This remote forested location above Big Sur represents a unique Cold War-era military observation point, situated approximately 124 miles northwest of Vandenberg Air Force Base at coordinates offering an unobstructed telescopic view across the Pacific. The site sits at an elevation estimated at over 1,000 feet above sea level, providing the clear atmospheric conditions necessary for ultra-sensitive optical equipment of the 1960s. Today, visitors to this general area would find themselves in the rugged coastal mountains of California's Central Coast, surrounded by redwood and pine forests that have remained largely unchanged since the 1964 incident. The location's strategic value lay in its combination of elevation, atmospheric clarity, and precise distance from Vandenberg's launch facilities, making it ideal for high-resolution filming of missile trajectories.
Lt. Robert Jacobs positions ultra-sensitive telescopic camera equipment at this forest location as part of official Air Force documentation of ICBM test launches
Alleged UFO incident occurs during filming of Atlas rocket test, with Jacobs claiming to capture anomalous object on film
Jacobs goes public with his account of the incident and subsequent military cover-up allegations
“Air Force cameraman Lieutenant Robert Jacobs set up an ultra light-sensitive telescopic camera 124 miles northwest of the base, in the forest above Big Sur.”
From a historical documentation perspective, this site represents one of the few alleged UFO incidents with claimed military film evidence from the Cold War era. Lt. Robert Jacobs, a former missile photography officer, has consistently maintained that he was stationed at this location in September 1964 as part of the Air Force's 1369th Photographic Squadron, tasked with documenting ICBM test launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base using specialized telescopic equipment.
The technical aspects of the claimed operation align with documented military practices of the era. The Air Force regularly used remote observation points equipped with high-powered telescopic cameras to track missile performance, and the 124-mile distance from Vandenberg would have been within range of the ultra-sensitive optical equipment available in 1964. Jacobs has described the camera setup as capable of tracking objects at extreme distances with remarkable clarity, consistent with military specifications of the period.
The controversy centers on what Jacobs claims to have filmed during one particular Atlas rocket test. According to his account, the footage showed an unidentified object approaching the missile's dummy warhead and apparently disabling it with some form of energy beam. However, the Air Force has consistently denied the existence of any such footage, and no independent verification of the incident has emerged from military archives.
What remains genuinely unknown is the exact nature of what may have been observed during the 1964 test launches. While the military's use of this general area for missile tracking is well-documented, the specific details of individual filming operations and their results remain classified or lost to time, leaving the incident in the realm of unverified testimony rather than documented historical fact.
The 124-mile distance from Vandenberg was allegedly chosen because it provided the optimal balance between telescopic resolution and atmospheric clarity for 1960s military camera technology
Lt. Jacobs claimed the camera equipment was so sensitive it could track a golf ball-sized object at the distance of Vandenberg Air Force Base
This incident occurred during the height of the Cold War when both the US and Soviet Union were conducting extensive ICBM testing
The Big Sur coastline has been used for various military operations due to its strategic Pacific Ocean vantage point since World War II
The general Big Sur area is accessible to visitors via Highway 1, though the specific historical filming location would require hiking into forested terrain above the coastal highway. The region is known for its rugged beauty and hiking trails, though visitors should check current access conditions as some areas may be on private land or subject to seasonal closures.
Monterey, California, approximately 30 miles north
Spring through fall offers the best weather conditions for exploring the Big Sur region, with clear skies that would have been ideal for the original 1960s filming operations. Winter months can bring heavy rains and fog that would obscure the views toward Vandenberg.
White Sands Proving Ground
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