The petty officer on a radar screen reported to the Officer of the Day in the Combat Information Center on the Kearsarge, "Sir, we got a bogie…. flying low and slow to the deck about 100 miles out."
The OOD reported this to the Division Officer, who alerted the Project Blue Book Officers. The Air Force Officers where in the CIC as soon as they could navigate their way through the ship.
"The contact is flying low and slow," the CIC Officer explained to the Air Force Major and Sergeant. "We have a chopper ready to check it out, interested?
Hendricks and Williams didn't have to be asked twice. They changed into their flight suits and made it up to the carrier's flight deck. The helicopter's turbines started to wine as soon as the Air Force investigators got on board.
"Ready for launch, Kirk and Spock are aboard," The Navy pilot reported to the tower, with an obvious reference to the Air Force Officers.
"Very funny, Commander," Major Hendricks replied. Hendricks was an experienced jet pilot, and like most fighter pilots, thought helicopter pilots were a little odd.
"So how long you been chasing green men, Major?" the seasoned Naval Officer asked.
The Air Force Officer replied, "It was a stateside rotation, I'm hoping to get back to a squadron soon."
"I hear you there," replied the Navy Commander, who had also seen the ups and downs of a military career, "I can't stand desk jobs."
Hendricks thought maybe this guy isn't so bad after all.
After flying around awhile the co-pilot reported, "I think I have a visual."
The pilot confirmed by reporting on the radio, "Kearsarge we have a visual."
The five men on the helicopter, three Navy, two Air Force were all trying to figure out what they were looking at. Then the petty officer aircrewman started to sing "Wouldn't you like to fly on my beautiful balloon…" Pretty soon all three Navy men were singing the 5th Dimension song, much to the annoyance of the Air Force investigators.
The pilot radioed the ship, "Kearsarge, the object is a balloon. Repeat a balloon. Closer inspection shows it is Soviet, probably a high altitude test balloon."
The pilot had an idea on what his orders would be. A Russian test balloon, near a Navy task force whose mission is to sink their subs. The contact could very easily be an espionage platform.
As predicted, the Air Boss ordered the pilot, "Splash the balloon."
The pilot confirmed "roger." The crewman was gaining a target solution with the 50-caliber door gun without having to be told to.
"On your order, sir," the crewman reported to the pilot.
Major Hendricks would have loved to take the balloon back, but he knew that security of the ship was top priority. As soon as the Navy pilot gave the order, the 50 caliber let out a burst, and the balloon plunged to the sea.
Major Hendricks said to no one in particular, "it probably was leaking anyway. Those things are meant to fly a lot higher than this." Far too many of his 'UFOs' turned out to be similar test balloons. Now that this case was closed, he knew it wouldn't be long before he and Williams were off to their next sighting.
