Incident #3 Sighting Report — Muroc, California, 7 July 1947

This document contains a sighting report from 7 July 1947, involving an unidentified aerial object observed at Muroc Army Air Field in California. The witness, Major J. C. Wise, a test pilot, reported observing a single yellowish-white, spherical object at an altitude of approximately 10,000 to 12,000 feet. The object was estimated to be 5 to 10 feet in diameter and was traveling from west to east at a speed of 200 to 225 MPH. Major Wise noted that the object appeared to be oscillating in a forward, whirling motion without losing altitude. Initially, the witness assumed the object was a weather balloon, but the observed movement prompted further reporting. The incident was subsequently reviewed as part of the Project Grudge report. The official evaluation concluded that there was no astronomical explanation for the sighting. The investigator noted that the evidence provided did not contradict the hypothesis that the object was a weather balloon, suggesting that ascending warm air currents over the desert environment could have created the visual illusion of the object oscillating. The document also includes an index of evaluations by Dr. Hynek, which categorizes various incidents based on the probability of astronomical or other explanations, placing this specific incident under the category of balloons or ordinary aircraft.