Today in UFO History

October 15, 1948 - Fukuoka, Japan:

The Fukuoka Radar-Visual UFO Incident

On October 15, 1948, a U.S. Air Force F-61 Black Widow night fighter encountered a mysterious flying object approximately 50 miles northwest of Fukuoka, Japan, in one of the earliest documented military radar-visual UFO incidents.

At approximately 11:05 PM, pilot First Lieutenant Oliver Hemphill Jr. and radar operator Second Lieutenant Barton Halter detected an unidentified object on their aircraft's radar. Initially traveling at an estimated 200 mph, the object suddenly accelerated as the fighter approached.

Over the next ten minutes, the crew reportedly attempted six interceptions, but the object repeatedly evaded them, allegedly reaching speeds of 1,200 mph and performing sharp maneuvers beyond the capabilities of conventional aircraft.

During one approach, Hemphill briefly observed a bullet-shaped object approximately 20–30 feet long, silhouetted against moonlit clouds. It appeared to have no wings, tail, or visible exhaust.

The encounter was investigated by Project Sign, the U.S. Air Force's early UFO investigation program. Although the object appeared on the fighter's onboard radar, ground-based radar stations did not independently confirm its presence.

The case was later classified as Unidentified in Project Blue Book records. While the extraordinary speed estimates remain unverified, the combination of military witnesses, radar observations, and repeated interception attempts makes the Fukuoka incident one of the most intriguing early UFO encounters.