E-006346LANDMARK CASE · HIGH CORROBORATIONDATE PRECISION: exactRECORD COMPLETENESS: 100%
Rutledge Texas Chase and Apparent Landing
January 10, 1961Wichita Falls-Benjamin corridor, Texas, United States
Pilot W. K. Rutledge and passenger George Thomas reported following a brilliant red object from Wichita Falls across north Texas until it slowed, descended, and appeared to land southwest of Benjamin. Law officers searched the area and Air Force personnel interviewed the witnesses the next day.
Claims are displayed with the source wording, locator, relationship and verification state. Competing claims remain separate rather than being averaged into a single answer.
“Rutledge and Thomas reported following a brilliant red object from Wichita Falls through several north-Texas towns until it slowed, descended in a glide, and appeared to land four to five miles southwest of Benjamin.”
“Law officers searched for the apparent landing location, but communication problems prevented precise guidance and the next-day search did not establish a physical trace in Hall's account.”
SRC-002107 · Search effort and absence of established physical trace; uploaded PDF pp. 67-68
SUPPORTS
CLAIM-689118reported
“Hall says Air Force Lt. McClure and a sergeant interviewed Rutledge and Thomas the next day and that Rutledge filled out what appeared to be a standard USAF Technical Information Sheet.”
“Hall argues that airline and military pilots are unusually experienced sky observers because their work requires repeated exposure to weather, aircraft, meteors, planets, and aviation hazards.”
“Hall notes that airline pilots were included in the CIRVIS vital-intelligence reporting system and cites 1954 meetings between airline representatives and MATS intelligence to speed reporting of unusual aerial objects.”