Incident #344 Sighting Report — Fort Bliss, Texas, 19 May 1949

On 19 May 1949, between 0830 and 0900 hours, a group of thirteen military personnel stationed at the 39th AAA Battalion at Fort Bliss, Texas, observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon. The witnesses, including corporals and privates, reported seeing a single, silver, disc-shaped object that appeared to be the size of a thumbnail held at arm's length. The object was described as having a flashing light and performing irregular rolling and tilting maneuvers while slowly ascending on a 100-degree course. The observation lasted approximately five minutes, during which time the object traveled an estimated 15 to 20 miles, reaching speeds calculated between 180 and 240 mph. The weather conditions were reported as bright sunshine with no clouds and excellent visibility. Some observers utilized binoculars to track the object after the initial sighting. The report notes that all local installations, including Ordnance, Navy, and Air Force units, were contacted regarding potential testing devices, but all inquiries yielded negative results. The official conclusion reached by the military authorities was that the object was an aircraft. The documentation includes a map overlay of the sighting path and a sketch of the object. The report was processed through the Fourth Army and forwarded to the Air Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for further intelligence assessment.