Incident #257 Sighting Report — Sandberg Pass, California, 28 February 1949

This document details the investigation into an Unidentified Flying Object sighting reported by a U.S. Air Force Reserve pilot on 28 February 1949. The pilot, flying a T-11 aircraft near Sandberg Pass, California, observed a sausage-shaped object that appeared to be a jet-propelled blimp. The object, which the pilot estimated to be at an altitude of 9,000 feet, performed a 360-degree circle and a 180-degree turn before disappearing. The pilot reported that the object had a steady glow at the rear, which he believed to be a jet exhaust, though he noted that no jet glow is typically visible from behind a jet aircraft. The pilot attempted to contact another aircraft in the vicinity via radio but was unable to do so due to interference from an unidentified voice. The investigation, conducted by Major William R. Crooks of the 1st Fighter Wing, involved interrogating numerous military and commercial installations in the region, including Muroc Air Force Base and various naval air stations, to determine if any jet flights could explain the sighting. All responses were negative. The investigator characterized the witness as a sober, respectable, and earnest young man who lacked the inclination to fabricate such a report. The final assessment of the incident, as noted on the original report, was 'Other (mirage)'. The document includes the pilot's formal statement, which reiterates the details of the flight and the subsequent failed attempt to contact another pilot. The report was processed through the Air Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and is marked as unclassified, with instructions for downgrading at three-year intervals.