"Captain Alvah M. Reida was piloting a B-29 bomber based at Kharagapur, India, on a mission over Palembang, Sumatra, when his right gunner and co-pilot noticed a sphere 'probably five or six feet in diameter, of a very bright and intense red or orange in color' that constantly throbbed, about 12,500 ft off the starboard wing..."
I was on a mission from Ceylon, bombing Palembang,
Sumatra. The date was August 10, 1944, time shortly after midnight. There were
50 planes on the strike going in on the target at about 2 or 3 minute
intervals. My plane was the last one in on the target and the assignment was
for us to bomb, then drop photo flash bombs, attached to parachutes, make a few
runs over the target area, photographing damage from the preceding planes.
The weather was broken clouds,
with an overcast above us. Our altitude was 14,000', indicated air speed about
210 mph.
While in the general target
area we were exposed to sporadic flak fire, but immediately after leaving this
area it ceased. At about 20 or 30 minutes later the right gunner and my co-pilot
reported a strange object pacing us about 500 yards off the starboard wing. At
that distance it appeared as a spherical object, probably 5' or 6' in diameter,
of a very bright and intense red or orange in color. It seemed to have a halo
effect.
My gunner reported it coming
in from about five o'clock position at our level. It seemed to throb or vibrate
constantly. Assuming it was some kind of radio controlled object sent to pace
us, I went into evasive action, changing direction constantly as much as 90°
and altitude about 2000'. It followed our every maneuver for about 8 minutes,
always holding a position of about 500 yards out and about 2 o'clock in
relation to the plane. When it left, it made an abrupt 90° turn, up and
accelerating rapidly, it disappeared in the overcast.
Capt. Reida added:
During the strike evaluation
and interrogation following this mission, I made a detailed report to
Intelligence, thinking it was some new type of radio controlled missile or
weapon.
Source: http://thenightsky.org/paced.html
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