Ruppelt's Oak Ridge Radar Case (weather dispute).
disputedgovernment_studyAtomic Energy Commission / ERDA (DOE progenitors)
Blue Book chief Ruppelt's account of an Oak Ridge F-82 radar chase ruled 'Weather,' contested internally by an ADC radar expert.
In 'The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects' Ruppelt recounts an Oak Ridge F-82 that nearly hit the ground three times following a radar target ATIC's Capt. James attributed to a strong inversion (a ground target), making 'Weather' the official conclusion. An Air Defense Command radar expert at Colorado Springs disputed this, noting the F-82 was only at 4,000 ft and that fighters closed within 200 yards seeing nothing, concluding the targets were likely 'something real.' The case shows the internal split over the inversion explanation.