Analysis of Flying Object Incidents in the United States, 1949

minutes after the initial sighting. The same light was observed by three other witnesses from the
ground! Mr. L. D. Jensen, Air Traffic Controller, Mr. Manuel E. Johnson, Assistant Traffic Con
troller.> and Dr. L. N. Cannon, Oculist. A comparison of all testimony revealed that one object
was sighted and that it consisted only of a small round ball of clear white light with no apparent
shape attached.· It was about 6 to 8 inches in diamter. At times it traveled faster than the F-51
and performed maneuvers in an evasive manner. When first sighted the ball of light was travel
t ing at an estimated 250 miles per hour. Under this condition, the light was not continuous but
blinked off and on. At high performance the white light was continuous, Subsequent investigation
eliminated the possibility that this incident may have been another aircraft or a meteorological
balloon.
t. On 18 November 1948 at approximately 2145 hours, three reserve pilots, 2nd Lt. Kenwood
W. Jackson, 2nd Lt. Glen L. Stalker, and 2nd Lt. Henry G. Combs, flying near Andrews Field,
Maryland, encountered an unidentified flying object. When first sighted, it appeared to be lighted
and flying at about 1,700 feet. Three or four passes were made in an attempt to identify it. The
pilot of the aircraft stated that while diving his aircraft at approximately 240. miles per hour, the
object would climb vertically and then would drop below the aircraft from behind and continue to
circle. On the last pass, the landing light was switched on and momentarily a dull gray glow
from the object was observed. Lt. Combs stated he maintained contact for about ten minutes with
the object flying between the lights of Washington, D. C. and his aircraft. All that could be
observed was an oblong ball with one light, no wings and no exhaust flame. It finally made a
very tight turn and headed toward the east coast at all estimated 500 to 600 miles per hour. At
the same time Staff Sergeant John J. Kushner observed from the ground an unusual object in the
air over Andrews Field. He stated that it was not very high and that it did not look like an
aircraft.
3. REPORTS OF radar intercepts point to unusual air activity which may be related td flying
objects.
a. On 1 July 1947, a GCA radar at Hokkaido, Japan picked up an unidentified target at 16 miles,
with a speed in excess of 500 mph. This target split into two targets, each estimated to be larger
than a P-51.
b. On 16 September 1947, an MEW radar at Fukuoka, Japan, picked up a target at 89 miles and
trailed it to 19 miles, where it faded. Speed was 840-900 mph. The speed measurement, made
by a good crew through a 70-mlle track, is believed accurate.
4. Investigations conducted by Headquarters, Air Materiel Command, have definitely established
the identification of 18 of approximately 210 so-called flying saucers which have been reported.
Approximately nine per cent· of the total number of incidents are, therefore, eliminated from
further specific consideration. Among those incidents positively explained, three were hoaxes,
two were from unreliable witnesses. In the remaining 13 eliminated incidents, objects were
actually seen but investigation has shown that they were celestial bodies or phenomena, meteoro
logical and carnival balloons, and airborne cosmic ray experimental equipment. The following
examples are presented for comparison of the information reported by witnesses and true identifi
cation of the object involved:
a. On 22 July 1948, Captain Henry Glover (Ordnance Reserve) and his wife observed at Van
Nuys, Calliornia, an object which they were unable to positively ldenttfy. Object at :first appeared
to be round and looked like a weather balloon at about 2,000 feet but there was no characteristic
bobbing. The wind was blowing on the ground but the object was quite steady. During the time
it was under observation, about an hour, it traveled through a vertical arc of about twenty-:flve
{250) degrees or more. The observer concluded that it was not a celestial body. It has a bluish
luminescence and as the sun set, the object's color gradually changed to orange at dusk and ceased
to be illuminated almost instantaneously. The outline was clear and the air was clear with
visibility unlimited. The object traveled from the east to the west.
This object was determined by investigation to have been a balloon carrying cosmic ray
• equipment.
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