Analysis of Flying Object Incidents in the United States, 1949

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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:
(1) On 12 September 1947, the pilot and co-pilot of a Pan American aircraft, en route from
Midway to Honolulu, saw a blue-white light approaching, changing to twin reddish glows upon
withdrawal. The pilot estimated the speed of the light at about 1,000 knots.
(2) On 15 June 1948, Mr. Booneville, territory manager for the B.F. Goodrich Company,
observed a reddish glow with a jet exhaust in the vicinity of Miles City, Montana. This
glowing light made no sound, traveled about twice the speed of a conventional aircraft and
flew from noth to south several times in a wide arc, finally disappearing over the horizon.
q. During the early morning of 26 July 1948, two Eastern Airlines pilots reported having seen
a huge flying craft similar to a. V-2 pass their aircraft in flight. (See- 'Figs, 7 and 8.) The
attached drawings made by these two observers very closely resemble a flying object reported to
have been seen on 20 July 1948, by A. D. otter, chief investigator of Court of Damage Inquiry, and
his daughter at Arnham, Netherlands. This object appeared to be a wingless aircraft having two
decks. The craft, sighted four times through scattered clouds and unlimited vlsibillty, was travel
ing at hi.gh speed at a high altitude. A sound similar to that made by a V-2 was reported.
r. An object, similar in shape to the one in the preceding incident was reported by an experienced
American newspaper reporter about 25 kilometers northeast of Moscow on 3 August 1948. A Russian
acquaintance identified it as a rigid airship but the reporter disagrees because it flew at a high, but
not excessive speed.
s. On 1 October 1948 at approximately 2030 hours the pilot of a F-51 aircraft, 2nd Lt. George
F. Gorman (North Dakota Air National Guard), flying near Fargo, North Dakota, sighted an inter
mittent white light about 3,000 feet below his 4,500 feet cruising altitude. The pilot pursued the
light which appear6d to then take evasive tactics. The object or light out-turned, out-speeded, and
out-climbed the F -51 in every instance during the attempt to intercept. The pilot lost contact 27
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