Project 10073 Record: Incident 342 - Los Angeles, California

On 8 April 1949, at approximately 1400 hours, multiple witnesses in the vicinity of Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, observed an unidentified aerial object. The investigation, conducted by the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) and documented in a report dated 1 June 1949, involved interviews with three witnesses, all employees of the Los Angeles City Park and Recreation Department. The witnesses described the object as a round, flat, aluminum-colored disc that appeared to be rotating. One witness noted it had vertical projections on its upper surface and left a thin, dark trail that dissipated quickly. The object was observed traveling on a straight northwest course at a high altitude, with an estimated speed faster than that of a jet aircraft. The witnesses, who were considered reliable and sincere by the interrogator, observed the object with the naked eye under clear, cloudless conditions. The investigation included inquiries with local military units, the California Institute of Technology, and the University of Southern California to determine if any aerial testing or aircraft operations could account for the sighting. These inquiries yielded negative results, confirming that no military or civilian aircraft were scheduled in the area and no aerial testing devices had been released at the time of the observation. The report concludes that the object remains unidentified, as no conventional explanation could be established.