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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.
“Hill”2 pages
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# Pilots Report Fla. ning, Wingless Rocket Ship ATLANTA. July 24. (AP) A strange wingless plane shooting red flame "like a Buck Rogers rocket ship" was described today by two Eastern Airline pilots. They called it a double-decked speedster making 500 to 700 miles per hour. The pilot, Capt. C. S. Chiles and Co-Pilot J. B. Whitted, said they were flying the Houston- Atlanta-Boston run when they sighted the ship southwest of Montgomery, Ala., about 2:45 a. m. (CST). "It was in line almost with our flight," Chiles said. "We veered off to the left and this object turned to its left. When it came near to us, its fuselage appeared to be about 100 feet in length and about four times the circumference of a B-29 fuselage. "It had two rows of windows. Out of the rear of the ship red flames were shooting 25 to 50 feet. There was a blue glow beneath the fuselage. The ship appeared to be doing between 500 to 700 miles an hour, heading toward New Orleans. ## 红 黑 "WHEN IT GOT alongside of us, it pulled up with a tremendous burst of flame out of the year. Then the ship disappeared into the broken clouds. The ship had no wings. It seemed to have an upper deck and a lower deck and was fully lighted inside. We saw no occupants." At Montgomery, Maxwell and Dunnelly Army fields said they knew nothing about the report. The Civil Aeronautics Administration also said it had no information about the ship. The Air Force in Washington also could shed no light on the craft reported sighted over Montgomery. Ala., by two Eastern Air- Olivere L. McKelvie, assist- and managing editor of the American Education Press, said he was the only passenger on the Western Airlines Houston- Houston plane not sleep when the announcement was sign- or form." Service num. # 'Sky Devil-Ship' Scares Pilots; Air Chief Wishes He Had One EAL FL Copilot Jo Out at Santa Monica, Cal., the famous Gen. George C. Kenney, chief of the Strategic Air Command, was bearded in his den. His eyes twinkled. No, he said, cautiously, it wasn't one of his planes. The Army as yet hasn't got anything like the Thing seen over Montgomery. ## Not Boeing Plane "I wish we did." the general said wistfully. "I sure would have liked to see that Thing." So said William M. Allen. president of the Boeing Aircraft Co. up at Seattle. "I'm pretty sure it wasn't one of our planes." said Mr. Allen, modestly. AIRCRAFT miles (right). Almost identical statements issued by the Army Air Forces at Washington and the United States Weather Bureau at Montgomery tended to throw some light on this fantasy. Both sources suggested that the Atlanta pilots had down past an air radar weather observation balloon. Those things. explained, are 10 feet in diameter and have square, tinfoil boxes fastened to them. The boxes reflect light and "give strange illusions" as they twist and turn. Maxwell Field said they send 'em up at six-hour intervals. And Maxwell Field is at Montgomery. # Plane Makers Dubious About Alabama 'Thing' ## By WILLIAM KEY What was that Thing that scared the daylights out of two Atlanta Eastern Air Line pilots in the spooky hours Saturday morning? Is there some stratospheric Loch Ness fire-breathing monster on the Milky Way run between Atlanta and New Orleans? The pilots. Capt. C. S. Chiles. of Atlanta. and Co-Pilot J. B. Whitted, of Hapeville. would like to know. The Army Strategic Air Command would like to know. Big airplane manufacturers also are curious, but slightly dubious. Pilots Chiles and Whitted told their thrilling story upon arriving at municipal airport here Saturday on the Houston-Atlanta. Boston run. Here is what they say they saw. near Montgomery: A gigantic plane without wings, black against the night sky, streaking through the heavens at 5,000 feet altitude with a fiery comet's tail 25 to 50 feet in length. It had a 100-foot fuselage about four times the circumference of a B-29's, and two rows of brilliantly lighted square windows. Creepiest of all, it was a veritable Flying Dutchman of the Skies. Nary a living soul was seen aboard! ## Continuous Light The pilots admitted they had goose pimples riding pick-a-back on goose pimples. What's more, they said one of their 20 passengers-C. L. McKelvie of Columbus. Ohio-was awake and saw the same thing. they asked him-nad he seen what the Atlanta pilots said he saw? Well, now, said Mr. McKelvie not exactly. He said he saw "no form of ship" whatever. He saw a "continuous light speed past" his window. "But." added Mr. McK., "I'm
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