PROJECT BLUE BOOK

ESIREHED Incident A163
APTC.110. LHA o 21 Jul71243
AP MO. MOONTLON Van Ihuvs, Galif.
a- -
it Jc SOURCT Ord. Reserve Officor
- ll
DNTE OF' (PONT auth cue  ark nATY U T ATIC
Blutsh lumtnodconce like floureccent
THE oF Ht JeLn_ Honr bofore dark colon lemp which gradually changed to
oronje color at duak Aitt
SAPE Round tending to gpherloal SHIED Mam
rotin
1571. Of weathor balloon at 000 Alrirupt. Groat hoight I1udrs
COURSY E to V LENrnr on TIie. oB xvD About an hour
1O. TH GRORP 7. TYPW OF ODCEIVAPTON Ground
Traveled a vertlcal are of

objeot' heae data should includs:
a. An estirato of the angular size of tha objeot. quiok
O astimata can be made by comparing the ang la aubtended
by the arns length. finger (7/8" wide) of
an averags man held at 30" (arms length) will subtand an angle
of approxinatel way angular from about
can be estimated.
objeots on the horizon, roads, with su! (if the of day is
also nocod or the tion CA necked at
The time required for the objeot to traverse the observed
sourse.  This 13 probably the nost igult estimate to maks. Timing
saying,
1 8-34560

observers, control operators, , forest and firo .
rangers. and other suoh night chanc of seeing
O unidsntified flying objeats inrormatio soncerning unidentified
flying objeots is given t reliable serva-
tion should be inoluded.
7. be ploased
2. 8" I 10" photo print Dirsotor, Bass Directorats
of plaxtio balloon for Goophysical Research
3. 4 oho print
of plastic alloon
8-34560

8.1 Numbor of objocts 1
9. Distanco of objoct from observor 2200xit overhead
10. Tino in sight Ntix about an bour
11. Altitude 3 great height
12. Speod N/3
13. Direction of flight toward
E to
14. Tactics traveled a vertical
15. Sourd 11/3
16. Sizo
17. Color lamp which gradnally
changed to orange color at dusk
18. Shape round tending to spherical
19. Odor dotectod 3/s
20. Apparent construction 3/s
21.
22, CATO ground temcereture 70-75°
23 3/5
2Li None
25. Manner throw switch
25. Remarks: (Crex)
1

steady.
it a while I concluded that whatever it was was at reat height but not
a star. It had a bluish luminescence like a fluorescent lamo and as the
sun set the col radually changed to dusk and finally
anapped off l when
looking right a
about E5 degrees more.
The outline bject was clear and sharp and sypetrical (no fuzziness
or bluring);t was very with visibility unlimited; ground
temerature about 70-75 degrees dropping bour after
dark (two hour time lapse); direction of travel was from East directly
ONFIDENTIA

1206 Santee St
Box J g49, Terminal Annex
Los Angeles 54, California
ATIN: Mr. William G. Sproull
l, This Command is currently an intelligence investi-
gation of all reported sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena.
2 Reference is made to inclosed letter from
Veriel Ave., Canoga Park, California, to Air Materiel Command, Ang
Van Muys, California.
3. It is remuested that Mrcom interviewed that a signed
graphic statement be obtained. This statement should indicate the follow-
ing salient factors: location, date and time of sighting, weather con-
ditions at the time, names, occupations and addresses of witnesses, photo-
graphs or sketches, construction, number, shape, size, color, speed, in
a. Local teletype semence weather conditions and the Winds
Aloft Report t at the time of the .n2 be obtained.
b. Local flight schedules of commercial eft
flying in the vicinity at th he time be checked.
Possible releases of testing devices sent aloft by
Mevy, Army, Air Forces, Weather Buream, Research Organizations, or any
be conrinced of necessity
of avoiding publicity in relation to thi3 investiaation t it be
considered "Confidential".
OTNGRADED AT
CAR INTERVAIS.
COD DIR 6200.10
ONC SSIFTED
COFID DENTIAL

(Basie ltr dtd 8 Se0 4g)
lst Ind. DO570S1/R3V:mb
Sub-District 57 OSL, (IG), Western District AF PFo, P. O. Box 3gho ym
inal Annex, Los Lifornia, 3
TO: Connanding General, Air Materiel Conmand, Wright-P attarson
1. Report tranamitted herewith.
Incl: a VOSHELL
Cy 1tr dtd 13 Aug 43 Acting Chief
withdrawn Sub-District Office 53
Report itd a Sep (Dul)
added
DOWNGRADED AT S VEAR INTERVAI3
2 DECLASSIFIED AFTER IE YEARS
DOD DIB 626010
2 UNCLASSIFIED
4
CONFIDENTIAL

astrenemical ebse augh 3 sseepes at Griffith
Observatery, L.s sen Observatery,
Pasadena, Califernis. Aerial ebject described as
shaped balleen of latex celer, with bright rectangular suapended
frem lewer pertion f balleen. exinately
twenty-five (25)feet.
1
t
DISTRIBUTION ACTION COPY FILE STAMP
OSI, Aq. 2 CQ, AX
2
711a 2
DOWNGRADED AT & YEAR INTERVALS YEARS
APPROVED DEGLASSIFIED AFTER 12
DOD DIR 5200.10
Lo 3.
Acting
AFCSI FORM 4 9-1073, 17
23 JULY 1948

Bam
this rever aibit Il imoressien a03nc nestion was that
object appeare s spherical shape, mstallic in substance
the celer nge E
AGENTS NOTES: ME. and M stated in question
and is attach stated that the
iniarnatien which wrs roleased to the sgard to the
sbjeet in questien vaa released by assistant s on Obseryatery.
The infarmatien relsased was erre aneous and was giye
meetrbeinted out that he overheard the sssistant eNSORDeT-
nan sn she telsohene and heard the assistant state t the
DWNGRADED AT Z YEAR INTERVALS:
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YRARS.
DOD DIR 5200.10
ASSIFIED

bject appeare apherical shane a aubstanc nlecting
the ce)
AGENTS NOTES: WE. and MRS heth stated the shjeat in qwestion
was sighted en 22 July 19lg. Mewever, during of the interregation,
it was revealed by beth MR. and MRS. that it was on a Fednesday evening
thai the objeet Thetata. therefars. vewld have cerrectly been
A signed statemen abtained 1 Dertinent Data
aad is attached b stated that the
infarnatien which sleased to the regard te thm
shjeet in 'sleased by asaistant at 30n Obseryatory.
The infermatien relsased was srreneeus and was givan
wbeinted soaper-
nan en the telsohene and heard the assistant 3ta5e 34 I9WEmA the
DOWNGRADED AT & VEAR INTERVALS:
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YRARS.
DOD DIR 5200.10
-N

that tho
investigator can udd. The ol jeot was evidontly an unidontified
balloon.
:
.
7
E
-
:
.
a
.
1
.
3
.

shatement ebtainad f an a agent in detail MR.
objeet in guesiisn This statem attachad to this
eubmitted a reugh skotoh sbjeat in
question. Thia nketch is being enclesed 1 to the reguester 8 cagias of
thia revert. M2 indicated th iscrsssion the ebject in
Guestien wes nos aeteerelezical balleen and thai h agly infermed
112 further stated that the ce-erdinates
in cewousing yeather The rex ballaen and a balleon
pennfactured atien. Jeither balleen veuld sotly rit
ta deserivtien abisat da Dar3on3 preyiously intarziswed.
teerelagical ballaen res oi n diameter
isimade.
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12
DOD DIR 5200.10
UNCLASS
-3-

DOWNGRADED ATI VE DECLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
DOD THE CHEGENTAL
-4-

while, I concluded thit great h. ot i star.
It had a bluish luminescence like a fluorescent Iro and ds I the sun gob the
color gradually changed to an
otent I ras looking right
at it), In about an hour that I win: it, the object had
travaled through a vertical are of more. The outline
70-75 degrees ing to about ce de rees an hour afte- dark (two hour
ADDITIONAL X BY SPDOIAL AOENT NILLIA G. SFEUOLL
UR. SPPOULL: Can you er roximate the geographical location vhen gou flrst
BR. SPROULL: rse sighted this
object?
ce-
fore sundown.
the object?
R:
R. SPAOULL: What wee the yeathar conlition at the time?
Very aloar aky, Visibillty ulision.
MR. SPESULLA That ead yoir iore sien of aotinl chire or dimegsion of the
3
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YRARS
DOD DIR 5200.10 MR. HENRT GLOVER

Lower until it turned tow Shc sun vls
setting, it becane yellow and aft the sun conoletely-dropped,
It becane orange coler. I mas just observing this particular
change of coloring, when it disappeared complerely.
MR. SPROULL: What wes the mennor of lisayrearance?
13. mamia TR. .m It tisapreared like the turning oft It tisapreared Like the turning oft of .ii at. I ns looking
direotly at it, whun,it Seomed to dLdaspoir as an incandescont direotly at it, whun,it Seemed to dLdaspeir as an inoandescont
light when one turns off the switah. There tns no exmansion
and no change in dirension whatsoever. That is the Last I saw That is the last I saw
of the object. .
LR. SPROULL: Any tactics employed during flight of onjeets
La: 1
MR. SPROULL:
.
1R. SPROULL:
No sxiaust trall at all.
1OR, SPROULL: Did you notice the object-as carying any lights?
ER There Were no distinnishin: charueteristics at all exeept for
the bluish light.
SPROULL: the3
Tain I sirgt Vianed tns oog-ot, tne fiyln: sanorrs Mediateiy
came to my mind,
DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS:
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YRARS
DOD DIR 5200.10 fupn

HENRY GLOVER
8531 Variel Avenue
Conoga, California
3
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YRARS
DOD DIB 6200.10
E
-iricn

of thirty mimtes more, the Object traiut unward to westerly
direction. I shculd say that it travelled aporoximately twenty thirty mies.
This object mo steady Pliding motion. echaust trail
or vapors from object. The color or this nged gadually seeming
to reflect the atmospheric conditions of mightfall. wen next my attention
was drawn to it, My attenti va wn to it, as stated
above, by my husband who was staning with ten peopls
sho were also gazing at the object. The object vas entirely diiferent from
anything I had ever seen. It did not apcear advertizing
davice. object"
D OF TATEMENT.
Ghidit I

oltitude above sea level of 5494 feet.
2. Date and Time of Sighting. About PM, Pacifio Daylight
Seving Time.of
3. leather Conditions and Others ho Jighted Object. The sky was
clear and the visibi he neonle oresent who
at dinner that eveniag but lart early Wscout beeing the 5.
.
4.0 Pernons ia micht have knoun of the Ohient or Irled to
Photoranh it. I know of no otrers who notually saw the obfnot
or who trled to photo rank
CphibitTI

sohere at the top, the whole having the shape of a pear. Beneath
assembly a squ disk was
sure of
M I belleve also that the thin outer envelope had a diemond
that
subtended an angle of 6'. Today (Dentember 2a) I called Wr.
auanock and asked I hdm ho" big he thourht , the objert was,
an estimate of l/8 the full
zood

reasonable.
6. folor change.
The square disk below 1708 without marking.
observed no chance in color.
7. Sneed,: hen the object wes first sighted .
slightly south of the lonastery and high overhead, orebably
Sierra bodre. hen last seen about 8:30 O PN, POST, it was far
to the vest probably near the const ahout 30 miles away. This
speed per hour neerly straight west.
S. Part of aly Pirst Chserved, I that was
directly south of an Ioltitude 80o.
9. Direction of fravel. Nearly straight west as 30en rom bount
Ilson.
10a .amer in which Lest een. he ohjeet was last seen about
8:30 PM, PDST, hrour! the S-inch olescope ab tre ondstery
07 23 mgsp-k and ele,

yery cuous oving to the
4 foot thnt it tas still illurinetel h- cunlg rays while the
valley below was in 1 shadow.
11. aneuversb lity if any. Coring the time wO the object
10. Arnpoximate Altitnde. At least 19,o00 fest alove ount ilson
which would reke its Otitude above sen 1
hat it as
only about g0oo feet overbead but later realiced that this was
much too low,
I4. Exhaust Trails. No exhaust trails deteoted. Ther should have
been readily visibl through the six-inch telescone.
15. odor. Hone.
16, rrfents clouds or anddnion. could see,
was excentionally clear oround the shieot all during
our observetions.
17.lightotarn Chogdtly

as Balloons or ordinary airoraft:
3,1k, 22, 41 , 54. 73
126, 131, 138, 156, 157, 159, 160, 161, (163)
190, 194195, 196, 193.
200, 201, 209, 237, 239
b Rookats, flares or falling bodies:
45, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14,15,
108, 109, 133, 170, 211, 218.
168, 172, 176, 183, 186, 193, 207, 215, 223, 224, 225,226,
227, 236, 241, 242, 243, 244, 134.

of Big Beor Lake. At the Chservatory ye sugoosed that this was
; disk rumor and
as seen sniling overhend l after
dinnor ro becare ercatly 7 intorested and excited. Soreone cot out
teleccone after taking e look evglaimed, "It's
balloon!"
"e naturally speorlated sbout the object a gocd deal that
wes probaoly a meteorologlcal belloon
of some kind. About half a dozen unidentieied peonle called
inqutring iP we had seen the bright disk. I heard ausnock tell
tele-boned a second time I described S object
unknoym to us. I
ruessed its altitude was 2000 feet but later realized'it rust have
been much Higher.
After returning to the office in -ssadena sont r. eusnock
copy of Fonular Science Lontlly for a7 or ane, lo4d, which had
ricture on the nover of a new tyme etrorolorieal belloon. I
nologed note GAT thisipe Mthaairees 2
over -ount Iison.
.

bestom, nstruotior the "hject winga
S. The ohiegt was mairied
weuld judge the altitnde ebject to
be at approximately 20,O00 fset. suulight
even aiter the san set because ita altitude. When sbeerving the abjeot, it
EShdet I

Telescope ABOUT THE SIZE
OF THE FUlh Moen
osjc
Wes _-lo
DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS. DOD DIR 5200.19
GNCLASSIFHED
lrne 6st5fges

4. Attention is invited to drawing on page Exhibit and to attached
reproduction of "Popular Science Monthly", Exhibit which shows a new type of meteoro-
logical balloon. See item l8, page 5, of statement submitted by Robert S. Richardson of
the Mt. hibits
5.A similarr request this is also being made t to the Air Weather Liaison Officer,
this Command, Should circumstances so indicate, it is requested that coordination be
effected with Colonel,Neal, MCLAwS, telephone No. 5-E234 for preparation of comments
2
Tt La I argaatad that Dr. aedles be dontaotad st ato /orpes duatronie L araterts
eriige, place.
2 1966
DECLASST
DOQ DIR 5200.10
UNCLASSIFIED
1 a 4 12 111 LOOAA

TO n DATE COMMENT NO.
MOIALAS 22 Nov L8 2
3. Dxhititv2y3er. different peogle see in
sune object.
Cubtinu VK
Incls CIEL E. LIDSTD URH/peC
n/c. Lajor, Us..F 6-6324
+ Chief, Electronies Analytis Sec. B 263-4
W4 WEN Tech Intollicence_Div-. Post_A
C
- F ..
2 4 -p
4
. 11 TToTra
(DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE)
7
4. A

Attemion is invited to drawing, bage 6, Exhibit "g", to attached reproduction
froa "Popular Seience Monthly", Exhibit "g", wiich shows a new type of neteorological
balloon, and to news items, Exhibits "y" and "E12". Seo iten l8, sare 5, of statenent
submitted by Robert S. Richardson the it. Silson Cbservatory (uxiibit
couments and any action indicated
5. Do the attached eather charts (Exhibit uyu) fx roint
of release if object is idetilled 33 a dcmestio release?
paragrazh Speeial
Sproull, wherein he states that a Mr. larvey checked flles balloon
releasee in ths
7. ptain
Creider.
DOD DIR 5200.10
B Inels T.B. CLOERONAN FRS/e3
Axdbits #42" Colonel, USAF 65310
ier, Tach Intelligence iviaion P22P
UNCLASSIFIED Intalllxence artent
2
TM

The following articls taken from
"DAILY NEWS" Los Angeles, Calif Thursday, July
221948,
Silver Sphere
Deflated as "IDS ANGELES TIMES"
The following article taken from the
Sky Mystery Thursday Morning, July 22, 1948
It was almost like with the
flying disks all over again . . .
The queries started yesterday
afternoon among Big Bear Val-
ley residents. WM stirs ghosts
"W hat is that pear-shaped
thing following the sun?" they of the flying dises
wanted to know.
them, the police caimly
Astral Visitor Identified around until they word from
At Mt. Wilson Dr. Robert S. the Mount Wilson Observatory
Richardson, solar observer, re- that the mysterious silver object
ported that he had scanned the was a weather balloon.
object as it passed nearly over- The reports reaching police from
head on its leisurely course sea- citizens described the balloon as
ward. George Abell, Griffith Ob- searing. dipning. stanthng still.
servatory attache, also reported shooting across the sky, and mov-
following the sphere by tele- ing north. east, south and west,
scope. Mt. Wilson informed the police
Their consensus, borne out by the balloon was drifting slowly
the Weather Bureau forecast with the wind in a westerly direc-
center at Los Angeles Airport: tion and had evidently been re-
A meteorological balloon. leased in the vicinity of Big Bear
The balloons are supposed to Lake.
burst at high elevations after au-te
tomatically broadcasting weather.
information during their ascent.
This one apparently developed
a slow leak and sank back to-
ward earth, weathermen said.
Ageneral warning of the hal-
oon's hovering over Los An-
Ls%Etaizeles. describing it as a hazard

has been asked nsalBt Projset except
that the United States Voather Bureau has provided informatlon on ball
lightning- Research projeots hich balloona are used and whioh are
aonduotod or aponsored by the Ara Statas Air Force are
sheokod by tho Intelligenoo Departnent c or thia Command, These chsoks
list does nos slimimts possi that mary of the remaining
incidenta are balloons.
2 21 91 313 155
3 25 92 115 156
L 23 96 125 157
11 30 RAER869 104 141 359
12 105 ils 163
16 A8R3 107,8,9 151 167
22 112(S0a122) 154 169
23
PdbLsi-

Commanding l Command, attention
MCIAXO-3.
,
1=1 W. R. Clingornan, Col, USAF
2 Inolsa for M. M. MoCOX
Surmarias 1-17 inol Colonel, USAF
"EEI" Chief, Intelli .
*
Coplos furn .
AFOIR, Hq. URAF
Capt Trakowski, Geophysioa Lab .
Ma jor Kodis, MCAEBP
Coloml Neal, MLAWs
1
-
1-
-

Station
. .

Subjoots Project on requesting that reportod inoidents l
through 172 analyzed to detarmice whether or not these might have
been caused alloons unch aboratcrie3.
2. A listing has baan comoilad of all balloona launched by thes
) special atmospherio research pur-
posas, from the first such launching to No. on 17 Novsmber I 19443.
Eaoh of these launchings ha compared with the reported inoidents
I through I72. Factors of comcarison wera date of launching and data
radio direotion finding upon the balloon talemeturing instrunentss
v9nted
terrain.
with ripect to daia vith inclden: lo, I thurouzh No. h, and 3galn
with inoident No. LO. This balloon luscor.
S-34560

ad by an employse the3e Laboratories who had considarable experienca
to Inow behavior of a he san,
o. Inoident No. 163 bears fair description of ance
D of a large plastic balloon in sunset light. The object's disappearancs
could be accounted for movament into the sarth's sunset
shadow or by natural observer's eyes. Thia incident
could posaibly have bes on balloon release No. 75 or No. 76 or 20 and 21
5was recovered at Hollister,
ham sphers-on-coue
Hollomn AFB a printa ara 1n-
alosed showing
photograph appaaranoe at ary altitudes whers
it would be vielble.
uas to you rying future reports of inoidants.
)
2 S-34560