Incident #271 Sighting Report — Dayton, Ohio, 4 April 1949

This document is a collection of reports and investigation guides related to Incident #271, a UFO sighting that occurred on April 4, 1949, near Dayton, Ohio. The primary witness was a civilian employee of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) who observed the object while driving east on Valley Pike near Harshmanville Road at approximately 07:25 to 07:30 local time. The witness described the object as a white, shining, silver, parachute-shaped entity that was unusually high and descending. The object maintained a steady, straight flight path with no maneuvering, crossing the road ahead of the observer in a northeasterly direction. The witness noted that the object appeared to be self-propelled, given its speed, and remained round from any angle. Although it appeared to grow smaller as it moved away, it remained very bright until it was eventually lost from sight behind trees. The weather conditions were reported as CAVU (Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited). The investigation documentation includes standard ATIC (Air Technical Intelligence Center) forms, such as the 'Guide to Investigation' and 'Unidentified Aerial Objects' reporting forms. These forms outline the requirements for gathering data on such sightings, including radar information, flight schedules, and physical evidence. The official conclusion recorded on the ATIC form for this incident is 'Probable Aircraft'. The file contains multiple versions of the report, including handwritten notes and typed summaries, reflecting the administrative process of documenting and evaluating UAP reports during the early years of the Air Force's investigation projects.