PROJECT BLUE BOOK

Page 2 Incident 1,06

Mame and address of observer; LETS A A AOE ETERNAL cig.

LaFayette, Indiana

Occupation and hobbios;

Comments of Interrogator relative te intolligencu and character of observor(s) 3

NARRATIVE SUMMARY:

ietter, 7/24/49 -- The undersicned and SR, both of LaFayette, were
fishin; at the ~errill Stone quarry just back of the iionon R-ilroad station at

Delphi, on the evening of Saturday, July 24rd.

At approximtely 11 P.M. Duylicht Saving Time, obertson culied to mo, saying:
“ihat are those li-hts flying around in the sky?”

I cums over and looked whore he pointed. Jfhore were two luminous objects in
the sky to the north of Dalphi, at an approximate olovution of 1,500 feet. Thesoa
two objects were sourine in circles. Tho one on the risht was flying horizontally
in an orbit, clockwise. The object on tho left wus flying in an orbit, counter-
clockwise.

d; "Those must be the flying disks o! which i have heard." ie
watchod the objects. As they approached the noar portion o* the orbit they would
emit a phosphorent clare. They were flying at a terriffic speed, anu as thoy flashed
around they would appear face toward us, then as they disappeared on the far swing
of the orbit, would appour to show the flat portion which appeared as a glowing
straicht line until they faded from viow,

The course which these objects took, while flying in circles, was sonewhat
erratic. They would dip and dive just as would a plano taking evasive action.

Vie had two flashlirhts, and we focussed the two spots tozether and led the
objects as they cams past, just as a hunter leads a flying pheasunt. Then it was
that we could mak: out that they were tancible objocts. They appeared to be mde
of som shinin= motal, alumirum or mirnesium, and appoarced to be, as woll as we
could judre frou their estimated hoight, about the size of a five room house in
the area they covered.

I then went across the road to a house and found a man sitting on the porch.
I got hi: to come out and look at the objects. lie said that he was going to call
the editor of the Delphi paper, and the police department.

Shortly aftor this several poworful searchli;hts swept the sky, following the
disks; those of the police or fire department, I presum,.

Shortly after this the objects fradually kept cettin,;; farthor away until they
disappeared from view over the horizon, «approximately 30 minutes later they re-
appeared, this time to the left of the pluce in the sky where they had first been seen.

They flow in orbits in that area until, I would say, about 1 aed. Daylight

—— re

——-+

Page % 3 Incident 40u

Vame und addross of observer; st rn teeta emrerteeemammnemeentil
lafuyette, Indians

Occupution and hobbivus;

Comments of Interrogator rolative te intelligence and charactor of observor(s)

NARRATIVG SUMMARY:
Saving Tino; then disappeared for a few minutes anu took up their puths in the ori-inal
Place in the heavens, where we first noticod them.

We watched thom as we cast for bass in thy stone quarry until 3 Ae ile Doylasht
Savin; Time, ut which time they faded from sight and wo saw then no wore. Throu-h
the entire time we viewed the objects they were continually flying.

I micht stato that noither I nor my companion uro in the loast inazinative or
neurotic. ie had not partaken of any stimulants or narcotics whatsoever und so were
able to view these objects in the full possession of our fuculties.

This we will attest. They were real, tanzible objects, presunably of metal,
aluminum or magnesium, as I have stated before, as we could plainly swe in the
combined spots o: our flashlights, and the searchlirchts which were truined on the
objects confirmed this.

Vie had at first advanced tho theory that they mirht be northern lichts. ‘e
discardod this theory since northern lights do not move in regular orbits ina
regular direction.

Then we speculated as to their being searchlights tried out. I walxed out in
an open fisld and looked, but could see no ray of licht which will shine up from
the ground as a luminous banu whon a search-lifht or beacon is truined }ouvenward.

They could not be lurding field beacons. Tho nearest landing field is at
Logansport, a considerable distance from Delphi.

The thought thut they mixht be lar-e bats or birds, whose wings reflected rays
of the city lishts of Lelphi as they flew, entered our minds. I went to the edge of
the road, and placed myself between the noarest strowt lisht and the objvucts anu they
still showed thse sane glow as they spun around in their orbits.

We took those precautions as there has been a lot of joking talk anid news
storios mazpx appearing about the "flying saucers" being warixnx various planets which
shine brilliantly, due to favorable atwospheric conditions, or their proximity to the
earth. Planots, whilvw they move, their movement is only noticeable on the direction
finder of a larve telescope, and can not be detected by the naked eye alone.

We mako the statement that the objeots we saw flyin; throush the sky arew of
solid construction. There have x been so many reports of seein; thon that there is
bound to be foundution of fuct concerning them, just as the rockets which not so
long ago appoared over Sweden.

This statenent is given to you for )| see fit to make.
8

oe LE

eT ees ——————ow — 2.

com

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

UNCLASSIFIED

WASHINGTON
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL USAF
I2 th DISTRICT OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS
DETACHMENT “8”
CHANUTE AIR FORCE BASE, ILLINOIS

2€ July 1°49
SUBJECT: “ving Sbfects
TOs District Comrancer

12th OSI District (IG)
Scott Air Force Base
Bslleville, Illinois

rurdcue

1. On 25 July 1949 Captain =

University, Lafayette, Indiana, called at the Office of orecial

Sase, Illinois, bearing a state-

Investigations, Chanute A |
ment executed by iir.
Lafayette, Indi
approached by

a friend of Bennett's, ad cen
on 24 July 1949 with the information that on

23. July 1949 and a friend had seen objects in the sky.
Miosser believe his duty to renort the incident tc proper
authorities and, therefore, executed a statement. Captain Bennett
agreed to turn the statement over to the Office sf Srecial Investi-
gations, Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois.

2. QE has faith in lmbke competency and states he is
certain that Mosser was sincere in his convictions.

3. The information was brought to the attention of General
Aubry iloore, Commanding General, Chanute Air Force sase, Illinois.

No investigation was requested by him,

1 Incl. — aNAND L. GsTZ% S

1. Stmt executed by Tetachment Commander
eae OSI Detachment "5"

ee —_——_— ~

Lafayette, —-

UNCLASSIFIED July 24, 1949,

|

The undersigned and MMe, both of Lafeyette,

were fishing at the Merrill stone quarry just bac of the ionon
Railroad station st Delphi, on the evening of Saturfay, July éord.

At approximately 11 P. NM. Daylight Saving Time, a.
CMor 104 to me, saying: "What @re those lights flying around in
the sky?"

I came over and looked where he pointed. There “ere
two luminous objects in the sky to the north of Delphi, at &n ep-
proximate elevation of 1,500 feet. These two objects were soaring
in circles. The one on the right was flying horizontally in an
orbit, clockwise. ‘The object on the left was flying in an orbit,
counter-clockrise.

MMR seid: "Those must be the flying disks of which
I have heard.” we watched the objects. as they approached the
near portion of the abit they would emit a phosphorent flare.
They were flying at a teriffic speed, and as they flashed around
they would appear face toward us, then as they disapreared on
the far swing of the orbit, would appear to show the ‘let portion
orp appeared as & glowing straight line until they faded from
view.

The course which these objects took, while flying in
circles, was somewhat er-satic. They would dip and dive just as
would a plene taking evasive action,

We had two flashlights, and we focussed the two spots
together and led the objects as they came pst, just as a hunter
leads a flying pheasent. Then it was that »e could make out thet
they were taneible objects. They appeared to ve mde of sone
shining metel, aluminum or magnesium, and apreared to be, as well
as we could judge from their estimated height, about the size ofa
five room house in the area they covered,

I then went across the road to a hase and found a man
sitting on the porch. I got him to come out and look at the ob-
jects. He said that he was going to call the editor of the Delphi
paper, and the police department.

Shortly after this several powerful searchlights swept
the sky, following the disks; those of the police or fire department,

I presume.

(UNCLASSIFIED

ss

Piel. I

Roee

Shortly after this the objects ¢eradusliy kept rettiny
farther away until they disappenrec from view over the horivon,.
Approximately 50 minutes later they re-spreared, this time to the
le ft of the plece in the sky where they had first been ceen,

They flew in orbits in that area until, I would say
sbout 1 a. M. Daylight Saving Time; then diseéppeared for « ‘er
minutes and took up their paths in the orisinsl place in the
heavens, where we first noticed them.

we watched them as we cast for bass in the stone querry
until 5S a. M. Daylight Saving Time, at which time they faded fren
sight anc we saw themno more. Through the entire time we viewed
the objects they were continuelly flying.

I might state that neither I nor my comnanion are in
the least imaginative or neurotic. ‘We had not pertcken of any
stimulents or nercotics whatsoever and so rere able t view these
ob jects in the full possession of our faculties.

This we will attest. They were real, tan:ible objects,
presumably of metal, aluminum or magnesium, as I have stated before,
as we could plainly see in the combinec spots of our ‘lashlichts,
ae the searchlights which were trained on the objects confirmed
this,

We had at first advanced the theory thst they might be
northern lights. ‘ie discarded this theory since northern ‘ishts
do not move in reguler orbits in a regular direction.

Then we speculated es to their being searchlights tried
out. I walked out in an open field and looked, but could see no
ray of light which will shine up from the ground 4s a luminosus
band when a search-light or beacon is trained heavenwurd,

They could not be landing field beacons. The nearest
landing field is at Logansport, a considerable distance from Del phi.

The thought that they might be large bets or birds , whose
wings reflected rays of the city lights of Delphi as they flew, en-
tered our minds. I went to the "aan of the road, and placed myself
between the near:st street light and the objects "end they still
showed the same glow as they spun around in their orbits,

We took these precautions as there has been 4 lot of
joking talk and news stories appearing about the"flyine saucers”
being various planets which shine borilliantly, due to favorable
atmospheric conditions, or their proximity to the earth. Planets,
while they move, their movement is only noticeable on the direction
finder of a large telescope, and can not be detected by the nakei eye
alone,

PINCLASSIFIED

We makes the statement that the objects we caw fling
through the sky are of solid construction. There have beon so
many reports of se.ing them thut there is bound to be foundation
of fact concerning them, just as the rockets which not so ong
ago appeared over Sweden.

This statement is given to you for such ev lustion as
you see fit to make.

PNCLASSIFIED

Ee age

_——_—_— —~

=

5D 2-0 lst Ind 1 7JEM/fmn
(28 Jul 49) as a
Subj: FLYING OBJECTS

Sth OSI District (1G), Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, 2 August 1949

TOs Commanding General, Air Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Foroe
Base, Dayton, Ohio, ATTN: MICAXS

oe Fi
n/o

—- —--——- —-

@BREREN iy = UNCLASSIFIED.

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE JAC /traw

WASHINGTON

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL USAF
12TH DISTRICT OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILLINOIS

2h)-0 26 July 159 j
SUBJECT: Flying Objects SRE WL)
, INDE

THRU: District Commander Seam. |
Sth OSI District (IG) SFY ee
Wright-Patterson AFB File —— |
Dayton, Ohio

TOs Commanding General

Air Lateriel Command
Wright-Patterson AFB
Dayton, Ohio

ATTN: MIAXO-3

1. Attached correspondence forwarded in accordance with Paragraph
3c, Air Intelligence Requirements semorandum Number 4, 15 February 1949.

2. No action has been taken by this office pending instructions from
_ your Headquarters,

1 Incl:
Ltr, Det. B, 12th OSI Dist,
26° July 191,9, w/l Incl

c.c. Dir. Intelligence, Hq. USAF

Ga STATES AIR FORCE
\ THE INS i \Vemise)
OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS

51H DISTRICT
nyFED

WHCLAS?'~
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE gam
WASHINGTON

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL USAF
12TH DISTRICT OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILLINOIS

2h,-56 25 January 1950

SUBJECT: AERIAL PHENOMENA
SPECIAL INQUIRY

TO: Director of Technical Intelligence
Air Materiel Command V
Wright-Patterson AFB ot a 4
Dayton, Ohio

1. Transmitted herewith for your information are four copies
of the report d investigation of Special Agent FERDINAND L. GOETZ, of
this office, dated 25 January 1950, two copies of which are for appropri-
ate transmittal by your Command to Director of Intelligence, USAF,

2. This case has been given a "closed" status inasmuch as all
logical leads have been developed by this office.

ger go 9 Fe ae
1 Incl JAMES C. RICHARDSON
Rpt of S/A GOETZ Lt. Colone
dtd 25 Jan 50 (lk cys) District QYommander

ee -_-—

e* -_- ~*
UNC. *’

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE FILE NO. DATE gam
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL 24-56 20 October 1919
OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS REPORT MADE BY
REPORT OF INVESTIGATION FERDINAND L. GOETZ
TITLE REPORT MADE AT
DO #12, Scott AFB
PERIOD
AERIAL PHENOMENA 20 September 1949

OFFICE OF ORIGIN

DO #12, Scott AFB

STATUS

PENDING

CHARACTER

SPECIAL INQUIRY
REFERENCE J
Ltr, Hqs, OSI, dtd 10 Aug 49, file noe 2-185

SYNOPSIS

}

Unidentified aerial phenomena observed by two informants for a period of
approximately four hours on 23 July 1949.

, WING. at '.
#0 DUCLAL: ie vn :
is “—

=

DISTRIBUTION
Dr,Tech Intell, ALC
Dr of Intell, USAF

Hqs, OSI 2| Air Materiel Command
File 2| Wright-Patterson AFB
Dayton; Ohio

JAMES C. YICHARDSOW
Lt. Colgpel, USAF

* “oe + >
Y oh ; ' 2. .. .* ' _#
7 a

District Commander.
AFHQ FORM

15 JAN 49 O-208 Replaces AFCSI Form 4, 23 Jul 48,  —___ im 16—-S7744-1 U.S, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

ee 8 CPL Se he

tie
DETAILS: ONG

1. Investigation was requested by Headquarters, United States Air
Force, The Inspector General, Uffice of Special Investigaticns, Washington 25,
D.C., pursuant to a letter from the 12th OSI District (IG), dated 28 July 1949,

concerning the sighting of flying objects by Nr. Tease - Lafayette,
Indiana, on 23 July 1949.

2. This investigation was conducted by Special Agent LENZIL F. WILDMAN.
YET INDI

3. On-~20 September_1949-Lr, age 50, Clerk in
the Accounting Department of lianon Rowe Railroad, and

eee ace 23, clerk , anon Route Railroad, Va,
were interviewed by Special Agent DENZIL F. WILDMAN and furnished him with the
following information concerning air phenomena at Delphi, Indiana, at arproxi-

mately 2300 hours (CST) on Saturday, 23 July 1949: Saas were

fishing in an old stone quary at the northeast edge of Delphi, Indiana, when
appened to look in the a and saw two illuminated objects and
called ttention to them. escribed the objects

as being approximately fifty feet in diameter, disk shaped and silver in color.
MDE ov i sce that the objects were highly maneuverable. Une

disk was spinning in a clock wise direction in its own axis and the second
disk wes spinning ccunter clock "in iia its own axis and did various loops,
turns and dives. Both and advised that the disks stayed
within a close promimity and in théir opinion were connected together, and
appeared to be between 1500 and 2000 feet in altitude. The objects appeared
to be at a 45° angle with the horizon and at 1:00 o'clock direction when first
observed. The objects made no sound nor produced no odor. The objects were

served for approximately four hours, They changed their positions from 1:00
o'clock to 11:00 o'clock then to 12700 o'clock and gradually grew dimmer and
disappeared. 4m and GARR stated that there were no clouds, no moon
and that the night was very dark.

4e In accordance with AFCSI Let 85, dated 12 August 1949, the
following information was supplied by and oainnnnne,

A. Date of sighting - Saturday, 23 July 1949.

B. Time of sighting - 2300 hours, CST.

C. Where sighted - At the Delphi, Indiane, Stone Quarry, approxi-
mately five blocks northeast of Delphi, Indiana. The observer
was on the ground and the objects were sighted in the sky.

D. Number of objects = Two,

E. Observable celestial phenomena or planets that may account
for the sighting - None.

F. Distance of objects from observer = In the opinion of the
observers, objects appeared to be at an approximate altituce
of 1500 to 2000 feet and at 45° angle of elevation from

horison.
G. Time in sight - approximately four hours,
DO #2 UNCLI.OS 2? 2

c——

Color «= Silver
Shape = Disk like and flat
(c) Apparent construction = unknown
(d) Size = Approximately 50 feet in diameter.

I. Tactics or maneuvers - Objects were revolving in a tremendous
speed in their own axis; however, traversing speed was slow,
Objects did loops, dives and definite gyrations.

Je Direction of Flight = Objects were first sighted in a one o'clock
position. From the one o'clock position, objects moved to a
11 o'clock position, then to a 12 o'clock position, from where
they disappeared,

K. Evidence of exhaust or odor - None.

Le Effect on clouds - There were no clouds visible,

M. Lights - Object appeared luminous entirely.

N. Support - No evidence of support could be noted,

0. ee ~- Objects appeared to be spinning with a tremendous
speed.

P. Control or Stability - None visible.

Q. Air ducts, etc. = None visible.

R. Speed MPH - The speed of objects could not be determined insofar as
traversing speed was very slow. It took objects over an hour to
move from one o'clock position to 11:00 o'clock position,

S. Sound - None,

T. Manner of Disappearance - Faded from view.

U. Direction of Rotation = One cbhject rotated in a clockwise direction
and the other in a counter clockwise direction,

H. Appearance of objects:
)

5. Informants stated that objects did not vary in distance from each
other and were always in same position relative to each other, Objects disappeared
from sight when in a flat position in relation to observers eyes.

6. A check of nearby weather stations by Special Agent ee Ee,
revealed no information pertinent to this investigation.

7. A neighborhcod check at Delphi, Indiana, conducted 20 September 1949
resulted in no additional information regarding these objects.

8. A check at the Delphi, Indiana, Police Station on 20 September 1549
was negative. No flying objects had been reported on date in question.

9. RICHARD RAINBOLT, Editor, Delphi Journal, Delphi, Indiana, when inter-
viewed on 20 September 1949, stated that no reports were made to the paper concern-

ing flying objects.

10, @igPrurther indicated that he saw what appeared to bé a spot light
of a car trying to pick up the objects; however, the beam did not reach the objects.
Also, search lights were observed at a distance of about five miles in a North-
eastern and Northwestern direction of the observers. (NOTE: The search lights
were seen in the same direction as the objects; however, search lights were ob-

served only part of the time.)
DO #12 3 UNCL/S Comb

2

ll. It is also to be noted that the Wabash River is located to the
immediate Northwest of Delphi, Indiana. It is also possible that haze and mist
may have formed over the river on the night in question,

12. Neither of the informants have since been able to contact persons
who alsc observed the objects on the night in question,

13. It is the opinion of Special Agent DENZIL F. WILDIMAN that neither
of the informants sought publicity.

14. Ir the opinion of Special Agent DENZIL F. WILD\.AN, SEs

above average in intelligence and appears to be a man of honest convictions
and common sense. He was, up to 1944, a reported in the State House of Indiana.

He does some writing at the present time. He was not drinking on the nicht in
question nor was he wearing glasses.

15, In the opinion of Special Agent DENZIL F. WILDaN, ee.
quiet mannered, of average intelligence. He served three years in the Navy.

PENDING

oe ew SC

=

-_—

Pee

UNCLAS>

' Aes ferm 4 HEADQUARI ARS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE| File No, Date pau
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL 24-56 25 January 1950
OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS |” iepon made by - F
REPORT OF INVESTIGATION FERDINAND L. GOkTZ
Title Report made at Vas > Te
DO #12, Scott AFB
| Period
AcRIAL FHENOMENA 20 Sept & month of dct 1°49
Office of origin
DO #12, Scott AB
~ Status
| CLOSED a

~ Character
__ SPECIAL INQUIRY

Reference
Report of S/A FERDINAND L. GOBTZ, DO #12, Scott AFB, Dated 28 Oct 49, File 24-56

——

Synopsis

—___ — — — ————

—

Investigation failed to reveal any other persons who
on 23 July 1949 observed aerial phenomena at Delphi,

Indiana,
‘*\ wanes Ce
goOwWN WNGRADED AT 2 Y* 3 Pee enr a Le

LAS> ‘4 fw Fria *** -
DEC SOD Dilt xeu0. iu

Ch

UNCLASSIP So

File Stamp

Action Copy forwarded to
Director of Technical Intelli-

gence
Air Materiel Command
Wright-Patterson AFB

Distribution
Dr, Tech Intell, AMC

Dr of Intell, USAF
Hqs OSI
File

mM mr 1 1

$1684T—*2—Scott AFB, Ill.—9 Aug 49—10M

nee ReRmer s
INCL ASS): .

DETAILS:
HI, INDI

1. Investigation in the vicinity of Delphi, Indiana, and immediate
locale by Special Agent DONALD E, GREENWOOD and Special Agent DsiZIL F.
WILDMAN during the months of September and Uctober 1949 failed to reveal
any other persons who on the night of 23 July 1949 observed aerial

phenomena in the vicinity of Delphi, Indiana.

AT LAFAYETTE, INDIANA

2. Checks with the Weather Bureaus in the vicinityof Lafayette,

Indiana, on 20 September 1949 by Special Agent DENZIL F. WILDIUAN, and
at Delphi, Indiana, during the month of October 1949 by Special Agent

DONALD E.- GREANWOUD, met with negative results.

CLOSED

Do #12

en =. | DACLASVAED
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE RFS/ gam

WASHINGTON

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL USAF
12TH DISTRICT OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILLINOIS

2-56 31 October 199

SUBJECT: AERIAL PHENOMENA = 7A X PS
SPECIAL INQUIRY

TO: Director of Technical Intelligence
Air Materiel Command
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Dayton, Ohio

le Reference is made to subject above, and the fact that this
office received letter from Office of Special Investigations, The
Inspector General, Washington 25, D. Ce, dated 10 August 199, subject
as above, file number 24-165, directing inquiry be conducted.

2. Attached for your information are two copies of the report
of investigation of Special Agent FENDINAND L. GOETZ, of this office,
dated 28 October 19,9.

3. Your attention is invited to the fact that this case carries
a "pending" status. Investigation is currently being concucted at
Delphi, Indiana. aA further report or reports will be submitted upon
completion of investigative activity.

JAMES C. itLCHANDSON
Lt. Colonel, USA‘

District Commander

1 Incl
Rpt of S/A F.L.GOETZ
dtd 28 Oct 9 (in dup )

= - AT 2 Y a4 + S ; ARS.
GOWNRAD ADE ep AFiai. 12 YEA
DUCLASS}Y Spon bil * 50.10

—-

l.
26

10.
ll.
le.
13.

15.
16.

17.
(16.

2h.

INCIDENT no, 40¢

Date of Observation 25 July 1949 Date of Interview

Exact Time (local) 2300 DST

Place of Observation Velphi, Indiuna
Position of observer round

What attracted attention to object

Number of objects 2

Apparent size of 5 room house

Color of object Shining aluminum or magnesium
Shape |

Altitude | 1500

Direction from observer
Distance from observer North

Direction of flight of ebject(s)

.Time in sight

Speed Terrific

Sound and odor

Trail Would emit phosphorent glare as they approached near portion of orbit
Luminosity
Projections

erratic

Maneuvers Soaring in circles one clockwise, one counter-clockwise
Manner of disappearance

Effect on Clouds

Additional information concerning object

Weather Conditions

(over)