4 CONTINUED ON A COURSE TO THE SOUTH OF TEHRAN WHEN ANOTHER BRIGHTLY
LIGHTED OBJECT, ESTIMATED TO BE ONE HALF TO ONE THIRD THE APPARENT SIZE OF
THE MOON, CAME OUT OF THE ORIGINAL OBJECT. THIS SECOND OBJECT HEADED
STRAIGHT TOWARD THE F-4 AT A VERY FAST RATE OF SPEED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED
TO FIRE AN AIM-9 MISSILE AT THE OBJECT BUT AT THAT INSTANT HIS WEAPONS
CONTROL PANEL WENT OFF AND HE LOST ALL COMMUNICATIONS (UHF AND INTERPHONE)
AT THIS POINT THE PILOT INITIATED A TURN AND NEGATIVE G DIVE TO GET AWAY.
AS HE TURNED THE OBJEAZ FELL IN TRAIL AT WHAT APPEARED TO BE ABOUT 3-4 NH.
AS HE CONTINUED IN HIS TURN AWAY FROM THE PRIMARY OBJECT THE SECOND OBJECT
WENT TO THE INSIDE OF HIS TURN THEN RETURNED TO THE PRIMARY OBJECT FOR A
PERFECT REJOIN.
D. SHORTLY AFTER THE SECOND OBJECT JOINED UP WITH THE PRIMARY OBJECT
ANOTHER OBJECT APPEARED TO COME OUT OF THE
PRIORITY UNCLASSIFIED
PRIORITY UNCLASSIFIED OCT1 MS6654 PAGE 03 267 0813 OTHER SIDE OF THE PRIMARY OBJECT GOING STRAIGHT DOWN. AT A GREAT RATE OF SPEED. THE F-4 CREW HAD REGAINED COMMUNICATIONS AND THE WEAPONS CONTROL PANEL AND WATCHED THE OBJECT APPROACH THE GROUND ANTICIPATING A LARGE EXPLOSION. THIS OBJECT APPEARED TO COME TO REST GENTLY ON THE EARCH AND CAST A VERY BRIGHT LIGHT OVER AN AREA OF ABOUT 2-3 KILOMETERS. THE CREW DESCENDED FROM THEIR ALTITUDE OF 26H TO 15H AND CONTINUED TO OBSERVE AND MARK THE OBJECT'S POSITION. THEY HAD SOME DIFFICULTY IN ADJUSTING THEIR NIGHT VISIBILITY FOR LANDING SO AFTER ORBITING MEHRABAD A FEW TIMES THEY WENT OUT FOR A STRAIGHT IN LANDING. THERE WAS A LOT OF INTERFERENCE ON THE UHF AND EACH TIME THEY PASSED THROUGH A MAG. BEARING OF 150 DEGREE FROM EHRABAD THEY LOST THEIR COMMUNICATIONS (UHF AND INTERPHONE) AND THE INS FLUCTUATED FROM 30 DEGREES - 50 DEGREES. THE ONE CIVIL AIRLINER THAT WAS APPROACHING MEHRABAD DURING THIS SAME TIME EXPERIENCED COMMUNICATIONS FAILURE IN THE SAME VICINITY (KILO ZULU) BUT DID NOT REPORT SEEING ANYTHING. WHILE THE F-4 WAS ON A LONG FINAL APPROACH THE CREW NOTICED ANOTHER CYLINDER SHAPED OBJECT (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A T-BIRD AT 10M) WITH BRIGHT STEADY LIGHTS ON EACH END AND A FLASHER IN THE MIDDLE. WHEN QUERIED THE TOWER STATED THERE WAS NO OTHER KNOWN TRAFFIC IN THE AREA. DURING THE TIME THAT THE OBJECT PASSED OVER THE F-4 THE TOWER DID NOT HAVE A VISUAL ON IT BUT PICKED IT UP AFTER THE PILOT TOLD THEM TO LOOK BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS AND THE REFINERY. E. DURING DAYLIGHT THE F-4 CREW WAS TAKEN OUT TO THE AREA IN A HELICOPTER WHERE THE OBJECT APPARENTLY HAD LANDED. NOTHING WAS NOTICED AT THE SPOT WHERE THEY THOUGHT THE OBJECT LANDED (A DRY LAKE BED) BUT AS THEY CIRCLED OFF TO THE WEST OF THE AREA THEY PICKED UP A VERY NOTICEABLE BEEPER SIGNAL. AT THE POINT WHERE THE RETURN WAS THE LOUDEST WAS A SMALL HOUSE WITH A GARDEN. THEY LANDED AND ASKED THE PEOPLE WITHIN IF THEY HAD NOTICED ANYTHING STRANGE LAST NIGHT. THE PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT A LOUD NOISE AND A VERY BRIGHT LIGHT LIKE LIGHTNING. THE AIRCRAFT AND AREA WHERE THE OBJECT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE LANDED ARE BEING CHECKED FOR POSSIBLE RADIATION ---------------------- -!-------------------------------------------------------------------- MORE INFORMATION WILL BE FORWARDED WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. RT #9717 PTCCZYUW RUFKJCS9712 2670810:0130-CCCC 2670814 PRIORITY UNCLASSIFIED |
a) The object was seen by multiple witnesses from different locations (i.e. Shamiran, Mehrabad, and the dry lake bed) and view- points (both airborne and from the ground).
b) The credibility of many of the witnesses was high (an Air Force general, qualified aircrews, and experienced tower operators).
c) Visual sightings were confirmed by radar.
d) Similar electromagnetic effects (EME) were reported by three separate aircraft.
e) There were physiological effects on some crew members (i.e. loss of night vision due to brightness of the object).
f) An inordinate amount of maneuverability was displayed by the UFOs.
SOURCE: for this report was "Above Top Secret" by Timothy Good.
