PROJECT BLUE BOOK

: - PROJECT 10073 RECORD
ste 2 ——%
1. DATE - TIME GROUP OCATION (>

3 September 50 03/22902 Spokane, Washington
SOURCE 10, CONCLUSION

Military UNIDENTIFIED
4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS

3.

Three
LENGTH OF OBSERVATION

About 5 Minutes
6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION

Grourd-Yisual (MX)

-_-_

5. 11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS

When observer first noticed objects, his first impression was
that they were extra large pieces of cardboard or wrapping mye
tumbling about in an oversize "dust devil". Observer continudd
to watch them, however, seemed to indicate that the objects wr
held aloft by a force other than aircurrmts. They reacted i:
& manner indicating motive power of theirm own, All three af

acted independently and highly erratically. For example, one
object would move up while another would move down ard the thi

8. PHOTOS
| sideways. Object was observed through monocular (6X23).
0 Yes
. XNo
9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE .
oC Yes °

XZNo

FOR
FTD see 03 S-S29 (TDE)

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SE UNCLASSIFIED ot

we 7.%3.4 _
Both urs. Gardinier and a neighbor, lirs. Lowell Allen, observed the third

feet in depth. When first sighted they appeared a khaki tan in color but
through the monocular apperred a metallic bronze. Observation was dif-
ficult because the objects were constantly quivering ond oscillating in

the air. They were capable of abrupt changes of direction and speed, yet
could also hang motionless in the air except for the quivering motion. No
sounds were heard. The weather was CAVU. Neither iirs. Gardinier nor the
neighbor could identify the objects. No cust or other debris was asso-
ciated with them and no trail, smoke, or flame could be seen, They eppear-
ed from the NW "as though following the course of the Spokane River" until
they were abreast of the Nii corner of the city of Spoxane, orbiting there
for approximately five minutes and then proceecing Si almost directly
toward FAFB. All three objects appezred to have a high rate of speed, dif-
ficult to estimate because of lack of reference as to size and distance

the objects as rather flat, pancake+shsped, 20 to 30 fcet across, 2 to 6
away. No further observations were reported.

Do WN,
GR
Dro; AD
BCLasgr> AT 3
Don pArrea® Ire
“ 6209 32 YenqVALs

a -
———— -——_——_

object as it climbed and disappeared toward FAFB. wslajor Gardinier described

—~, SECURITY ° “SSIFICATION (J/ any) e

*

fe ots
DISPOSITION FORM ° 7
- 4 eal
UNCLASSIFIEG
J iP SUSrEST (Unclassified) Sightings of Unusual Objects
Tonief, Air Technical FROM Dent of the AF a ew"
Intelligence Center, Hq USAF - AFOIN-V/TC Lt. Col.Willis/55894
Wright-Patterson AFB,
Dayton, Ohio

Headquarters 57th Air Division letter, undated, with one (1) inclosure ani two
(2) indorsements is forwarded for your information and retention,
1 Inol

etek CA. Ahan
Hq 57th Air Div ltr

undated w/1 incl eT TA A. PS
and 2 inds Sodcsisd, Ve 2

Boypauty Gaict, Bvaivaticn Riggs

. fav’. 1. - a + a

Directorate of Lniclilissnga

cuAssir AT
3

UNCLASSIFIED

CUINTY EC tat Gg

DD iF (96 REPLACES NME FORM 96, | OCT 48, WHICH MAY BE USEDr —— J 10—S4801-8 ©. 8. sovennuant paintine orrice

Capt. and srs. Fortney were returning from ths city of Spokane to
FAB. Capt. Fortney was criving west on Highway 2 about one mile or less
from the eastern edge of the field when ‘irs. Fortney observed a bluish
white light approaching the car from the northeast. The light was moving
at "high speed" snd came at the car so Girectly thst wrs. Fortnsy became
frightened for fear it would strike the car. It passea over, howsver,
and proceeded on a Sii course overflying the runways and hangar area of
FAFB, According to iirs. Fortney, the light increased in size (frou that
of an auto headlight to twice the size) over the hsngar erea, emitting
sparks in a fiery trail appearing in various colors other than blua-white
vhich it had been. At that time, the light suddenly went out. No other
observations were mada. No sound was heard. The course was roughly Nu
to Si and travel was parallel to the ground at a low altitucs. No air-
craft were in the vicinity st that time. Caot. rortney did not observe
the phenomenon as he was concentrating on criving and had his sun visor
down (reason unknow)

Sich lifford L. Ponsnes st_Lt (pilot), Saturday 8 Sep 2220 hours

Lt. Ponsness was returning to his quarters from the home of a friend,
walking north on a street in the officer housing area when he observed a
bluish-white light about the size of an auto headlight approsching the
field from the north. He watchsd it ss it passed over the western edges
of the field where it enlarged in size, emitted "sparks" in the form of
a trail for a few seconds ana then abruotly went out. The tine wes
approximately 2220. No sounds were heard. No aircreft were in the vicinity
of the field at the time. The course of the object was from the NE to of

ver FAFB, paralleling the earth at anproximstely "159 miles per hour”.

Slt et SR ee

~ - j .
Gard tiato: _o°>servyer

wa#jor Garéinier was relaxing in the bscx yard of his home in the ex-
trene corner of the city of Spokane when he noticec three strange objects
appearing out of the Ni. His first impression was thst they were extra
lerpze pieces of cardboard or wrapping paper tusbling about in an oversize
"dust devil", about 2000! above the terrain. Continusd observation, how-
ever, seemed to indicete that the objects were held aloft by a force other
than air currents. ‘They reacted in a manner indicsting motive power of
their own. All three objects acted independently and hi,hly erratically.
For example, one object would move up while another would move down and
the third sidewsys.

After watching the objects for two or three minutes, ajor Gardinier
culled to his wife to bring e monoculsr (6X23) from the house. ‘hen ulrs.
Gardinier returned with the glass only one of the objects could os seen,

+ |. ~ - ; a ~~ £% Yuu, . a | :
ths other tuo having cenarted in tha -diraction of fuirchild Jir Sores Base.

D 3 YEAR a ? :
UNCLASSIFIED UCLASS oA AFTE TERVALS:

-—-

ee

UNCLASSIFIED

Both wrs. Gardinier and a neighbor, urs. Lowell Allen, observed the third
object as it climbed and disappeared toward FAFB, wsajor Gardinier cescrited
the objects as rather flat, pancake-shsped, 20 to 30 feet across, 2 to 6
feat in depth. When first sighted they appeared s khaki tan in color but
through the monocular aopecred a metallic bronze, Observation was dif-
ficult because the objects were constantly quivering and oscillsting in

the air. They were capable of abrupt changes of direction snd speed, yet
could also hang motionless in the air except for the quivering notion. ho
sounds were heard. The weather wes CAVU. Neither wirs. Gsrdinier nor the
neighbor could identify the objects. No cust or other debris was asso-
ciated with them and no trail, smoke, or flame could be seen. They appear-
ed from the NW "as though following the course of the Spokane River" until
they were abreast of the NW corner of the city of Spoxans, orbiting there
for approximately five minutes and then proceecing ot almost directly
toward FAFB. All three objects appexred to have a high rate of speed, dif-
ficult to estimate because of lack of reference as to size and distance
away. No further observations were reported.

at

B/L fr 57 AD, File 92ID, UNCLASSIEIER, of Unusual Objects

DINC 3500fno date) 2nd Ind

HEADQUARTERS STRATEGIC AIR COMMAD, Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebr.
1soct oI , Awe

T0: Director of Intelligence, Headquarters USAF Washington 25, D. C.
ATTN: AFOINec/cc | ;

Forwarded for your information.

FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL: J of 4

/ ChAT Wy HOVARD
oy . - Lt Col, USAF
Cc
Asst Adj Gen

UNCLASSIFIED

p60 kf

Hq 57th AD 92ID Subject: Sightings of Unusual Objects

IDC 350 (no date) lst wea Af

HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE, March Air Force Base, California
110CT 5}

TO: Commanding General, Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base,
Omaha, Nebraska

1. Forwarded for your information.

2. The 57th Air Division has been instructed that in the case of
future sightings any information of a potential intelligence value will
be reported in accordance with Air Force Regulation 200-15 where no
established report and procedure is involved.

FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL:

1 Incl STANLEY M.
n/c Major, USAF
| hast Adjutant General

Poe toss

"he HEADQUARTERS 57T# AIR DIVISION
Fairchild air Force base
Fairchild, \Wiaehington

92uD UNCLASSIFIED
SUBJECT: Sightings of Unusual Objects

TO: Commanding General
Fifteenth Air Force
March Air Force Base
ATIN: Director of Intelligence
California

1, Attached are three (3) instances of sightings of unusuel aerial
objects by personnel of FAFB. In two instances the sightings were mede

by rated officers and all three individuels are considered competent end
reliable.

.

2. Due to the fact that no satisfactory explanetion of these sight-
ings is apparent and the near coincidence of times, and dates, they are

forwarded for your information end/or forwerding to appropriate agency. 30

3. Aircraft, aircraft landing lights, jet trails, meteorites and

other natural phenomena have been ruled out as explanations by this Heed-
quarters.

4e Request instructions as to reporting procedure in case of future
sightings.

FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL ;

* 1 Incl Captain, USAF
Report of sightings Asst Adjutant -£U

1 DATE « TIME GROUP

3 September 530 03/22(
10, CONCLUSION

UNIDENTIFIED

4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS

Three
5. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION

About 5 Minutes
6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION

Groujd-VYisual (MX)

? pA |

6. PHOTOS

11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS

‘ When observer first noticed objects, his first impression was
that they were extra large pieces of cardboard or wrapping my}
tumbling about in an oversize "dust devil". Observer continudd
to watch them, however, seemed to indicate that the ojects
held aloft by a force other than aircurrmts. They reacted |
& manner indicating motive power of theirm own. All three obfects
acted independently and highly erratically. For example, one |
ob ject would move up while another would move down amd the th
- Sideways. Object was observed through monocular (6X23).

0 Ves
XKNo

9 PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
0 Yes
XK No

FORM
FTD ser 63 0-329 (TDE) previous oditions of this form may be used,

Se re! ee re

sichting of irs. Fortney, wifs of Capt, Lon C. Fortney, lionday 3 sep
2220 _ hours

Capt. and sirs. Fortney were returning from the city of Spokane to
FAIS, Capt. Fortney was driving west on Highway 2 about one mile: or less
from the castern edge of the field when iirs. Fortney observed a bluish
white light approaching the car from the northeast. The light was moving
at "high speed" and came at the car so directly thet uirs. Fortney becaine
frightened for fear it would strike the car. It passed over, however,
and proceeded on a Sii course overflying the runways and hangar area of
FAFB, According to irs, Fortney, the light increased in size (from that
of an auto headlight to twice the size) over the hangar erea, emitting
sparks in a fiery trail appearing in various colors other than blus-white
which it had been. At that time, the light suddenly went out. No other
observations were made. No sound was heard. The course was roughly Ni
to Shi and travel was parallel to the ground at a low altituce. No air-
craft were in the vicinity at that time. Capt. lortney did not observe
the phenomenon as he was concentrating on driving and had his sun visor
down (reason unknown)

Sighting of Clifford L. Ponsness ist Lt (pilot), Saturdey 8 Sep 2220 hours

Lt. Ponsness was returning to his quarters from the home of a friend,
walking north on a street in the officer housing area when he observed a
bluish-white light about the size of an auto headlight approsching the
field from the north. He watchsd it ss it passed over the western edge
of the field where it enlarged in size, emitted "sparks" in the form of
s trail for a few seconds ana then abruptly went out. The time wes
approximately 2220. No sounds were heard. No aircrsft were in the vicinity
of the field at the time. ‘The course of the object was from the NE to di,
over FAFB, paralleling the earth at approximately "159 miles per hour",

Rusesll J, Gar inis onda } O00 Ho

Major Gardinier was relaxing in the back yard of his home in the ex-
treme corner of the city of Spokane when he noticed three strange objects
aprearing out of the Mi. His first impression was that they were extra
lsryc pieces of cardboard or wrapping paper tumbling about in an oversize
"dust devil", about 2000' above the terrain. Continued observation, how-
ever, seemed to indicate that the objects were held aloft by a force other
than sir currents. ‘they reacted in a manner indicating motive poner of
their own, All three objects acted independently and highly erraticslly.
For example, one object rould move up while another would move down and

the third sideways.

After watching the objects for two or three minutes, iiajor Gardinier
called to his wife to bring e monoculsr (6X23) from the house, ‘hen iirs.
Gardinier returned with the glass only one of the objects could be seen,
the other two having departed in the direction of Fairchild Air Fores Base,

DOWNGRADED AT
DECLASSIFinzp 232A INTERY
UNCLASSIFIED IED AFTER 12-ypancus:
| ere om «—«- POD DIR S2pgig “ABS.

~- —_— t

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