Incident #211 — Bellefontaine, Ohio, 4 December 1948

This document details the investigation of 'Incident 211' under Project Sign, involving the recovery of metallic and earth samples from Bellefontaine, Ohio, on 4 December 1948. Witnesses reported a 'flaming wheel' falling from the sky, which crashed in a residential area, lighting up the surroundings and emitting smoke. Local police, led by Chief A. D. Paden, recovered the remains, which were described as resembling a tire rim from an airplane or automobile. The fragments were sent to the Air Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for analysis. The Materials Laboratory conducted a spectrographic analysis of the samples, identifying components such as zinc, magnesium, sodium, lead, and cadmium. The laboratory concluded that these materials are typical constituents of flares and other explosive devices. Subsequent internal correspondence between various military departments, including the Armament Laboratory and the Intelligence Department, confirmed that the object was likely a pistol flare fired from the ground. The report notes that there was no evidence of radioactive materials. The incident was later indexed in the Project Grudge report under the category of 'Rockets, flares or falling bodies.' The document includes various internal memos, requests for analysis, and copies of newspaper articles covering the event, reflecting the military's effort to identify the source of the debris and determine if it was related to any experimental guided missile programs or foreign technology.