PROJECT BLUE BOOK

PROJECT 10073 RECORD
1. DATE· TIME GROUP 2. LOCATION
26 June 49 26/05052 Vrhaaton, Penns,vaniah
3. SOURCE 10. CONCLUSION
Civilian Astro (FIREBALL)
4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS Dr Olivier, Di ctor. Flower Observatory and Dri Purves, Executiv
One Director, American Institute of Architects observed object and
LENGTH OF OBSERVATION
3 - 3 1/2 Seconds Observer noticed an exceptionally large meteor. The object
6. appeared as ab blue-green "moon" and was estimated
TYPE OF OBSERVATION and 2/3 of the size of the diamoter of the moon. appeared
Grourd-Visual 5 deg below the star Altair in the bend of the handle of the
7. COURSE Big Dipper. The object Southerly direction through
about 20 deg 1/2 seconds and disappeared behinc
Southerly atho ation roof of a of a hauxse. Unlike the usual fireball, the appearance
3. PHOTOS was not accompanied by a hissing a hissing sound nor was it followed was it followed by by
any thunder sound. It was not followed by an ighted trail.
Yes
CyNo
9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Yes
CONO
FORM
".ed

north, turned south Lins
rapidly as a shooting star. ..
or six second to ve:
tree3. It was a verv bricht coler,
grndually
dimishod in breadth until it tarored away ball of
fire did not anrear to be as high in the sly ES war'e the
li dts of a rlane that shortly afterrards passed overheed.
m
.
UNCL D

L. Eclesurcs
2. . ir. Charles . L. look is ln um this ufcice nnd is o.s1
a reliabte and ssable individual.
S
Captain, Sn
cO: District
UNCLA IED
506

su den starts aad stope.
enid little aitontion.
On June Ro, at l. P. i. tho le te 726 - cer-
frer as Eolloms:- it :
olling t rent ooeud, ent al'ng storl; T
Yours truly,
UNCL 107
Home Address mnimr, Pa.
Sunmer ersey.
(JES

to red-w.ibe and buck, te gyolo Sndng ahout to :3mutes.
It chound conitin tith the stor-sphere vib tre diie ys not tniform.
The li ht oscitlntad elcwly in I v vory stnli area, wlba ne bareiovlar
At about 2:0o A.l. the color cluotuazions ad on0'lla1cn so0reat md there
ws no urther "or cO390d.
UNCLASSIFED
(ECLOSUR "B")
COPY

nO
6d 6 WaS ala's .tial
nositic.. "r hen upres.
werore wy ovorent "ou vould golor wh'oh hrroinced t.1a
in s ac and t.
coul: see thito cbjects :hich Lec.ed tiny st rs .ay
from this ebject as it moved. hen it ed lt ncrod tnglollly fr sico to
was the same as before.
UNCLASS FIED
COFY AD
NCTE: (EICLOS ble.

Dayton, Ohio
ATTN: MCIAXS
1. The attached report investigation by Spe Acent EUGENE
L. ZECH.EISTER, D0 #3, dated 22 November 1949, is forwar r your
information an etion deemed
2. This i this
office. office.
SawerF.x, Oosull SamerF.x.Ooanll
1 Inel Incl JAMES F. X. O'CONNELL JAMES F. X. O'CONNELL
R/I dtd 22 N R/I dtd 22 Nov 49 Lt Colonel, USAF
(in dup) District Commander
COWNGRANE WHVALS;
DECLASSIF.. YEARS.
DOD D. .
1
11-30
CORER
S-106614

Investi-ation requested - by District Cormander, 17th ceI
District, Kirtland Aug 1949. :5. EPANION
PARRINGER, Tre
Pa., intervien statement obtainod revarding
Subject. evealed Sunday, 26 June 1949 editicn,
"The Philadelphia Inquirer" elrhia, Pa carried
article regarding Subject
, Dircctor, Flower Fa.,
advised Aerial Ihenomena was a aFirecall. Dr in
receipt of letters pertaining , to Sulject incitent.Dr.
8, Executive Director, Arerican Institu'e
Pincls)
CG, ANC, W/P AFB,Day-
ton, Chio(4 1 Incls) 2
DO #5, W/P AF3 (Inf). 1
74 Incls) APPROVED
File (5 Incls) 2 506
Vululy
LICHAEL G. FRISCH
Major, USAR UNCLASS
Diatrict mander
AFHQ FORM PRINTING OPPICE
15 JAN 49 0-208

nomena. attached as an inclosure.
3. Files of "The Fhiladelrhia exarined on 22 Cctcber
- 1949 and revealed that article titled "l'etecr Soars Over Ihiladelrbia
and Expl was contained therein in Sunday, 26 June 1949 edition.
AT UFPE Y. FA.
1949 Dr Director, School of
Astronomy, University Fennsylvania, for the past twenty-eight (2E) years;
Director,.Flower Observatory, and President, American
Meteor Society; interviewed at Cbservatory and stated that
with the information gathered he was very sure in his own mind that the
aerial phenomena seen on the night of 26 June l9L9 was a fireball. The
director stated that reports coming to him revealed that the fireiall
letters pertaining incident. Cories of thes letters attached
as inclosure: Dr OLIVIER i: e Consulting Astronome ydrorraphic
Department . Navy. number of years qularities
in meteor forms have been forwarded to the observatory directo analysis.
Dr OLIVIER stated that h handles appr oximately 15,000
AT MEDIA, PA.
5. It was learned through Flum Creek Road, Media,
Pa., on 24 Cctober 1949, tha Executive Directcr, American
Institute of Architects, was extended trip and that it gould be best
to contact Mr. letter .ashington, Mr reply
2
..
- 4

manner as a sky rocket. The ridge of the house obstructed maling
it impossible whether or not the object retained its brilliance
until it struck the earth. The object distinctly lit country side
and -aid not recall that there TK scund whatsoever.
stated he would d guess the object was probably fifty (50) miles away. This
letter is District cSI.
AT CONSHONOCKEN, PA.
6. Mr. and Mrs. were interviewed on 21 Octcber
1949 and substantiated in detail statement given by
Inclosures:
FCR DISTRICT NO. 17, KIRTLAND ATB
. Statement dat October 1949, at Fhiladel-
phia, Pa.
2. True cony of letter from
Franklin Institute, Fhila, Pa.. dated 2
3: True copy let.te ITT,
phia, Pa.
2. True copy letter frcm
Franklin Institu la, Pa., dated
3. True copy frcm
I. M. LEVITT,
Franklin Institute, a., undated.
ONCL
..

1. Sta ement of
phia, Pa.
2. True cory
Franklin date ine 1949
3. True cony letter
Franklin Institut
4. True cory of lette F, Frank-
lin Institute, Fh
E
Franklin ila, Pa., dated June 194:9.
3: True e copy letter from I. E. LEVITT,
Franklin Institute, Fh La, Fa., undats
4: True cony lette
Institut LEVITT,
Franklin
5. Letter rcutive Director, The
Institute of Architects, 1741
dated 26 October 1949.
UNCLASSIFIED
TC THE OEPICE CF ORIGIN
. 1
- 4t

1/2 and 2/3 the moon. atreared 5 degroes
below bend of the handle peer. Unlike
the usual streak, steadily growin
brighter, bu full size. there was no questior confusion with
the moon planet, as it was many times larger than any planet as,
of course, inet could direction.
The object southerly direction through about 20 degrees of arc in
3 to 3 1/2 seconds, and disappeared hehind the rcof of the Purves house. It
was also seen by Mr. and Mrs but my wife, who lockod around. only
about 20 riles and the speed about 7 second;
if the distance greater. both altitude and speed would also
and the reverse uld apply was no arer. It WaS about 30 degrees above
the horizon ehind
the house.
As noted circular disc and there was no sign exhaust.
large fireball and was somewhat surprised .that
it was not blinding, gave out little less light than the full moon.
AUNC
-

Dr. Clivier is Fresident of the American leteor Socisty and as such collects
accounts of all meteors. He tells me that he has not obtained enough other
accoun's to enable him to trace the actual course or the object triangulation.
Dr. LaPaz wrote me a series of questions about the phencmencr which. I have
answered, and I understand that the Inve has
a copy of this answer.
I have read statement, which consists of two pages. have signed this
. staterent and initialed all rrections. This statement is truth to the
.
m

in the air. The duration Fall it seemed to come the
area in the vicinity handle the Big Dipser and fall
to the southwest. I north when it disarreared
from my view was alrost straight northwest The
angle seeme perfect circle. N
.
.
I hope ray
to you. .
Respectful yours,
A TRUE CCPY: s
/s/ Eugene L. Zechmeister
EUGENE L.
. UNC
I -
.
.
: .

its vicible seecnd
to a half.
Fhysically i large pr a rather
short thick troil tl at hal defini A sort ef
parallel trail, t 11ow.
UNC +