- On the night of 22 December, 2001, a strange thing happened
at Thule, Greenland. They received an unexpected and highly unusual visitor.
A U.S. Air Force B-50 Bomber, a type that has not been in operational service
in almost half a century, of which there are only three known flyable examples
in the world, today, seemingly dropped in from "nowhere". The
aircraft, declared lost on that very same date, en route to that very same
place, in 1948, suddenly appeared on radar, and began broadcasting a standard
(for 1948) Identification and Positioning report which was received at
Thule on a harmonic of a long obsolete Air Force Frequency. The aircraft
was in contact with the base for just over an hour, before dropping from
radar and ceasing transmission with a final, rather enigmatic "Thule
Tower, this it King Bird Five Zero, we are ten knots out. We should be
able to see you, but we can't. Light up the night". Assuming a downed
aircraft, a search party was dispatched at first light, braving temperatures
of -52 Celsius, and a fierce winter storm, to attempt a rescue. Approximately
twelve miles out from the main runway of Thule AFB, the aircraft was found,
belly landed in four meters of snow, with a dead crew and no major damage.
A coroner's report stated that the crew, whose apparent ages ranged from
the early forties for the pilot, down to the late teens or early twenties
had died of exposure and hypothermia some eight to ten hours before the
arrival of the rescue party.
-
- On 26 December, 2001, our source in Thule reported that
the aircraft had been brought in to Thule AFB by heavy ground transport
and was undergoing rather minor maintaince, which was described as "mostly
cosmetic" with the exception of "three or four bent propeller
blades and some undercarriage scarring".
-
- At 0:10 Zulu (GMT), 31 December, 2001, I was notified
by my source that as of two hours before... which would be 11:10 Zulu,
30 December, 2001, that King Bird was in taxing for take-off position at
Thule, AFB, Greenland, bound for an "undisclosed destination"
in the U.S. Weather conditions, at the time, were reported as being "excellent"
in the area.
-
- Given the known speed, of this type aircraft, it should
have, and apparently did, cross the U.S. Coastline within the following
20 hours... at which time, the aircraft was at the extreme end of it's
operational range, and had to land, almost immediately, for fuel, or be
refueled in mid air... which this aircraft was reportedly incapable of,
even if there were an existing tanker-type aircraft in current U.S. inventory
capable of flying slow enough to match up with the B-50, whose top speed
is only 375 miles per hour.
-
- Given the known range and speed of this type aircraft,
my personal suspicion was that the first stop would be either in New Jersey
at McGuire AFB, or at Gander, Newfoundland, the "traditional"
stopover for propeller powered Trans-Atlantic flights, or in Delaware.
My source had no clue as to the destination of the flight, as it had been
given to him only as an "undisclosed location".
-
- Armed with this information, I sent out an "Alert"
via the internet to several paranormal societies and groups along the Eastern
U.S. seaboard, and in Eastern Canada, and posted a similar message on several
very high traffic Paranormal-related Internet sites. It stated:
-
- "If you see or hear a LARGE propeller driven plane
overhead, within the next 18 to 22 hours, please take note, and if possible
photograph, and please notify me by email at kommissar@mtu-net.ru . This
is a fairly large aircraft, of an obsolete type, and will most likely be
the only PROPELLER DRIVEN aircraft of it's size in the air. It has four
engines, and will make considerable noise, even at altitude..."
-
- In the time that has passed since this release, a great
deal of new information has come to light, and as many new questions.
-
- The "King Bird" designation seems to have been
the call sign for this aircraft, not it's type. A KB-50 was an aerial tanker
variant, and the aircraft in question was not a tanker. It seems to be
a standard production B-50. My source says that the serial number, which
has been obliterated since recovery is, in fact, in the 47-xxxxxx
series, and that is why he was calling it a "D" model. My source
is highly placed at Thule AFB, but has not been inside the aircraft, only
seen it from outside. I am hoping that he can get to someone in maintaince,
and get some details, like motor numbers. That would make a positive ID
on the plane much easier. My source assumes that "King Bird"
was the call sign of a "flight leader", possibly a more sophisticated
aircraft than the others in the flight. He suggested a B-50 leading a flight
of older B-29's (some of which were still in service in 1948) or earlier
model B-50's.
-
- The aircraft seems to have been part of the SAC "ready
force" that made a more or less constant rotation to Thule from McGuire
at that time. My source was very specific, however, in mentioning to me
that the aircraft was not visibly equipped for mid-air refueling. This
would place manufacture of this particular aircraft very early in the production
run.
-
- There have been, now, three possible sightings of the
aircraft crossing the U.S. Coast, all are consistent with time of takeoff,
and the known speed and range of this aircraft, and seem to indicate McGuire
AFB, New Jersey as the most probable destination, as two of the sightings
were in northern New Jersey, and the third in New York, just over
the New Jersey StateLine. Of these, two of the parties heard
the plane pass over, but were unable to see it due to the time it took
them to get outside. The third wittiness actually saw the aircraft, at
altitude, and the description seems to match the B-50 closely enough to
at least assume that they saw the "right" plane. The
aircraft has not been observed to have left the area, as yet, and since
this is the case, the area is being carefully watched by several people
who are interested in this "project". I have hopes that one
of them will be able to get a photo.
-
- One wittiness writes:
-
- "I live in Sussex County, NJ which is in the upper
northwestern part of the
- state. I'm only about five miles below the NY state
border. I'm not sure of
- the exact time as I wasn't really paying attention.
But I'm sure I heard it
- between 4:00 - 5:00 PM EST. It definitely sounded like
a large prop plane
- flying not too far away. We get quite a few prop planes
that fly through
- this area, but this one caught my attention as being
much louder and bigger
- than usual. However, I quickly forgot about it until
I read your post. I
- hope this helps you"
-
- Another witness, also in upstate New Jersey, states in
a response to one of the internet postings:
-
- "If that is so, then the one I just heard a few
minutes ago would be the right one".
-
- Still another says:
-
- "Oh my God I think I heard it fly overhead just
awhile ago. I'm here in Northern NJ and I swear I heard a large prop driven
plane fly past. I thought it was extremely strange by how loud it sounded.
This s not a joke, I really did hear this. Is this that mystery plane that
Jim was talking about in his previous posts?"
-
- My source did not believe, nor do I feel that McGuire
will be the final stop. More than likely the aircraft will remain there
for several days, in hopes that no news "leak" will develop and
the "story" get out. After that, King Bird Five Zero will most
likely be sent on to a different site, most likely Wright Patterson AFB
in Ohio, or Edwards AFB in California... which are equipped for Research
and Development and Testing, and have extensive maintaince facilities and
laboratories. Either of these bases should be well within the range of
this aircraft, if it leaves McGuire AFB, or any base on the Eastern Seaboard,
for that matter, with a full fuel load. Another possible destination might
be Kelly AFB in San Antonio, Texas. Kelly is being deactivated, but this
kind of status might well fit in with any "secrecy" plan, and
Kelly was once the largest aircraft maintaince facility in the Continental
U.S. It was at one time the Technical School for maintaince personnel on
this type of aircraft, and most likely has ideal facilities for it's close
examination.
-
- The "plot thickens" as they say, and, in the
words of the immortal Sherlock Holmes, "the game's afoot". What
actually happened to King Bird Five Zero? What happened to her crew what
really did end their lives? Did the pane and her crew actually take off
in 1948, only to come to earth over half a century later? What really happened
over the frigid waters of the North Atlantic fifty-three years ago? Why
is the U.S. Air Force going to so much trouble to conceal the return and
destination of this aircraft?
-
- Who knows the answers to these questions? Someone does...
-
- As time passes, it would appear that the mystery of King
Bird Five Zero seems to grow and gain in proportion More and more questions
arise, and more "unusual" coincidences come to light. For some
reason, this was not exactly unforeseen or unexpected, however, the scope
of the story would seem somewhat broader than first suspected.
-
- On the morning of 3 January, yet another report of a
possible sighting of what is rapidly becoming one of the biggest aviation
mysteries since the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, hit my desk. The author
states:
-
- Jim,
-
- I live in Toms River, NJ, at the Jersey shore, with Lakehurst
Naval Air Station located a few miles to the northwest, and McGuire AFB
and then Fort Dix a few miles further west of Lakehurst. Your message appeared
on my message board as 12/30/01 at 8:17 pm (EST). Some time around 6:15
pm either on the 30th or the 31st,something huge and odd-sounding flew
overhead in the dark, traveling from the ocean and heading inland (westerly
direction). I even went outside and looked up, but saw no lights. I am
certain of the time, because my husband had just left for work, and I was
about to go get ready myself. Could have been your plane; then again, odd-sounding
military stuff is always flying overhead here.
-
- Nancy
-
- The italics are my own. I use them to highlight two important
points. First of all, it is highly unusual for any aircraft to fly, in
darkness, or near darkness, without running lights visible. It is even
more unusual for this to take place in the close proximity of a major airport
(there are four in this area) or a major military installation (as the
writer points out, there are three in the immediate area). It far more
unusual, still, for a large multi-engine aircraft to fly in such a manner.
In fact, this violates every known law, rule and regulation involved in
night flying especially over a populated area let alone in the close proximity
of a military installation.
-
- This brings into focus the second point. This area is,
in fact, a high traffic area for military flights flights which have, in
fact, been stepped up since the 11 September terrorist attacks on the World
Trade Center less than half an hour's flying time away, and the Pentagon.
Owing to the current levels of security in the United States, it is inconceivable
that any aircraft would violate so many rules and regulations, especially
a large aircraft, which is almost certain to draw attention from both the
general public and the military unwanted attention significantly, if that
aircraft is of a type (a large propeller driven aircraft) that is "unique"
in it's own right, simply out or rarity.
-
- Unless someone on all of those installations has been
warned to expect the arrival of a large, multi-engine, propeller driven
aircraft, "running dark".
-
- Yet another writer brought up the fact that King Bird
Five Zero is not the only heavy bomber to go down on Thule's glacier. In
1968, there was a crash involving a B-52 at Thule AFB. This aircraft, also
a part of the SAC (Strategic Air Command) "Alert Force", was
carrying a nuclear device which was jettisoned over the Atlantic Ocean,
shortly before the plane, itself, crashlanded on the Greenland coast. .This
incident was kept hush-hush by the United States Government, until 1977,
and only then revealed to the governments involved. The nuclear device
still sits on the ocean floor.
-
- Also Thule AFB was not built (officially) until the early
1950's. Either King Bird Five Zero was headed for another Air Force Base
in December of 1948 something that was impossible given the range of the
aircraft, or, far more likely, there was a Thule that no one knew of another
"secret" of the "Cold War". Maybe the plane did come
out of a time warp. Maybe the crew simply saw Thule Air Force Base in the
distance, and headed for it, as the closest possible safe landing Their
radio transmissions certainly do not support this. They seemed to know
exactly where they were heading, if not when.
-
- Several readers have asked a very simple question, but
one that is most interesting by way of answer:
-
- "Where on earth could a trained pilot and aircrew
be found to fly this kind of aircraft one that has been obsolete for many
years".
-
- Several theories have been put forward, ranging form
the use retirees, brought back to active service specifically for the task,
to the use of civilian pilots, to a "request" for an air crew
from an "allied" nation, which still uses this type of aircraft,
or some variant aircraft with the same engines and flying characteristics
The truth is, the search did not have to be that widespread.
-
- Interestingly enough, there are most likely still pilots
in the U.S. Air Force although very senior ones who have some hours in
this type of aircraft. The C-97, was a transport aircraft, using the same
power plants as the B-50 bomber. However, this aircraft has not been of
inventory as long as the B-50. Also there was a tanker variant of the
B-50 that went into service with SAC, very briefly, to fill the gap just
before the KC-135 came online in the early sixtes. These aircraft were
replaced fairly quickly... they seem to have entered service in '56 or
'57, as the B-50 was withdrawn as a bomber, and have been phased out around
the early 1960's, as the KC-135 (on a Boeing 707 passenger jet airframe)
came into the line... BUT... apparently there were two or three of the
venerable old birds still around as late as '65/66, providing tanker support
for the VIETNAMESE Air Force... which were still flying Bearcats and Corsairs,
along with some later types... That means that there are, most likely,
some pilots around who are certified in this type, and have a few hours
in them.
-
- The B-50 was also the testbed aircraft for the early
"X" planes, and NASA had one of them around well into the early
1970's that it used for weather research and tracking purposes Also, the
"Guppy" and "Superguppy" that is used by NASA to ferry
the space shuttle, and other "oversized" cargo, is nothing more
than a modified C-97, which has the same Pratt & Whitney R4360-35's
as King Bird. Interesting... there's several of those aircraft in use.
-
- The U.S. never, as far as can be determined, sold the
B-50, or any variant of it to any foreign government. However, the C-97
was fairly common, and was sold abroad... and... this aircraft as
pointed out earlier, had the same power plants as the B-50 Bomber. Still,
there weren't many of those "crowd killers" (a nickname given
to the plane by those who flew them for fairly obvious reasons) built.
Very few, if any, were ever operated commercially, but the type did stay
in service somewhat longer than the B-50, so this could well be another
possible source of a pilot and air crew, both domestically and abroad.
-
- A third option is this. Since the B-50 is a turboshaft
aircraft, flying it, from a pilot's angle, would not be vastly different
from flying a Lockheed C-130, which which are present in abundance at Thule.
This is speculation, but considering the fact that Thule is not exactly
the "garden paradise of the world", and there are few, if any
personnel there who went there voluntarily, or without some kind of strong
motivation... it would appear that it would be easy to round up a three
man flight crew who wanted to get off of that frozen rock, and were willing
to draw Hazzardous Duty Pay to do it. It also must be remembered that the
B-50 is a "three pilot" aircraft. It was built in the days before
sophisticated navigational equipment, and required the presence of a third
"pilot' a Flight Engineer, or a Navigator, capable of calculating
course by visual sightings and radio instructions.
-
- Due to the "nature of the beast"... the idea
that for some reason, the U.S. Government wants to keep this situation
quiet it is highly unlikely that the search for a pilot would extend outside
the U.S. Air Force. A foreign flight crew, no matter what the nature of
the alliance, or how "freindly" the crew's nation was to the
U.S., could not be counted on not to leak news of their flight. I suspect
that the the U.S. Government exppect leaks to occur, but are trying to
put some "spin control" on the story... preparing a viable cover
story early, in case something does "get out".
-
- Another interesting "sideshow" to the whole
story... for what it's worth... is this. The only bomber group in the United
States Air Force, at that time, to be armed with nuclear weapons... equipped
mainly with B-50's and B-36's... was the 504th Bomb Group... they were
the "parent" organization for the entire Nuclear Alert Force
in the 40's and early 50's... their home base was Roswell Air Force Base,
New Mexico... Interesting, that In fact, in July 1947, at the time of the
famous "Roswell Incident", and certainly for some months after
that time, Roswell Air Force Base was the only installation to permanently
house bombers carrying nuclear weapons. All nuclear armed deployments originated
there, at least in theory, regardless of destination, and regardless of
any "layover" or "Temporary Duty" at other Air Force
Bases that might be involved. .
-
- This little fact makes me wonder, even more, if the government
wasn't playing with a new toy of some kind... possibly one that they could
not even begin to understand.
-
- The year which marked the beginning of this odyssey,
1948, falls right in the middle of one of the most paranormally and scientifically
active periods in modern history. Once again, questions are raised. An
examination of a ten year period, beginning in 1942, reveals the following:
-
- In 1942, the Manhattan Project set out to develop the
Atomic Bomb. In 1943, the controversial "Project Rainbow" gave
birth to the "Philadelphia Experiment" in which, allegedly, an
United States Navy Destroyer, the U.S.S. Eldridge not only completely disappeared
for a short time, but supposedly "jumped" a considerable distance
in both time and space. In 1945, shortly after the end of the Second World
War, a flight of five U.S. Navy Avenger torpedo bombers, and a giant Martin
Mariner seaplane all disappeared in the course of a routine flight, and
a rescue mission, off the coast of Florida.
-
- The year 1947 saw the famous (some might say "infamous")
Roswell Incident, in which a "flying disc" allegedly crashed
in the desert near Roswell Air Force Base, New Mexico, and if sources are
correct, the following year, 1948, saw the disappearance of King Bird Five
Zero. The years between 1949 to 1952, saw the first of the great "UFO
Waves" in North America and Europe, with "flying discs"
being seen over the United States Capitol and in practically every part
of the country.
-
- In short, the entire decade seems to be one endless game
of "Twenty Questions" that reaches out to us even today Who,
if anyone, has the answers?
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