The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection Part 1 · Venera 3 MV-4 Venus. It was an acorn-shaped...

The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO ConnectionPart 1

By

Clark C. McClelland

Former ScO Space Shuttle Fleet

Kennedy Space Center, Florida 1958 to 1992

Foreword: Please keep in mind that as you read this account of what happened at Kecksburg in 1965 that I have recounted it as accurately as possible from memory and I have drawn some of the information presented here from my notes that I kept. I vow that I was there when it happened and the parts of my information in regard to the investigation I made are accurate. I was as-signed to investigate what came down there along with another NASA High Tech Direc-tor. We were in charge of making a techni-cal report, and photographic assessments of what happened on December 9, 1965 in Kecksburg, PA. A UFO was reported to have crashed in the woods there by the local witnesses who saw it land. An inves-tigator from Greensburg showed up named John Murphy. He was the News Director of Radio Station WHJB who took photos and recorded eyewitness accounts of some of the people of Kecksburg on audio tape. They told him what they saw. I was told he made his own on-site investigation of it. He may have witnessed the U.S.S.R.

This Chapter from the book “Stargate Chronicles” is copyright © 2013 by Clark C. McClelland. All rights reserved.Any unauthorized copying or publication by any means, digital or print, without written authorization of the author, is strictly prohibited.

U.S.S.R. Venera 3 MV 4 (probe) Venus cone-shaped capsule

2 Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1

Venera 3 MV-4 Venus. It was an acorn-shaped capsule which was a maneuverable landing craft. It was a few years after his investigation when he was killed after being struck by an unknown driver while vacationing in California. It was a hit-and-run case that has remained unsolved. There was another radio host from KQV in Pittsburgh, Mike Levine, who reported over the radio what their investigator saw and was told it was a UFO. TheKecksburgvolunteerfirememberswereonthescenebeforeotherhigherauthori-tieswerecalledin.Theyhadlocatedthespotwhereitwentdownandhadtakenalookatwhatcrashedinthewoods.YoucouldsafelysaythereweremanyeyewitnessestoverifytheobjecthadcrashlandedinKecksburgonthe9thofDecember,1965.Althoughwhentheobjectwasloadedontoaflat-bedtruckbythemilitaryandremovedfromthescene,the“official”U.S.GovernmentstorytothemediawasthatnothinghadbeenrecoveredfromKecksburg.Thegov-ernmentagencieswhowerepresenttoinvestigatewhatwentdowninthewoodswerethePenn-sylvaniaStatePolice,NASA,DoDandtheNSA.Pleasecontinuereadingthiseye-witnessreporttounderstandhowtheobjecthasevadedthescrutinyofmanyinvestigativeeffortsthatcoulddefinitelyidentifywhatexactlyitwasthatlandedatKecksburgin1965.IandmyNASAteammateweresworntosecrecy.HereisthetruthabouttheKecksburgobjectfrommyperspective.IwasofficiallytherethroughmyworkintheONI(OfficeofNavalIntelligence).ThisONIof-ficewaslocatedatPatrickAirForceBasewhichisSouthofCapeKennedy.IwasalsoofficiallyworkingwithNASA.Wearrivedatthecrashsitewithinaveryshorttimeafteritlandedinthewoods. InNovember,1965NASAScientists,EngineersandTechniciansofCapeKennedy,FloridawerepreparingtwopowerfulmodifiedmannedGeminiTitanIIICBMrocketsfortwoseparaterecordsettingmissionstobelaunchedwithindaysofeachother.Theyweregoingtobelaunchedfromthesamepad—Complex19whereIwasassigned.Thisfeathadneverbeenattempted,especiallywithtwomannedspacecrafts.ItwasanamazingmissionandundertakingforourCapelaunchcrew. TherendezvousoftwomannedNASAGeminicapsuleswasnottheinitialeffortofanAtlasmissionplannedbytheU.S.A.F.andNASAconcerningtheGT-6andGT-7.TheGT-6wastohavebeenlaunchedearliertodockwithanorbitingAtlasAgenaonOctober25,1965.Butthe

Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1 3

GeminiAgenaTargetVehicle(GATV)launchedbyamodifiedAtlasICBMfailedtoreachorbit.ThiscausedNASA,U.S.A.F.,MartinMarietta,themakersoftheTitanII,andMcDonnellAircraftmakersoftheGeminiCap-sule combined management team to completely scramble the U.S. Space ProgramLaunchschedule.ItthrewallofusintoaguessinggameastowhatwasnextinourracewiththeSovietUnionMannedSpaceProgramwhichwasearnestlyinprogressintheU.S.S.R.Wehadsomeproblemstosolveandwewereconfidentthatwewouldsucceed. JamesWebb,theNASAAdministratorinWashingtonD.C.,assuredPresidentLyndonB.JohnsonthattheNASA/MilitaryIndustrialComplexteamwasattheCapeconsideringaveryboldmissiontocorrecttheearlierfailureoftheGeminiAtlasTitanVehicle(GATV)Launch.Johnsonheardtheuniqueproposalandunderstoodtheboldplan.HegaveWebbhisPresidentialapproval.Wewere“Go”atlaunchpad19! Back at the Cape, Joseph Ver-lander,MartinTitanGeminiProgramDirectorfortheTitanII,informedallofusattheLaunchComplex19andtheGeminiLaunchEngineeringGroupofWalterKollosch,ChuckO’Neal,JoeHadlowandmyselfinBuilding1605,thatDecemberwouldbeachallengewhichwasneverbeforefacedbyanylaunchcrewatCapeKennedy.Weweregoingtomakehistory.MeanwhileJoe

ThelaunchoftheGT-7fromCapeKennedyFLonDecember4,1965fromlaunchPad19.

PresidentLyndonB.JohnsonattheWhiteHouse.

4 Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1

VerlanderwasmeetingwithColonelJohnAlbert,CommanderoftheU.S.A.F.GeminiDivisionofthe6555,whichwastheCapeU.S.A.F.AerospaceWing,WalterBurkeandJohnYardleyoftheMcDonnellAircraftCorporationandotherNASAmanagerswerealsoinattendance.Theyallgavetheir“Go”fortheefforttogettheU.S.A.backontrackinthemannedexplorationofspace.

GT-7waslaunchedonDecember4,1965withtwoas-tronauts,FrankBorman,Commander,andJamesLovell,Pilot,flyingtheirfirstmissionfortheUnitedStates.TheyweretobejoinedinspacebyMercuryVeteranAstronaut,WallySchirra,Commander,andTomStaf-fordonhisfirstflightasPilotintheGT-6A(anewmis-siondesignation).ItwastobelaunchedDecember12,1965.WewereplanningaspacespectacularbyhavingthetwoGeminiCapsulesrendezvousinspaceandat-temptanintricateanddangerousseriesoforbitaladjust-mentstoflynexttoeachotheronaverycloseapproach.Thishadneverbeenattemptedbefore.FourNASAastronautsandtheirlivescouldbeatstakeifthereweretheslightestmistakemadewhileinacloseorbitlike

this. ThiswasnotacircusstunttypicalofsomeRussianmissionsearlier.Itwasaveryimpor-tantdemonstrationofourabilitytocontroltwospacecraft’swithinaverycloserangeofeachother.ThiscapabilitywouldhavetobeperfectedtoeventuallysendourApolloAstronautcrewstothemoon,landthem,andthenreturnthecrewsafelytoearth.Toaccomplishallofthisad-vancedtechnology,allpersonnelinvolvedwerehonedtoasharpedgeofaccuracy,andtrainedtoahighlyproficientdisciplinerequiredineachaspectofthemissionpreparationandlaunch. OnDecember4,1965;shortlyfollowingthelaunchoftheGT-7,IhadbrokenawayfrommyusualdutiesduringalatelunchbreakanddrivenovertotheGeminiMissionControlBuildingtolistentothedirectcommentaryupanddownlinkfromtheGT-7astronauts.Iheard

MercuryAstronautveteran,WallySchirra.

Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1 5

exchangesofconversationbetweenBormanandLovellwithAstronautAlanBeanwhowasas-signedasCapCom(CapsuleCommunicator)attheCapeKennedyAirForceStation.Theywerealreadyonorbitandwereawaitingthesecondcrewtobelaunchedfortherendezvouswiththeminspace.IwasafriendofAlanandknewhewouldnotmindmyshorttermpresence.However,JohnYardley,atopGeminiProgramManagerwasstaringoveratmyareaandIwonderedifhemightsay,“Clark,scram!”AlansaidafewcommentstomeandrealizingthisastronautknewmehadapparentlycalmedYardleydownaboutmypresencethere. ItwasduringthesecondorbitofGT-7,IhadheardBormanmakeastartlingcomment.Hesaid,“CapCom,wehaveabogeyat10o’clockhigh!”IimmediatelythoughtIhadheardwrong.AlanBeanalsoquestioneditandinstantlysaid,“Sayagain?”Bormanrepeated,“We

NASAAstronautFrankBormanrepeated,“Wehaveabogeyat10o’clockhigh!”toAstronautAlanBean,CapComatCapeKennedy,FL.

6 Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1

haveabogeyat10o’clockhigh!”AlanBeanlookedalittlesurprisedandsaid,“Gemini7,isitaboosterrocket(TitanIIsecondstagerocket)orisitanactualsighting?”ThenJamesLovellreplied,“Wehaveseveralactualsightings!”ThecommentbyLovellwhereheemphasizedthewords“severalactualsightings”wasakeycommentinidentify-ingUFOs.MyearsandthoseofotherpersonnelintheCapComareaperkedupwiththistransmis-sionfromBormanthattheGT-7crewhadsent.Ithought,myGod,amIhearingofasightingofseveralUFOsinreal-time?Couldthisbepossible? ItwasthenIheardBeanagainquestionthecrewinanuplink,“GT-7,whatistheestimateddistanceandsize?”Lovellrepliedbystressing,“Wealsohavetheboosterinsight!”WiththiscommentitverifiedUFOswerebeingobserved,whetheralienorotherwise.MyreactionwasWOWtheyaretrackingtheboosterandotherun-identifiedobjects.IwasinanticipationofotherexcitingcommentswhenIheardanotherstate-mentcomefromoneoftheengineersathislaunchcontrolcenterconsole,“WehavegotsomeUFOs!”ThiswasnotagoodcommenttomakewithU.S.A.F.andNSAofficerswhowereonlyashortdistanceaway.ItwasthenthatNASAAstronautAlanBeanmutedouttheopensystemcommentaryupanddownlinkbeingreceivedthroughtheS-BandTransponderSystem.Itorigi-natedfromtheGemini7crewaboveandonorbit.IsupposedAlanhadreceivedordersthroughhisheadsetfromNASAtopmanagementorevenpossiblyfromColonelJohnAlbert,U.S.A.F.ChiefoftheGeminiLaunchVehicleUSAFAerospaceDivisionWing,toimmediatelymutecommunicationsfrombeingheardbyallatthecapeandkeepitexclusivelybetweentheGemi-nis’screwandCapCom. IrealizedthattheNationalSecurityclampswereinplacethroughthemilitary,DoD,NSA,etc.andadditionalrevelationswerenowshutoff.IhadhopesthatmyfriendsatmissioncontrolwouldinformmelaterofwhattranspiredafterIleft.Atthispoint,Itookleavevolun-

TomybuddyClark.Alan.

Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1 7

tarilyfromthemissioncontrolareasoasnottodamagemyfuturewelcomeatthisfacility.Iwavedaquickgood-byetoAlanBeanandthenIreturnedtotheGemini-TitanComplex19.MyheadwasstillswimmingwiththeastoundingdataIhadtheprivilegetooverhear.Iwasnotsurewhowouldbelievemeaboutthisinformation.Ikeptitquietandthenfinallyreleasedit,afterIfiguredoutawaytosecurelygetittoMajorDonaldE.KeyhoeattheNICAPHeadquartersinWashington,D.C.OurNationalInvestigationCommitteeonAerialPhenomena,NICAPFloridaUnit-3wasundermydirection. Eventuallywehad21membersinUnit-3.EachhadaveryimportantpositionwithinthegroupattheCape.OnewastheChiefofNASAAstronautMedicalOperations,FlightSurgeon,Dr.NormanW.Pincock.AnothermemberwasAstronautMedicalTechnician,JohnT.TeeganoftheNASALaunchSiteMedicalOperationsOffice.SeveralwerescientistsfromdisciplinessuchasPhysics,Astronomy,MathematicsandAerospaceEngineering.ItincludedmewithWileyRobinsonandJohnHuddenbothofIBM.TherewasalsoacoupleofveryimportantTechnicalSecretaries.ManyoftheNICAPincidentsinvolvingNASAastronautsthatwerelaterreleasedbyDonaldKeyhoe,inhisbookshadinitiallybeengatheredbyNICAPUnit-3atCapeKennedyand later at the Kennedy Space Center. TheonlyagreementIinsisteduponfromMajorKeyhoewasthatthemembersofNICAPInvestigationsUnit-3mustremainanonymouswithNICAP,WashingtonD.C.Headquarters.Exceptformentioningmebynameinhisbook,“AliensfromSpace”,DonaldKeyhoehonoredthatrequestfromme.OtherthanthismentioninthebookhewroteIbelievehedidnotmentionmeortheNICAPUNIT-3againashehadbeenaskednottodo.Mywebsite:www.stargate-chronicles.comhadnotbeencreateduntilmanyyearslaterontheInternetatthetimethisbookbyMajorDonaldKeyhoewaspublished.IhavesincethenusedthewebsitetoinformtheworldoftheinvolvementIhavehadinthispartoftheUFO/ETinvestigativeworkthroughNICAPUNIT-3.ThisworkwasdonewhileIwasintheONIandassignedtoNASAattheKennedySpaceCenterfrom1958-1992. TwodayspriortothelaunchofGemini6-A,ChuckO’Neal,Launchoperationsmanager,whoassignedmeandmyverygoodfriend,anotherveryintelligentAerospaceEngineer,WalterW.Kollosch,(nowdeceased)toassistinmakingcertainthatseveralveryimportantmodifica-

8 Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1

tionstotheTitan-2erectorandespeciallytheGeminispacecraftwhiteroomwhichwastheGeminiAstronautcapsuleentryhatchserviceplatformweretotallyfunctional.Wehadtomakesureitcouldbehermeticallysealedandasbiologicallycleanaspossible.AfinalinspectionbyNASAmanagers,U.S.A.F.CaptainGentileandJoeHadlow,whowastheSeniorGeminilaunchsiteengineer,weremade.Theythengaveusa“Go”forlaunchwiththecriticaleventsoftheoveralllaunchsequencehavingbeenaccomplished.Wealltookagreatsighofreliefforgettingthisdoneproperly.CompletingsuccessfullythisworkiswhatallowedustoproceedwithourplannedduellaunchoftheGemini-Titanspacevehicles.Thisclosefly-byoftwomannedcraftshadneverbeenattemptedbeforebyNASAortheU.S.S.R. AtapproximatelyNoonontheafternoonofDecember9,1965IwassummonedtogototheMilitaryOperationalPhoneSystem(MOPS).ItwasmyresponsibilitytodesignthesephonestationsontoeachleveloftheTitanlllaunchtower.TheywerelocatedoutsidetheCrewWhiteRoomontheGemini-Titanservicetower.Theincomingcallwasfromafriendofminewiththealiasnameof“Sam”whowasanexpertfortheRadioCorporationofAmerica(RCA).HewasanexpertelectronicsengineerandaveryknowledgeablepersonconcerningtheworldwidespacetrackingnetworkmanagedforNASAandtheUnitedStatesAirForcebyhiscompany.HewascallingfromafacilitywecalledTel-2,whichwasoneofourlargedish-shapedtrackingantennas.OneofwhichwaslocatedaboutthreemilesfromourlaunchcomplexontheICBMrow.SamwasexcitedasIansweredhimonthephone.Hesaid,“Clark,wearemonitoringtheGT-7flightonorbitandallisgoingwellsofarotherthanthoseunknownobjectswitnessedbyBormanandLovellduringorbit.Iamsureyouareawareofthembynow.”Hecontinued,“But,NORADandtheDoDarenowtakingcommandovertrackingotherobjectsthatareuptherewithourguysandthey’reapparentlyatadistancefromtheGT-7orbitalpath.EveryoneherewastakenbysurprisewhentheyinitiallyshowedupoverthePacificOceanandit’sanybody’sguesswhattheyare.I’llcallyoulaterwithanupdateifanyarise.Oh,bytheway,theydon’tthinkithasanyconnectionwiththeearlierbogeyreportedbyBormanandLovell.”IthenaskedhimtoseewhetherNORADhadmadeanyindicationthatitconceivablywasaSovietcraftlaunchedwithoutpriorannouncementandreportedbyourintelligencenetworkintheCentralIntelligenceAgency,NationalSecurityAgency,andOfficeofNavalIntelligence(CIA,NSA,ONI).Ialsoaskedhimtopickupanyunusualjargon,acronyms,slang,etc.andtocallmewhenhehadabreak.ThenIreturnedtomymissionpreparationassignmentsattheTitan-IIGemini

Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1 9

Complex19. Later,Samcalledagain.Hesaid,“ThesedamnedobjectshavenotbeenrecognizedasanythingofoursorRussian,atleastnotofficially!AlthoughtheyadmittedthattheCosmos‘96isonorbitanditwasidentifiedasafailedVeneraVenusPlanetarymission.Itwasreportedithadapparentlyexperiencedamalfunctiononorbitafewweeksago.TheydidverifyagaintheearliersightingofthebogiesbyFrankBormanandJimLovell.ItappearsthattheNORADevaluationnotedthebogiescouldbetheremnantsofthesameU.S.S.R.Veneraobjects;oratleastsimilar,andarestillunderstudy.TheywerenotcallingthemUFOs—atleastnotwiththatterminology.Andgetthis:they’renowbeingtrackedproceedingoverwhatappearstobeWesternCanadianairspace.Themainsegmentisflyingasifundersometypeoforbitalflightcontrol.It’sanyone’sguesswhatthisorbitalobjectmightbe.” WeexchangedafewcommentsontheGT-6AmissionlaunchprepsandItoldhimIwasnearingtheendofmyshift.IsaidIwouldstopbyathisRCATel-2stationforapersonalupdateonmywayhome.Myworkdayendedatabout5:00P.M.andmyroutehometookmeneartheTel-2trackingstationwhereImetSamoutsidethesecuritycheckpoint.AsheapproachedmeIcouldseehewasexcited.Heexclaimed,“Buddyyou’vegottohearthis!Thelargerremnantofthosethingsupthereappearstohavetheuniquetechnicalcapabilityofslowingdownandspeed-ingupalongwithbeingabletoalteritscourseonorbit.Itactuallychangeditsdirectionwhenitappearedtopossiblybepreparingtodescend.”Iwassurprisedandalsoexcitedtohearthis,butwhathitmewasthatitwasobservedtopossiblybepreparingtodescend.NeithertheU.S.SpaceProgramnorthatoftheSoviet’sSpaceProgram;asfaraswewereaware,hadamaneuverableandwhatweassumedwasanunmannedsatellite.Orwasitunmanned?TheRussianshadlostwhileonorbitinthepastsomeCosmonauts.Thiswasduringtheirearlierspaceflightmissions.Thiswassomethingveryspecialandimportanttostayontopofwhilethestrangecraftwasstillbeingmonitored.NASAneededtheadvancedcapabilitydemonstratedbythisobjecttheyweretrackingfortheirfuturelandingonthemoon.ItwasscheduledtobeginonJuly20,1969withthelaunchofamannedApollo11mission.IteventuallylaunchedonschedulewithAstronautsNeilArmstrongandBuzzAldrinwholandedonthemoon.MeanwhileAstronautMichaelCol-linswastheonewhowouldberemainingonorbitaroundthemoon.AhugemilestonewassetforNASAduringthishistoricfirstlandingonthemoonbymankind.

10 Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1

Then Sam said he heard a lot ofNORADchatter(communications)exchangedandsomestrangejargon.Astheobjectbegantoapproachasuspected landing or crash site on earth,theNORADgroupbegantotransmit in code. Sam did say that hecaughtafewbitsandpiecesoftheir coded voice transmissions and thought he heard a garbled comment of“GroupAltaorUltra”andwhatappearedtobeapossiblelocationof“D.C.”wasallegedlymentioned. Hesaidheheardjustafewminuteslateratabout4:40or4:50P.M.,“Impact-Objectdown”.Hetoldmehealsoheardsomegarbleddataalongwithsomecommentaryaboutamili-tarydeploymentforarecovery.Samsaid,”TheworldtrackingnetindicateditfellsomewhereeastofPittsburgh,PennsylvaniainasmalltownnamedKecksburg.”Isaid,“Where?”Here-peatedhisstatement.Isaid,“MyGod,thatismybirthplace!”Myreactionwas,“Wow!”IstillmaintaincontactwithanexpertUFOInvestigatorwhowaslivingintheareaatthetimethishappened.GodknowshowexcitedIwastohearhimsaythistome.Mybeliefthatextraterres-triallifeisvisitingourplanetwasgenerallyknownthroughoutthespacecommunityofpeoplewhowerebothonandoffthepropertyoftheCape. AsIpreparedtodrivehome,Iwasplanningwhatmynextactionwouldbe.Ithoughtacalltomyfriend,Robert(Bob)Schmidt,whowasandstillisanavidandintelligentUFOinves-tigator,amateurastronomer,opticsexpert,writerandNICAPmemberwouldbemyfirstsource.Hecouldperhapsdrivetothelocationoftheobject’simpact.IlocatedaphoneattheNorthNASASecurityBadgeOfficeandIplacedacalltoRobertSchmidt,myfriend.Iassumedhewouldbeontopoftheincidentfromthestart.BobansweredthephoneandasIhadexpected,hewasmonitoringthecrashoftheUFOinKecksburg,thisisasmalltownnearGreensburg,Pennsylvania.Heexplainedhehadthefluandcouldnotdrivetheapproximate40milestothe

ArmyFlatbedtruckshowingtheacorn-shapedobjectloadedonitforsecretremovalfromKeckburg.

Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1 11

crashsite.Hesaidhehadheardtheterm;crashedUFO,inKecks-burgbythenewsannouncer,MikeLevine,onradiostationKQVinPittsburgh.Thiscaughthistotalattention.Oneofthefieldreport-ersatKQVtravelledtoKecks-burgandreportedwhathesawtoMikeLevine.LevinesaidthatamilitaryofficerinchargeattheKecksburg recovery operation statedtohisfieldreporterthattheyhad a UFO on the ground in that area. Schmidt said he continued to monitor the events all day and the termUFOwasneverheardagain.HesaidhefoundtheinitialuseofthetermUFOunusual,especiallywiththealmostinstantaneousmilitarysecuritycurtainthatwasapparentlyinplace.Itwasanurgentmilitaryresponse.ThewordUFOwasabsolutelynotintheU.S.MilitaryorNASAvocabulary.Thiswasawordthatisconsideredabsolutelytaboo!Theterm,UFO,wasrarelyusedtocalmapublicoutcryastowhatwasbuildingatKecksburg,Pennsylvania.AttimesusingthistermhasbeendonebyNASAandtheMilitarytohidetheactualcauseofanincident.SuchwasthecaseofitsuseduringthisincidentasithappenedinKecksburgonDecember9,1965.Especiallyevidentassuchauseifourlatterinvestigativeef-fortswouldrevealthiscrafttobeanerrantU.S.S.R.noseconeofanICBMcrafttheymanufac-tured.Wejustwerenotsurewhenwearrivedinitiallywhatwewouldfindthere.ThissocalledUFOwasnotwhattheNASA,NSA,DoD,ONIagenciesrecoveringthisobjectfoundatthecrashsite.However,theyreporteditasaUFOinthenewsandthenaftertheMilitaryteamandotherHighGovernmentOfficialswereretrievingwhatwasatthecrashsite,theydeniedtothepublicandinthepressthattherewasanythingtheretobefound.ItwascloselyinvestigatedbytheMilitaryandfoundnottobeanerrantwarheadloadedontoamaneuverablecraftwhichtheycouldguideatwillanywhereonearth.ItwascominginovertheNorthernHemispheretoward

UFOexpertRobertA.Schmidtwhotoldme“UFOinKeckburg”iswhatheheardannouncedontheradioonDecember9,1965.

12 Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1

theU.S.A.soithadtobepromptlysecuredfromthepublicwhilethesourceofwhatitwasandwhereitcamefromwasbeinginvestigatedbyourNationalSecurityForcesintheMilitaryandfromNationalAgenciesoriginatinginWashingtonD.C. ItabsolutelywaspartofaU.S.S.R.acorn–shapednoseconewhichbelongedtothefailed3MV-4VenusVeneraSpaceProbe.Theacorn-shapednoseconeorbitallaunchplatformwasblownintomanysmallerpiecesbyanexplosionandwastornapartinorbit.TheVenerapayloadwasanadvancedSoviet/Germaninterplanetaryspacecraftandhadacapabilitytobeguidedandlandedbyremotecontrol,whenitreachedVenus.AsanattempttorecoveritafterthefailedmissiontoflytoVenus,itinsteadwasremotelycontrolleduponre-entryofearthtotheareaofKecksburg,PA.ItwascontrolledbytheU.S.S.R.tohopefullylandsafelyinasparselypopu-lated area. The U.S.S.R. lucked out as it happened. TheU.S.A.andtheU.S.S.R.hadagreedtoreturnanyrecoveredspacevehicledebristoeach other respectively as their space property. The U.S.S.R. had previously retrieved and re-turnedanApollotestcapsulewhichwastheBP-1227thattheysecurelyheldattheMurmanskMilitaryBaseandwasbroughtbackfromtherebytheU.S.NavytotheU.S.A.ThisrecoveredVeneraSovietcraftwasveryimportanttotheNASA/DoDandwouldnotbereturned.Indo-ingso,theU.S.A.hadbrokentheirpledgetotheU.S.S.R.Weneededthisadvancedtechnologyinourracewiththemtobethefirsttolandonthemoonandreturnsafelyhome.OurNationisnoangelonearthwhensuchadvancedRussian/GermantechnologywasrecoveredandusedtolandourApollomissionsonthemoon.TheUSA/NASAhadnochoice,buttokeepitTopSecretaboutthisrecoveryofaSovietfailedmissiononitswaytoVenuswhensomethingwentwrongbeforeitleftonorbitofearthtoVenus. Bob Schmidt had intelligently assessed that the term UFO may have been another unique methodtousea“decoyword’tocloaktheactualevent.UsingthewordUFOwouldremoveanypossiblesuspicionbythegovernmentBrainWashedPublicthatitmayhavebeenalaughableUFOandnotanaerialeventthattheSovietsweretestingasapotentialdeliveryofaweaponssystem.CouldourenemiesintheU.S.S.R.havebeenusinganadvancedtechnicalintrusionofourairspaceforapossibleorbitalwarheadtest?Althoughitwasdeterminedafterfurtherinves-tigationbyourNORADmilitaryworldtrackingofobjectsandotheragencieschargedwiththesecurityoftheU.S.A.toexcludethispossibilityofanerrantSovietUnionSS-6(anR-7)ICBM.

Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1 13

Itwasnotlikely,but,thiswasthecontrivedscenariobehindthesupposedUFOthatlandedinKecksburg.Itwasalwaysapossibilitywiththecoldwardangerouslyinprogressduringthatpe-riodofournationalhistoryin1965.ThatwasstillheldasapublicfearsincetheCubanmissilecrisishadonlybeenresolvedtwoyearspriorin1963andthespaceracewasinsuchaheatedcompetitionbetweentheSovietsandtheU.S.A.Wewontheraceofbeingthefirsttosuccess-fullylandmenonthemoonandreturnthemsafelyhome,theachievementwasmadein1969byNASAAstronautNeilArmstrong,BuzzAldrin,andMichaelCollinsinLunarorbitaccom-plishedforalloftheatleastfiveormorestarracesnowonearth.Theywhowerebroughttothisplanetasawaytocolonizetheirspeciesonourrareglobewecallplanet,earth. Soonthereafter,IwasapproachedbytheNorthsecuritygateguardofNASAasIbegantoleaveforhome.Hewasafriendofmyfamily,VinceMcGourtyfromPittsburghandheldapositionasaPanAmsecurityguard(Nowdeceased).HetoldmeIneededtoreturntomyofficeareaattheNASAHeadquartersBuildingassoonaspossible(ASAP).HesaidthatahighNASASecurityManager(whoisnowdeceased)hadsummonedmetoreturnthere.Iwonderedwhy. WhenIarrivedattheNASAHeadquartersbuildingIfoundoutwhathewanted.Iwasmettherebyagoodfriendofmine.Hewasahigh-levelNASAHighTechnicalDirector.Hewillremainunnamedalthoughhepassedawayyearsago.Thisistoprotecthiswifewhomaystillbealiveorotherfamilymemberswhomaybereliantonhisretirementandhealthbenefits.Hesaid,“Clark,getyourclipboard/tablets,pens,wintercoat,highboots,sweatshirt,heavysocks,gloves,NASAhardhatandtwopairofyourNASAwhitecoveralls.Immediatelycallyourwife,tellheryouhavebeenassignedanimportantjobontheGT-6Amission.Saynothingelse,OK?”Iagreed.IcalledmywifeandsaidIwillbehometomorrowafternoonforsure.ShesaidOK.IsaidIlovedherandthekids.Sherespondedwithasimilarcomment.ThehighNASATechnicalDirectorthenmadeastatementtomethatwillalwaysremaininmymemory.Hesaid,“WeareflyingtoasmalltowninWesternPennsylvania.”IquicklyaskedwhetheritisKecksburg?Helookedsurprisedandsaid,“MyGod,whatamindyoupossess,Clark.Yes;itisKecksburg,howdidyouknow?”Thenhesmiled.Iquietlysaid,”IhavebeenmonitoringitthroughmyfriendsattheRCATel-2.Iquietlythought,yahoo,IamgoingtogotoaUFOcrashsiteinmyownback-yardofPennsylvania.Hesaid,“NASAknowsitisnearyourbirthplace.”Isaid,”Yes,sir,IwasbornandraisedinPittsburghwhichisveryclosetoKecksburg,PA.Sir,Iknowmuchinthis

14 Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1

areaofUFO/ETexpertise.”Heshookhisheadinamazementandsaid,“Yes,weallattheCapereal-izethat.” WeweresoonbothtakentotheCapeKennedyaircraftskidstrip,inotherwords,theairportrunway.Weboardedasmalljetplane.ItwasaNASAtwin-engineLearJetaircraftthatcouldcarry6people.Ithadatwopersoncrew,thepilotandco-pilot.Wetookoffatgreatspeed.Wearrivedshortlyafterwardatabout6:50P.M.inWestmorelandCountyAirportwhichisinGreensburg,PA.Itwasdarkwhenwearrived.ThiswasbeforeitwasrenamedtheArnoldPalmerRegionalAirport.Amilitarycaranddriverwasawaitingourarrivaltotakeuswhereweneededtogo. Inaveryshorttime,wearrivedinthetownofKecksburg.Irecallmyastronautwatchreadabout7:05P.M.(plusorminusafewminutes).Weobservedsomemilitaryunitsclosingoffcertainstreets.WearrivedattheKecksburgVolunteerFireStationandapersonnamedJamesMaysintroducedhimselfastheAssistantVolunteerFireChief(nowdeceased)andanotherman,avolunteerfireman.IwaswearingmyNASAhardhatandheobviouslyrecognizedusasNASA.ThenapersonwhosaidhewasfromWashingtonD.C.andwasalsoamemberofNa-tionalSecurityAgency(NSA),askedusbothtofollowhim.Hedidnotgivehisnametous.Wedidnotaskhimtodoso.WedonnedourNASAwhitecoveralls,boots,gloves,etc.inanearbyshedandwerereadyforanexperienceofalifetime.IhadanearlyversionofthefutureNASAMooncamera,aHasselblad,withme.Weuseditforextensivephotocoverage.MyNASApart-nerandIwerebothtakingimportantwrittennotestopreserveourvisit.WealsorecordednotesontwosmallGEtaperecorderswehadbroughtwithustousewhilethere.Weusedvariousmethodsthatincludedhandwrittennotes,drawings,photographsandaudiotaperecordingsasameansofsecuringourhistoryfortheDoD,NASAandaspecialgroupofscientiststhatIwouldlaterbeinformedwerecalledMJ-12.AtthattimeIwasnotawareofthisgroup,butinlateryearsImetagroupcalledMJ-12(ifitexists)severaltimesontheirvisitstoKSC.Theywere:

KecksburgPA,wheretheacorn-shapedobjectfell.

Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1 15

-LloydV.Berkner-DetlevW.Bronk-JeromeC.Hunsaker-Dr.DonaldA.Menzel-Dr.VannevarBush-Dr.LuisAlvarez IquietlyaskedmypartnerwhyIwaschosentoaccom-panyhimonthemission.Hesaid,“Clark,NASAsecretlyrecog-nizesyouandothersastheNICAPUFOexpertsandwithyouroverallknowledgeofspacescienceandourrockets;andthoseoftheU.S.S.R.,NASAwasinformedbyseveralGermanscientiststhatyouwouldbethebestchoiceofanyonetosendonsuchanimportanttrip.”Hesmiled.Iwasproud to hear his comments to me. AtKecksburgwefollowedtheNSApersonandwereintroducedtotwomembersoftheU.S.Army.OnewasabirdColonelandtheotherwasasinglestargeneral.Nonameswereexchangedbythemduringthisentireevent.MypartnerandIworeourNASAnamebadgesandnoonehadtoguesswhowerepresented.WeenteredaU.S.Armyvehicle,droveaboutamileor more and then got out and walkedawoodedtrailuntilwecameuponagrowthareaoflargetrees.Iimmediatelysaidtomypartner,”Looksir,therearetrees that have been damaged, brokenfromabove.”Thenallofasuddenthereitwas,nottoodeeplydugintothesoil.Itwasamongdownedtreesandwasalargecraftofasyetunknownnationalorigin.Itwasinviewforalltosee.Itwasaboutthesizeofasmallcompactcar.Iwasreadytophotographitwhen

Dr.DonaldA.Menzel, MJ-12 member.

Itwasamongdownedtreesandwasalargecraftofasyetunknown national origin.

16 Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1

allofasuddenanarmedguardsaidstop.TheNSApersonsaiditisokay.TheArmyguardsteppedbackandsalutedthetwoDoDofficersafterthisinterventionfromtheNSAofficer.Ibegantophotographthecraft.MyNASAassociateandItookmanynotesandphotographs.Itwasapproximate-ly12feetlongandabout6-7feetwideindiameter.Atthebaseofit,belowtheacornnosecone,ithadaraisedshapewithmark-ings,strangechildlikescribbleonit.Ihadmysharppocketknifeandtriedtoscrapeasampleofthecraftinanattempttoobtainasmallsliverofthemetalforlaterlabora-toryanalysisattheNASAValueAnalysisLabattheCape.Itriedseveraltimestoobtainametalsample.Ifailedindoingso.ThearmedU.S.guardaskedme,“Whatareyoudoing?”Istoppedmyefforts.Themetalwasnotbronze,butwasthecolorofdarkbronze.Itmayhavebeenmadefromtitaniumorevenametalnotasyetknown.Icouldnotproveit,butmyknifebladewasdulledaftertryingtoscrapeasamplefromit,whateveritwas.Iphotographedthebandthatstoodoutfromthemainbodyofthecraftanditcircledthediameterofit.Iphotographedthosestrangesymbolsthatwerepossiblywrit-ing.ItwasnotEgyptianhieroglyphsoranyotherlanguageIwasawareof.Isketchedafewoftheloops,linesandsymbolsIcouldseeinmynotesandIalsophotographedthem.IsaidtomyNASAteammate,“Itislikeunintelligiblechild-likescribble,sir.”Heagreed.Isaid,pleasegiveourphotosofittoourlanguageexpertsattheCape. Morethan47yearshavepassedsincetheincidenthappened.Icannotrecallwhatallofthevariousscribble-likewritingonthecraftwasmadelike.IdidnotknowatthetimeandIwillnotguessnowastowhatlanguagetheyweremysteriouslyshownasorwhateventhescribblesonitappearedtoberepresenting.SomemayhavequestionsconcerningwhyIhavenotreleasedtheKecksburgchapterearlier.MyanswertothemisIvoluntarilykeptquietaboutmybeingtherebecauseofahighsecretsecurityclearanceIheldformyworkatNASAwithONI.Readthefinalpageofthischapteronpart2forallwegatheredandwhathashappenedtoitthathighlyangersmetothisday.Despitethepossibilitiesdiscussedofwhatitwas,itseemed

“Itislikeunintelligiblechild-likescribble,sir.”Heagreed.

Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1 17

easiertoexplainawaythisincidentpubliclyasalaugh-able UFO landing to the media because it also served to keepeveryonemisinformedofwhatwasreallygoingoninthewoodsofKecksburg,PA.ThisobjectbeingcalledaUFOwasusedasatypeofacoverstorytokeepsecretwhathadhappened.ThisillusionorliewascreatedbytheNationalSecurityAgency,DepartmentofDefenseandNASA/ONItoallowourteamtoworktoresolvethisincidentinthebestinterestofpublicsafety.IwasamemberofthisteamwhowentalongwiththeillusionofitbeingcalledaUFO.Asanow64+yearexperiencedexpertinrecognizingalltypesofaerialcraft,itwasap-parentimmediatelytomewhatitwas.IexplainedtotheothermembersofthisteamwhatwewerelookingatwasinmyopiniontheU.S.S.R.madeacorn-shapedcraft.IhadpriorknowledgeofwhattolookforfromtheGermanScientistsandengineersatNASA.ItwasthesameonethathadbeenreportedasfailinginorbittoearthonthefailedlaunchtoVenusofthisspaceprobe.ThisiswhatwewerelookingatinthewoodsofKecksburg;Ihadnodoubtsaboutthat.Itwaslaunchedtobeusedforexploringthatplanet,butwentoffcourseandlandedhereinmybackyardofPenn-sylvania.SocallingitaUFOwasproper.WedidnotthinkthatannouncingitasaUFOwouldcausemuchpublicalarm.ThepossibilityexisteditmaybeaterriblethreatofaSovietnoseconewithanuclearwarhead.Thispossibilityofitsoriginwouldhaveraisedpublicalarmatwhathadbeendiscovered.ThepublicwouldlaughoffaUFOcrashwithoutadoubt,butnotanenemyICBMwarheadthreat!Rememberthatonlytwoyearsprior;wewerelockedintoapossiblenucleareruptionofWWIIIcausedbytheCubanMissileCrisisofOctober1962.Theworldwasstillpsychologicallyonedgeoverthatextremelydangerousthreattoglobalpeace.IwasdeeplyinvolvedwiththisthreatwhenatONIatPatrickAFBwewentonDEFCON–3onOctober22,1962.Thiswasduringmyassignmentsresearchingwhatiscalled,TheSilverBug.AGermanhighaltitudebombertostriketheUSApriortotheendofWWll.TheconfrontationwiththeU.S.S.R.duringtheshort-livedtermoftheJohnF.KennedyPresidencyendedhorriblywithhisassassinationonNovember22,1963inDallas,Texas.

Myfather,ClydeC.McClelland,hadahighNASAclearancefortheDoDandU.S.A.F.nuclearstorageareasmaintainedattheCape.Heheardthatwewereplanningtoplacenuclear

PresidentJohnF.Kennedy.

18 Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1

warheadsonseveralICBMsandIRBMshadtheshipsoftheU.S.S.R.carryingrocketstoCubanotbeenturnedbackthere.Iwasawarethattwo,threeormoreU.S.S.R.submarineswereoffthecoastofCapeCanaveralarmedwithnucleartippedtorpedoes.WecameveryclosetoWWlllin1963.ThisendsPart1of2.

This Chapter from the book “Stargate Chronicles” is copyright © 2013 by Clark C. McClelland. All rights reserved.Any unauthorized copying or publication, by any means, digital or print, without written authorization of the author, is strictly prohibited.

Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1 19

20 Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1

Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1 21

22 Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1

Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1 23

24 Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1

Clark C. McClelland - The Cape Kennedy-Kecksburg UFO Connection - Part 1 25