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1948 07 9670642 20Mi SofMontgomery Ala 144 (Project Blue Book case file)

Internet Archive · 2015-12-05 · 161 pages · text by GLM-OCR

This Project Blue Book case file, digitized by the Internet Archive, covers Incident 144: two Eastern Airlines pilots reported that a wingless, cigar-shaped object with a flaming exhaust passed their DC-3 about 20 miles southwest of Montgomery, Alabama, on 24 July 1948. The file includes an OSI interview with a Robins Air Force Base employee who saw a similar object, negative aircraft traffic reports from many bases, and later correspondence. A December 1948 intelligence report found fairly consistent descriptions across four related sightings.

  • p. 11 …At 1020, 8 August 1948, this headquarters was advised by letter, dated 6 August 1948, originating…
  • p. 25 Use this form for inter-office correspondence within headquarters. Number all comments consecutively. 1. 1. ATERIEL…
  • p. 26 …This report was prepared by technical personnel of the Technical Intelligence Division of this Headquarters. FOR…
  • p. 37 …30, 1943 Commanding General, A.M.C. Headquarters Wright Field Dayton, Ohio Att: Col. McCovy-M…
  • p. 39 …of the Commanding General, A.K.G. Headquarters Vright Field Dyton, Ohio Dear Colonel McGoy, I…
  • p. 49 …A-1917) Inclosed is newspaper clippings supporting TWX, this headquarters, dated 27 July 1943. FOR THE…
  • p. 69 ARTS DSS 1st Ind 21 Jan 1949 HEADQUARTERS, AIR HEATHER SERVICE Andros Air Force Base, Washington…
  • p. 75 …Commanding General, Headquarters Fourth Army, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 1. The inclusion mentioned in paragraph 2…
  • p. 96 --- HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNCLASSIFIED REPORT OF INVESTIGATION…
  • p. 110 Headquarters, Air Nateriel Command, Wright-Patterson, AF Base, Wright-Field, Ohio Attention: Colonel W. R. Clingerman…
  • p. 122 …MOTAXO-7-5 REQUIRED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BE FORWARDED TO CG, HEADQUARTERS ATC, ATTENTION ICIAXO-3…
  • p. 124 …REPLY TO CG, HEADQUARTERS A/C, ATTENTION HCIAXD-3, SIGNED TECHNICAL DEVISION C.G.OR C…
  • p. 125 …MCJAX0-3 THIS HEADQUARTERS IS IN NEED OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM YOUR ACTIVITY: TUESS OF…
  • p. 126 …THIS HEADQUARTERS IS IN NEED OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM YOUR ACTIVITY: TIMES OF ALL SCHEDULED…
  • p. 134 3600th HEADQUARTERS 502ND AIR UNIVERSITY WING MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE MONTGOMERY ALABAMA 30/CAP/cm 6…
  • p. 146 …TYNDALL FLD FLA 0221007 TO UEDLY/CG HEADQUARTERS* AMC WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB WRIGHT FIELD* OHIC AF…
  • p. 148 # HEADQUARTERS 158th Fighter Squadron, S. E. GEORGIA AIR NATIONAL GUARD CHATHAM FIELD SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 2 August…
  • p. 153 …Commanding General Headquarters Air Material Command Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio ATTENTION: NCTAXC-3 Reference…
  • p. 155 FRI DEDU A CO JAPANESE INVITING FACILITY JACKSON CITY MONOGRAPH TO USED CC HEADQUARTERS ASC CURRIT…
  • p. 157 …Commanding General Headquarters AMC ATTN: MCIAXO-3 Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. 1. Reference telegram from…
  • p. 158 …FORT JACKSON SC 21500Z TO COMMANDING GENERAL HEADQUARTERS AMC WRIGHT PATTerson AIR BASE CHIC WD GRNC…

Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.

Incident 144 -- near Montgomery, Alabama -- 24 July 1943 144a, b -- near Blackstones, Virginia -- 24 July 1943

The famous "space snip" signin; reported in indicnt 144 should be compared with 163 and 203, and also with 144 and b, which to other constitute a separate incident if facts are correct as given.

for 144, there is no astronomical explanation if we accept the report at face value. The sheer improbability of the facts as stated, particularly in the absence of any known aircraft in the vicinity, makes it necessary to see whether any other explanation, even though far fetched, can be considered. The two reliable pilots obviously saw something. If one extracts from their reports parts of the description -- "trendous bursts of flame," "cirg-shaped," "disappeared into a cloud," "orange-red flame," "time in sight five to ten seconds" -- one sees that this much, at least, could be satisfied by a brilliant, slow-moving meteor. The orange-red flame is particularly suggestive. It is pertinent also, that the only passenger awake at the time the two pilots sighted the object gave a description that does not tally with that of a "space ship" but does agree with that of a meteor.

It will move to be left to the psychologists to tell us whether the immediate trail of a light netor could produce the subjective impression of a ship with lighted windows. Jonsiaorin; only the sighting, the hypothesis seems very impro- able. However, not included in the summary but mentioned in the

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