DOW-UAP-D094 — Analysis of Flying Object Incidents in the United States, 1949

TL;DR

Turns out 1949’s hottest mystery was a Tuesday.

• USAF Air Intelligence study, 04/28/49, Virginia.
• Reviews 210 sightings of disks, balls, cigars; cites domestic and Soviet tech theories.
• No definitive ID; objects possibly domestic or foreign.

AI summary

A document titled DOW-UAP-D094, dated 10 December 1948, analyzes flying object incidents in the United States, including summaries, appendices, and discussions on reported sightings, possible origins, and hypotheses. It mentions flying saucers and unidentified objects, citing 210 incidents involving trained observers. The document describes sightings of silver disks, balls of fire, and cigar-shaped objects, and explores possible origins, including foreign (Soviet) involvement and contributions from German scientists. It also considers reasons for Soviet unconventional aircraft sightings, such as undermining U.S. confidence and testing defenses, and references sightings of metallic disks in 1947. Additional UAP sightings from 1947 to 1948 are detailed, including a pilot's death and various objects like metallic disks and a yellow sphere. The document also covers various flying wing type aircraft, including German and British designs, and U.S. projects, noting potential confusion with unidentified flying objects.

Full text

Page 4

...

Air Intelligence Report No. 100-203-79.

ANALYSIS OF FLYING OB ECT INCIDENTS IN THE U. S.

Air Intelligence Division Study No. 203
10 December 1948.
Directorate of Intelligence and Office of Naval Intelligence

DISTRIBUTION ''C''

WARNING: This document contains information affecting the national defense of the United States
within the meaning of the Espionage Act, 60 U.S.C., 31 and 32, as amended. Its transmission or
the revelation of its contents in any manner to an . unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
Reproduction of the intelligence in this publication, under the provisions of Army Regulation
380-5, is authorized for United States military agencies provided the source is indicated.

Directorate of Intelligence
Headquarters United States Air Force

Office of Naval Intelligence
Navy Department
Washington, D. C,

DECLASSIFIED

Page 5

. 38%
TOPOEORET
ANALYSIS OF FLYING OBJECT INCIDENTS IN THE U. S.
INDEX
Page
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
APPENDIX "A"- A ANALYSIS OF FLYING OBJECT INCIDENTS IN THE U. S.
AND HYPOTHETICAL TACTICS EMPLOYED 3
Introduction 3
Some Aspects Regarding Flying Object Incidents 3
Possible Origin of Unusual Flying Objects
Possible Reasons or Tactics for the Use of Soviet
Unconventional Aircraft Over the U. S.
Conclusion
APPENDIX "B' REPORTED SIGHTINGS OF FLYING OBJECTS AS OF
1 AUGUST 1948
APPENDIX "" SELECTED REPORTS OF FLYING OBJECT INCIDENTS
APPENDIX "D FLYING WING TYPE AIRCRAFT 17
Germany
Great Britain
United States
LORSECRET
NIW 91376
Dodld:34749006 Page 5

Page 6

MP l!Clt!,

ANALYSIS OF FLYING OB ECT INCIDENTS IN THE U. S.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

PROBLEM
1. TO EXA:MlNE pattern of tactics of "Flying Saucers" (hereinafter referred to as flying objects)
and to develop conclusions as to the possibility of existence.
FACTS AND DISCUSSION
2. A DETAILED discussion of information bearing on the problem as set forth above 1s attached
as Appendix "A". The main points established therein are summarized below.
3. THE FREQUENCY of reported incidents, the similarity in many of the characteristics attributed
to the observed objects and the quality of observers considered as a whole, support the contention
that some type of flying object has been observed. Approximately 210 incidents have been reported.
Among the observers reporting on such incidents are trained and experienced U.S. Weather Bureau
personnel, USAF rated officers, experienced civilian pilots, technicians associated with various re­
search projects and technicians employed. by commercial airlines.

•

4. THE POSSIBILITY that reported observations of flying objects over the U.S. were influenced by
previous sightings of unidentified phenomena in Europe, particularly over Scandinavia 1n 1948, •and
that the observers reporting such incidents may have been interested in obtaining personal pubUcity
have been considered as possible explanations. However, these posslb111t1es seem to be improbable
when certain selected reports such as the one from U.S. Weather Bureau at Richmond are examined.
During observations of weather balloons at the Richmond Bureau, one well trained observer has
sighted strange metallic disks on three occasions and another observer has sighted a similar object
on one occasion. The last observation of un1denttf1ed objects was in Apr1i, 1947. On all four occa­
sions the weather balloon and the unidentified objects were in view through the theodolite. These
observations at the Richmond Bureau occurred several months before publ1city on the flying saucers
appeared in a U.S. newspaper.
5. DESCRIPTIONS OF the flying objects fall lnto three configurat1on categories: (1) disk-shaped
(2) rough cigar-shaped {3) balls of fire. Varying conditions of visibility and differences in angles
at which the objects may have been viewed introduces a possibility that a single type object may
have been observed rather than three different types. This possibility is further substantiated by
the fact that 1n the areas where such objects have been observed the ratio of the three general
configurations is approximately the same.

.

.

6. THEREFORE, IT appears that some object has been seen; however, the identification of that
object cannot be readily; accomplished on the basis of information reported on each incident. It
ls possible that the object, or objects, may have been domestically launched devices such as weather
balloons, rockets, experimental flying wlng aircraft, or celestial phenomena. It is necessary to
obtain information on such domestic activity to confirm or deny this possibility. Depending upon
the degree with which this may be accomplished, foreign devices must then be considered as a
possibility.
7. THE PATTERN of sightings is definable. Sightings ~ave been most intense throughout the states
bordering the Atlantic and Pacific coast lines, and the central states of Ohio and Kentucky. A map
showing location of sightings is attached as Appendix "B"

~•• 11c11,

- 1 -

Page 7

8. THE ORIGIN of the devices is not ascertainable. There are two reasonable possibllltles:
(1) The objects are domestic devices, and if so, their identification or origin can be established
by a survey of all launchings of airborne objects. Domestic flying wing type aircraft observed
in various aspects of flight might be responsible for some of the reported flying objects, particu­
larly those described as disks and rough cigar shapes. (See Appendices "C" and ''D" .) Among
those which have been operational in recent years are the XF5U-1 ("Flying Flap3ack") developed
by Chance-Vaught, the Northrup B-35, and the turbo-jet powered Northrup YB-49. · The present
.existence of any privately developed flying-wing type aircraft has not been determined but one
such aircraft, the Arup tailless monoplane, was operational at South Bend, Indiana, prior to 1935.
(2) Objects are foreign, and l:f so, it would seem most logical to consider that they are from a
Soviet source. The Soviets possess information on a number of German flying-wing type aircraft
such as the Gotha P60A, Junkers EF 130 long-range, high-speed jet bomber and the Horten 229
twin-jet fighter, which particularly resembles some of the description of un1denttfied flying objects
(See Appendix "D"). As early as 1924 Tscheranowsky developed a "Parabola" aircraft, an all
wing •design, which was the outcome of considerable Soviet experimentation with gliders of the
same general form. Soviet aircrait based on such designs might have speeds approaching trans­
~;onic speeds attributed to some flying objects or greater over-all performance assuming the
successful development of some unusual propulsion device such as atomic energy engine.
9. THAT THE Soviets have a current interest in flying-wing type aircraft is suggested by their
utilization of Dr. Guenther Bock who, at the end of. World Wa:r IT, was in charge of the flylng­
wlng program in Germany (See Appendix ''A", paragraph 3, page 4 ). Achievements satisfactory

to the U.S.S.R. are indirectly indicated by the personal recognition he is reported to be receiving
in the U.S.S.R. Recently 1t has been reported that the U.S.S.R. 1s planning to build a fleet of
1,800 Horten flying-wing aircraft. Information· of low evaluation has been received stating that a
regiment of jet night fighters, Model Horten xm, is at Kuzm1kha, an air base two mE.es south­
west of Irkutsk. Kuzmikha is identified as one of a number of airfields for the protection of an
atomic energy plant at Irkutsk. The Horten XIII as developed by Germany was a glider,
10. ASSUMING THAT the objects might eventually be identified as foreign or foreign-sponsored
devices, the possible reason for their appearance over the U.S. requires consideration. Several
possible explanations appear noteworthy, vi.z:
a. To negate U.S. confidence in the atom bomb as the most advanced and decisive weapon
in warfare.
b.

To perform photographic reconnaissance missions,

c.

To test U. S. air defenses.

d.

To conduct familiarization flights over U.S. territory.
CONCLUSIONS

11. SINCE the Air Force is responsible for control of the air in the defense of the U.S., it is
imperative that a.ll other agencies cooperate in confirming or denying the possibility that these
objects have a domestic origin. Otherwise, if it is firmly indicated that there 1s no domestic
explanation, the objects are a threat and warrant more active efforts of 1dent1fication and inter­
ception.
12. rr MUST be accepted that some type of flying objects have bean observed, although their
identification and origin are not d1scernable. In the interest of national defense it would be
unwise to overlook the possibility that some of these objects may be of foreign origin.

- 2 -

-

Page 8

.iaa IEIIIE'l

0

APPENDIX "A"

ANALYSIS OF FLYING OB· CT INCIDENTS IN THE U. S.
AND HYPOTHETICAL TACTICS EMPLOYED

1. INTRODUCTION. To formulate the possible tactics of flying objects reported over the U. S.
assumes ?rom he outset that firm conclusions have been reached on .both the existence and origin
o! the reported flying objects. The current status of information on such incidents and over•all
analysis does not allow substantiation for such conclusions. However, the lack of such firm con­
clusions points to the necessity for an immediate and sound statistical analysis of every aspect of
the situation and does not preclude a concurrent examination of the reported incidents to develop
explanations of their possible tactics. The latter will be useful at some future date should the
existence and origin of the flying objects be definitely established. Therefore, the following analy­
sis of available information is advanced in order to present evidence on the actual existence of
some type flying object and to relate same to tactical purposes for which the objects are possibly
designed. The following discussion must be considered a provisional analysis, pending a further
detailed analysis of all aspects of the problem.

2. SOME ASPECTS REGARDING FLYING OB CT INCIDENTS. A cursory examination of evidence
on repo
n
s poss
certain generalities which it appears
may be borne out when detailed analyses have been completed.
Among the incidents reported there are many statements by reliable and experienced persons
whlch tend to confirm that flying objects have been seen. The description of such objects seems
to fall roughly into three categories: (1) Silver disks or balls, approximating a Horten wing type
aircraft; (2) Balls of fire of various colors and intensities; (3) Cigar or pencil-shaped objects
similar in appearance to V -2 type rockets in horizontal flight. The numbers of configurations
might be further reduced with the following considerations in mind: Silver disks or balls have,
for the greater part, been observed in daylight and a number under clear weather conditions with
visibility unlimited. Iri most instances, balls of fire have been observed at night. Cigar, or
pencil-shaped objects have been sighted in fewer numbers but with about equal distrlbuUon 1n
dayllght and at night. A few accounts tell of the disks having a rough cigar-shape when viewed
while maneuvering. Some of the disks are described as having luminosity in daylight. It there­
fore is possible that a single type of object may be involved in all slghtlngs, and differences ln
description may result from viewing the objects at various angles and under dlffering conditions
of visibility.
The above tends to indicate that some type object ha~ been seen and the possibility exists
that the object or objects seen are conventional domestic devices, such as weather balloons, test
rockets, or jet-equipped aircraft with pancake or flying wing configurations.
The possibillty exists that the reporting of flying objects may have been influenced by earlier
reports on similar incidents in Scandinavia and Central Europe. The publication in newspaper of
details on such incidents, both foreign and domestic, may have induced eome of the description
provided in reported domestic incidents. However, one of the earliest reported sightings in the
U.S. was the one observed by U.S. Weather Bureau personnel in April 1947, at Richmond, Virginia,
and on the basis of this one report it appears that the disks are not balloons. It would seem that
this sighting was not influenced by the reports of foreign incidents, the newspaper accounts of
domestic incidents, nor by misident1.f1cation of a conventional object.

:. 3 -

Page 9

Although reported domestic incidents are widely scattered throughout the U.S., frequency of
sighting and number of observers per sighting assumes a definable pattern. There ls a large con­
centration of sightings along the Eastern Seaboard; another large concentration throughout the
Western Coast states, and a few sightings in the Middle West. Distribution of. incidents by configuration af object and description of maneuverability is approximately equal 1n each of these
areas and this ls belleved to further substantiate the possibility that one type of object might have
been observed In dl:fferent aspects of flight.
?f sightings are induced by rumor, it seems unusual that more incidents have not been reported
from the areas with high concentration of population. Reports from such areas would also have

greater facility 1n channeling either to newspaper or official reporting agencies. For the most part,
sightings have been made in fairly open country where there are few restrictions to visibility, which
may indicate that obstructed vision has reduced sightings 1n bullt-up areas.
It therefore seems that some type of flying object has been observed; the ldentlftcatlon of
its origin requires the compet1on of other analyses.
3. POSSIBLE ORlGIN OF UNUSUAL FLYING O
CTS. Provided, upon the completion of. analyses,
it is'ln<nciite~ffiar-iroi:ne01::-S:!rof'truri:wor1:ec
bjects over the U.S. are of foreign origin,
the objects could from a logical viewpoint, be considered Soviet. It is evident' from the pertorm­
ance characteristics attributed to the unidentified objects at this time that if they are foreign, they
involve efficiencies of performance which have not been realized in any operational airborne device
in this country. It would, therefore, be a mistake to analyze the technical aspects of the situation
within the limits of our own knowledge of practical developments. n ls more desirable to consider
then the outer limits of possible .soviet developments and objectives ln attempting to formulate some
idea of the tactics which might be involved.

First of all, the scientific objectives of the U.S.S.R. have been stated many times and Jndicated
1n many forms. The most clearcut statement of this objective ls probably the one contained in the
preamble to the Fourth Five-year Plan (1946-1950} which states that the objective of Soviet .science
ls to overtake and surpass the scientific and technical developments of the capitalist nations. It
apparently would be an impossible task for the Soviet Union to accomplish such an objective by pro­
ceeding step-by-step along the same lines of development already achieved in the capitalist nations.
This would mean that. lt would be necessary to rapidly proceed through each phase of aeronautical
development that has already been accomplished in this country, and this
obably would never• have
any prospects of accelerating Soviet development beyond any point reach by the U.S. The obvious
answer to accomplish their objective of not only overtaking, but surpassing the capitalist countries
would be a scient1flc shortcut. This possibllity ls not so remote when examined on the basis of
our knowledge of the current situation 1n the U .S.S.R. Provided Soviet emphasis was given to the
most promising and advanced ideas acquired from Germany 1n 1946 and the work aided by German
scientists, the possibility of catching up and possibly .surpassing other nations 1n technical develop­
ments becomes more realistic. • It becomes even more realistic l:f the Soviets have shown a tendency
to concentrate on certain developments which have still not received a maximum of priority in our
own programs.

n 1s known that the U.S.S.R. has since 1945 enlisted the services of Dr. Guenther Bock, a
German who headed all development of low aspect ratio (flying wing) type aircraft in Germany.
Dr. Bock is believed to be the top German scientist In charge at TSAGI and TSIAM which are
"Air Materiel Command" type organizatlons ln the U.S.S.R. Further, it is believed that Dr. Bock
has made available all German plans for flying wing type aircraft to the Soviets. Among the de­
signs considered by the Germans and possibly explolted by the U.S.S.R., are jet-propelled, flying
wing type aircraft whose configuration would be similar to descriptions of certain objects reported
flying over the U.S. The estimated speeds of such aircraft are within range of the lower limits.
of speed attributed to flying objects over the U.s. It ls not impossible that emphasis on surpassing
foreign developments has led to unusual progress 1n fuels and propulsion by the U.S.S.R. In con­
nection with possible advancements 1n the field at fuels and propulsion, it should be observed that

- 4 -

•
.

k

Page 10

•

the Russian oll situation (regardless of estimated 011 reserves) is quite dl:fferent from that 1n the
U.S. For example, U.S. oil industry 1s prepared to turn out tremendous quantities of highly frac­
tionated petroleum products, while the U.S.S.R. cannot reasonably approach such capabilities. This
consideration dictates different solutions on fuels for propulsion 1n the two countries and in turn,
dictates the direction taken in development of jet motors or the use of other propulsive devices.
We must therefore, arrive at the. conclusion that any Soviet device which may have made its
appearance over the U.S. as descrlb~d, would possess unusual performance characterist1cs which,
in all probability, would include unusual range. The poss1b111ty that they could have been launched
at fairly close range should not be discarded.
4. POSSIBLE REASONS OR TACTICS FOR THE USE OF SOVIET UNCONVENTIONAL AIRCRAFT

ego

o

fi ve 15
flown over the U.S. for one, all, or a combination of the following reasons:
a. TO NEGATE U.S. CONFIDENCE IN ATOM BOMB AS THE MOST ADVANC

DECISIVE

a
sense,
tliaf1lie'Soviets would choose first to frighten pro-American nations in Europe with the appearance
of a radically new weapon to counteract the ability of the U.S. to obtain full propaganda effective­
ness with the atom bomb. It will be remembered that strange objects first appeared over the
Scandinavian countries 1n 1946. The objects observed there had unusual range and unusual per­
formance characteristics. As this demonstration over the Scandinavian countries occurred the
U.S. was making a vigorous campaign for the economic and political allgnment of these nations
with other pro-American Western European nations. When these incidents. subsided, strange flying
objects began to be observed at an increasing rate over the U.S. The conclusion on thls point is
that flying objects may have been used to frighten both European nations and the U.S. by the appear­
ance of a new device, and that failure to identify such a Soviet object would give them invaluable
indication that U.s. development is far behind that of the Soviets. Except for this indication, it is
beUeved that the use of the objects to promote fear has been worthless 1n that the U.S. public has
tended to characterize these incidents entirely as halluclnations by "crack pots", m1sident1ficat1on
of conventional objects, or that they represent a secret American project which should not be pub­
licized. Any fear· that might result from Soviet use will come only by a discovery that the objects
have been Soviet aircraft and that they involve radical developments which are in advance of. our
own accomplishments.
b. FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC RECONNAISSANCE. It ls possible that the Soviets have employed the
or e co ec on
p o ograp c intelligence or the mapping of certain areas in the
flying o ec
U.S. The evasive action employed by all objects sighted indicates not so much an attempt to avoid
pelng sighted, as an attempt to prevent disclosure of the exact type of flying craft and its mission.
The sighting of objects over the U.S. has been most intense in Eastern and Western Coastal States.
In addition, sightings of flying objects have been made near Oak Ridge, Tenn., Las Cruces, N. M.,
and in the general area o! the Hanford Works in Oregon. Generally, sightings have not been made
over what we consider strategic industrial areas. The reason for this. might be either that the.
flying objects have been observed only enroute to or from missions over these more concentrated
strategic areas, or that the Soviets obtained sufficient information during their World War Il liaison
with U.S. industry to satisfy their intelligence requirements and have a more active requirement
for information on industries and areas which were not available to them during World War TI con­
tacts. This 1s of interest in connection with the sightings near Oak Ridge, Las Cruces, and in the
general area of the Hanford· Works since these establishments were not, and are not, accessible to
Soviet collectors of photographic intelligence .

...

. c. TEST OF U. S. DEFENSES. It 1s possible that the use of Soviet flying objects over the U.S.
is inten
o y o e erm e e ability of the U.S. defenses to spot foreign aircraft. This would
be of extreme importance to the U.S.S.R. 1n the event that a one-way all-out attack of Soviet strate­
gic bombers ls planned. Ability to operate over the U.S. unlnhlblted at a time when the U. S. is
supposedly re-arming and putting great stress on defenses would provide valuable lnf ormation on
which to base estimates for probability of success in bombing strategic objectives in the U. S.

SIP 1!1111 I•"'

- 6 -

Page 11

Ill 111111!,Y
d. FAMILIARIZATION FLIGHTS OVER U.S. TERRITORY. This possible reason ls perhaps the
most lmproo Ele. It r assum d: th t. hoti.la Hi£ purpose oe involved, other purposes are prob­
ably also accomplished in its execution. Provided the U .S.S.R. has wiusually high performance
aircraft they might. find 1t advantageous to familiarize themselves with the topography of the U.S.
1n antlclpation of future combat missions to strategic targets.
6. CONCLUSION. The conclusion that some type of flying object has been observed over the U.S.
see~tantiated. It 1s not known at thls time whether these observations are xn1sidentifl­
cations of domestically launched devices, natural phenomena, or foreign unconventional aircraft·. It
ls, therefore•, impossible to make any rellable explanation for their appearance over the U.S. or the
tactics wh1ch they may employ 1f the objects observed include any f orelgn developments 1n aero­
nautical fields. It 1s likewise impossible ·at this time to contain discussions of possible perform­
ance characteristics or tactics within limits of practical reason, i:f for no other reason than the
fact that proof of. the existence of a foreign development of this type would necessarily . introduce
considerations of new principals and means not yet considered practical possibll1t1es 1n our own
research and development.

- 6 -

Page 13

APPENDIX "C"

SELECTED REPORTS OF FLYING OBJECT INCIDENTS

1. A NUMBER of reports on unidentified flying objects come from observers who, because of their
technical background and experience do not appear to be influenced by unfounded sensatlonallsm nor
inclined to report explainable phenomena as new types of airborne devices. Some of the details of
their reports are presented in this appendix, along with those from possibly less reliable sources
who have reported evidence which 1s of. such a nature that it cannot be entirely ignored.
2. DESCRIPTIONS OF significant incidents, arranged chronologically, follow:
a. During April 1947, two employees of the Weather Bureau Station at Richmond, Virginia re­
ported seeing a strange metallic disk on three occasions through the theodolite while making PIBAL
observations. One observation was at 16,000 feet when a disk was followed for 15 seconds. The
disk appeared metallic, shaped something like an ellipse with a flat bottom and a round top. It
appeared below the balloon and was much larger in size. The disk appeared to be moving rather
rapidly, aithough it was impossible to estimate its speed. The other observations were made at
27,000 feet in like manner.
b. The following month, Byron B. Savage, a field engineer for Radio Corporation of America,
reported a disk flying near his home in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The object was thought to be
at an altitude between 10,000 feet and 18,000 feet, and was moving toward the north at a high rate
of speed, leaving no trailing effects.
c. While flylng at 10,000 feet on a course of 300 degrees, 30 miles northwest of Lake Meade,
Nevada, an Air Force lieutenant rE:tported seeing flve or six white circular objects in close forma­
tion and traveling at an estimated speed of 286 miles per hour. This sighting occurred on 28 June
1947.
d. The followl.ng day a party of three, two of them scientists, were motoring along Highway 17
toward the White Sand, New Mexico, V-2 firing grounds and reported seeing a large disk or sphere
moving horizontally at a high speed and an estimated altitude of 10,000 feet. It was of uniform
shape and had no protruding surfaces such as wings. The object was in sight for about 60 seconds
before 1t disappeared to the northeast. The three observers agreed on the details of the sighting
except that one thought he had seen vapor trails.
e. On 7 July 1947, five Portland, Oregon police officers reported varying numbers of disks fly­
ing over differell.t parts of the city. All observations were made within a minute or two of 1305
hours.
f. On the same day, William Rhoads of Phoenix, Arizona. allegedly saw a disk ci'rcling his
locality during sunset and took two photographs. The resulting pictures (page 9) show a disk-like
object with a round front and a square tail in plan torm. These photographs have been examined
by experts who state they are true photographic images and do not appear to be imperfection ln
the emulsion or imperfections 1n the lens. (See Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.)

- 8 -

Page 15

g. On 10 July lQ-4?, Mr. Wocilrutf, a Pan-American Airways mechanic reported a clrcula.r object
flying at high velocUy, parallelln,r the earth's surface and leavitli a trail which appeared ns a
"hurnini \Ip" of the cloud formation. The sl,.bt1ng occurred near Ha:rmo11 Fteld, Newfo\U1dle.nd.
Two other perso11s also saw !htl trail which remained ln the aky for about nn hour and was phot<,­
gr..phed by another PAA employee. Tha reault!ng photograph• eu.,port M:r. Woodrutf'e obtm:rvation
as fa.r as the eky oleava&e Is co11cerlled. (Sea E'lgs. e and 6.)

•
•
Fig. 5

• 10 •

... IECIEf"

Page 16

•
•

Pig. (l

h. Ol:l 20 July 11147, Kenmth Arnold, wh!le flyl:og near Ta.coma, WMhtniiton, reported a forxnatlcn
of flyil'.lll objeots. Hls slmtch of their 9h•P& oorreeponds C\lo•el'y to that ehown ln tha photoira1ihs
made by Mr. Rhoads. On tha sa.ma day, two U. S. Air Force pilots rit Hamilton Fhtld reported
two !lylo,: disks trailing a P-80, following It toward Oakland, Caltlornla.
L On 4 August 11147, the JJllot. and co-pilot of a DC-3, flying fo.r one Al Jonei,, near Bethel,
Alask•, raported a tlylng disk ls.rger th!l!l their· air,mut. Thla disk crossed their path at abot1t
1,000 feet and they turned to give chase. The DC-3 was !Jyini at 170 mph, but the disk flew out
of ~iil1t !n four mlnute11.
j. On Ul November 1947, two llyini disks trallillg Jet-like streams of fi:ro wore reportedly
sighted from the bridge of the 1anker 'l'lconderoia, e.ccor,lllli,' to the saoo11d officc:r. The Tlconderos•
was 20 miles off th& Oregon shore. '!'his officer salt! the disks w0re in l!lght 45 aeconde, mOYillg
at a ~peed osti,m,tad at 700-900 mph, curvlnff in a long, low arc.

Page 17

-lilll!T
k. On 7 January 1948, a National Guard pilot was killed while attempting to chase an unidentified
object up to 30,000 feet. • While it is presumed that this pilot suffered anoxia, resulting in his crash,
his last message to the tower was, "it appears to be metallic object.... of tremendous size....directly
ahead and slightly above....I am trying to close for a better book."
1. On 6 April 1948, three trained balloon observers from the Geophysics Laboratory Section,
Watson Laboratories, N.J. reported seeing· a round, indistinct object 1n the vicinity of Rollman Air
'Force Base, New Mexico. It was very high and fast, and appeared to execute violent maneuvers
at high speed. The object was under observation for approximately 30 seconds and disappeared
suddenly.
•

m. A yellow or light colored sphere, 25 to 40 feet in diameter was reported by Lt. Comdr.
Marcus L. Lowe, USN, just south of Anacostia Naval Air Station, D.C., while he was flying on
30 April 1948. It was moving at a speed of approximately 100 miles per hour at an altitude of
about 4,500 feet. Although winds aloft were from the north-northwest, its course was to the
north.
n. On 1 July 1948, twelve disks were reported over the Rapid City Air Base by Major Hammer.
These disks were oval-shaped, about 100 feet long, flying at a speed estimated to be .ln excess of
500 mph. Descending from 10,000 feet, these disks made a 30-degree to 40-degree climbing turn
accelerating very rapidly until out of sight.
o. On 17 July 1948, a report from Klrtlan.d Alr Force Base describes a sighting in the vicinity
of San Acacia, New Mexico, of seven unidentified objects flying in a ''J" f ormatlon at an estimated
height of 20,000 feet above the terrain. The formation varied from "J" to "L" to circle after
passing the zenith. Flashes from the objects were observed after passing 30 degrees beyond the
zen.ith but there was no smoke or vapor trail. If the reported altitude is correct the speed was
estimated a't 1,500 miles per hour, according to the report.
p. other sightings of lights and trails, rather than disks, have been reported, viz:

Text continues in the original file (34 pages).

Story: Do UFOs watch our nukes? Green fireballs over the A-bomb labs, a secret meeting with Edward Teller, and Roswell

• DOW-UAP-D094: 1949: sightings near Oak Ridge, Las Cruces and Hanford (the A-bomb sites)
• DOW-UAP-D154: Ruppelt, 1952: "Around Los Alamos and the Albuquerque area, there's concentrations"
• DOE-UAP-D004: The secret meeting, 16 Feb 1949, room P-162: Teller, Bradbury, Reines, LaPaz, the FBI
• DOW-UAP-D017: The copper test: "no widespread significant dispersion"
• 65-hs1-834228961-62-hq-83894-section-6: FBI file, 1950: the expert changes his mind
• CIA-UAP-002: Still on the table in 1953: the Twinkle report
• Full story and evidence

Same topic: title & summary match

• DOW-UAP-D093 — Analysis of Flying Object Incidents in the United States, 1948

Same period: 1949

• DOE-UAP-D004 — Los Alamos Conference on Aerial Phenomena, 1949
• FBI-UAP-D011 — D/FBI Correspondence Referral, 1949

Same release: Release 04

• DOW-UAP-D097 — Project Sign Progress Report, 1948
• NASA-UAP-D030 — STS-80 Unidentified Object Image 1, 1996
• NASA-UAP-D031 — STS-80 Unidentified Object Image 2, 1996
• NASA-UAP-D032 — STS-80 Unidentified Object Image 3, 1996
• DOW-UAP-PR104 — Unresolved UAP Report, Yellow Sea, 2025
• DOW-UAP-PR105 — Unresolved UAP Report, East China Sea, 2025

Same agency: Department of War

• DOW-UAP-D003 — Mission Report, Arabian Gulf, 2020
• DOW-UAP-D004 — Mission Report, Arabian Gulf, 2020
• DOW-UAP-D005 — Mission Report, Arabian Gulf, 2020
• DOW-UAP-D006 — Mission Report, Arabian Gulf, 2020
• DOW-UAP-D007 — Mission Report, Arabian Gulf, 2020
• DOW-UAP-D008 — Mission Report, Djibouti, 2025