Project 10073 Record — Incident #300, Parkersburg, West Virginia, 5 February 1949

This document is a formal Report of Investigation conducted by the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon reported by a civilian witness on 5 February 1949. The witness, a former member of the 34th Infantry, was driving on U.S. Route 21, approximately three to five miles south of Parkersburg, West Virginia, at approximately 0330 hours when he observed an intense white light. He described the object as having a comet-like appearance with a tail, emitting reddish-yellow sparks or drops of molten metal. The observation lasted between 15 and 20 seconds before the object disappeared over a hill. The witness initially believed the object might be a meteor but also considered the possibility of a mechanical device. The investigation was initiated following a letter from the witness to the Air Materiel Command. OSI agents interviewed the witness in Akron, Ohio, on 18 May 1949, where he provided a detailed signed statement and a sketch of the sighting. The investigation concluded that the phenomenon was likely a meteor. The file was closed on 1 June 1949, with the final report confirming that all investigative leads had been exhausted.