Project 10073 Record: Incident #339 - Moses Lake AFB, Washington

This document is a formal report regarding a 'flying disc' sighting that occurred on May 23, 1949, at Moses Lake Air Force Base in Washington. The report, filed under Project 10073, details an observation made by three military pilots: Lt. Col. Walter C. Hearne, Lt. Col. Wallace R. Jordan, and 1st Lt. Gerald B. Blish. At approximately 0845 hours, the witnesses observed a single object from the ground. The object was described as silver in color, appearing very small from the point of observation, and traveling at a very high rate of speed, which the witnesses noted was faster than a standard aircraft. The object maintained a straight and level flight path on a heading of 015 to 020 degrees for a duration of one to one and a half minutes before disappearing from sight. The weather conditions at the time were reported as clear. The witnesses noted that there was no sound, no exhaust trail, and no discernible shape to the object. The altitude was estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000 feet. The report includes a formal conclusion by the Air Materiel Command, which identifies the object as a C-31 aircraft, stating that there was no data presented to indicate that the object could not have been an aircraft. The document is marked as unclassified and includes instructions for downgrading and declassification at three-year intervals, consistent with DOD Directive 5200.10. The report was prepared by Major Melvin D. Brown, Adjutant of the 325th Fighter Wing, and was addressed to the Commanding General of the Air Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, in compliance with a ConAC letter dated March 25, 1949.