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2A - Eau Claire Leader-Telegram Monday, September 30, 1974iapparent causeofmanyUFOsightingslandsv .'f■JUSTstandsnear what appears to be a huge snowbank on her family’s farm southwest of Rock Falls. The synthetic snowbank appeared without notice Friday as an experimental balloon launched in Sioux Falls, S.D. descended there. The record-setting balloon, consisting of 20.9 million cubic feet of plastic, was aloft 127 hours, reaching a maximum altitude of almost 25 miles. (Staff Photo)lUX’K FALLS — The apparent cause of a rash of UFO sightings landed late Friday afternoon in a farm field near here.The object, a huge balloon some 36 stories high, descended on the Richard Schuh farm. Rt. 4, Mon-dovi, approximately 4'2 miles southwest of here The balloon had beenlaunched by Raven Industries of Sioux Falls, S. D., for the University of Bristol in Bristol, England, on a mission aimed at measuring cosmic ray intensities.A Raven company spokesman said the 127 hours the balloon was aloft is a new world’s record for such a craft. The balloon reached a maximum altitude of 130,000 feet.Reaching ground at approximately 4:45 p.m. Friday , the Schuhs 15-year-old son Larry first saw the balloon while doing field work and hurried back to the family’s farmhouse, Mrs. Schuh said the youthwas frightened by the descent and not sure of just what had happened.The balloon had been intentionally inflated from a Raven Industries airplane which had tracked the airship across the Midwest.A Raven representative contacted the Schuhs Saturday morning, informing them of the circumstances that led to the descent.The balloon had been under constant electronic surveillance and was deflated upon what a company spokesman said was the successful completion of its mission.Upon puncturing the balloon, instruments being carried in the craft were separated from the 20.9 million cubic feet of plastic, dropping into the Chippewa River near ihe Interstate 94bridge.As of this morning, it wasnot determined if all of the 1,000 pound pay load had been recovered from the river.While the balloon was aloft, numerous reports of UFOs were received in the area and throughout the upper Midwest.The Schuhs said theyrhave been paid to destroy the remnant of the balloon which cost an approximate $19,000. Because of the weight of the plastic, they anticipate using tractors to drag the mass to a more accessible position*
Newspaper Details
Eau Claire Leader Telegram
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, US
Mon, Sep 30, 1974
Page 45
Full Page
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Luis P.
AR 05 Dec 2021
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