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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.
“Office of Special Investigations”6 pages
TO Captain J. F. Gill ADDRESS FROM ADDRESS SUBJECT Report of Meteor seen on July 24, 1948 DATE August 3, 1948 I. At about 0230 on July 24, 1948, and I, as pilot and captain on 571/23, saw what I believe was an unusual meteor. It was brighter than any I have seen before, and travelling in a horizontal direction, slightly above the horizon. I estimate that I saw it for about 3 seconds before it died out. At no time did it appear to travel in a downward direction. and I talked about what we had seen and discussed the fact that a meteor, caused by gravity, could still appear to be travelling horizontally. II. At the time of this incident we were travelling between Blackstone, Va., and Greensboro, N. C. The sky was clear and the visibility unlimited. We were on a magnetic heading of 240 degrees and I estimate that the object was on a bearing of about 210 degrees from us, that is, about 30 degrees to the left of our heading. It appeared to be travelling in a southerly direction, above but close to the horizon.
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