The Germans were testing jet aircraft as early as 1939, possibly earlier. The Messerschmitt 22 jet actually saw combat on April 19, 1944. The United States entered into the jet era in 1941 and was secretly testing the Bell Aircraft P-59 Airacomet. To avoid drawing unnecessary attention, a wooden propeller was mounted on the front when parked in the hanger.
The test pilot, Jack Woolams, the first American to fly a jet coast to coast, was tasked with testing the limits of the P-59. In addition to being a great pilot, he was also somewhat of a practical joker who would put on a gorilla mask and fly just close enough to piston-driven P-51 Mustangs for them to see him in the cockpit before accelerating out of sight.
Woolams sense of humor resulted in trained military pilots reporting a UFO. Eye-witnesses said:
- “It didn’t have wings and so it must’ve been from another planet.”
- “It’s acceleration and speed was otherworldly.” and
- “You’re not going to believe this, but it looked like a gorilla was piloting it.”