ufo - UFOs at close sight: ACUFO catalog - Case of Necker island, Hawaii, USA, on September 12, 1947

An US Air Force report dated September 16, 1947, shows that on September 13, 1947, James G. O'Neil, intelligence agent and analyst, received a telephone call from Lt. Comdr. M. A. Young of the US Navy, search and rescue operations officer attached to the Commander of the Hawaiian Sea Frontier, informing him that a Pan American aircraft flying between Midway Island and Oahu had observed the previous day, September 12, 1947, around 05:00 GMT, an unusual object in flight.

James G. O'Neil then met with Lt. Commander Young and the Pan American pilots at the District Intelligence Office at 11:30 that same day.

In the presence of Captain R. R. Lyons, US Navy, intelligence officer of the 14th Naval District, Lt. Commander Young and the Pan American airmen were interviewed by O'Neil.

The airmen were Stanley S. Grippin, flight captain, who had been flying for Pan American for ten years, with a total of 7,000 flight hours, and flights over the North and South Atlantic as well as the Pacific Ocean between the Philippines and the American continent; and Edward B. Polhenus, second officer, who had 11 years of aviation with 1,700 flight hours, having worked for Pan American for one year on the Pacific route and having spent four years in the US Army Air Force, piloting B-24s on combat missions in the South Pacific as well as on training missions on the East Coast.

These two airmen gave Agent O'Neil the impression of being entirely reliable, intelligent, and perceptive observers, seeking to provide a factual explanation of an unusual phenomenon.

The airmen stated that their aircraft was heading east from Midway on a magnetic heading of 98°, approximately 110° true, flying at 9,000 feet and at a speed of 205 knots. The aircraft was on autopilot, Grippin was in the right seat and Polhenus in the left seat. It was night, and at around 8,000 feet there were cumulus clouds with a density of about 0.4. The sun had set approximately 45 minutes earlier.

Their aircraft had passed Necker Island at 05:36 GMT, and at 05:58 GMT, they observed a white light at about 60 degrees on the left front of the aircraft. This light, according to Grippin, resembled the light of an approaching aircraft, except that it was extremely intense. It had the color of an incandescent light without appreciable blue and without reddish tint. It appeared to be on a heading of about 350 degrees true, and when first observed, it was estimated to be about five miles away. The light grew in size and intensity, but without any change in color, until a point estimated at 1 mile to the right front of the aircraft.

The pilots prepared to switch from autopilot to manual controls when the object suddenly veered to an approximate heading of 109°, then the bright light seemed to split into two parts and took on a reddish hue. These two reddish lights did not have the intensity of the white light and appeared to be about a wingspan apart. As the object changed course, its extraordinary speed was noted. The object easily outdistanced the aircraft and the two lights seemed to go out about 30 miles ahead of the aircraft.

The entire phenomenon, according to both men, was observed for about 6 seconds. Grippin roughly estimated that the object was moving at 1,000 knots.

The two observers stated they were familiar with meteors and usual astronomical phenomena and agreed that it could have been a meteor, except for the way it maintained the same altitude. At no time did the object appear to rise above 10,000 feet nor descend below 9,500 feet. When it disappeared, the object still appeared to be at about 9,500 feet altitude. At no time did the object emit sufficient illumination to reflect on the cloud layer at 8,000 feet. The two observers were extensively questioned about the possibility of an optical illusion and the likelihood that the object had descended at an oblique angle, but both firmly stated that the object had apparently changed course and that it had seemed to maintain its altitude throughout the entire observation.

The report indicates that this information was transmitted by telephone to the Fleet Intelligence Officer, Pacific Fleet, and to A-2 - air intelligence of the 7th Air Force at Hickam Field, but none of these agencies gave an evaluation of the unidentified object.

The sighting would later be the subject of a summary sheet in the US Air Force files on unidentified flying objects (Project Sign).

In 1949, Project Sign was replaced by Project Grudge, and following the decision to review previous cases, the following explanation was given:

The case, previously classified, would enter the ufological literature with American ufologist Loren Gross in 1980; however, he was unable to read the Project Grudge explanation since he only cites the initial report and states:

There would subsequently be several brief summaries of the case, almost none of them mentioning the explanation, which is not so absurd after all.

Data:

Temporal data:

Geographical data:

Witnesses data:

Ufology data:

Classifications:

Sources:

Date:	September 12, 1947
Time:	07:58 p.m.
Duration:	6 seconds.
First known report date:	September 12, 1947
Reporting delay:	1 day.

Country:	USA
State/Department:	Hawaii
City or place:	Necker island

Number of alleged witnesses:	2
Number of known witnesses:	2
Number of named witnesses:	2

Reporting channel:	US Navy.
Visibility conditions:	Evening, 45 minutes after sunset, 0.4 cumulus at 8.000 feet.
UFO observed:	Yes.
UFO arrival observed:	Yes.
UFO departure observed:	Yes.
UFO action:	Flies, splits in two, disappears.
Witnesses action:	Observed.
Photographs:	No.
Sketch(s) by witness(es):	No.
Sketch(es) approved by witness(es):	No.
Witness(es) feelings:	Puzzled.
Witnesses interpretation:	Meteor, if not for horizontal trajectory.

Sensors:	[X] Visual: 2. [ ] Airborne radar: N/A. [ ] Directional ground radar: [ ] Height finder ground radar: [ ] Photo: [ ] Film/video: [ ] EM Effects: [ ] Failures: [ ] Damages:
Hynek:	NL
Armed / unarmed:	Unarmed.
Reliability 1-3:	3
Strangeness 1-3:	2
ACUFO:	Probable splitting meteor.

JCO/dn
(old naval station)

16 September 1947

Memo for: DIO-14ND.

Subj: "Unidentified Object in Flight Observed by Pan American Pilots.

1. At approximately 1000 on 13 September 1947, reporting agent received a telephone call from Lt. Comdr. M. A. YOUNG, USN, Air-Sea Resource Operations Officer attached to Commander Hawaiian Sea Frontier, reporting that a Pan American plane in flight from Midway Island to Oahu on the previous evening had sighted an unusual object in flight about 0500 GMT. Arrangements were made by reporting agent to meet Lt. Comdr. YOUNG and the Pan American pilots at the District Intelligence Office at 1130 that date.

2. With Captain R. R. Lyons, USN, District Intelligence Officer, 14th Naval District, present, Lt. Comdr. YOUNG and Pan American officers were interviewed by the reporting agent. They were, respectively, Stanley S. GRIPPIN, Plane Captain, who has been flying for Pan American for ten years, has 7000 hours in the air, and has flown routes over both the north and south Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean between the Philippines and the Mainland; Edward B. POLHENUS, Second Officer, who has 11 years in aviation, 1700 hours in the air, has been in with Pan American one year on the Pacific route, and for four years was in the Army Air Force flying B-24's in combat flight in the south Pacific, as well as on East Coast training duty. Both aviators impressed reporting agent as completely reliable, intelligent, and keen observers who were attempting to give a factual explanation of an unusual phenomenon.

3. The information as supplied by Pilot GRIPPIN, and concurred in by POLHENUS, is as follows: The Pan American plane was eastbound from Midway on magnetic course 98, which is approximately 110 true, flying at 9000 feet and making 205 knots. The plane was flying on the automatic pilot with GRIPPIN in the right-hand seat in the control cabin and POLHENUS in the left-hand seat. It was dark and at about 8000 feet there were cumulus clouds of about .4 density. Both agreed that the sun had set about 45 minutes previously.

4. The Pan American plane had passed Necker Island at 0536 GMT. At 0558 GMT a white light was observed about 60 degrees off the starboard bow of the plane. This light, according to GRIPPIN, appeared to be the light of an approaching airplane except that it was extremely intense. It had the color of an incandescent light without appreciable blue and no reddish tinge. The object appeared to be on a course about 350 degrees true, and when first observed was estimated to be about five miles away. The

16 September 1947

Subj: Unidentified Object in Flight Observed by Pan American Pilots.

light grew in size and intensity, but without any change in color, to a point that was estimated to be one mile off the starboard bow of the plane.

5. The pilots were about to switch from the automatic pilot to manual control when the subject veered suddenly to an approximate course of 109 degrees and then the bright light appeared to split into two parts and assumed a reddish hue. These two reddish lights did not have the intensity of the white light and appeared to be about a wing-length apart. As the object changed course, the extraordinary speed was appreciated. The object far outran the Pan American plane and the twin lights appeared to burn out at an estimated 30 miles ahead of the Pan American plane. The entire phenomenon, both agreed, was observed for about six seconds. GRIPFIN roughly estimated that the object was traveling at 1000 knots.

6. Both observers expressed familiarity with meteors and usual astronomical phenomena and agreed it could have been a meteor except for the manner in which it held altitude. At no time did the object appear to get above 10,000 feet or below 9,500 feet. When it disappeared, the object still appeared to have about 9,500 feet altitude. At no time did the object give off sufficient illumination to reflect on the cloud formation at 8,000 feet. Both observers were questioned at length about the possibility of an optical illusion and the probability of the object dropping at an oblique angle, but both firmly declared that the object apparently changed course and that it appeared to hold altitude throughout the entire time it was observed.

7. This information was passed by telephone to Fleet Intelligence Officer, Pacific Fleet, and to A-2 of the 7th Air Force at Hokum Field. No evaluation of the unidentified object was possible by any of these agencies.

JAMES G. O'NEIL
Intelligence Analyst

THIS PAGE IS UNCLASSIFIED

CHECK-LIST - UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS

Incident # 59

1. Date 12 Sept 47

2. Time 45 minutes after sunset

3. Location Midway Island to Oahu - beyond Necker Island

4. Name of observer Capt Stanley S. Griffin & 2d Officer Edward B. Polhemus

5. Occupation of observer Pilot and 2d officer, PAA

6. Address of observer N/S

7. Place of observation Beyond Necker Island (23° 34' N 164° 42' W)

8. Number of objects 1

9. Distances of object from observer 1 mile

10. Time in sight Six seconds

11. Altitude 9,500 to 10,000 ft

12. Speed 1160 MPH (1000 knots)

13. Direction of flight 350° then 109°

14. Tactics Abruptly changed course but observed horizontal flight holding altitude.

15. Sound N/S

16. Size N/S

17. Color N/S (See below - exhaust)

18. Shape N/S

19. Odor detected N/S

20. Apparent construction N/S

21. Exhaust trails N/S - light the color of an incandescent light without appreciable blue & no reddish tinge

22. Weather conditions dark - 45 minutes after sunset

23. Effort on clouds No effect on clouds

24. Sketches or photographs None

25. Manner of disappearance Appeared to burn out 30 miles ahead of PA plane

26. Remarks: (over)

THIS PAGE IS UNCLASSIFIED

Plane had just passed Necker Island at 0535 GOT. At 0558 GOT an intense white light was observed 60° off starboard bow of plane. It appeared similar to the light of an approaching plane except that it was extremely intense. The color was that of an incandescent light without appreciable blue and no reddish tinge. It appeared on a course about 350° true some 5 miles away. The light grew in intensity (but without any change in color) to a point estimated to be 60 mile off starboard bow of the plane. When the PA plane switched over to manual control the object suddenly veered to an approximate course of 109° and then the bright light appeared to split into two parts and assumed a reddish hue. These two reddish lights did not have the intensity of the white light and appeared about a wing-length apart. As it changed its course the extraordinary speed was noted. It far outraced the Pan American plane and the twin lights appeared to burn out 30 miles ahead. The entire phenomenon was observed for some six seconds. Object was estimated to be traveling 1,000 knots per hour.

NOTE: Both observers thought it could have been a meteor except for the manner in which it held altitude. At no time did it appear to get above or below 9,500 ft. When it disappeared it still seemed at about 9,500 ft. at no time did it give off sufficient illumination to reflect on the cloud formation at 8,000ft.

Both observers were questioned as to possibility of optical illusion and the probability that the object dropped at an oblique angle but both firmly declared the object apparently changed course and that it appeared to hold altitude throughout the entire time observed.

PAA plane was eastbound from Midway on magnetic course 98, which is approximately 110° true, and flying at 9,000 feet at about 205 knots. It was flying on automatic flight with Griffin in the right-hand seat in the control cabin and Polhemus in the left-hand seat. It was dark and there were cumulus clouds of about .4 density. The sun had set 45 minutes previously.

UNCLASSIFIED

Incident #59

ATIC NO. - - -
AF NO. - - -
REPORT NO. - - -
[Unreadable]
DATE OF INFO 12 Sept 1947
LOCATION Midway Island of Oahu - Beyond Necker I.
SOURCE Civilian Pilots
DATE IN TO ATIC - - -
TIME OF SIGHTING: 0558Z Sunset plus 45 Min.
COLOR White to Red
SPEED 1160 mph (1000 knots) [-]
ALTITUDE 9.500
SHAPE: Like Meteor.
SIZE: - - -
COURSE 350 degrees to 110 degrees
NO. IN [unreadable] 1
LENGTH OF THE OBSERVED 6 sec.
SOUND ---
TYPE OF OBSERVATION Aerial
MANEUVERS Abruptly changing course but altitude and horizontal flight maintained.
[Unreadable] ---
SKETCHES ---

[Handwritten: ] Meteor

Incident #59 -- beyond Neckker Island -- 12 September 1947

From the evidence at hand, it appears quite likely that the object observed was a fireball. Fireballs have been known to change course abruptly when splitting. The reported change to reddish hue from the previous color of indistinct light, the length of time in sight, and the manner of disappearance all lend support to this hypothesis. At sunset one can expect relatively slow-moving, nearly horizontal fireballs.

Even remote locations came under consideration. Word was flashed from the Air Sea Rescue Operations at the Hawaiian Sea Frontier Headquarters to Navy Intelligence office of the 14th Naval District concerning an unusual incident on September 13th, involving a Pan American airliner enroute from Midway Island to Oahu, Hawaii. On arrival in Hawaii a Lt. Comdr. H.A. Young questioned both the pilot and co-pilot to ascertain what had occurred. The pilots said their plane had been droning along uneventfully only a few miles out of Midway flying at 3,000 feet and doing 205 knots. Things were so routine at this point the airliner was put on automatic pilot. It was just after dusk and an occasional towering cumulus cloud populated the sky. The tiny speck of Necker Island had just passed below when what was at first believed to be the lights of another aircraft appeared with an exceptional brilliance. The light suddenly turned on an intercept course with the Pan American craft. As it sped up, it divided into a pair of lights and took on an ominous crimson hue. The lights winked out abruptly and nothing further happened. The pilots were alarmed at the high velocity, estimated to have been over 880 knots, and baffled at the course change and level flight of what would ordinarily be shrugged off as a meteor. Military interrogators tried repeatedly to get the pilots to say the horizontal flight path and veering motion were imaginary but the aviators turned back these efforts. Since both flyers had exceptional service records their testimony was finally accepted. Fleet Intelligence Office, Pacific Fleet, and A-2 of the 7th Air Force at Hickam Field, were alerted. What further action was taken, if any, is not disclosed. 126. Perhaps the forementioned case lacked the startling credentials of others but it does serve to illustrate the existence of possible UFO activity and military concern far from the shores of the U.S.

These US ufologists indicate that on September 12, 1947, a nighttime lights case occurred, a strange incident involving a Pan American flight eastbound from Midway Island to Oahu. Just after passing Necker Island at 1:00 a.m. local time, the crew spotted an intense incandescent white light off the starboard side of their aircraft. At first the pilot thought it might be the navigation lights of another plane, but it was far too bright for that. The flight crew tracked the unknown object and determined it held a true course of 350 degrees while holding at a steady altitude of 9,500 feet.

The captain estimated its distance from their aircraft at five miles. But just as he took the plane off automatic pilot, the light approached within one mile. After that the UFO quickly veered off to a course of 190 degrees at which time the light split into two parts. The two separate orbs then changed to a less bright reddish hue and flew in a side-to-side formation until zooming out of sight at tremendous speed, estimated at over 1,000 miles per hour. Investigators calculated the total duration of the observation at only six seconds, but as any pilot will attest to, that is a long time when an unknown object is near your aircraft. Despite the brevity of the sighting, Naval Intelligence took a great deal of interest in the case. The pilots were interviewed by Naval officers who tried to find an astronomical solution to their unprecedented encounter but realized the pilots had good familiarity with meteor phenomena. The pilots told Navy officers that they were certain they had not seen a meteor because it consistently held a steady altitude. The captain of the flight had ten years flying experience with Pan American with 7,000 hours in the air, much of it over the Atlantic and Pacific air routes. His second officer had 1,700 hours and eleven years of flying experience-four years of which were spent in B-24s flying East Coast training duty and combat missions in the South Pacific. Both pilots impressed intelligence officers as keen observers.

The source is detailed as the Project Blue Book Files, Roll No. 2, Case 85, listed as Incident # 59 in 1947 era documents.

1250: 1947/09/13 00:00 1 164:42:00 O 23:35:00 N 3331 NAM USA HWI 5:9
NECKER ISL,HI:BBK#59:PAA CREW:NLT SPLITS/2:TURN TWRD AIRLINER:WINK OUT+GONE
Ref#131 GROSS,L.:UFOS a HISTORY-1947 6 books Page No. 64: EN-VOL

French ufologist Dominique Weinstein compiled a catalog of the cases of UFOs observed from aircraft. This case appears in the February 2001, 6th edition, of his catalog as:

DATE	47.09.12
TIME	05:58ZT
COUNTRY	USA
PLACE	Necker Island, Hawai 23°34N / 164°42W
	A
TYPE OF PLANE AND WITNESSES	a Pan Am airliner crew
UFO DESCRIPTION	one bright light split in two, moved towards the plane then disappeared
Radar
G
X
E
SOURCES	345 03/13.3

UFOs a history - volume 1 - 1947, Loren Gross (Arcturus Books, 1991)

Project 1947 Reports, newsclippings and documents (cases from Jan Aldrich and Barry Greenwood)

USAF Project Blue Book 16 mm microfilms from Maxwell AFB (13.3 = roll 3, 13.10 = roll 10, .....) [Roll 3.]

1947, September 13

USA, Necker island, Hawaii

The crew of a Pan Am flight saw a bright light split in two, approach their aircraft, and then disappear. (Project ACUFOE, catalogue 1999, Dominique Weinstein)

Sept. 13, (11? 12?), 1947; Midway Island to Oahu, Hawaii, past Necker Island (BBU) [= "Blue Book Unkown"] 6:58 p.m. Pan Am airliner crew (military air flight?) saw a bright light with no blue or red tinge split in 2 move towards the plane then disappear (first heading 350° then 109° at 9,50010,000 ft traveling at 1,000 knots or about 1,200 mph). (Possible meteor?) (McDonald list; Project 1947; FOIA; FUFOR Index; Mary Castner/CUFOS)

Brad Sparks indicates that on September 12, 1947, Capt. Stanley S. Griffin, pilot, and 2nd Officer Edward B. Polhemus on Pan Am airline flight (maybe a military air flight?) heading east at 110° True at 9,000 ft and 205 knots (236 mph) from Midway Island to Oahu, Hawaii, when about 90 miles past Necker Island (23°34' N, 164°42' W). at 6:58 p.m. (Bering Standard Time), saw a bright white light with no blue or red tinge about 60° to the right, 2 o’clock position, about 5 miles away, first heading 350° - almost due North, approaching to 1 mile while increasing in apparent brightness still on the right side of the airliner.

When pilot the switched, or was about to switch, from autopilot to manual the object "abruptly" changed course to 109° (paralleling course of airliner to within 1° ?) while maintaining altitude at 9,500-10,000 feet, then split into two reddish objects about a "wing length" apart - maybe 100 feet? - then disappeared traveling at 1,000 knots (1,200 mph), burning out about 30 miles ahead of airliner.

He indicates that his sources are the McDonald list; Project 1947; FOIA documents; Blue Book Sign Microfilm Roll 1, pp. 611-7.

Date: Sept. 13, (11? 12?), 1947 BBU
Location: Midway Island to Oahu, Hawaii, past Necker Island
Time: 6:58 p.m.
Summary: Pan Am airline crew (military air flight?) saw a bright light with no blue or red tinge split in 2 moves towards the plane then disappear (first heading 350° then 109° at 9,50010,000 ft traveling at 1,000 knots or about 1,200 mph). (Possible meteor?)
Source: McDonald list; Project 1947; FOIA; FUFOR Index; Mary Castner/CUFO

September 13, 1947 – Midway Island to Oahu, Hawaii, past Necker Island (at 28°34′ or 23°35′ ?N, 164°42′ W). 6:58 p.m. Pan Am airliner crew (military air flight?) saw a bright light with no blue or red tinge split in 2 move towards the plane then disappear (first heading 350° then 109° at 9,500 10,000 ft traveling at 1,000 knots or about 1,200 mph). (Possible meteor?) (McDonald list; Project 1947; FOIA; FUFOR Index; Mary Castner/CUFOSUFO investigations by USAF Project Blue Book.

Category 11 Case Directory
SIGHTINGS FROM AIRCRAFT

Preliminary Rating: 5

AVCAT is a special project being conducted by NICAP, with the help and cooperation of the original compiler of AIRCAT, Dr. Richard Haines, and other sources, to create a comprehensive listing of sightings from aircraft with detailed documentation from these sources, including Projects SIGN, GRUDGE & BLUE BOOK.

Air Crew Encounters Light That Splits In Two

Sept. 13, 1947

Midway Island to Oahu, Hawaii

6:58 p.m. local
Duration 6 secs
aircraft
Nr. Hawaii
Civilian
Observers, crew
No EMI
No radar contact

Brad Sparks:

Sept. 13 [11? 12?], 1947; Midway Island to Oahu, Hawaii, past Necker Island (BBU)

6:58 p.m. Pan Am airliner crew [military air flight?] saw a bright light with no blue or red tinge split in 2 move towards the plane then disappear [first heading 350° then 109° at 9,50010,000 ft traveling at 1,000 knots or about 1,200 mph]. [Possible meteor?] (McDonald list; Project 1947; FOIA; FUFOR Index; Mary Castner/CUFOS)

Dan Wilson:

Sept. 12, 1947; Midway Island to Oahu, Hawaii, past Necker Island

The CHECK LIST - UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS, gives the time of the sighting at 45 minutes past sunset. Seems to be a civilian flight. Duration, 6 seconds.

Detailed reports and documents

reports/470913midway_report2.htm (Loren Gross/Fran Ridge)
reports/470913midway_report.htm (Dan Wilson)

Aircraft information:

We know the plane was a Pan American civilian plane with a crew of two; thus an unarmed civilian transport plane, likely a DC-3 or a DC-4 (photo below).

Discussion:

The explanation by the US Air Force's Project Grudge seems quite plausible to me.

Evaluation:

Sources references:

* = Source is available to me.
? = Source I am told about but could not get so far. Help needed.

Main author:	Patrick Gross
Contributors:	None
Reviewers:	None
Editor:	Patrick Gross

Version:	Create/changed by:	Date:	Description:
0.1	Patrick Gross	July 3, 2026	Creation, [aaf1], [aaf2], [afg1], [lgs1], [mhc1], [lhh1], [dwn1], [gvo1], [fre1], [bss1], [tai1], [mid1], [nip1].
1.0	Patrick Gross	July 3, 2026	First published.

ACUFO:

Case number:

Summary: