PROJECT BLUE BOOK

-
- if considerablo
allowance is made for looseness in
0
.
a
LINCLASSIFIED

D seems I
staterent sbout
correct. -
ridence in tlis incident than in
.
. UNCLASSIFIED .
2.
: *.

Data is
'
was taken, since from
0 this the determined. 9
UNCLASSIFIED

w seets unlikely,
4
0 the meteoric hypothesis. 1
against
-
D
w UNCLASSIFIER .
.
4

0
-
D
LUNCLASSIFIED

S
to this hypothesis. At sunset one oan expect
moving, nearly horizontal fireballs.
.
-
:.
2 .
UNCLASSIFIED

obtained virtually a their inforry press and
radio items.
The Swedish Defense Staff conduoted a comprehensive study of
the early ineidents. Several thousand reports were thoroughly investi-
D gated and plotted, with resultant conelusions that all evidence obtained
of sightings were explicable terns of astronomical phenomena. Since
that time, although th littlo they .
attempt to play up their inciderts to ths United States, bviously to
emphasize the quest radar (see Appendix A").
II. Early
mAry
wrote a serie articlea about this sighting for magazine
This periodical styles itsel into the
supernatural fantastic.
Within the month following number of
incidents reached a peak that remainad unsurpassed for any lilco period
covered by this report. (This peak was, however, surpassed in lay l949.
following an Air Force press release and ariae of articles in the
Saturday Evening Post concerning flying objects. individuals
later reported having bjeets s prior to Arnold-incident.
2
.
.

.
UNCLASSIFIE

0
1
UNCLASSIFI
.

0 .
UNCLASSIFIED

manier
is more likely that
thirgelse.
0
.
LUNCLASSIFIED
.
1

D
UNCLASSIFIED

D .
inite iden-
avenue, S
tifioution.. .
TC
UNCLASSIFIED

to overostLuate the
might
D
under that
explained
.
UNCLASSIFIED
. .

-
listance (less tnan
meteoric explanation will SI not t hold.
D
UNCLASSIFIED
.

D
UNCLASSIFIED
.

howover; another major
size of s.as
estinated distance.) .
tnis would imply fantastically ar e maanetic
0 fields.
.
UNCLASSIFIED

Hq. AlC in a letter dated 23 September 1947, requested the
Commanding g General, Army Air Forces, to issue a Mrective assigning a
priority, security classification and code name for a detailed stucy
of flying aisc reports. Hq. AMC explained that their action was based
on the opinion that the phenomena real. Await
ing a s specific directive, Hq. AMC collected information flying disc
incidents in order to more clearly define the nature the phenonena.
On the 22nd of December 1947, in a memorandun, Analysis of Flying Iisc
Reports", the Director of Intelligence Ha. USAF. with ALC
recommencations and rced them to the Director of Research and
Development, ICS/M.Hq. USAF for reply to the Commanding Ceneral, AUC.
[ In a letter dated 30 December 1947, the Lirector of Research and Devel-
opment, mS/M, advised Commanding General, AMC, Force policy
mas not to ignore reports of sightings and phenomena tmosphere.
To irplement this policy, AC was directed by Hq. pro-
ject with the purpose of collecting, collating, evaluating, distri-
and a code name nSiun" The code name of "Sign" for the project
was changed December 1948 request of the Lrector
of Research ICS/N "Grudge" uncer the U.S. Joint
Services 3 coce rord index refers to the title " Detailed Stucy of Flying
liscs".) As a result of the directive from Hq. USAF for establishment
of the special project, Hq. AliC Technical Instruction No. 2185, dated
11 February 1948, was published and assigned sponsibility for the
project activities to the Technical Intellige visio Intelligence
Iepartment, HO . ALC.
Department of Air Force and Department of Army letters directed
all respective subordinate units to report directly Air Materiel Conmand
all information concerning unidentified flying objects. Air Intelligence
Requirements Kiemorandum No. 4 was published 15 February 1349 at the request
of Air Materiel Command in an effort to obtain more comprehensive and
accurate inforration.
IV. Project tdministration
. ..
.
At the outset, project personnel proceede by air to the scene
of a ported sighting to personally interrogate witnesses. This was not
2 .
a

.
UNCLASSIFIED

D with the atmosphere. To exeoute
- urastances
indeed, and a meteoric explanation for this incident must be regarded
UNCLASSIFIED
1.0

From the scanty
was
the si hting is not iven, but it is assuied
neteor. (The tine of
the incidont that it occurred
from the description c of
light hours.)
SOnO
K
-

Apparently it must classed with the other bona lide diso
signtings. .
Iwo points stand out, however: the "sky olue" color,
and the faot n top as
have travelling
atmospherio eddy?
D

this incident.
Although sighted on the same day as the sky-blue canyon
little or no similarity to the former.
-
D

that the object sighted was astronorical.
have been a highly distorted reflection image of the sun on a
for ascribed to the object
tends to

can presume that

duced essentially to zero: It then ralls earth non-

.
Incident 80 -- -- July 1947
this incidont
bright neteor. S Slow-roving
midnight.
.
D

may be identified, and these ports eliminated from the stucy. ith these
out of the succeedin g steps would develop.
In implementing the
was established and followad:
A. Receipt of Initial Reports
1. Personal letter and personal contact.
C
3. Reports installations, (as
result official directi these mak bulk of reports).
Investigation of Reports
liateriel Command personnel, ATI fiel t personnel.
sighting involves only militam es
pecially in out-of-the-may locations, loca ficers
are requested to investigate.
3. The largest number of reports investigated
through 5th Dis lct CSI.
4. All investigators are instructed to use AMC form
titled, "Guide to Investigation Unidentified Flying Objects" to assure
collection of all available, pertinent information. The Quide to In-
vestigation is frequently revised to incorporate recommendatians of
technical consultants to the project.
C. RecDz formation After Receipt of Report In
vestigation
1. Upon investigation, reported sight-
ing is then treated as an incident and assigned a nsecutive number.
.
.
3 .

estirato of
.
-- much more reliable
than those given in most reports.
like to recomnend that these
. and other pibal observers be quizzed as to other possible, un-

this incident
early-evening -
"round out disclike" and then arain says that it was ten times
D

0
Incident l -- hickam Field -- 7 July 1947
.
object sighted was an instru-
ment-oarrying balloon. .
a
D

There appoars to be a tine
was in
seconds, yot indicates that the observer
station to inquire aboit balloon releases, and also to expose lo
seconds of 8 run. film.
In any event, however, besides the fuot that no smoke
trail obiect prgolude the ocssibility

C
incident w84 -- near Laitoland, #lorida -- 7 July 1947
accurately reported, do not lend themselves to such an expla:a-
tion. No truil is mentioned.
7 T
0 1
a

.2

2
Incident #S6 - Hollywcod, California -- 6 July 19l47
From the limited data available, there - apuears to he
. nc astronomical explanation for this incident.
many others, which, nowever, cid not exnibit the ray phenomenon.
-
.

any astronomical The description
is not
it wras a
unfortunately, no definite
conclusion can be drawm.

1
Inoident w33 -- liackensaok, New Jersey -- 3
It seems clear toat no astrononical
be given to tnis incident.
littlo else can e said.
i much more detailed informa-
tion. .
a

There is no direct astrononical exolanation for this
incident.
The striking feature of the
.
of the sun at the time.
4
8
feet. The inconsistenoy in altitude throws some suspioion on the
D
to

desired.
5. Data is collated against blim
Airline schecules, informatio on ball aerial
objects.
Do Consultants
Since, as stated above, there were indications that some
sightings could b attributed to natural phenomena, conventicnal air
craft and aerial vehicles, birds, lights, clouds, etc., effort 1a3
made to have all material analysed by individuals in all technical
fields that might conceivably be touched upon These individuals and
agencies include the following (only those agencies which provided
usable results are considered): -
:
r. J. A. Hynek, Astroncmer, Chio State University
was awarded a contract, effectiva 16 December 1948 to 30 Aprill 11949,
for the purpose of attempting to determine which reported objects
might be attributed to natural celestial might be att natural celestial phenomens. phenomens.
2. Headruarters Air Weather Service was requested to FO-
view each incident to determine those which may have been weather bal-
loons by comparison of release and weather data with time of sighting,
of object, and its maneuvers.
3. Dr. C. E. Valley, Scientific Advisory Board. Since
many reporters colored their reports with talk of ray, electronic
beams, and magnetic support and propulsion, D. Valley mas asked to
analyze the incidents and decide whether this could possibly be the
case in any instance, and to provids information on this natter.
4. Rand Corporation WAS requested analyze each in-
cident and provide any reasonsble expLanation that could ba determined
from the evidence given. Rand also provided a discussion of the pos-
sibility of visitations by beings from other planets.
2
4
. . .
. +
.

however, and, if a neteor, the objeet sneid nave tad a pronoudlced
leotion wiich seemed to cmuige
self, blended with daylight. .
D

the reversal of directicn o manouvers executed
The speed is not stated with any exactness, but if it
was not too great, the coject might have been a
craft seen under unusual corditions. itnerwise, tnere aypears to
I is.

manner desoribed in tais incicent.
A small lighted balloon the meroy of changeaole
winds aloft might offer a possiole explanation.
(The stated position of the moon at the time has beon
cheoked and found to be correot.)
- D

cation of
ling a "shooting star," and as havin; a
D

.
authonticated fireball.
tation from Popalar Astronomy
.
rireball of 1947 -- Lec. 30
Nanoy s. Haber
On tnis date at 7:30 P. i PS7 a orilliant fireball
appeared travellin; westward ovor soutnern uregon.
. . ... frof. J. liugh rruett gathered nunerous reports from
ouservers.
From the height. at which the meteor exnloded it is
douatful whether any fragents reack the round.
It is clear from the cener a.creemont
- 794-97 inclusive that tnis fireball was
the object being deseribed.
3

fireball.
bolide
did land and cause a b brush fire.
.
.
m

:
Incidont r97 -- between. iedford, Cre., and it. Shasta, Calif. -- 30 Dec. 1947
and location (no other dstails are iven) witn tnat or the fireball
desoribed in detail in the report on inoident r94. .
.
10

Incidont 98 -- Houston, Texas -- 2 loverber 1947
sugcest that
is concerned,

Inoident #99 -- Finland -- 3 January 1948
Inforration given here is insufficient to establish cven
va_ue identification.
The o~ject seen could have been a fireball, although the
sub ject to consideracle error?
0

v. Liscussion of Reports c
A. Dr. J. A. Hynek, Dr.
Hynek's report includas the results of a concentrated stucy of all
files up to an/including Incident No. 21:44. Homever, as mentioned
above, Incidents 223 through 227 and 21.1 through 2lh, in t ew Mexdco
area, will not be cansidered in this analysis. An additional seven in
cidents vere xoludad Hynek as
4 of Appendix aining 228 reated, Dr Hynek con-
C cluded that app astronomical with varying degrees of
probability. luded that additional 37% were not astronom-
ical but suggestive other explanations, such as birds, rockets,
balloons, ordira aircraft, etc. The reraining 30 D.
Hynek ms serned either lacked sufficient evidence vidence
offered suggested no explanaticn. In compiling thess statistics,
taking into consideration psychological factors. Dr. Hynek then stated
that "53% might conceivably be considored (although the likelihood of
their being 80 may be very emall) as extrs-terrestrial or astronomical
in origin These include "those which either are definitely astron-
omical or can suuta manipulation the construed as
such".
B. Ho, Air Weather Service, one indorsement and one letter
(see Appencix W) Air Service conducted an analyeis simultan-
eously with Dr. Hynek using the sEmo evidance. ANS atteroted to deter-
mine mhether a synoptic weather balloon could hava been at the location
where a sighting was reported.
In this investigation consideration was given to the wind
Mrection and speed at t the surface and aloft at the schedled time of
balloon release, and the location of the nearist weather station making
belloon observations. AWS used files of the Crst 233 incidents.
5
.
.

27
180
Information given here is insufficient to establish
any sort of identification.
I as a meteorie phenomenon.
I wer

astronomioal literature; (for de-
-
. -
astronomical, and the incident need not
be considered further.

orcatur neteorite seen at an
Liron, Colorado."
southeast from Liron, it could not have been the ioractur fire-
ball, sinse the direction of
- the difference of zones, tne signtings would
have been approp
in any event, whether tnis was the same or another ob-
ject is not important. The desoription given -- partioularly
the statement "huge, multicolored ball of and dense cloud
answers olosely to that of a fireball.
-

See report on incident #lo2 for discussion.
.
.

Venus. The stated position checks exactly (within allowable
observational error) with the computed position of Venus.
cheok
closely.
D
-

the reported
them intc an astronomical hypothesis.
-

sufficient to
make this h hypothesis completely untenable.
The description appl more olosely to the "star
18 shel1"

were of astronomical origin. See report on incident fl06.
.s

incident #l06.
.
4
-
.

Incident l08-- Bakersfield, valifornia -- 8 Iaron 1948
-
astronomical origin. See report on incident #l0s.
7 and fl0s refer to
the same object or objeats.

provice any possible explanation. At the e same time, he considered t the
possibility of supporting and propelling a solid object by unusual
means. (It will be noted that Valley's theories along these lines
very cloaely parallel those Rand Corporation, Appendix
"E".)
D Rand Corporation, letter, 13 Deacember 19, and letter,
29 March 19l9 (Appendix "E") Rand provided a discussion of the special
design and erformance characteristics that are believed to distinguich
( space ships. Rand received files on Incidants No. I th ru No. 233 for
general analysis though t.h from Rand not yet been
received, on stucy of
the first l7a the first 172 icidents, cidents, n found nothir found nothing would
seriously controvert simple rational l explanations explanations the various phen- phen
omena in teras omena in terns of balloons, conventional balloons, conventional aircraft, planets, meteors, alrcraft planet meteors,
bits of paper, optical illusions, practical jokers athological
reporters, ane like."
E. 3160th Electronics Laboratory, Cambridge Fleld Station
(Appencix "F). The Electronics Laboratory reviewed Incidents No. 1
thru No. 172 to determine whether any may have been sightings of special
research balloons. The Laboratory showed that ls could possibly have
been their balloons. Dr. Hynek's analysis did not conflict with any of
these, and in S0me cases served as slight confirmation. However, of
the 1, three were thought to have been synoptic balloons. It was
learned while obtaining this information, that numerous universities
and laboratories are engaged in various types of research requiring
the use of balloons. Even when the ballocns are recovered, there is
no certain way mining their exact pathe
F. Dr.P. Air Materiel Command Aero-liedical Lab-
oratory (Appendix D. Fitts studied 212 incidants from 2. psycho-
logical point of view and concluded "that there are sufficient psycho-
logical explanations for the reports of unidentified objects to provide
6 4
.

nothing whatover astrononical
the information given, nothing rurther can be said.
--
T

the
Since the object was seen by only one person, and since
is contradictory, it seema to this investigator
.
4
6
.

maintained shape, was a
long vertical
daytime meteor
an hour or more, and to drift with prevailing winds aloft. The
-
-

mical interpretation. * "
Attention can be called to the similarity or the desorip-
tion given here to that of.incident 81.
7

flecting sunlight. Une inconsistenoy is noted: report states,
"Weatner clear and visibility unrestricted,"
necessarily have prevented sun reflection from airorart.
. -
I

ing astronomical
-

÷
.

distance and of
This investigator would
for better such incicents.
.
D

Inoident jll8 -- Berlin, Gernany -- 28 Karch 1948
The information given here is insufficient for a definite
conclusion to be reached; the only possible astronomical explanation
which would. be a slow-moving meteor, is very unlikely.
7.
I .

that t it was only
1000 feet away was in error in his estinate.
0
-

recovered property or injury
any instance. On the other hand, almost every incident has less than
legal proof th nat object was seen, or that an appeared or per-
more than one witness
reported, all witnesses se etails.
, In view of consult
ing agencies tre accept e incidents.
Of the 228 incicents under consiceration in this report, 30
must be disregarded for lack of workable evidence. Eieht were extracted
investigation ve others, the observers were found to have possessed
too vivid imaginations, were of low intelligence, were morally
questionable. It is reasonable to assume that if th thirty inci-
dents had contained sufficient information a proportionate number could
be explained as were the lól incidents
With 194 incidents thus eliminated, there remain thirty-four
which contain some evidence but have no apparent reacy explanation.
This statenent is true only under the assuption that the evidence is
accepted as reliable and accurate. When psychological and physio-
logical factors are taken into ecnsideration, all of these incidents
can be explained rationally, as pointed out by Rand Corporation and
Lr. Fitts of Air Materiel Command Aero-Medical Laboratory (see Appendixes
"En and "G").
VII. Sumnary Evaluation of Eem maining Reports
The remaining unexplained incidents
few common characteristics. Two of them, by statements of the r reporters,
would not have been made had the witnesses not read of the !'t. Ranier
7
A

Nothing is said that the ob-
jeot's having been a meteor. Information is very scanty.
.
a
in
1.
&

ever, report
Pos-
1
il sibly be interpreted as a fireball.
0
D ..
3

D 21
Incident l22, a, b -- 11948
at the moment there appears to Lo
for this incident.
There is notring to indicate an astronomical origin of
the object observed.
a

Inident #l23 -- Alton, Illinois -- 11 april 1948
There is nothing of astrononioal character in this incident.
If one considers
seem
that the object may really nave been a bird. .
D

Incident l24 -- North Atlantio - 18 April 1948
incident is at all
birds?
-
II

7
Incident Fi25 -- St. Louis, -issouri -- 2 Mayl1948
Information givön
category.
E
nomical character.

Incident l26 -- Anacostia, Naval Air Station -- 30 April 1943
19 to indicate astronomical origin of tne obfeat observed. It
appears to have been a balloon.
-

a conolusion. or objects
observed seens very "
The phenomenon
A.

vision
of a rapidly -
field for guided missiles
=

C

than a first magnitude It Youle night as
nortbrgst -
2

tnis inoident has an astrono-
in with the desoription of a large
neteor. Lack of and train also tend to rule out this hypo-
thesis.
The desoription answers that of a lighted ballocn rela-
.

great.
.
9 A

for
the same time
rockets or flares.
a -

There is no direct ast nical
incident.
that the objects observed were seen at essentially the same level
as the lower cloud stratum and that there was a high overoast.
a

favorable conditians for the observa--
. 6

"streamer of bluish color trailing"; mamner of rer
horizon"; and (in renarks) "streamer emi
fih ne typical phenomana associated with
a night fireball.
One witness states that the objeot was in sight for three
ims estimate
2 -
-

incident w137, 137a -- Chapel liill, hortn Carolina -- 7 July 1948
This report - State-
ments of the witnesses indicate speoifically object was
seen. The sum:ary sheet given here seems confuse the cescription
of this incident with that of incident al38.
The information given in tris
reoort is
-

There is clearly astrononical character in
this incident.
It is the present investigator's opinion that the objects
"seeing" effect -- that is, distortion of
.

The present investigator was struck
that the description of inoident
er moon can
never
date
moon
light?
Other possibi sugzest
I

1
39
30 Broken line indicates ratdly reports. Vertical lines indicate Incidents noted
weekly reports lst to Sth, received wide
9th to 16th, 17th to 2l,th publicity.
& 25th to end of each month
covered.
25
20
Incident 17= 2h4_m_1241__ Incideat 33-1 n 1914_- Recurrent publioity_ cn Europe Incicent 114-2_118__-
7=24_m_1241_. -1n124 4-2_118_ FTG,
6
_123 1
15 publicity_cn Europesn Reports
1 I
1 I
I 1 1
1 1 1
1 1 --
1 1 I
1 -
10 [
1
1
1
5
1
1947 1943 June July Aug Sopt Oct
May June July Aug Sapt Oct Nov Deo Jn Feb Mar Apr May

B
moving at a "torrific" rate of and was in sight for two
or three seconds. .
i
the ubiquitous moon. "Bri ght noonli it" the
stated hour of observation, the coez had not yet risen.
-

-
the starlike appearance and the even.tuml breaking

.
carrying, pe VAD
eventual breaking up into parts.
aupearance and the
the starlike
.:

Incident il42 -- Boise, idano
Ho details are
1
reliable to warrant consideration of his report.
4
live
BY
8

.

wl44 should be conpared
b, which to gether constitute
as givend .
For "ldd, tnere is no astrono ical ex, lanation if we aore_t
stated, partioularly in the assense of a7 1gowm aircraft in the vicin-
cer awake at
whether the imodiate trail could produce the

trathhe saw a cylindrical object
trailing a rei alash of fire, but did not cisodm any vindows or
a cousle deck; iamittecly, from the ground ne would nave had less
interesting te =ote. hewever.
nary aircmfk
fhe ater gossible ex_ lanation is that the ooject was
"
a natter of a ninute or two. If the ont-
omery ousernrsiad oean usiag; duyligit savings tine (do regular
7
D

differonce in
tine is real, 'the ob ject was some form of aircraft travelling at
the sare cojoct was observed in the two cases. That
- more -

incident wl44, 144 a and b -- pa ge 4
The coject regorted in insideut wliia and lidb aas very
probably a matecr.
It should be noted that this cbjoot was travelling in the
sans direction as tne ono reported in
sono 4oo niles. It is not uiusual ror a
l5 ninutes betwsen the coservations, nowever; wly conisotion be-
3

of
The lack of any exnaust trail and luminosity eliminates
an astronomioal exlanation ror nere.
it seems more probable that tney were distant airoraft
flying in fornation, or migrating birds.

UNIIENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS 36112 0
1 a PROJECT JDOEn
Lt H. W. Smith
Kr. G. W. Towles
SMC
4s
Classification No. XS-304
cancelled
or changed to. Cife . .
I AUTK:
By r C
e and Grade
J Aug 195L
Approved by:
1
.
Intelligence Department
i . .
uman ding General:
Colonels USAF
Chief, Intelligence Lopartuent V
10 .
i
Release Date: 1003282
August 1949 3745-440
UNCLASSIFIEL

: - +
:

1
Inoident l46 -- San ncacia Dam, New exico -- 17 duly 1943
nomical explanation ror tiis incident.
It seems more protasle tnat the objeots cbserved were
a) balloons at a much lesser distance than that estimated,
aircraft in formation, or c birds.

increase tho proba-
was crossiag
the collision
0

Intermittent cloud coverage could easily explain the appearance and
disappearance stated size, this can oe

metecrs. the description would also allow Ior their ceing; rockets.
However, tne explosion of the oojeots iavors the metooric hypo-
thesis.
It might se well to note the similarity of this and

Incident 1so -- Swedish coust -- 1
.
The desoription
for any conclusions te he druvm.
its havin; been a neteor.
Note the sinilarity of this incidont to wl49 and l33.
17
D

Incident #lel -- Indianapolis, indiana -- 2ò July ls43
. This incident anc rlu2
Botn incidents are clearly non-astronomical.
Drawin s are available for both oojects observed, and,
going on in tge vicinity of indianapolis at
most tangible, fron the stand-
point of desoription, of all trose reported, and the most difficult
to exylain away as sheer nonsense.
It should be noted that both inoidents lel and lo2 nad
two ocservers.
1

/ Incident jle2 -- Indianapolis, Irciana -- 31 July 1945
There is no astrononical explanation ror the ouject
observed in tnis incident.
See report on incident glsl ror discussion. -
+

Incident #le3 -- seorgia -- 5 august l048
The limited description whicn is ofrered nure is
consistent with tiat of a disintegrating firesall, in spite
of the observer's statement that the objeot was not a noteor
or falling star. Actually, fireballs bear little resemblance
The trail l of sparks
at the end is sometimes associated with a rirecall.

tarough it; and 2) it
cator viewed as a toy.
trese many years..
floating ellipse, like a wire hoop travolling slowly across tho
Decause of tne similarity between this ooservation and
interest
smoke is an added feature.
There is ooviously no astronomical explanation rer these
incidents - the most plausible explanation prooaoly lies in the
rield of meteorolory.
C.

2
If the i:formation ofrere
all, the most likoly ex_lanation is tnat a cluster of oalloons, or
Corrosoration for tnis
location. The ooject reported in al57

cooper-
ated in maintaining watch radar equipments were Swedish modified British sots
of fairly short range and were not operated
sightings equipment.
0 4. Conolusiong Although exists that objects have traversed
Sweden and its adjacen een ottained to confirm in
any instance.
COMmENT,. The cooperation of the Defense Staff in securing this information was
interest unident: ng objects wever refusal to
grant an uch ecuipmen nplementing our nation-
al policy, Natioral Security Council docume 28/1, than would
the information use or
/s/ Donald L. Hardy
DONALD L. HARDY
Colonel, USAF
Air Attache
ENCLS.
Distribution by Originator A, SD - Stockholm
8 £236
UNCEASSIFIED

This incident and incident
to provide tne not air. They then rise and stay aloft lor several
-

1
Incident ls7 -- Columous, Unio -- 31 duly l043
-he otject described 11 this incident can be easily
idontified as a "county fair salloon."
See report on inoident l5c for discussion.
i..
46

1 8
Incident #le7 -- Colarous, Unio -- 31 duly l843
the otject desoribed in this inoident can be easily
idoitified as a "county fair salloon."
See report on inoident .lse for discussion.
/
..

1
Incident "les -- droveport, Jhio -- 1 August 1918
with two essential itens missing (spead with wiion the
trail was :orned and length of tine involved in tae fornation),
it is dirfioult to come to a definite conclusion concornin: the
ori gin of the object otserved, but it is ontirely jossitle that .
it was parts of the smoke trail of a firewall. Fireball trails
have beon kmown to aot in the mater desoribod. The witness states
like an anti-aircrutt shell burst or a
611

1
Incident als9 -- "orthinigton, Ohio -- 30 July is48
lo astrononiaul ex lanation is suggested by the descri.-
ticn o. this insident.
appearance desoribed.
it shouli be noted that the sire of tho object and
distunce are not stated.
.
1

-
dont: tne ouserve
-
A

July 1948
information orfer these
There does not
about tais incident; Chances
from fuselage out not from wings.
4

3
18
Incident -l62 -- Mamel, -imesota -- 11 iust 1s48
.
dent. a meteorite would not nave dessended so gently, nor would
it nave risen again.
It seems inoreaisle that tnis could have been an aotual
no mture ooservers were at hand. If the object did land just a
few feet away, one wculd think that even children would have givon
.
A

incident wlo3 -- Vanliuys, California -- 21 July 1348
Since a complete desoription of tiis
Flano-
experienced observers, and since their descriptions agree that tho
investi ator can add. The ot ject was eviduntly an unidontified
balloon.

0
.
Incident al04, , b -- Cniontown, renns; lvania -- 29 June 1948
There is no astrononical exylanation for tnis incident.
. its occurronce at the time understorm suggests
another possibility is that the observers saw a beacon
searchlight projected a gainst clouds, althouh if tais were the
case, it should have ccntinued visible at regular intervals.

APPENDIX A-2
Air Intelligence Information Report No. R-7-L9
C

Insident wlde, a -- Chamblee, Georgia -- 2s July 1946
The object reported in insident wlss and ldsa (wnich
.
wid lost altitule slcwly.
iumorous other re crts (included with ineident slid),
from the visinity of augusta, which are widely divergent as to
.
C

The oeserver of tnis
like a rocket and was lar er thun a B-2s. de does not give the dis-
.
inglied distcnee, it Aypears to tnis investi jator that recenblunce to
a rocket mist have ceen lar ely sut jeotive.
althou h a rockot oannot ce ruled out, it is also gossitle
that the objest sean was a bright moteor. If the hour of ouservution
iven is correot, it was late twilight. It seems that a bright neteor
lass was out of locus.
thermore, the tels gram and surmary state that the cojeot v was travellin:
had been a rocket heading east, tho laadin; would _robally have been
reported.
all in all, the evidence supports tho conolusion that the
I

Incident ls7 -- Facifis Cceun: lso 0s' =--6 1a 1943
te tip actual explcsion.
This, with gartial clond covera;e, could easily explain the absence
of a truil.
It is not likoly tnat li its sighted on the water surface
or airoraft
C

with sugersonie speed, even if
. impression
much more provabie two iters
of ordinary aireraft or a firetall. sven though these

..
F
Incident wlc9 -- aplewood, Ohic - 29 au rst l048
There does not appear to be any astronorisal explunation
for this i incident.
There is some chance that the ob jeot oculd have been a
weather balloon in the proooss of disinte gration.

5 1ay 1948
It is uxtremely unlikely
informution given is
-
that one rocket-like object was recovered.
al
r
3

Incident #l7l -- oscow, iussia -- 3 Au gust 1943
There is ne astronomical ex lanation for this incident.
Perhaps the hussians were experinenting with their own
or a captured erman diri-ible.

There is no conceivable astronomical
this much-examined and much-discussed incident.
analyses by a psychologist and a meteorological expert
would be of inportance here.
witnesses of the incident did not osserve the complox taotios
reported by Lieutenant jortan, altholgh they were preswnably
.

Incident al74 -- near New Orleans, Loiisiana -- 1 Ootober la4d
that
on; however, this one could have been scen aftor the earth's at-

Answer: Swedish official opinion prior to the landing in Sweden,
was that a certain number the. "missile were natural phenomena and a cer-
at high altitude enroute across Sweden to Norway.
Swedon.
Assistant Air Attache Comment: think very much about these
play it up as much as possible to the U. S. Attaches
in an effort to sh for radar. Continued interest, therefore, on our
part towards the las embarrassment when the
Swedes emphasize their ·radar
s/ H. B. Walsh
Major, USAF
Assistant Air Attache
APPROVED:
1
DONALD L. HARDY
Colonel, USAF
. Air Attache
INCLS.
THIS IS A TRUE COPY
Distribution inator CG USAFE, CG USE penhagen
Stookholm
NAD 36296
C
UNCLASSIFIED

Insident al7sd-- Santa Fe, lew -exieo -- 28 Septonber 1043
., osserer states thut the objeot was stationury; the other that
serI lookin; at tho sane object, eren though is is so statod.
Considoring wl7s (ir. angior's stutemunt, alone, it is
sarrer wus lookin; closely at tle sty ("mateling o overiient lane
Considering the vast disoropuncies in the two ro_orts, it
ene or both. The moon at the tine wus in giobous phase, und wis a
thinling of the noon in that position in the daytime

.3
Incident w175 -- page 2
to idensi.y it. ' This is par-ioularly true if one's eyesight is
not or the best. while this hypotnesis has little correspondonce
to eitler report, as the eridence is stated, it is worth mentioning,
espedielly since it tay bo net in Ature citings of inoidents.
It seems fer rore probaule that some type of talloon
wus the oujeat in t.is cuse.

Incident wl76, a -- Castro's kanoh, valifornia -- 23 September le43
The two obsorvers of this ircident mke, in several
definite box-shaped objest, easterly line of flight vorsus north-
westerh, ete. They agren on spoed (vory fast).
It does not seem likely tlat the incident can be explaiamd
astronomically. The only possible astronomical hypothesis wculd be
that the objeot olserved was the snoke mass from an exyloded fire-
little wei ght can be given to the wnole incident.
sorvers were looking at differont thigs. Phere was a
4
one observer mny have seen that. The deseription of one observer
D

incident w177 -- Kentwood, Louisiana -- 3 Soptenber 1943
Contradictory opinions coucariing the existence of the
i
~
1
.
I8

I
Incident #173 -- lionolulu, T. H. -- 18 October 1943
.
There doos not appear to be any astrononical explanation
for this incidant. The moon had not yot risen at the time the
objeot was sighted, although it was atout to rise in the northeast.
The objsct may have been a balloon reflecting the light
of the setting sun.
UNCLASSIFIED

I
incidont sl79 -- San Francisco, Califernia -- Ootobor 1947
Thore is no astrononical ex lanation for this incidont.
The extremely incohoront anc unreliable nature of tho
4
E1

deseription givon here.

There is no astronomical explanation for this incident.
would undoubtedly have u_peared to obsorvors
sgeeding train. Little crodenco can be given to the pilot's
I a
UNCLASSIFIED

Ineident iie3 -- Japan -- 15 Jetobor ls43
There does not appoar to to inytning astronomical about
this incident.
hadar exports should deter.ine the reliability of the
data, partioularly concaraing accelerution rates.

of the SS wulfport do thoso
jeat.
Fro the regorted size and shape and the statement that
canter, one can surnise that it wus spheri-
the objeet had F
cal -- procably u balloon.
-

APPENDIX B
.
.
Prof. J. A. Hymek - Firal Roport, Project 3éh
.
T
:

Incident #l04 -- linona, -iniesota -- 20 Votobor lo43
to be a cleur-cut cuse
of a fireball. Strongest evidoncs is the fust that the object
while the
re orts given in the "in.eapolis Zorning Iribune article con-
of all observers fits that of a fireball.
5 UNCLASSIFIED

incidont al8s, a, b -- nueapolis, -in.osota -- 2s votober 1043
The object r ted in this incidont is tne sane as that
in wls4, saen from a different locality. The deseription of the
ball.
UNCLASSIFIED

Incident wlS6 -- near Steriing, vtuh -- 1s Votober 1948
There is nothing astronomioal in this incidont.
It shoild be pointed out that, since the oujeot was in
much more detailed ooservationl. rrosatly the distance is grossly
underestimuted.
C

:
incident wl37 -- dodnan air force -ase, kentucky -- 13 august 1943
There oan be no question but that the object si guted in
this incident was Venus. It was just three weoks past its period
of greatest brillianoy, and was separating fron the sar. The close
-
7
4

UNCLA
1 TE
Incident #138 -- Gcose Duy, Labrador -- 20 Ootober 1043
Thore appears to be nothing astronomical in this inoi-
dont.
Judgin; fron the speed and apparent size of the objoct,
it seems that a balloon ray have boen picked ug by the radur.
.I
ladur experts snould evaluate these sigatings.
8
5 SIFIED
*+

G
+
5

: UNCLASSIFIED
Incident wloo, a, b -- Neubiber; aF October lo43
The position of this object in the sky (northeast at an
altitude of 7oo) rulss out any possible astroncmical ex lanation.
The moon had not yet risen at the time.
The desoription appears to fit that of a hi h-altitude
ballocn.
Question: If there had boen "no reloase of airborne
. weather equipnont prior to or during sighting," where did tho infor-
1

USar officer. with size, shape, tine in sight, tactios, and sound
sauoor.

Lespite ths observer's statement
could not have boen a mstoor, tho possibility is not ruled out.
Larly evening; is the most propitious time for the observation of
.
would a_peur to travel from to rise
1 UNCLASSIFIED

:
-- 24 Uctober 1943 a
Incident wle3 -- nour Neusieorg, vernany
It is very unlikely that tais incident has any astrono-
the object flew a straight and level course. Time in sight (two
minutes) also effectively rules out any possible astrononical hypo- .
thesis.
Could the object re orted here have been a conventiomal
aircraf't viowed in foreshortened aspect?
UNCLASSIFIED
T
-

PREPARED BY DR. J. ALLEN HTNEK
ASSISTED BY HARRIET R. SUMERSON
. I
3
THE OMIO STATH UNIVERSIEY RESMARCH FOUNDAPION
PROJECT NO. 364
? UNCLASSIFIED
Columbus, Ohio,
. April 30, 1949
Copy No..

Inoident #le4 -- near andre.s Field -- 5 "ovember lu48
No astronomical explanation is possible for tais
incident.
The coject re_orted has teen independently identified
UNCLASSIFIED

i UNCLASSIFIED
Inoident #le4 -- near andrens Field -- 3 nove.aber lu48
No astronomical explanation is gossible fcr t.is
incideat.
The coject re orted has teen independently identified
as an MIf cosmie ray balloon cluster.
UNCLASSI
A
D

incident wle5 -- loose Bay, Labrador -- 31 Ostober 1948
fho object roportod in tnis incident nas no astrc-
nonicul exylanation: speed was too slow and tine in sight too
loug.
The ob jeat, obsorved on a rudarscope, was probubly.
a balloon or unidentifiod airoraft.
.uestion:
of the ob jeot or true space velooity? If the latter, it is
UNCLASSIFIED
i
- 8

UNCLASSIFIED

the oujeot si,ghted was grobably Venus.
east at an altitude of about lto. Its magnitude was -3.4, or aoout
graph taken of the object si hted does not contradict this hypothesis.
It is unlikely that the objoot obsorved was the bright
in upproximately the same osition as tnat in wiich it was seen on
the morning of Novenber 5. .
western elongation on november 6, but rose just at egin.ing of
the morning twilight and would
time of this inoident. Furthermore, heroury was much less brilliant
than Venus. UNCLASSIFIED

? UNCLASSIFIED
Incident wls8 -- wukkanai, Japan -- hovember 1943
The ob jact has boen independontly identified from radar
infornation as a Sovict aircraft.
1 UNCLASSIFIED

Incident w199 -- noar Grays Harbor, washington -- 30 October 1948
From the meager
presumably a res_onsible and well-traine observer, positive iden-
it was a bursting fireball.
color white and yellow, , and the short time in sight. -anier of dis-
a
result of bri ght daylights obvicusly the objects were observed, and
if they were yellow and we ite, they nust have had some luninosity.
Lack of trail is, however, unusual.
Unfortunately, without t nore detailed infornation, little
Lore can be said.
UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED
3
Incident w2oo, a, b, 0 - Crescont City, California -- 17 Ootober le48
This incident has no astronomical explanation.
training, their
reports are rorarkably consistent. The object was in sight sevoral .
strongly. The speed was great but
notexoessive.
The object seen could have been an advertisin; bliap, a bal-
1 UNCLASSIFIED

Inoident #20l, a, air Base. azores -- 31 October 1948
There appears to no astrononical explanation for this
incident.
The obsorvers agreo in the general desoription, but not in
:
the speed of the ob juot: spoeds aro iven
The most likely ex lanation on the basis of the meager infor-
A
light.
UNCLASSIFIED
1 .
-

In everytning but.the luminosi:y, the
Sinoe
It wus in sight
brilliance of ob ject.The timo of day wus nost propitious for a
+ slow-movin: meteor. onless a zore likoly explanation is forthco ing,
1 UNCLASSIFIED
D

.
UNCLASSIFIED
2
- 4

this inoident was cortainly a
firobull.
.,
\ .
UNCLASSIFIED
1

It seems entirely probable that tho object sighted in this
incident was
earlier in australis. Tho conet was suitably glaced for observation
8 visibility. There is no
1
. hypothesis. if the observer had given the aotual bearin s of tho ob
UNCLASSIFIED

-
or,
if liberal.
seen.
there.
the neteoric hypothesis, even thou gh the e
ficient to estaolish it.
UNCLASSIFIED
1
^

Two things enter tasion
of this incident:
If the acts are as sta od, thon thore is no astronorical
taat of a jet lane, roaring noise, similarity to "sky writing," and
Letween a
Such observutions, oy an untrained observer, may oring rorth a des-
crigtion that is extremely unlike the facts.
The inression of fuselage witn windows could even more
easily have been a figment of the imagination.
1

in this incidont.
suggests a coton origin
servers in each incident did not report the evasive tacties described
presumed that they were.)
4

: UNCLASSIFIED
Incident 208 -- Clark Base, Philiggine Islands -- 17 "overber 1948
The limited information in this incident
UNCLASSIFIED
ond

:
Inoident "2o9 -- South Korea -- 4 Novonder 1948
There is no astronomical oxolamaticn for this incident.
The objoct has been indepondentl; idontified as a Soviet
airoraft.
2
.

UNCLASSIFIED
Inoident 2l) -- Soston, Jassaihusotts -- 10 November 1948
seen were apparontly doaventional airoraft.
from them.

G
Incidont w,211 -- 3ollefontaine, Ohio -- 4 December 1948
UNCLASSIFIED ,

Litila cin be determined fror the soanty avidence con-
corain; tais inoldent.  Two half-second pulsas of li ght are ay-
.
u iazarded.
Soe re crt on istdent stl3, w ion apparently refers
UNCLASSIFIED

1
flying saucers" seen
inoident, have
thing inimioal to th S
eliminate the patently astronomical inoidents indicate which
B 2 othere might lanation.
UNCLASSIFIED
31
in

r.is inaidnnt ray ro,ros:nt tis surs neno dicn indi-
cated in tlt. rhe desori tion rere is iore detailed.
the objvot sould net ha.e been a neter, slnce obsor- E
vers state tnat it was in view sevoral minutes and tnat it was
ra idly assehdin, and disa peared overhead.
a
The roon was at oresjent phase, tnd tnis iavesti ator
1 has often seen it at 'this phase appearing throu h siall breaks
,

inoident Lls -- vest kind e, in la pahire -- 7 J ly 1348
Inasmuoh as the metallis gartioles. concornod in this inei-
dant have teen indegondently idnntiried at. hif as parts of a cast-iron
. cylindor, an astroncnionl explanation of the incidont is precluded.
However, as a mntter of general interest, it sto ld bo noted that iron
. metoorites could nave produced the sane effect. It is assunes, of
course, that the lil exattination exolided the possisilit, of these
partieular garticles'toiag netooritic.
;

If the ousoryailons were sml as statpi y witnesoye,
astrononers reoeive saen p.tlundisearerts dout firiuills tlet
%
theya are rejared for al tost ay tl o a otory.
sven trained observers are siti es rvatly fooled by
A the illaslon of oloseness; casus we  racord or firaballs wich
were ro orted to have fallod in a-rs Hiells, an tdtually sea
to sarth some 2uo mitus awe..
out with finality.
ne soem lia aat a. aiwn matocrolo_ioal or
aurorel phanoso.on would have ba s arit as tnis coj st was
i been i moteor, even thou a the seeri_tien does aot fit very well.

Ineidont 21: -- Chamte  -aso, -1lineis -- i vucenter 148
.Pairly Lri dt, slou-ovin: boliue ofrore a ool ex-
rise can be ox lained as an efract of erspective. thore is to-
thint in the desoriytion ;iven that is eohtradiotory to tho bolido
irotiesis. -7
I UNCLASSIFIED

:
J
.
thore is no tstronomiaul ox, la:utloi icr tnis inoidunt.
the cojuos sen cnuid oasily kave cuen a balloon, for .
-ten if an objoet were standin; still, observers it an air,laie woald
not soo it for mud. lon er than the tine re ortod lere (7 ninutes).
.
.

Incident aald -- nonr lartiasuur;, west Vir inia -- li Lecenber 1e4s
As deseribed, the oujeot seen in ti is inoidert could have
teon a parachure flaro. Undor cirownstanaes of a head-on apjroath,
a meteor gun aprear stationary; however, the tine in sight (one
Therefore, whils it is possisle that the inoident has an astrono-
misal ox lanation, it is sore protasle inat a ilare was cein, oc-
sorved.

The osject reycrted in tais incldent is clearly a
slom-mevin: fireball. Tise of da, len th oi the i signt,
and all other data aneok vith t.e Dolide ayrot.esic.
- UNCLASSIFIED

a colence tescher, doniised the. tern coret with
eviuoise that he is wia, htiated with thoss phenonona: a domet ap-
poxrs stationary in the cly ovor a relatively lomg peried of tie.
white tho cridenae is +
tas the object WE3 bolido, it aigoars to this i vesti-ator, done
3 UNCLASSIFIED

Incident w2al -- aidland, dohi gan -- U July lud7
From ths elenioul analysis (as rs ortod i. tnis ineicont)
of the materiul. turmed in to tie laroratory, it is eviddns that
there is no astrononlcal ex lanation ior t.e owjeat. neteorites
do not i.olade in tasir contents silver pellets or k gmesiun
hgdroxide.
This insidont was evidontly a prenit or a private exyeri-
mant. (Cbserver may or may hot have beon the inst.i utor.) Sinaa
2 UNCLASSIEIED

O Tho taaties desoribed ty tis objeot, if corroat, and
the imolied time in si ht (lon; enough to cull dthors to see it)
/ ar gue atron ly a gainst an actronomioul inter rotation for the in-
cident.
The oujest ni; t have toun i ballocn'with a li nt on it.
: UNCLASSIFIED

S
the non-astronomical inoidents, although hypothese
1
correspond exactly he number sometimes,
mm aross ranoes f identical or
more
than one phanomenon.
Inesmuch objeot
3
UNCLASSIFIED
. -2-

Singe sevorul separate si itii s are enoepassod by inoident
,Ea3 to 223e, it mist be re urded as a comoosite inci deat, ocourrin
duris one nfght but referrig to several distinot phenorenn. ine
re orts in nzls a uear in tarn to ue a part of a larger series of
6
coicorned with the " rven meteors" 1!
incidents, ail
whioh have I wnd near new bexico, and the rosent statoient
. 10 r00 to uil of then.
apr lies to 50.10
consisteatlynorizontal catls and
ren
3
I

insident nee3, a-e -- pare 2
head in a consistent dirvation. These joiats alone are surisient to
disriss the neteoric hyvothesis. -t is entirel: foscitle tha, a o.;
.
the many inoldents rojorted, one or twe or the objaots ta nave teen
firvoulls, tlus servin; to confuse the issue, bit a bluiket ex lanution
of thet sort is in robasle.
.
inxiso Sohool of lines, be contasted. it is condiatin; hi galg clussi-
abovo-taatbr.
becomber 5" in ncrtleastern dew -exieo.  It wo.id sea.. an uaus sl
coincidence that tie si gatings regorted in tris incident occurred
-naa-

inoident .22i -- near Las No as, Now -exico -- 6 weoom.er 1e43
See re ort on indident nees for detkiled stateiont.
The gresent inoident, if it were an isoluted ond, woili
enous and the genurul puttern of other rolated incidonts, tnat
ex_lanation is ingrota.le.
-
e
SIFIED

26 lovemcor 1v4e -
It is diffioult to ascertnin whetnor the oujeots deserieed
flashes," er not.  The dessri tion here is suffioiently different
fror te rajority to-indicute that thoy do coty t the sharaoteris-
tie green color is not nentionad.
It is inyrotable, however, that the thres separate si ntings,
; +

See report on incidsnt waa3 for detailed stutenent.
firasall.

1
Inoident #2at -- near Hernai, New nexieo -- 12 secmmber 1943
.
There is nothing that the present invosti ator can aid
to the detailed analysis given oy the ouserver of shis iaellent,
ur. Linooln Laraz.
See re ort cn ineident ste3 for diseussicn.
.
:
UNCLASSIFIED
.

-
conserning tais iroident has seen received by tho present inves-
tiator.
I r

1
Ineident 2z9 - boata Ba;, Florida'-- 16 voce bor 1.43
There semn to te two copar.to oocurrences re ortod in
insuffisient for adequato anslysic.
It stay, 'the locat.on of the oujeot in tho sky is not
ivot, tor is the hour of observetlon. The son and Japiter were
ricible in the early evoting, tho hoon quito hi, aid dupiter
m

however, of nany sinitar ocourrene"s in the lew -exiso arvs, this
inter_retation is open te puestion. it shoald co noted tat tiis
inoident ooourred very ruch farthor north t.dn did the ajority
lacin south.
Hevertieloss, considering the
1

I 0
0
Inoident .tal -- abilene, foxas - 1 damar1043
This ineident nas no astrononioal ex lanution.
The fan-shaged glow tiwit extonded nosentarily fron tae
horizon to the zanith suggests a m-made disturbance -- eleotrioal
or explosive. The reen color is the only charaoteristic that
the rest of the desoription does not.
-

i
.
1
S
by the adhere to neither of
statistics
which follow. :
8
UNCLASSIFIED
-3-

1 UNCLASSIFIED

There is nothig i this idident taut can e said to
huave an astroncrioul ori i:. -
. the objoet sighted is desorited as resonlling a tow
target, but with no towing plane seen. io ene else re orted
seoine the ebgest after this one siglitin: by severul gersins.
.
":

/ Lroident wls4 -- Cak kid o, temesses -- July le4:
Inasmuch as independent gnal;sis has deter ined the
oujeot on the photo raphs to te a ilaw, there is no need for
further investigation. Objeet was naver seen visually.
.

Jecenter leis
There appears to Le no astronomical ex lanation for
this incident
The o-ject seen was most ligelg a calloon.
.
I

1
Incidont n23d -- noar -iexua kield, hawail -- 4 Ja.nary 1s4s
There is clsurly no astrctonieul ox iunatlon ior t.is
insident.
The acdount iven seens trustworthy, oven though only
dirfers frcm hany
.,
others in that the desoristion taneuvers exeouted by the onjeet
is cefinite, rather tian haz..
6

tho soke truil ro crtad in tuis inoident was visible for fif-
teen ninutes. If te object itself was. it oould not nave been
.. -A
the trail was visisle ior any len tn of tine. in tat case, it
from an airorart:t the desoription is not suffieient
1 UNCI

a
4
= .
UNCLAS
1 .

ineident 1230 -* oenin, arizona -- 24 Votoser lo4s
This incident as deserioed is not avenaule to any assro-
The witness apparently is not a very eritioul obsorver
- there oxuld te ro possicle physical connectio. -between the
obgeot's bri-htness and its aprarent distance from a star).
The oojeet could nave beon a li ited balloen; speed and
raneuvers oheck.
1 UNCLASSIFIED

ex_lodes a clinding fisah
ar Ight is sean, and tlrundrous sounds are sometines heard for
: . .
1 UNCLASSIFIED

Incident n2s1, a, i -- Los alwos, Wew loxiso -- 20 Lecel.er 1943
tr. Laras, wto hns inter iasen the various d sorvers of
I meteorite. is had aocess to nore detailgd informatien tnan is
contuined in the tyged reports ofrered harv, and ie is al oxpert
in these iatters.
it shoald be noted, howevor, that the re_orts availatlo
to this investi jator shcw nany contradioticns conceraing the color
.

UNCLASSIFIED
C TABLE OF CONTENTE
Pago No.
.
Abstract . 1
Forenord .
. . 11
Introduction . 111
: Sucuary . iv&v
Conclusions . . 1A
Recommendations . . vii
Faotusl Data . . 1
I Foreign Reports . 1
II Early American Reports . 1
III Air Force Cognizance Unidontif Objecta . 2
IV Project Administration . 2
A. .Roceipt of Initial Reports . . 3
B. Investigation Reports . . 3
c. Recording of Information After Receipt of Report of
. Investigation
.
D. Consultants . 4
V Discussion of Reports of Consulting Agencies .
A. Dr.J. Hymek . •
B. Hq, Air ather Service .
C. Dr. G. E. Valley . .
D. Rand Corporation . . .
.
B. 3160th Electronics Laboratory .
1 F Dr. P. M. Fitta .
Neather Bureau .
VI Sunnary Consultants . 7
J VII Sunnary of valuation of Remaining Raports 7
.
VIII Relationship Between Publicity and Reporta . 8
IX Conolusions . 10
J.A. Bynek
C-1 Headquarters Air Weather Sorvice
. C-2 Headquarter Air Weather Service .
o - D Sone Considsrations Affecting the
Reporta of Unidentified Flying Objec
E. Valley .
E-1 Letter, dtd 29 March 1947, from Rand Corporation a
. E-2 SpacegBhip Considerations, Rand
. F Aralysis of Project Grudge Reports, 36loth Elec-
tronics Station
: G Psychological Analyeis of Unidentified
Aerial Objeots, Dr. Paul M. Fitts
. Information on Ball Lightning, U. S. Department of
Commerce Weather Bureay .
• I Bummary Evaluation of Remaining Reports, i
1 Projeot Grudge
;
UNCLASSIFIED .
-

1
- i
tronomical
The significant thing
incidents might possibly be enough
8 allowed.
UNCLASSIFIED
4.
+

The inforration offared soncer.in: this ieids: is
Asocrdinz to tre deseri,-
tion, a orilliant reun inoundescent ll at wns seen 1cw c:rtho
horizon for acout twe secouds, s sroed was 11 17 it slower tih
conciusion can ce drum.
If it were not for ths fuot that the inoidont a pears
.
i

incident b43 -- Los alanos, New inxiso -- 28 begeuber 1vad
terious famll of 'Now loxice reen flas.es." " ses ruport on
incidont ak23 for detailed discussian.
It can be said, however, tnat, if this is re arded as
an isolated incicent, the desoription is not very difrerent fron
that of a firouall. I It is the oceurronce or theso inoidents in
-

4
The ovidonce gaven conder in, this insidons does dot tag
to gethor physieall,: if tee etjeot was a bri ht whiteali ht, diarond-
shopod and two foot long, and otly a t ird ef a silo away, thn it soes
. -
ind a bri ghs ii ht, thut close, in a jopulated syot, suroly would have
attracted tho attention of rare tia cne persen.
the waole ro Loptical illusion
3-
had poon the case, there snould have teen some sort of a trail.
-he mothod or ro crtia; aud insident
is very pocr. it would seon tet if the otserver wes awaro enough to
. alco have liowm
the bearing und elevation of the objeet and its ralner or disuptearkhce.
The wnole insidont lacks a sense of physioal reality.
IE

Note: In subnitting this report it is understood that all provisions of
the contract between The Foundation and the Cooperator and pertain-
ing to yublieity of subject mtter will be rigidly observed.
Leboratory
Supervisor
For the Ohio Stete University Reaeorch Foundation
,. Date 5/9/49

APPENDIX 2-1
.
.
.
-
-

TO: Commanding General. Air Materiel Couard,
Air Force Base, Dayton, Chio
ATTN: MCLAXO
Investigations by this headquarters reveal that a synoptic
weather balloon could d have beer at the location wherel si-htings
were reported in the following incidents. In compiling this
list considerat:on was given to the wind direction and speed at
the surface ard aloft at the scheduled time of balloon release, and
the location of the nearest woather station nuking balloon obser-
vations.
. 2 52 91 126
-

HEADQUARTERS
AIR MATERIEL COLLAND
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Dayton, Chio
MCLAXO-3/HWS/rm
Jan 5 1949
ECIAXO
SUBJECT, Project "SIGN"
TO:
E Andrews air Force Base,
Washington 25, D. C.
ATTN: DSS
1. Project "SIGI." is resporsible the coliection, investi-
gation and inte retation of data relative sihting of unidentified
flyirg objects. Attached Ircident Sunouries l thru l72 fron the files
of Project "sIt) are forwarded for study and reconrerdations as to
which of the incidents nay be elininated as bailoons released on routire
synoptic ascents by the kir Weather Service, the Navy Aerological
Service or the tnited States Weather Bureau. The summaries attached
may be meteined in vour head uarters for vorkin
office that the below listed inci-
dents are those having the raatest possibility being balloons. This
list does not eliminate the possibilit the remaining 4 a
incidents are balloons.
2 244 50 91 113 155
3 25 92 115 156
4 96 126 157
11 104 141 159
14 R 105 163
16 107.8.9 1954 167
22 112(See122) 169
. 23
. T-84461-A

MCIAXO-3.
FOR THE TNG ENERALI
/s/ W. R. Clingernan, Col, USAF
2 Inols for H. L. LOCOY
Summaries l-l72 inol Colonel, USAF
"EEI" Chief, intelligence Dept
Copies furnished:
AFOIR USAF

AFPSIDIX C-2
D Headquarters Air Weather Serries

In Reply
Refer TO:' ANS DSS
vin Objaots
SUBJECT,
ro : Commanding Goneral
Air uteriel Cocmand Force Case
wricht-Fattereor Air
Daytor, 'Chio
APTN: MCIAXO-3
Refererce is made to letter fron vour hoadquarters, fCiaxs, entified Flyin Objects," and first
dated 9 March 194.7, sub ject
2. The incident sumnaries 173 thrcugh 233 have beer cheoked
Coaments based on this roview are inclosed.
.

suggosted a sinple explanation; in others,
identified);
2
UNCLASSIFIED 4
-5-
:
-

from Lake Charles to New Orleans in time interval wore
other release in the area was at Siloxi, North o Crleans. Winds
aloft were WSw. Speed stated by observer of 3oo L. is approximately
15 times greater than wind reported for that a Conclusion: Not
a balloon.
No. 175: Pilot balloon sounding released Albuguerque at same
time as observation. have been
the AB balloon. Great aifferences of opinion exist as to speed and shape
of the object. One observer states that the object was not a weather
balloor. All evidence indicates ttat this is true. Not e
No. 178: No wea balloons were released in vicinity on the
date mentioned.
No. 179: Crack-pot
No. 160: No date
+
.
= .

possibly be a balloon.
accounts cf speed (0 - 3 ti.es that
sourds lize burnin pilot balioon sounding with
lantern.. rowever, nearest release was two hours earlier at St. Cloud.
Could have been this pilct balloon sounaing assuming a leaky balloon to
keep it at a low altitude. Not at all probable, but possibly a balloon.
No. l66: Object reported moving directly into headwind of 2Ok. Only
Lake City.
rawinsorde Ealloon. ?awinsonde scheduled to be released fron Munich
approximately ore hcur previous to sighting. Very light winds in Munich
area. Definitely a ballocn.
. No. 191: pattern thet would carry it
Dodge City approxinately one hour
. before sighting time. reported direction and speed of object were at
all accurate, balloon nct possible.
No. 192 Balloons released fron St. Cloud and fuluth just prior to
sighting. wind carrying ballcon if into observer's path. Wind
. 2
:

object was sighted inasmuch as the sighting time and release time
were almost simultareous.
No. l9S, No visual observation; radar blip moving at high speed
and corstantly changing direction. reDo accurate,
couldn't possibly be a balloon.
Wind. tine and numb-r of
lighted balloon falling Lames from an extremely high altitude.
No.204 Venus.
date givon this, therefore, impossible to check
No. 205 No scheduled release time for
wind Plow pattern. Time. two hour
Kansas City, Columbia, Louis, Mo. balloons.
1 C

Determined to have been twin-engined homber.
ro.209:
No. 210, Summary sheet nissing; no altitude siven; time incon-
patibl with soheduled balloor release tines. If direction is correct,
Inclined to believe objects were Jet aircraft.
No. Ell: Very Pistol.
No. 212: Object sighted three hours after release time of Indian-
apolis and Wayne balloons. Defective balloon could have remained
low enough to be seen and upper winds indicate that such a balloon would time si -hted. All other statenents
definItely would have prohibited any purs prior to
motion. Also, last scheduled released time wat compute rate
sighting at l,ooo feot. No time in sight given
of slimb to 20,000 fset. Fairly conclusive, nc
No. 2l6, Object reported movin directly into 70 M.P.H. head
350 M.P.H. Observer is a professioral weather
winds at an estimated Also, reported sighting
observer and should know a weather balloon.
was four hours after scheduled release time.
4
u.

No. 219 Time of sighting coincidss within a few minutes of the
release Time of the USAF rawinsonde at Nowbur h and a pilo balloor sound-
ing at lew York. lescription iv that can be interpreted
as either being a burnin lcon or a meteor. Cne negutive emark was
that the object noved fron Lact to West, an inpossitle situatior for a
No. 220: Wird at all levels W. to Vnw; object reported flying
directly into these winds. Also made definite turn from flying due North
to North Northwest. Sighting tine 4 l/. hours after scheduled release
times at Alameda, Sacramerto and "oClellan AFB.
No. 224: exactly as Ko. 223, orly at an altitude
bove the aarth Sean 2 1/2
hours after scheduled ballcon reloasa tine. Wind at lovels from 10,000
to 15,ooo was WNy while flare was reported as travelling very high
speed in a rSw direotion. Very accurate observation made F.3.I.
agents. Definitely not a weather balloon.
No. 225: No date iven. Otject sighted within 15 mimutes of release
time Of pilot balloon soundings at Albuquerque at altitude, 500
feet. Exploded in red spray at 20o feet. This exact phenomena occurred
on three different occasions at the same time which would seen to sliminate
possibility of burning weather balloon.
11
-

No. 230: Exactly as described 223, eto. Defiritely no weather
described above.
No.232:
No. 2331 Definitelv no balloon; neue turns, dofinite fuselage,
1

APPENDIX D
Dr. G. B. Vallay

future action.
PARP 1 SHORT SU ARY OF OBGERVATIONS.
The re orts car zrouoed as follows:
monly seen in They usually Anmear sharply fined luninous
objecte.
in gensral appearing somewhat - like V-2 rockets. L
various devices which, in
: the writer's opin - nion, are sounding balloons of unusual shape

arfects or
the obsarved objects. .
SUMLARY, PARE 1.
& and 2.
PART 2. ON POSSIBLE EXPLALT ONS OP PE RIPORPS.
Section i. That oan he dedu'ed corcernirg tha nature of ar untnown aerial
object fron a singls sighting. .
subtonded by the object, can
Altiough velceity carnot be
i All that can bo concluded about the range and size of the objects, from

:
jects have rot beer observed to
irstance, would be sufficiert.
.
D under the observed angu motion. Let the caluclation be made
rigid

2. Non-astronomical but suggestive
of other explanations
a. Balloons or ordinary air craft 48 20
b. Rookets, flares, or
falling bodies 23 10
C. Miscellansous (refleotions,
auroral streamers, birds, ete.) 13 5
Total 84 35
.
3. Non-astronomieal, with no evident 4
explanation
A. Lack of
' explanation 30 13
: b. Evidence offered suggest no
explanation 20
33

nost
csoillate or flutter ir a krown vay.
. SUEAD, PART 2, SECTC A.
served fron a single staticn; such observation,.to
sumption thut the objects are essentially aircrett, car
cr else radiation which is i largely cosmio-
rays or cyelotron-bears.
is fundatantally a reaction heory of such
1 devices that a given amount enerry most 'ficiently spent momen-

_
meters in diameter,
( I
then ni 1 billion ampere turns.
- respond-
ngmel1 requin illion
[ -
16 predictable ocal ore deposits.
.

(
has
offered to suppo
Obviously. consarvatic ererv domands that considerable energy
:
ounteracted. This w can succassfully do
.
:

PART II, SECTION C.
CLASSIFICATION I. NATURAL TLPRESTRIAL PHVNOMENA.
ect suc ch as ball l
teorolocical subject.
I ) The objacts may be sore kind of animal.
Even in the celebrated case o"
chased by a P51 an hour and ilot to
learn from it something of the character I
under attack; and som isual obser-
vation.
One would like to assue that the positions held by many of re-
•

take aS irdicating : somothing
about mass psycholory. S
I Mis poirt car be
crank cert the satelite
'files.
CLASSIFICATION II. MAN-MADE TEMRESTRIAL PENOMENA.
1) The objects nay
D
discovery
. .
.

A
ar guents
hypotheses. .
onirt Nena. have atomic
borbs and era st developing rockets. ir view of pest story of
and the time
base.
PART III. RECOMIEEDATIC'S. .
3 cortinued.
2) should compute the approximats erorey required to
•

.
immediate steps to
interrogate the

Letter, dated 2) March 1gl7
I
-

aireraft, plarots, hotoors, bits of ar,
practical joice olonical rs.and
(1) incident Sc cortai:s a photograph wiich apparently
belongs with incident 40. Is this surmis correet? (2) The file
on incident 162 was omitted from the data. .hy? (3) .e have
liotl. eninoidortinvhio

2. Non-astrone
a. Balloons or ordinary airoraft:
3, 11, 22, 73 83, 91, 92, 113, 114, 115,
126, 131, 138 156, 157, 159, 160, 161, 163.
169, 171, 173, 178. 180, 182, 188. 190, 194, 195, 196, 198,.
200,20 237, 239.
I
b. Rockets, flares falling bodies:
,5,6,7, 14. 15.
108,
Misoelleneow eto.)
168, 172, 20' 25, 226,
227, 236, 2 4, 134.
1
UNCLASSIFIED
. 4

will deliver copies VeCov a
Base duri ne i days.
A scod beginnire poss1b
o "isiting space ships. are lergely in agreement
that orly cne merb-r of the Solar system (besides Farth) can
evolution. wit 0099i-
bilities emerge protected
themselves a f atmos-
phere, oxyger nstructing homes and
citiesw scientifically con-
.
)
cialt Perter
be
temperature remes ould be educed.
. :
,

The realer may cm opinior bebe ves that the
life is arsal Inteliisent may have
C once they
pers which
is nearly xygen ater. ere
ercti winters. ex-
istence .telligent r iars is not impossible 1s
the Earth (Mars
I
•
28

3
been alarmed AS arce that
we aro wa and threshold Venus
such s ie were
sirhtal n Sorin afte atonic ex-
29

To narrow the field a little, sone loose specifications can
be written for the star about which the home base nlanet would
revolve. Let us say that the star shculd bear a family re-
sembla ce to the Sun, whiich is a member of so-called "main
sequence" , i.e., we eliminate wite cwarfs, red giants
and supergian a descrintion types, see refer
3 ence 2, chapte specific reason making this
assumption except to siplif-discussion: we are still consider-
ing the najority of stars.
Next, true variable stars can be eliminated, since conditions on
aplanet attache mniak
30

moisture content and atr ized life Let us
assume that th elirible
star. .
.
There is line oning or which can indicate
whether life will actuall 8 planet where the coniitions
are suitable. may unique raths than a random
sample. This writer can only ersonal intuition Into the
where R is the number aces olure
of radius r
Arguments like those to Martians need not apply
to races other Instead of being a first port of
call, Farth ossibly ached only after many centuries of de-
velopment ati hips, so that a visitinc race
. ould Man.
31

and the remainine ting a round
trip without enor atmosphere
to be easily visib eticall ly making anding). Since it
is nuclear powered beratures will be limited tc the maximum
operating temperatu: aterials can withstand (heat must transfer
could be used payload
gross weight (100)= the payload: thus,
9
if payload were would be 30 million
pounds takeof pounds).
.
32 ..

were long lived and coul oming and
going, ouir , the
enornous velocity completely
beyond the reach any predidrd level cket prooulsion.
the star try
to go ould change
in mass an
D *Actually thres staces, c est sta e would
be filled with fuel. the partial Tuel, the
third would empty. stage would be thrown during
flight. On ip back
. filled with eicht of the initial vehicle would be
the ord rocket.
33

maneuverable very high along
or normal to icht owever, space ship
will certainly be rge and unwieliy and coul hardly be desirned to
rivolously tmosphere. The only
(c) nding rocket might well
appear as a luminous ectly below. Observers at
a distance, however, would surely the for what it
really is Ther would robably blique views
than of end-o views. be typical of
eas gee.
.
31

It seems fruitless for them
Conclusions: to be possible,
celieved n particular, the actions
Althouch visits from
they are belleved dur 1947 and 1948
attributed to the requiremen s09 jel.
seem Inconsistent with the rg,
Very
J. E. Lipp
35 ,
+

otro-insstatin
Aralyois of P Recorts
1

helpful in spotting identical revealed
1
no pertinent trends.
of Charles Fort boan statad
B
said of the works i
:
UNCLASSIFIED
7.
a -

ATTN: MCIAXO
l. Roference is made to the letters from your Headquarters to
this station of 22 November 194s. 6 cember 194s. and January 1949,
Subjoots: ject requesting that reported incidents l
through 172 be analyzed to determine whether or not these might have
been cause these laboratories.
2.A listing compiled of all balloons launched by these
I laboratories und it for specia spheric research pur-
poses, from the unching to No on 17 November 1948.
Each of these launchings compared reported incidents
1 through 172. Factors of launching and date
of recovery with respect to reported incidents; place of launch-
ing and place of f recovery with respect to the place of reported in-
of olustors or groupe ects The 3 July
No. 8 at Alamogord ster of balloons and was not covered,
and so might reports However,
although not d in the No w Mexico
Tularosa Val Alamogordo. That the
balloons wned was determined b irplane spotting and by
radio direction finding upon the balloon telemetering instruments.
Reoovery of the balloona and instruments prevented the in-
b. Balloon release No. 1l of 7 July 1947 could compare
with respect to date with incident No. I through No. 4, and again
D with inoident No. 4o. This balloon flight was again a cluster.
5
.

saw
eident No. 163 bear description appearance
- of a large plastic balloon in Bunset
could be accounted for either into t sunset
shadow or by natural ocusing of the This incidont
could possibly have been balloon relea or 20 and 21
July 48 from Alamogordo. Bulloon No. 75 was recovered at Hollister,
101 ond could

different places,
objeot's These data should include;
estimate of the angular size of the object. A quick
but reason estimate can be made comparing the angle subtended
by the index finger held at arms length. finger (7/8" wide) of
an average man held at 26" to 30" (arms length) will subtend an angle
of approximatel two degrees. angular size from about
1/204 atod.
'
1

for making
observers, con and fire a
- might seeing
rangers, unidentified
- unidontified flying object v informatio concer
flying objeots is given t public. ons for reliable bserva-
tion should be included.
This ance
7.
i connectio this matter.
4
.

C .
.
4 APPENDIX G
.
Dr. Paul M. Fitts
Paychologioal Analysis of Reports of Unidentified Aerial Objects
1 .
:
INTERVALS; NOT AUTOMATALI DOWNGRADED :T ! WO
DECLASSIFIED. DOD DIR 526.1
is UNCLASSIFIED
.

. UNCLASSIFIED
-
U.&. AIR FORCE No. of pag cs - I
HEADQUARTERS, AIR MATERIEL COIMAD
ENGINEERING DIVISION MCREXD9/PF/maf
LEMORAND 28 April 1949
.
SUBJECT: Paychological Analysis
I Aordal Objeots
SECTION: Aoro Medical Laboratory
Expenditure 69138
A FURPOSE:
. l. At the request of Technical Intellironge Division, Intelligence
Department, AlC, analvsis has been psyohological point of
view, of 2l2 investigaticr:s of sons repe sightings of unidentified
aerial objects.
B. PACTUAL DATA
2. Areport A
c. COrCLUSIONS:
3. It is the writer that there are sufficient psyohological
explarations reports tifiod flying objeots to provide
( plausible axplanations report rwise explainable. Theso errors
in identifying real stimuli result inability to estimate
apeed, distance and sise.
In all Stora reports of unidentified objects specify y the location
of object with reforence to polar ooordinates (direction and degrees above
the horison) rathor than asking individuals to estinate distan ce. If
possiblo, obtain an estimate of .
tended by the objeot.
investigations determine the angular position
of the sun with respeot to unidentified objet
DOWNGRADED AT 12 YFAR
INTERVALS: NOT AUTOMATIUALLY
DECLASSIFIED. DOD DIR 5200.10
. .
UNCLASSIFIED

AP. GAGGE, Lt. COl., M.SC TUSAF) Cperations
Chiof Medipal
Hhei lusk
Approved RDWARD EMDRICKS, COl., EC (USAF)
Chief, Aero Medical Laboratory
i
UCIAXS (2)
ACREXD9 (2)
INTERVALS; NOT AUTOMATICALLY DOWNGRADED AT 12 YFAR
DECLASSIFIED. DOD DIR 5200.14
1
• . UNCLASSIFIED
2

. the
conditions and laws that govern such phenomena.
Errore of observation ngy be classified as variable or constant.
E
are found to differ from one another. The distribution of such
!
[
eonstant orror, in the direotion of underestimation, in roporting
-
"flying sauoer" is an example of the latter. -
,
. observatians of unidontified flying objeots in order to see to what
knowm psychologioal
4 facts and prinoiples. DOWNGRADED AT 12 YEAR
INTERVALS; NOT AUTOMATICALLY
.' Boientifio Mothod and & Postoriori Data DECLASSIFIED. DOD DIR 5200.10
. injected t the outset of this sreport.
Certain condit on for dr
3
UNCLA IED

: -
" the probability thet he could have seen such thinge
The prinoipal hypothesis to be exarined in the folloring disaissia
( is that reporte of unidentified flying objeots have the charaoteristios -
that would be expocted if
typical normal individuals. to
BE
(1) Brrors in Idectifying Ral stimili. All nomal,
intelligene people experience cortain errors of obsorvation. The DECLASSIFIED. DOD DIR 5200.10 DOWNGRADED AT 12 YEAR
{ sky. A stiok looks bent when one end is in water. Distant objeots
appear relatively olose in clear, desert atuosphere. A small point-
. souroe d light, if viowed in a _
strante yratics, called
SIFIED

A A B 051
.
E
1 -
shadows on the retina. They often can be seen when you look up at
I gye
for nany reports of unidentified aerial phenomena is that the objeot
.
bird. The obeerver simply fails to identify it oorreotly. These
errore arise ch speed and
distance.
(2) Mistaking Lmaginary far Real Events. This error of
. mentally ill. It usually is not diffioult for an
visions, or by the
UNCLASSIFIED

Venus, certainly
!
tigations, it might be found profitable te
orard objeat which
have ever found unidentified objeots
bel the unexplained
0
UNCLASSIFIED
-8

sare
reaeon that they tur in false firo alarms.
-
--
(
\}$
goveranent lependable
peoplo.
1. .
-
2. Time the objeot remained in sight. About half of the porsons
1 3. Altitude and distanoo of the objeot. of those who estinated
the distance of the objeot, two-thirds judgod it to be mare than a mile
. eway. Minety pe
UNCLASSIFIED

*blue blazes".
.
.
opportunities for obeerving thinge during the day. The most pojular
hours wore fron 12 noon to. 5:00 Pill. and fram 7:00 P.M. to 11,00 P.M.
at night. Very few (6 only) observations We
7:00 P.M., the usual hours of sunset. .
said "silver. Ovor 70 peroent desoribed glittering. shiny, ltminesoent, I
( flame-like
mirror- 1ike or other bjeot Only six individuals said
black or dark.
. Size. The majority of observers did not speoify the objects'
1 sze. of thoee who did over half said it was less than l0 feet in its
largest dimension. Many ecmpared it ot,a
weather ballon, a baseball, eto. .
i
4 .
.
without a distinotive shape. S-
UNCLASSIFIED

distance is judged on the basis of known size, and speed on the basis
of an estimate of distance plus the angular change in position. It
must be conoluded, thorefore, that most of the statements of speed,
distance, altitude and size are entirely unreliable and should be
diaregarded. This is doubly true of observations made at night. The
:
may have been relatively alose by. In th
( oould also have been quite small.
DECLASSI INTERVALS DOWNG
Seaondly, p obable.that ndividuals who 38Y
intensity. Airoraft themselves, when viewed against a olear sky, are
seen as dark objeots against a lighter background unless they are
refleoting the sun's rays direotly. Thie fact was rooognized during -
the reoent war by oamouflage experts who plaoed bright lights on the
leading odges of the wings of aireraft on anti-submarine patrol
in order to conceal them from the eyes of submarine lookouts. If
i
refleotions of the aun, this would aosount in large measure for thedr
. inability to identify the objeots. On the other hamd, if thoy were
missiles, for example, the majority of reports
UNCLASSIFIED

t on an airoraft, a meteor,
eto., or lightd fram the groune oted back by birds or
other objeots in the air. E
Discussion of Sov:ral Specifio Reports
.
{ . that
make observations of aerial phenamen .
( Incidenta No. 81 and 163.
\a}$ Hi ckam
Field at o9o0o observed what looked like a balloon with a bright objeot
suspended below it. It was estimated to be at about 6,0oo ft. The
bricht object appeared to refleot the sun's raye at tines. After a
DECLASSIFIED. DOD DIR 5200.10 DOWNGRADED AT 12 YEAR few mimutes he looked away and then dould not find the object again.
abaut an hour before dark saw an objeot that looked somewhat like a
weathor bal loon at about 2ooo ft. He kept it in sight for about an
hour. Ie later conchudod thd it was at a great height. At first it
had the color of a fluorescent electrie light but becaue orange as the B
;
sun weat down and then rathor suddenly beoame invisible.
Both of these ob jeots oauld well have beon just what they appeared - -_
UNCLASSIFIED
.

All faur observers agroed that these objects looked and acted somewhat P
like birds but all thought they were ecause
travel much faster than birds.
{
undor the coditions of these observatians, i.e., when looking at
(
objects may . look of whito birds, flying at a
relatively low altitude and refleoting the lights of the oity.
Inoidente 30, 30b, 300, and , L, L, 0, L8d.
E
DECLASSIFIED. DOD DIR 5200.10 INTERVALS; NOT AUTOMATICALLY DOWNGRADED AT 12 YEAR of 7 January l9ls observers at Lockbourne Air Force Base, observers at
Clinton County AFB and the pilot of an airoraft flying from Dayton to
Washington reported an unidentified objeot in the sky. All reports
as to the faot that its light at timeg/viatble through a light overoast. WaS
at all three looations judged the objeot to be only a fow miles away.
UNCLASSIFIED

TE
Nevortheloss lioved
it to be relatively near ion.
i Inoident No. 172.
( ( at approdmately 2loo hours saw a cmall licht in the air below hin.
He was then in the traffio pattern. He dived on the light. The light He was then in the traffie tern. He dived on the light. The light
— .
various passes at it and attempte bed. He finally
stalled out.
Several
DECLASSIFIED. DOD DIR 5200.10 INTERVALS; NOT AUTOMATICALLY DOWNGRADED AT ? YEAR inoldent. In the first plaoe, when it is night, and a pilot is turning
so steeply, and going suoh violent acrobatios, that he sometimes
blaoks out, as wgs the oase hore, it would be vory diffloult if not
impossible to judge at the same time what another objeot was doing. In
the seoond place, if the pilot kept his eyes intently on the objoot,
i also wae the case here, he would have great diffioulty in knowing and
reporting later what he himself was doing. The situation is very conduoive
to loss of orientation.
. . frat the :1iet ALWAS
UNCL IED

first sighted by the P-5l pilot. It is the opinion of the wtiter
that this lighted baLoon easily oould have accounted for all of the
pilot's observations. (It should be noted that the standard 30 inch
and 65 inoh weather balloons have a v S spe about Goo and
1loo rt./min. respeotively.)
General Discussion and Sumnary
In the preoeding seotion the hypothesis has been advanced that
{ nost reports of unidentified flying objects have been the rosult
of persons failing to identify femiliar phencmona, such as rofloctions
( fram hright surfaces in the day or lights in a night sky. It is
believed that this explanation will aocount for many of the reports.
phencnena including dir siokness, disbelief in ono's instruments,
and partial loss of orientation. The conditions under which some of
bave produced loss of orientation on the part of an observer. This
,
in which attempts wore made to "ohase" the objeot. Movement is always
relative. If the only outside reference is a point of light, and both
1 the observer and the objoot observed are moving, it would be praotioally
: impossible under oertain conditions to tell which was noving and
.
C L UNCLASSIFIED

I saurce of light.
-
seeing things they are not seeing. The effeat on most people is to
DECLASSIFIED. DOD DIR 5200.10 INTERVALS; NOT AUTOMATICALLY DOWNGRADED AT 12 YEAR dampen their oritioal judgment. Under such conditioms we are more
likely to overlook gertain faotors, and find it easier to accept the
sugcested explanation unoritically. The expeated result would be to
make the reports of moct observors slightly loss accurate than if
they had never hoard roports of others seeing "flying saucers".
te Partioularly when the stirulus objoot is fuszy or ill-defined, persons
00
(
DECI INTER them the name of an objeot. Then the individuals drow the design
be feels suro that there have been many suoh repor past,
partioularly during and after World War I.
sall Wind-borne Objecte. It is possible that same obeervers
. ttison artioles. It wauld be impossible to
crnet mer UNCLASSIFIED

to estimate speed, diatance
Reccmrerdations
.
1. 1 Test the ability of pilots to estimate the ccurse of a emall
lighted balloon while doing acrobatics with it at night. It is suggested
-
[ would be desirable, but prob mpossi ible,to koop fram knowing
DECLA INTERV DOW
the nature of the light sourco. the nature of the light sourco.
. In all future reports of unidontifiod objeots spooify the
DOWNGRADED AT 12 YEAR
distance. If possiblo, obtain an estinate of the
visual angle subtouded by the objoot.
of the sun with respeot to the unidentified objeot and the observer. . -
Also determine the approximate time during which the objoot was in
sight (this information available for nor
reports).
FL UNCLASSIFIED
. 24

16
(
15
v

many
=
C
:
.
2
UNCLASSIFIED

0-4.3
Dec. 16, 1948
Commanding General
Air Materiel Comnand
Attention: MCIAXO
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Dayton, Ohio
Dear Sir:
Your letter of October 20, 1948, addressed to the National Bureau
of Standards and equesting informatio the subject of "Ball
. Lightning"
Attached is a tabulation filling in as well as practicable the in-
formation called for by the outline presented in your letter. We
shall be glad to be of further assistance in connection with this
. matter.
Very yours
ur Peichelderfer

most favorable for harge occur during
thunderstorms, bu even
during clear weathen lightning
. stroke is approaching an object, discharge
becomes especially intense.)
(2) Intensely ionized, incandescent volume of air form-
ing end of lightning stroke and lasting for short
intervelof

triggering of ning streamers having
gradient may yield horizontal d long duration.) I
a relatively slow pro pag
(6) A lightning discharge that strikes and runs along a
conductor such n as power or telephone lines and flashes-
over or jumps the gaps at breaks produces a brilliant
illumination at the gaps that may be mistaken for ball
lightning.
(7) light object that is car-
ried aloft by the gusty winds and turbulence attending
a thunderstorm or tornado may serve to facilitate con-
currents and yield streamers at
a

(b) Color
Luminous in appearance, described in individual cases by
different colors deep red and often
CA as glaring white ne scientist described the color in a
certain case as similar to that he has noted in the labo-
ratory on observing active or possibly slightly
darker. Another observed or yellow and still another
of lavender or rose color.' Others have reported some of
blue appearance. The luminous mass is oce ccasiorally stated
. to be surrounded by a border, weakly bu ferently-
colored than the main body.
(0) Degrees of Brilliance
.
.

rose-colored mass seemed nost brillian ground
and gave the gigantic rotechnic dis-
. play. Two or thre globular structures seemed
to roll along lines for 100
feet or more, then bounded dowr ground and dis-
appeared with loud report."

during passage beneath thurderclouds or other meteor-
logical conditions where intense electrical potential
gradients exist.
(0) Effect on Surrounding Atmosphere
1. Clouds
Lightning of any kind occur in clouds only if the
dielectric F properties broken cown when
. the sparking potential reached. In clear
per cn. at sea
level and about 2l,00 .CCO ft
altitude. In clouds, resence precipita-
less

"ball lightning," if real, severe
than an ordinary lightning stroke or mostis probably
a dart streamer of such a stroke, we may assume that the
ffects of "ball lightning" on clouds are not more severe
than those outlined above in cornection with lightning.
2. Increased Ionization
.
The formation of corona discharge at ary point leads to
a considerable increase in ionization of the surrounding
air. Any case of so-called "ball lightning" which is
aotually a corona discharge will have a similar effect.
.

to have been temporarily blinded for about & minutes.
Several ca emporary
have been reported.
The Weather Bureau has not received ary reports of acci-
. dents in whic irplane was said to have suffered
contact with lightning. ludging by the phenomenon
called by that name and xperienced at the surface, the
airoraft damage to expected by such contact would
probably be less severe than that caused by a typical
.
L.

corona discha ce the cur-
rent carried ating effects
on the air negligibl ctinuing-
current type, with efront roduce intense
sounds, and this is more o cpected, also,
of isolated luminous dart stre aversir: the ohan-
nels of preceding succeed lightning strokes. Such
streamers have been included j category "ball
lightning."
3.
Fires have been caused in combustible material, such as
straw, by discharges reported to
.

:
4
. .
14

occurred on ening of July 1932 near Rock Rapids,
. Iowa, gave ev closely related type of luminous
display accordin eorge Raveling,
U. S. Weather Bureau observer. rom the sides of the
water through a sieve, breaking into spheres of f irregular
8

were cases of S scharges).
There have been reports by observers of "ball lightning" to the
offect that the phenomenon appeared t through a room or
other space fo ief interval of making,contact
with or bein by objects. Holzer
moving, film camera photographs of
unusual discharges during thunderstorms the case of the phe-
nomenon observed at Santa Fe, New Mexico (elevation 70oo feet)
on the night of September 3, l936, these authors state: "The
of the discharge in
Note should be made the fact that luminous darts did not
appear to acted to availabl ground objects even though
they were icinity of the ground. On this basis it cannot
be stated whether there are ary definite objects to which all
cases of "ball lightning" would be attracted. We should think
that sharp-pointed, unded objeots are most likely to attract
*ball lightning."
O
1. Holzer, R. E., and Workman, E Physics,
vol. 10, p. 659 (1939).

lightning currents cease : just after contact of the stroke
or (b) the space char lightning channel is largely
collected into the chann ansported earth or cloud.
"Ball lightning" which appears luninous dart like a
meteorite rapidly falling (or sing) along the path of an
immediately preceding or succeedin lightning disappears
into the earth (or cloud).
Ball lightning" in the form of a luminous ball apparently moving
through a space or rolling along the ground dissipates eventually,
perhaps on making contact with some object. Some observers have
the have broken up
into a number o smaller "balls" which have fallen to earth, or
to have emitted small streaks, like lightning. projeoted towards
the earth, and thus dissipated.
A sound of thunder, of greater or lesser intensity, may accom-
pany the dissipation. It is not possibl be certain that the
sound is always intinately cornected the phenomenon, for it
stroke.

pared questionnaire
5. Geographic location
6. Elevation
7. Character of observation point and surroundings
neighboring structures o
8. I
. Weather conditions (as
.
13. Indicate locations at which glow or ob-
14. Indicate brightness of discharge occurronce res
. ferred to in (1l) and (13)
15. Shape of ball lightning observed
16.1 Transparency of and general appearance of its exterior
and periphery
. 17. Changes in its form .
.

22. Colors
23. Brightness
24. Smoke or vapors emitted (color, odor, form, eto.)
25. Odor (during and after occurrence of phenomenon)
26. Heating effeots, if ary
27. Physiological effects
conditions observed attend beginning
of phenomenon ~
e phenomenon
38. Psychologioal effect on observers
39. Was sould like that of thunder heard at time of its disappear-
ance? Describe its intensity and character

T. S. lepartert of Cea erce "es ther Bureau
Inforstior o) ?al! Ii ltnir-

In Reply Please Aidress
CHIEF OF BUREAU
and Refer to
0-41.3
Dec. 16, 1945
Commanding General
Air Materiol Comunand
Attention: ICI.XO
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Dayton, Ohio.
Dear Sir:
Your letter of Cctober 20, loLc, addressed to the National Bureau
of Standards and requesting information on the subject of "Ball
a

..
APPENIIX I
.

order of project files.
Incident No. 1 8 July 19l.7, 0930 hours local, Muroc Air r Force Base.
Four witnesses, all Observed tyo silver disc like or spherical objects against
a clear bright sky. All witnesses estimated the altitude at about sooo feet, and
the speed between 300 and 400 possible to estimate distance and
speed of an object with a if the size is knowm. The
distance is judged on the kno at estimate of distance,
plus angular change in n positio In this incident the
size could not be known, owing to object was not identified.
The time in sight and angular distance traveled re not given However, the
first witness stated he sighted the objects at O. and the last witness said
he was called to iew the objects at loo0. Time in sight is therefore assumed
to be at least one-half hour. The objects reportedly traveled in a straight
line m. it then haim
conversation was as follows:
those discs before I will believe it.'"
. . The statements of the three other witnesses were made to
the first witness. All three agree almost identically with the first.
It is probable, therefore, that their evidence was influenced by
suggestion.
AC Opinion: esult of misint 1o0 of the
nature of real researc alloons.
,
) .
-

information minutes. No further
vas subnitted.
AIC Opinion: Since the sighting occurre sunset, when light con-
ditions change rapidly and illusory effects most likely, the
could have been objects
ordinary aircraft, balloons or pure illusion. In-
sufficient information.
CA
,

( i .
UNCLASSIFIED .

Incident No. 17 - 21. June 1947, aftermoon, Ut. Rainier, Washington.
One witness vievred nine "saucer-like discs" fro om the air calculated to be
20 to 25 miles distant, and 45-50 feot in length, (about 20 times as long as
wide) which traveled 47 miles in 102 seconds (1700 1PH) Dr. Hynek calculated
mathematically (see Appendix B that assuning the estimate of distance to be
D accurate, in orler to see bjects would need to have been at
2 least lo0 feet thick, therefo eet If the estimated size is
more nearly correct, then to have been scribed, the objects would
have been roughly y six miles distant. At this distance they would have traveled
only ll miles in l02 seconds, or approximately 100 The entire report of
this incident replete with inconsistencies. It is to be noted that the ob-
server has story by selling i magazine
AMC Opinion: repor bear even superficial examination, there-
& fore, must be disregarded. are strong indications that this report and
its attendant publicity is largely responsible : for subsequent reports
.
. -
.
.
..
D
2
or a

Incident No. 21 - 29 June 1947, 1645, Des Moines, Iowa.
The observor, a bus driver, rcported observing thirteen objects at laoo ft
altitude, traveling in a straight line in file at 300 MP71. The objects were
D elliptical in form "inverted s saucer", 12 ft thick, 175-250 ft in diameter,
dirty white, and made sound like an electric motor dymamo There was
no further information supplied except that observer they looked
like dots in the sky.
AMC Opirion: These objects mere seen just outside Des Moines, and were
flying toward Des Moines. If they were not ordinary objects mistaken for Bone-
thing else by the observer, but were really unusual aircraft, it seems almost
certain that sameone else would have also reported them. There is insufficient
information for a proper analysis.
.
,

Incident No. 29 - 14 June 191:7, 1200 and 1l,15, Bakersfield, Calif.
The observor, an e xperienced pilot, reported sighting tcn and later seven
objects at S500 ft a altitude, traveling 30 MMll in a loose "y" formation.
Although the ojocts were apiarently at a considerable distance, the reporter
described them as being sinilar to the XF5U-1 "Flying Flapjack." He stated
D that he attached no particular inportance to this s sighting until he read of
the Cascade Lountain sighting, (Incident No. 17) He then recalled this in-
cident.
AC Opinion: There is no information contained in this report refute
the assumption that these objects were ordinary aircrart beyond the range of
identification. The fact that no one else ein Bakersfield reported observing
anything unusual, tends to subctantiate this conclusion.
.
7
4
;
1

Incident No. 35 -- 14 October 19l47, ours, elevon miles north,
N.E. of Cave Creek, Arizona.
Two mine operators observed one object at s000 to l0,000 altitude, traveling
350 IPII, S.E. in a atraight line for a period of 45-60 seconds. The object was
D red against the sky, and black against a cloud. It appeared to be three feet
in dianeter fron point of rvation. The report of investigation states
that one observer thought i buzzard, but decided later that it was not;
the other observer said it re bled flying wing, but not a flying wing.
No reasons are given for ap.arently superfluo s and nflicting remarks.
As in many other instances, these observers cito their flying experience as
. qualification fo eport details.
AIC Opinion: From the limited data furnished in this report, it is
difficult to arrive at any conclusion the object was actually lo,o00 ft
distant, and yet appeared three feet wide to the observer, it would of necessity
been huge. This sole point of contention tends to discredit the report.
.
oo

was red against sky, and black against a cloud. It appeared to be three
0 feet in diamete: ron point observation. The OSI report of investigation states
that one observe thought it buzzard, but decided later that it was not;
the other obs sembled a flying wing, but was not a flying wing.
No reasons are apparently superfluous nflicting remarks.
As in many other ances. these ob vers cite their flying experience as
qualification 1ty t report details.
C ANC Opinions FrOm the limited data furnished in this report, it is
difficult to arrive at any conclusion. If the object vas actually 10,000 ft
.distant, and yet appeared three feet wide to the observer, it would of nocessity
been huge. This sole point of contention tends to discredit the report.
.
.
..
:
on
-

of this incident. the hinself as Chief Staff of Panorauic
. Research Laboratory, th among one of its
specialities. Yet. th relessly wultily devoloped. It
is covered with streal months nced notice-
ably. An ublished by
Amazing Stories magazine this lettor h e stated that he
had been interviewed by t agents, had given then pictures "flying
discs" and that th t been returned. He roquested the advice of
the magazine as to hom sue the Governnent. This individual is
aware of the whereabouts of these pictures, but has never requested their return.
o.

A
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.
6
4
D
Il D
-

was more than tveniy miles distant when last seer pable being seen
at this dista: to be about
50 feet in dimension. If thi object
Assum-
was proportionate orrect, the
ing the estinate eed to be incorrect, b sight to be
problem is figured in reverse, nable width 15 this event
Lo the object would have been less than ten vay whien lost to sight, thorefore,it
would have traveled about cightcen niles i minutes, givi less
than 300 UPII.
AC Opinion: It is believed that the pilots were suddenly startled by a
conventi nal aircraft crossing their path, and that as they gave chase to the
aircraft which was "silhouetted against a brilliant evening sky, they were
partially blinded, and herefore unable to scorn wings or engines.
B

impossible to an a tmosphere of darkness, any in
ness rather than to true linear distance. In , low-hanging
pression may be e Ground lights reflected fr n moving.
clouds, thenselves could readily account fo this report. Light
colored birds are an possibility
C
4
*
. I
6. .. T
D

0
. Incident No. 6- 19 August 1247, 2130 hours, Twrin Falls, Idaho.
Several people were reported as sighting nuerous groups of objects in the
night sky. These objects were described as a glow in the air with a color
similar to regular electric lights. The objects were said to have traveled
at "terrific" speed. Sane flew in triangular formation.
off of one Thuree objects peeled
group of ten, and proceeded on another course. The skywas over-
cast. Two observers stated that the objects could have been birds since
the lights not a reflection of city lights.
ANC Opinion: Many familiar objects visible because of the fact that
they reflect candescent; for r example, the noon and
certain planets. The evidence is, therefore, contradictory since in one in-
stance the objects are described as mercly a glow, and later on as not being
reflectory. The submitted evidence is rcadily explained as in incident 62;
ground lights reflected from clouds, or birds in flight.
-

I
T
UNCLASSIFIED

17), there are Ir Hmek (app.B),
that these objects tails. and inferred size. as deternined fron
the estimated is quite different. Valley (App D) pointed out
and Dr. Hynek concu that it is difficult to take seriously the peculiar action
of the compass for would inply fantastically large manetic fields.
AMC Opinions From the limited evidence subnitted. it is inpossible reach
a derinite conclusion. However, two possible psychological factors are readily
apparent; one, the observer stated he submitted d this report solely because he
had read several days following his observation of another sighting. Therefore,
he very likely either consciously or inadvertently may hav ve attempted to conforti
his rcport to that recounted in and two. he color I his report
with inference of implication ich he was
obvisusly uninformed.
0
. -

it made ar approxinately lsoo tur of radius five to fifteen miles, and
proceeded away toward the direction of first appeararce. weather was
described as "almost cloudless."
+
AUC Opinions It is difficult to understand why this individual attached
any importance to this sighting, and did not conclude that the trail
was caused by exactly what it ppears to have been; an ordinary air-
craft flying normally at an altitude to high for itself t be visible, but
in the best altitude range to fo por trails 20,000 - 45,000 feet.
D

a
.
Incident No. 75 13 August 1947, 1300 hours, Smoke River Canyon, Idaho.
A farmer together with his two sons, ten and eight years of age, witnessed an
object move down a canyon. It was in view only momentarily at a distance of
300 feet, and approximately ground. The object made a swish-
ing sound, and y-blue The farmer doubted the possibility of
0 its visibility dewed agains sky The childred told of smokeless tur
shootir device through which could be seen
daylight. The object passad ov trees, which in the words of the farmer,
spun around top as if ty vacuum.
AMC Opinion: It Seems logical to concur with Dr. Hynek's deduction,
C that this object was simply a rapidly moving atmospheric eddy.
-
.
.
. .
.
.
..
O
1
O

Although ooourring or same day as Incident No. 75, the descriptions
O vary widely.
AMC Opinion information contained in this report to
refute the assumption that these men saw tw ordinary aircraft at too
great a distance to discern details.
C
. ..
.
.
.
.
- .
-

In hia lette ye any mete been reported?
AMC Opinion believed that the observer should have been
able to rule possibility ducing the estimate
of distance, and ed size to that of
objects such insects become very modest.
If the objects w iles distant, and responsible
for the "urusually xpected that numerous other re-
ports would have been received from this section of Maine, which is
thiokly populated.
.

vsibilit days of sorvation.
sighting was not subnitted un aly 1947.
C
AMC Opinion There is no readily apparent explanation. If there
were only one such object anazingly oincidental that it
would be seon four tines pibal cation orly. On the
other hand, there number of these ob-
jects to rule out coi Idence, and as the nuciber of objects increases
8o do the charces of tings by other witnesses.
-
.
9

ological report.
5
.
0. .

to intercept the object bject appeared to have a
and disappeared fo te any other features. The
dorsal fin but dista ras too
report does not er pilots e object.
AMC Opinion: No definite exslanation. However, every pilot has
experienced the sensation of seeing an aircraft obliquely at nearly ths
limit of vision and then losing sight at the same range when the air
C craft presented, in stem view, a smaller surface.
.
.
.
.
..
:
0.

ject would approximate the e size ofdiso.
945
AC Opinion: No explanation. Fowever, the above comparison of
size Is to be noto ro held a arns length would shield the noon
from the eye even if the moon appoare larger than it
does. To reduce the proportion then, this object must have appeared as
an infinitesimal point. From traired observers, thie is certainly a
major discropancy.
0
,

a ha
cast at lS,o0o feet a n. brokar ratus layer at C000 feot, the
level of the airoraft.
AMC Opinion: Dr. liynek suggests those individuals could llave seen
suacessive of sunlight tlrough breaks in the high ovaroast il-
luminating portions of the lower cloud stratum. Apparent speed could
be a combinatior of pro jeoted motion of the break in the overcast and
the velocity of the C-l7. This explanation partially fits the contra-
diotory evidence.
.
.
.

1

(
.

tion turn limbed at 30 cceler Objects were very
0 maneuverable remaining equally spuced in neuvers Each objeot
was l00 feet in length oval-shaped and brilliant yellowish-white. No
sound nor exhauet trail heard or seen.
AMC Cpinion: This reporter shoula be a reliable observer. How-
ever, it has been that distance cannot be estinated without prior
knowledgo of the size sn object. If distance is t known,speed
cannot be estimated. More notable perhaps is such minute dtail
could be re.cetbered in a report made cne year after the observation
and yet the date was not remambered. . Hyrek suggested the possibil-
ity of detached auroral streamers.
.
.
.
:
0

-
4
.
.
.
t
.
-*
o

smoke appeared f lack, but center seemed to be
line of the obje in diameter.
transparent. Ob
AMC Opinion: There in no reason to believe other than that this
there are many types, and that
apparati.
.
.

C
. '
:
t

F
1
I

On a dulI hazy day, Ewo men saw in color,
overhead. It was the size of r-engine buff-gre
and appeared to made of canv coording t observer,
the conter p was spherical andulated, ppendages fore
and aft, like bsarvor object looked
ped with translucent material. The in-.
like a "vege direct contradic-
D vestigator stat descriotion was
tion to the other. One obse was far-sighted but wore no glasses,
the other was over seventy, reeded glasses to read but wore none at
time of sighting.
acceoted is that an ob-
. AMO by side, could not agree on its
jeet was seen. observers, side
appearance. The evidence is useless. A balloon or cluster of balloons,
an aireraft, or a cloud could have been the stimulus.
IN
-

at estimated 12 Object appear be 20-30 ft Pilot saw
silhouette on underoust of object witl unded nose, genera projec-
I tile shape, cut harply at rear.
AMC Osdnion; There is no apparent expianation. One discrepancy
. radar, which was
C
.
.
.
6 ..
.
O
@

C

-

(
of July, and
baen dropped Lane oter ary
.
on uly 4 may have mora Sone prankster
or unknown type
1
E
UNCLASSIFIE
.

Objeot was oblong ball licht exhaust, in land-
thought to be smaller
than the T-6. Pilot by going above air-
craft. T-6 tried climbi arns, but object
1 turned inside the airor bject wus lost after ten minutes at 7500
feet. Its speed seeme H and 60 MPH.
AMC Opinion: objoot described was a synoptio balloon.
Dr. Fitt's report difficult for the observer to
separate target motic own motion ver in daylight, and prac-
tically impossible night. This fa has been substantiated
by the writer, who trolled experiments attacked ordinary balloons
In daylight, and with knowledge of what the objeot was and .
pearayce.
7

-
1

UNCLASSIFIED 4
Inoident No. 236 -- 4 Jan. 1949, 1400 Hours, Hiokan Fiold, forri-
. tory of Hawali.
An Air Foree pilot saw an objeot whioh appeared to be a large round
should be noted, however, that if the objeot were aotually the aize of
a T- at 3ooo foet a greater amount of detuil should have been observed.
A.
#

(
UNCLASSIFIED

(
UNCLASSIFIED *

+ .
(
.
.
. T
3
UNCLASSIFIE

(
3
UNCLASSIFIED
.

.
(
18 P
-
3
UNCLASSIFIED

that the objects actually were
C incident at
*
UNCLASSIFIED

C
23
.
UNCLASSIFIED

C
H
UNCLASSIFIED

.
5. 3
6. Dr. P. M. Fitts, Air Materiel Command Aero-Medi Laboratory
In additiaz, teohnical saotions the Analysis and Engineering
Divisicns, Air Mtorie Command, were available for conaultation when :
needed.
0
11
-
.

[
UNCLASSIFIED

[
4
7
0
UNCLASSIFIED

.
s
.
UNCLASSIFIED .

(
4 8
.1

I
reflection. the anrle
. iect naist ,
is correct
which arnold observed lects. estirates
. UNCLASSIFIED
.

C - ceen about 2000 feet long. -
Looking at assuning that Arnold's -
.
sstimate or distance as to 25 miles (12-,000 estimate
3
rate (arnold's
./
UNCLASSIFIED

- .
.
(
0
.
UNCLASSIFIE e

C :
:
UNCLASSIFIED

.
motion and that the bright sunli ght aight have made both the oujoets
(
profor intorpretation, and it
:
UNCLASSIFIER

maice any attenpt at a
C probable,
was a daylight, slow-noving bolide, lut it is
judging from the liite nformation offered.
UNCLASSIFIED
C

111
.

I
UNCLASSIFIE

C
1.
1
UNCLASSIFIED

C onject "seemed This investigator
.
UNCLASSIFIER

[
- from the sun" and to travel
*
cases
aunand double
meteors are closely related as as structure double
1
feature is entirely possible.
. -more-
UNCLASSIFIE

C
1 .
/ UNCLASSIFIER

C
UNCLASSIFIED
18

UNCLASSIFIED

.
al .
C
UNCLASSIFIE
1

C
day at
about 3:00 P. . local ia that Lt. vov.
.
0
UNCLASSIFIED
1 .

c
18
UNCLASSIFIE

Paz states he is convinced the are not ordinary meteors.
nothing in common with other in-
cidents on file with Project dze" these incidents are
not considered in this report. The Scientific Advisory Committee vas
asked to investigate this natter and had advised that an indepencent
investigation eld o esearch.
.
Upan eliminating several additional incidents due to vagueness
and cuplication there cemain 228 incidents which are consicered in
0 this report. Thirty of these could not be explained, because there was
found to be insufficient
Consulting a gen pro plausib olutions
along with comments and
1v
7 .
.
a it I

C viewin;
throu ghout
reierasle.
have
incidont,
obsorvers
see reort on v33.
44
E
UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

1
UNCLASSIFIED

1
C
about 2a
-.
great distance away. other onject must,
UNCLASSIFIE

ision;
.
sions.in the rear
C ssing any
would se
placedessentially at the very mosition of Venus
-
UNCL SSIFIET
'

P with the -
F
coincidenoe
lowing short taole of
those conditions.
brilliancy, it is possible to ses it
exactly where to ok, out on Jantrary 7, ls4s, Venus was less than half
UNCLASSIFIE

FE S
hus c.seA Venus at such -
area of
4 tizes, usually its pingoint craracter and of sky
the object sighted in
UNCLASSIFIE

have
have cean seen aneously,
aoart .
from place
loads liove
Lieutenant reach Venus. is
.
UNCLASSIFIED

1
the aprox aneous
ever, rave c.aLced
ever:
radio stations? public on the
UNCLASSIFIED
.

the infornation
roe personel, sc
I
D
/
INCLASSIFIED

0

.
1
UNCLASSIFIED

+ Otherwise, the soanty description favors the weteorie 1y20-
thesis.
3
UNCLASSIFIE
-

+
:
a
UNCLASSIFIED

+
UNCLASSIFIED
2
:

C
L
UNCLASSIFIED

D
,
UNCLASSIFIED
.

D
objects, be reopened investigation.
investigator was not dispatched at once to
sketohes of tne trajectory. beiore de-
tails faded from nis momory.) important to know at what
.
UNCLASSIFIED

.
for the irresponsiol like objects.
0 +
1D
UNCLASSIFIED rA

18
a
UNCLASSIFIE

D
Q

hoax or seek publioity.
Psychopathological persons.
unusual aerial objects coupled with the
a. Employment of these methods by
yield similar rosults. 1
..
.
. vi

4
1
UNCLASSIFIED

[
-
UNCLASSIFID

. .
I
-
1
UNCLASSIFIED

I
UNCLASSIFIED

I .
.
1
NCLASSIFIED

0
UNCLASSIFIE

was more subjective than ob jeotive.
D
t . .
UNCLASSIFIED
4. .

.
-
.
.
0
UNCLASSIFIED

0 C
UNCLASSIFIE

4 -
0
UNCLASSIFIE