PROJECT BLUE BOOK

.- --...
1. DATE - TIME GROUP 2. LOCATION
24 Jul 49 25/05002 Fairfield, Ohi 412
a SOURCE 10. CONCLUSION
Military AIRCRAFT
4 NUMBER OF O3JECTS
ONE
5. LENGTH OF OSSERVATION 1. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS
15 seconds Size was the same as'an F-82 at traffic altitude. Color was
white, incandescent. Looked like an owl or sting ray fish.
6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION Object flew a straight course and faded from view in the SW.
Ground-Visual
7. COURSE
Scuth
S. PHOTOS
Yes
No
9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

3. Place of Observation Fairfiold, Ohio
4.Position of observer Graund -- watching sky.
5. What attracted attention to object
6Number of objects 1
7. Apparent size of F-2 at traffio altitude (1000)
8. Color of object White, incandescent
9. Shape . hout tail).
10. Altitude 60°-65° (1000 feet)
1. I Direction from observer 45°
12. Distance from observer Apparently 1000'
13. Direction of flight of object(s) Horth to South
14. Time in sight 15 Seconds
15. Speed
16. S Sound d and odor 350-400 LPH soo)
17. 1 Trail Ncne
18. I Luminosity Like cloud

.
B

ATIC WO DACE OF INPO 26 July 49
AV HO.__- LOCNTION_Bollinghna, :ington
*O 1.— SOUACH_ _Hale Civilian
2s...
THA OF CO _001:5 COLOR_Red - Crange
SA_E- SMED_—S Man.
Hotin.e
617 Buselage 2h7 AiTTrUD 15 above Horigon
—
COURST__S. Seconds
.
NO. IN ChOUP_ 1 —
COUND - TAMEUVERS Stationary
— P7'

De
HEADQUARTERS S UNITE' GATES NO. DATE
THE INSPECTU.. GENERAL 24-39 17 Cctober 1949
REPORT MADE BY
OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATION
REPORT OF INVESTIGATION MERLE L. CLEVELAND, S/A
TITLE REPORT MADE AT
DO #20, McChord AFB, .ashington
UNCONVENTIONAL AIRCRAFT PERIOD
Sighted by 30 Aug; 22, 23 Sept 1949
on 26 July 1949 at Bellingham, OFFICE OF ORIGIN
Washington DO #20, McChord AFB, ashin ton
STATUS
CLOSED
CHARACTER
SPECIAL INQUIRY - UNCONVENTIONAL AIRCRAFT
REFERENCE
None - this is an initial report
SYNOPSIS
Investigation requested by Commander, D0 #2O, McChord AFB, Wash-
ington. The object was stationary during the ten seconds it was sighted.
It disappeared by decreasing gin size, Investigation determined that there
was a broken overcast at 7,000 ) feet scattered and broken clouds at
3,500 feet. A ceiling on at the Bellingham Airport, Bell-
ingham, Washington, by the CAA Station attendant to determine cloud forma-
tion. may have seen this light reflected off one of the scattered
clouds. Only one known aircraft in the vicinity at the time of sighting.
The The planet, planet, Jupiter, Jupiter, located located at at an altitude an altitude. of 20 degree: degrees ove the horizon the horizon
directly south from Bellingham, washington, washington was shining intermittently with intermittently with
a yellowish-white to yellowish-white to orange light.
DOWNGRAIED DOWNGRARED STATS. "TArS.
BECLASSIFIA: BECLASSIFIS:
DOD D
3
3
Sa0α
DISTRIBUTION ACTION COPY FORWARDED TO FILE STAMP
CG. AMC 2 Commanding General, AMC,
(Action copies) Wright-Patterson AFB,
Dayton, Chio
HQ OSI 2 ATTN: NCIAXO-3
File 2
APPROVED
λ
ELfnetGut 1
2
R. D. MELCHER
l4 Major, USAF
Actg DISTRICT COMMANDER
AECPY -RM 4 9-1073, AF
-2 2017 1003 UNCLASSIFIED
-

were returning to their home by auto, traveling Northwest Road,
approximately six miles north of Bellingham, "ashington. made a 90
degree turn to his left from Northwest Road on to Smith Road, traveling ebout
fifteen miles per hour particular reason, he glanced tc his left and
noted an object which appeared burning aircraft. Lowering the car
window and continuing to watch the object as he drove, Judged it. to be
the approximate size of fuselage C-47 at the distance of six miles.
The object appeared to at an approximate ngle degrees above the
horizon, and was egg haped first sighted He watched approximately
ten seconds and the shape changed circular prior disappearance. He
described the color as red-orange and lighter shade orange near the edges.
The outline was sharp and not distorted. The object was stationary with no
visible means of support observed smoke, odor sound. He stated
-- that the sky was but there was
ministration, Bellingham Airport, Bellingham, washington, was interviewed on
22 September 1949 at his office and securing the weather report for the 26th
day of July 1949 noted the weather observance made at O030 hours: "7,000 broken;
3,500 scattered; 15 miles visibility; 14.9; temperature 56 degrees;
and s surface wind, south, miles per hour" BLANTCN further stated that a
ceiling light is used determine the altitude of the clouds. This stationary
light is turned on twice each hour during darkness while the weather is actually
being observed. The light is very powerful and beam is projected straight
up. report indicated th: the lower clouds at

that there has been some local night flying by civilian aircraft located on
the field; however, there would most certainly not be any at 0045 hours with
weather conditions being such as they were. BLANTON further advised that
Canadian aircraft are requested t contact the Bellingham Station upon entering
the United States, and indicate any
5. Mr. Station Agent, United Airlines, Bellingham, wash-
at his office at the Bellingham Airport on 22 September
1949 and The station is closed during the night; however,
one of t their aircraft flies over the vicinity pproximately 0020 hours each
night. The aircraft normally fly at weather permitting. He further
stated that if all lights were turned on cartment of the
planes, they could not be seen from the ground exhaust
from the ground the was flying very owever,
doubtful.
6. Mr. was re-interviewed on 22 September 1949 at his home and
questioned regarding the possibilities of the sighted object being a cloud
passing through the beam or light being projected at the CAA Station at the
Bellingham Airport, and he stated as follows: The object appeared, or seemed to
be, over the Bellingham Airport and that he has observed ceiling lights at
Boeing Airport, Seattle, washington, or pumerous occasions and noted their effect
upon the clouds. He did not believe that the object - he saw was a cloud, but
admitted it could have been. He reasoned that the color was too bright and

9 Associate Professor of Astronomy, University of
Washington, Seattle Washington, was interviewed by Special Agent CARTER O.
COOPER, at his office on the campus, 23 September 1949, and the following
information was obtained. tates that at OO45 hours on 26 July 1949,
the planet Jupiter was located at an altitude of degrees and directly south
ofI Bellingham, washington. The planet at that time had magnitude of "minus 2"
which would make it 6.3 times brighter than Vega. The color oI the planet was
yellowish-white to orange, depending upon the atmospheric conditions. The
professor stated the planet would come into view and then fade irregular
intervals.
10. T The following - informa ver:
Name:
Postal Address m, Washington
Occupation: Storekeep with
brother.
gham. W ngton
Hobbies: plane pilot and is familiar