UFO/UAP SIGHTINGS
1900-1950
Comprehensive list of UFO/UAP Sightings throughout the world.
It appears that there is also a connection between UAP and the
United States and Canadian Nuclear Capabilities, and large bodies of water.
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/ UFO / UFO Sightings 1900-1950
UFO SIGHTINGS LEGEND
February 28, 1904
USS Supply UFO Sighting
Source: Lieutenant Schofield and Sailors
The UFO sighting was made approximately 300 miles west of San Francisco in the Pacific Ocean, on February 28, 1904. Three sailors on the deck of the USS Supply, including Lieutenant Schofield, witnessed the event at about 6:10 a.m..
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They observed "three remarkable meteors" flying in a geometrical formation at high speed, first appearing from beneath the clouds, and then flying toward their ship in the Pacific Ocean.
The UFO objects were described as bright red and egg-shaped, with the largest being "about six suns" in apparent size. The objects then changed course, soaring upward above the clouds and moving away from Earth. The entire sighting lasted for over two minutes.
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The UFO sighting gained credibility because it was officially documented at the time. Lieutenant Schofield, who later became commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet, was the most prominent witness to provide an account. The incident was published in the Monthly Weather Review and noted in the ship's log.
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Over a century later, no single definitive explanation has been agreed upon, leading to ongoing speculation. Some theories include:
Meteors: The crew initially described the objects as "meteors," but their unusual flight path, flying horizontally, then changing direction to soar upward, contradicts the expected trajectory of a meteor.
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Natural phenomena: Some researchers suggest the sighting was a natural atmospheric or astronomical event, possibly involving ball lightning or mirages. However, the detailed descriptions of multiple, formed UFO objects make a definitive natural explanation difficult.
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Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP): Ufologists continue to cite the USS Supply case as an intriguing example of a historically documented UAP encounter involving multiple reliable witnesses. The UFO objects' described movements, particularly the rapid and unconventional change in direction, align with characteristics of more modern UAP reports.
1907
Ottoman Empire (Albania) UFO Sighting
Source: Mihal Grameno and Cerciz Topulli
In 1907 Mihal Grameno, an Albanian journalist, writer, and nationalist, is said to have recorded that, while he and fighters of Cerciz Topulli were stationed on a high mountain one night, they saw a “shiny object” fly before them, remain suspended in the air for several minutes, and then disappeared.​​
There seems to be no original primary source like a newspaper, diary, or manuscript cited by scholars verifying that Mihal Grameno himself reported it contemporaneously. The cited sources tend to be later UFO compilations, not historical research.​
1927
Himalayas UFO Sighting
Source: Nicholas Roerich and Companions
During an expedition through the Himalayas in 1927, Russian artist and mystic Nicholas Roerich and his companions witnessed a hovering, metallic, shiny oval-shaped UFO object in the sky, and the object was moving at high speed. They observed it through binoculars until it vanished behind the mountain peaks.
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Nicholas Roerich was a renowned artist, explorer, and follower of Theosophy, a spiritual movement. He had a strong belief in mysticism and was exploring Central Asia to find proof of ancient spiritual traditions and the mythical city of Shambhala.
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For some, the UFO sighting fit into Roerich's spiritual worldview, and his Russian followers interpreted the craft as a "flying saucer."
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However, according to some accounts, the UFO object was likely a weather balloon launched by a rival expedition led by Swedish explorer Sven Hedin. It was common at the time for scientific expeditions to use weather balloons for meteorological observation.
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Nicholas Roerich's mystical and spiritual interests may have led him to view the UFO object through an esoteric lens. However, the event was documented and witnessed by others in his party, lending it a degree of credibility as a sighting of an unusual aerial object.
6-01-1933
Frank Smythe UFO Sighting
Source: Wikipedia
During the 4th British Mount Everest expedition on June 1, 1933, Frank Smythe sighted two dark-colored unidentified flying objects hovering and pulsating in the sky.
Francis Sydney Smythe, better known as Frank Smythe or F. S. Smythe, was an English mountaineer, author, photographer and botanist. He is best remembered for his mountaineering in the Alps as well as in the Himalayas.
Note: Any relation to the claim of a UAP crash retrieval near Magenta, Italy in 1933?​​​​​
Summer 1934
Coral Lorenzen UFO Sighting
Source: WisconsinFrights.com
In the Summer of 1934, in the city of Barron, Wisconsin, Coral Lorenzen was 9 years old, and witnessed a UFO craft with two of her friends.
Coral Lorenzen described looking the glowing white UFO craft as “an open umbrella without the ribs or spurs,” which glided silently through the sky, and vanished over the horizon over a period of about 20 seconds.
February 1942
"Battle of Los Angeles" UFO Sighting
Source: Los Angeles times
The "Battle" of Los Angeles was an anti-aircraft barrage fired by U.S. forces in February 1942, not a battle with an enemy, in response to widespread fear of Japanese aerial attack following Pearl Harbor.
After radar and observers spotted unidentified objects, artillery fired over 1,400 shells, causing several deaths from traffic accidents and heart attacks, damage to buildings, and widespread panic. The incident was later attributed by the United States Air Force to "war nerves," likely triggered by a lost weather balloon, stray flares, and heightened anxiety.
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The event occurred during a tense period of World War II, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and amid fear of imminent Japanese attacks on the United States west coast.
In the predawn hours of February 25, 1942, military radar and observers reported unidentified objects over Los Angeles. ​In response, anti-aircraft batteries fired over 1,440 shells for almost two hours into the night sky. ​By dawn, it was clear that no enemy planes had attacked, and the incident was dismissed as a "false alarm" by the military.
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Five people died, two from heart attacks and three in car accidents during the blackout and chaos of the event. Falling shrapnel from the artillery barrage struck and damaged buildings and homes. The incident exposed the widespread anxiety and "war nerves" felt by the public and military, particularly after a recent submarine attack on an oil field near Santa Barbara.
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The event has also fueled UFO theories, particularly the idea that the objects were alien spacecraft.
March 1942 - September 1945
Foo Fighter UFO Sightings
Source: Allied Pilots
During World War II, Allied pilots encountered mysterious, glowing aerial UFO objects, which were called "foo fighters" by the Smokey Stover comic strip.
These UFO objects appeared to follow aircraft, maneuver at high speeds, and never registered on radar, leading to speculation about secret enemy weapons or, later, alien craft. While initial theories suggested advanced German technology or even atmospheric phenomena like St. Elmo's fire, the UFO sightings remained unexplained, and investigations by scientists like Luis Alvarez yielded no definitive answers. More recent research suggests that plasmas, or ionized gases, could be a possible explanation, being attracted to the electrical fields of aircraft and appearing as glowing, dynamic phenomena.
Foo fighters were described as glowing, ball-like, or translucent objects or lights that appeared to follow military aircraft during missions in both the European and Pacific theaters. ​They were observed maneuvering at high speeds, sometimes in formations, and defying conventional explanations for aerial phenomena. ​Critically, the UFO objects were never detected by on-board or ground-based radar, further adding to the mystery.
Many pilots and intelligence officers initially suspected them to be new, advanced German or Japanese weapons. However, investigations after the war found no evidence to support the secret weapon theory. Renowned scientists, including Luis Alvarez, investigated the UFO sightings, but their findings remain largely inconclusive or have been kept secret.
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In modern times, scientists have proposed that foo fighters could be a form of ionized gas known as plasma, attracted to the electrical charge of aircraft and appearing as glowing, dynamic lights. ​Some theories also suggest natural atmospheric phenomena, such as ice crystals or electrostatic discharges, like St. Elmo's fire, could be responsible for some sightings.
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Foo fighter UFO sightings represent one of the earliest, well-documented cases of what would later be known as UFOs or UAPs. Despite extensive study and new theories, a definitive explanation for all foo fighter UFO sightings has yet to be found, contributing to their enduring place in scientific and popular interest.
August 29, 1942
Columbus, Missouri UFO Sighting
Source: Wikipedia
An alleged UFO sighting took place on August 29, 1942 at an Army Air Corps Flying School near Columbus, Missouri. This sighting involves a control tower operator allegedly observing two reddish-colored round UFO objects descend near the tower, hover for a moment, and then accelerate away.
August 10, 1944
Southeast Asia UFO Sighting
Source: 468th United States Air Force Bomb Group
A UFO object was spotted after midnight, while a B-29 bomber from the 468th United States Air Force Bomb Group, was returning from a bombing mission somewhere in Southeast Asia, targeting Japanese forces. The UFO was described as having "board wings," vibrating, and having an intense red or orange color.
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The UFO object followed the B-29 bomber for eight minutes at a constant distance of about 500 yards, while the plane was flying at 14,000 feet. After the pilot performed evasive maneuvers, the object flew away at a 90-degree angle, accelerating quickly.
The 468th was a United States Army Air Forces unit that flew B-29 Superfortress bombers in the China-Burma-India and Pacific theaters.
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In August 1944, the group was operating from bases in India and China, striking Japanese targets in Southeast Asia and Japan itself. The day after the UFO sighting, the group participated in a raid on the iron and steel works at Yawata, Japan.
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Throughout 1944, Allied pilots in both Europe and the Pacific reported seeing unexplained glowing UFO orbs and lights following their aircraft. Military intelligence investigated the sightings, suspecting they might be secret German or Japanese weapons. However, Axis pilots also reported seeing similar UFO objects. No conventional explanation, such as enemy aircraft or weather phenomena, could consistently account for the strange UFO objects. The mystery was never officially resolved during the war.
November 1, 1945
Tom's River, New Jersey UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File 2853
There are only images and drawings included in this Project Blue Book sighting file. It appears to be 3 circular objects in formation hovering in what appears to be a forest setting, possibly with snow on the ground.
May 18, 1946
Kronoskogen Woods near Angelholm, Sweden UFO Sighting
Source: Gosta Carlsson
The 1946 Angelholm UFO incident involves Gösta Carlsson, a 28-year old Swedish railway worker who claimed to see a UFO land in a forest clearing in the Kronoskogen Woods near Angelholm, Sweden, and encountered humanoid alien beings.
On May 18, 1946, Gösta Carlsson, reported seeing a flying saucer with a fin and support legs, along with human-like beings in tight, white flight suits. He claims one of the beings used a device to keep him at a distance.
Gosta Carlsson reported that the alien beings provided him with recipes for natural remedies, leading him to found successful companies, and become known as the "Pollen King". Gosta Carlsson's story is commemorated by a concrete UFO monument erected in the clearing in 1972, based on his detailed sketches. ​
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Gosta Carlsson later left his job and started the company Cernelle, producing natural medical products from bee pollen. He became a successful businessman and earned the nickname "Pollen King".
In 1972, Gosta Carlsson had a concrete UFO memorial built at the site of the alleged landing. The monument includes a one-eighth-scale model of the flying saucer and concrete circles marking the reported landing tracks, based on his original sketches.
Although the event occurred in 1946, Carlsson did not publicly discuss it until the 1970s.
June 21, 1947
Maury Island, Washington UFO Sighting
Source: Harold Dahl and his son Charles
​On June 21, 1947, Harold Dahl, his son Charles, and their dog Sparky were on a salvage boat near Maury Island when they allegedly encountered six donut-shaped flying UFO discs.
One UFO disc malfunctioned, descended, and dropped molten material and debris onto the boat, killing Sparky and burning Charles's arm.
​Harold Dahl claimed a man in a dark suit later warned him not to discuss the event, hinting at serious consequences if he did. ​Harold Dahl and his employer, Fred Crisman, reported the UFO incident, which was widely regarded as a hoax to sell stories to Palmer's magazine, according to one source.
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Lt. Frank Brown and Captain William Davidson were sent to investigate the claims and collect debris. Both officers died in a plane crash near Kelso, Washington, on August 1, 1947, while returning with their findings, leading to speculation about a UFO cover-up. ​The FBI concluded the UFO incident was a hoax and the collected debris was aluminum. ​
June 1947
Phoenix, Arizona UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - Chron. 24-185-19-7X
Two images of a UAP that appears to be saucer shaped with a point on top, and a light reflection on the curved surface on one side.
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There was no description that accompanied these photos, and no other identifying information included in the report at all, just these photos.
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No Photo Available
June 1947
Hamburg, New York UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
Near sunset, a civilian reported a fairly small UAP object shaped like a "crate" that was observed from the ground, being not too high traveling north, and appeared to have various rainbow colors. At first the UAP object appeared to be reflecting the sunset, but when it changed position, it retained its color. There were no apparent means of propulsion, yet the object did not seem to "drift."There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
No Photo Available
June 1947
Seattle, Washington UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
A letter from a civilian stated that 3 round, silver UAP objects was seen from the ground at an estimated altitude of 3,000 feet, and were moving at a slow speed.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
No Photo Available
June 2, 1947
Rehobuth Bomen, Delaware UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
A "mayonnaise jar" shaped UFO object heading north was sighted by an observer. The observer was a civilian pilot with 30 years of experience. The estimated speed of the UFO object was between 1,000 to 1,200 miles per hour. This is the second such object that this observer has seen, the first sighting being in September 1946.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
No Photo Available
June 10, 1947
Budapest, Hungary UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
Rumors were of an unknown number of "silver balls" flashing across the sky and were assumed to be observed from the ground. The UFO balls were rumored to be sphere-shaped and silver in color, traveling at high speed.
It was concluded that these observed objects were unlikely to be meteorites.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
No Photo Available
June 12, 1947
Weiser, Idaho UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
"On the evening of June 12, 1947 at 6:15 pm, a neighbor and I, returning home from another neighbors, glanced into the sky toward the west, and saw what we thought was smoke from an airplane. She mentioned that she had never seen that before, so we stopped to look and listen, thinking we would see the plane, but there was no sound, so we kept looking until we saw a tiny object from which the vapor emitting.
It was so far away we could not determine the size or even the shape. Its only identity was a glisten in the sun. We watched this for a few seconds, when from the general direction of the sun, another object shot into the sky. It followed the general direction of the first, shooting up and down before settling to a south-easterly course across the sky, where we followed them until they were only a glisten, and the vapor could no longer be seen.
After the objects were gone, we continued to look and to watch the vapor which had been left, which now looked like clouds but kept a shape, and this shape seemed to glide across the sky to the east, where there was a black streak leading to the horizon. The vapor stayed in the sky for over an hour."
Project Blue Book hypothesized that this case may have been a double-fireball meteor event, but that was never proven.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
June 14, 1947
Bakersfield, California UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
An experienced civilian pilot, Dick Rankin first sighted 10 UFO objects flying in a V formation to the east while at home, with one of the objects straggling behind. Later on, 7 more UFO objects were seen flying a V formation come back the opposite direction.
Dick was of the opinion that these objects were probably XF5U-1 "Flying Flapjack" United States military planes. This was the same conclusion from Project Blue Book.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.​​
No Photo Available
June 21, 1947
Spokane, Washington UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
The observer sighted silver shiny discs or flashes of light which were quite large, flying south slower than a 2-motored aircraft, at around 7,000 to 8,000 feet. The objects flashed repeatedly as they moved along.
Project Blue Book ascribes this sighting to a series of balloons.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
No Photo Available
June 22, 1947
Greenfield, Massachusetts UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
A UFO object that was round, irregular, and appeared as polished aluminum was sighted by a civilian for 8 to 10 seconds, from the ground.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
June 24, 1947
Mount Rainer, Washington UAP Sighting
Source: Kenneth Arnold and Project Blue Book File
On June 24, 1947, private pilot Kenneth Arnold claimed that he saw a string of nine, shiny, large UFO's or UAP, flying west past Mount Rainier at speeds that he estimated to be at least 1,200 miles an hour, or Mach 1.56, but maybe up to 1,700 miles an hour. He clocked the UFO's going 47 miles in 102 seconds.
The UFO objects appeared to dip and twist. Kenneth Arnold witnessed the UFO objects for 2 to 3 minutes, and they were about 25-30 miles from his aircraft. Kenneth Arnold estimated the UFO objects to be 45-50 feet long.
J. Allen Hyneck notes in this file that, "In all probability, therefore, objects were much closer than thought, and moving at definitely sub-sonic speeds."
Project Blue book concluded that, "the objects in this sighting was a mirage. Kenneth Arnold's statement concerning how smooth and crystal clear the air was, is an indication of very stable conditions which are associated with inversions, and increase the refraction index of the atmosphere."
This was the first UAP sighting in the United States, that received nationwide attention after the end of World War II. Kenneth Arnold's description of the UAP objects also led to the media creating the term "flying saucer" as a popular description for UAP in the future.​​​​​​​​​
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No Photo Available
June 24, 1947
Idaho UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
A UFO object the shape of a comet was observed on the ground by a civilian. The object was stationary and appeared to hang in the sky. Project Blue Book concluded that the object in question was either the planet Mercury or the planet Saturn, and not a UFO.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
No Photo Available
June 24, 1947
Portland, Oregon UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
About 5 or 6 round UFO objects with a tail were observed in the Cascade Mountains by a prospector for 45-60 seconds, banking in the Sun, and had no particular formation. The UFO objects were about 30 feet in diameter and were about 1,000 feet above the ground. The witness stated that the needle on their compass wavered wildly from side to side while the objects were in sight. The UFO objects also had no sound.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
No Photo Available
June 28, 1947
Rockfield, Wisconsin UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
A civilian observer sighted about 7 to 10 saucer-shaped UFO objects going south directly over their home, at a very high rate of speed described "like blue blazes," and did not make any noise. This sighting occurred about 16 miles northwest of Milwaukee. The sighting was not reported by the actual observer, but their sister.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
No Photo Available
June 28, 1947
Illinois UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
A civilian observer reported that 7 to 10 UFO saucers were seen over Illinois in the afternoon. No other details were given about the sighting.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
No Photo Available
June 28, 1947
Montgomery, Alabama UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
Military observers from Maxfield, Alabama, sighted a star-like UFO object on a clear moon-lit night, moving east and then south at a great height, for about 5 to 6 minutes from the ground. The object was a little more brilliant than a star and had frequent bursts of speed, it was zig-zagging, and made no sound.
Project Blue Book concludes that this sighting could have been a synoptic weather balloon.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
No Photo Available
June 28, 1947
Lake Meade, Nevada UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
1st Lt. [name redacted in black] departed William Field, Arizona at 1400 Central Standard Time, in a P-51 bound for Portland, Oregon by the way of Medford, Oregon. At approximately 1515 CST, at an altitude of 10,000 feet and a speed of 285 miles per hour, and about 30 miles northwest of Lake Meade, Nevada, the Lt. observed 5 or 6 white, circular UFO objects at Four O' Clock, at an altitude of 6,000 feet.
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The Lt. said that the UFO objects were flying very smoothly and in a close formation. The estimated size of the objects was 3 feet in diameter. The Lt. stated that he is not sure that the white objects were not birds, since the rate of closure was very fast. However, the Lt. states that he was certain the white objects were not jets or any conventional type aircraft, since he has flown both types.
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The Lt. was very sincere in the explanation and was not the exaggerating type. He merely stated what he saw and has drawn no conclusions about what the white objects were. Project Blue Book concludes that the UFO objects were a balloon cluster.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
No Photo Available
June 29, 1947
Des Moines, Iowa UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
A civilian observer initially sighted 5 several large, dirty white UFO saucers heading northwest, and later sighted more UFO objects heading west. The total number of UFO objects may have been 13.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence. The report was deemed as unreliable.
No Photo Available
June 29, 1947
Clarion, Iowa UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
A bus driver, just outside of Des Moines, Iowa, reported observing 13 UFO objects at 1,200 feet at 1645 CST, traveling in a straight line at 300 miles per hour, for several minutes. The UFO objects were elliptical in the form of an inverted saucer, 12 feet thick, 175-250 feet in diameter, dirty white, and made a sound like an electric motor or dynamo. The objects looked like dots in the sky.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
June 29, 1947
Las Cruces, New Mexico UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
Dr. C. J. Zhon, an NRL rocket sonde high altitude spectrograph scientist, around 1:00 or 1:30 pm was driving a car with other occupants, and sighted a UFO sphere with no wings and disc heading east at a rapid speed for 30 seconds at an altitude of 8,000 to 10,000 feet, near highway 17 between Las Cruces, New Mexico and the White Sands V-2 firing grounds.
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Project Blue Book concluded that the UFO object was a balloon.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
No Photo Available
June 30, 1947
Boise, Idaho UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
At 5:15 pm, a civilian observer sighted a half-circle, bright, silvery UFO object that was stationary abut 10 miles away at about 3,000 feet, near the plantation golf course, and seemed to be clinging to a cloud for a few minutes.
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The witness said that he had served in the ISAF and had "aircraft recognition," and is positive that the sighted UFO object was not an airplane.
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Project Blue Book concluded that this sighting was due to the Sun-cloud effect.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
No Photo Available
June 30, 1947
Williams Air Force Base, Arizona UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
A military observer sighted 2 round UFO objects heading straight down. The UFO objects were light gray traveling at a very high rate of speed.
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Project Blue Book concluded that this sighting was due to a meteor.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
No Photo Available
July 7, 1947
Shreveport, Louisiana UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - File 41
The file has no description of the encounter and states that there are 3 photos, but no photos are attached to the file.
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Where are the UFO photos for this encounter?
No Photo Available
July 1947
Tempe, Arizona UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
A disc-shaped silver UFO object that was 2-3 feet in diameter, was seen to descend and then ascended at a 45 degree angle, and sped away at high speed towards the northwest.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
July 1947
Oakridge, Tennessee UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record - Incident #234
A civilian observed and photographed an unknown UFO object from his home. He took 8 photographs.​
No Photo Available
July 6,7, or 8, 1947
Warren, Ohio UAP Sighting
Source: Project Blue Book File - 10073 Record
A civilian sighted an 8 to 14 inch diameter, blue-white UFO object at 22:00 going 500 to 700 miles per hour to the northeast.
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There were no photos taken and no physical evidence.
July 24, 1948
Montgomery, Alabama UFO Sighting
Source: Clarence Chiles and John Witted
At around 2:45 a.m., Clarence Chiles and John Whitted were flying an Eastern Airlines DC-3 when they saw a brilliant, glowing UFO object approach their plane at high speed.
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They described the UFO object as a wingless, cigar, or torpedo-shaped craft, about 100 feet long. It had two rows of lighted windows and a powerful, reddish flame shooting out from its back. The pilots stated that the UFO object passed by their plane at high speed before pulling up sharply into a cloud with a final burst of flame. Only one passenger on the DC-3, who was awake at the time, also reported seeing a bright flash of light pass by.
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The UFO sighting was investigated by Project Sign, the Air Force's first dedicated UFO study group. The project's investigators considered the pilots to be reliable and credible witnesses. A maintenance crewman at Robins Air Force Base in Macon, Georgia, also reported seeing an extremely bright light pass overhead at high speed around the same time, which was seen by some as corroborating the pilots' account.
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Project Sign personnel drafted a top-secret "Estimate of the Situation" concluding the UFO object was interplanetary, but Air Force Chief of Staff Hoyt S. Vandenberg rejected the finding in October 1948, citing insufficient evidence.
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Early investigators, including astronomer and Project Sign consultant J. Allen Hynek, suggested the UFO object was a brilliant meteor. Skeptics like astronomer Donald Menzel supported this explanation, noting increased meteor activity at the time.
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Supporters of the meteor theory noted that the fiery tail and rapid disappearance were consistent with a fireball. However, critics pointed out that the UFO object's described movement, which included a sharp upward turn, is not characteristic of a meteor. In 1959, Project Blue Book, which was the successor to Project Sign, formally attributed this UFO incident to a meteor. However, this UFO incident remains a point of contention among UFO researchers due to the credible testimony of the experienced pilots, and the specific features they described that don't easily fit the official explanation.
