Incident #252 Sighting Report — Between Cortez and Bradenton, Florida, January 27, 1949

This document details the investigation of an Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sighting, designated Incident #252, which occurred on January 27, 1949, between Cortez and Bradenton, Florida. The primary witness was Captain Eckerman Sannes of the 3200th Climatic Test Squadron, accompanied by his wife, Dorothy L. Sannes. The report, compiled by the Headquarters of the Air Proving Ground at Eglin Air Force Base, provides a comprehensive account of the sighting. According to the report, the witnesses observed a large, cucumber-shaped object, estimated to be 100 feet long, while driving. The object was described as having a horizontal row of lighted windows and emitting sparks and flames that were brighter than a V-1 exhaust, with a pale red trail. The object was observed for 25 to 30 minutes, during which it performed erratic maneuvers, including vertical ascents and descents, and 'bounces' of approximately 2,000 feet, with occasional rapid altitude losses of 4,000 feet. The object was tracked using 7x50 binoculars and was eventually lost to view at an altitude of approximately 40,000 feet. The weather conditions were reported as CAVU (Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited). Captain Sannes, noted by the interrogator as a mature and serious individual, provided a detailed account of the event, which was later forwarded to the Air Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for further analysis. The documentation includes the original sighting report, statements from both witnesses, and sketches illustrating the object's appearance and flight path. The file also contains correspondence between the Air Proving Ground and the Air Materiel Command, confirming that the investigation was conducted in accordance with official USAF reporting procedures for 'Flying Discs'. The report emphasizes the unusual nature of the object, noting that it was unlike anything the observer had previously seen, and highlights the witness's credibility.