Unconventional Aircraft (Project Sign) Sighted at Rogue River, Oregon, on 24 May 1949

This report details an investigation into an Unconventional Aircraft sighting that occurred on May 24, 1949, near Gold Beach, Oregon. A female witness, while fishing on the Rogue River with four other individuals, observed a round, silver object that she estimated to be the size of a C-47 aircraft. The witness, who noted she was familiar with the appearance of C-47s due to her son pointing them out previously, stated that the object made no noise, left no exhaust trail, and performed no maneuvers. The object was initially spotted approximately three to four miles away, traveling from the east before turning to the southwest. The witness was unable to estimate the speed or altitude of the object with any accuracy. The investigation, conducted by Special Agent Ralph R. Houser, included inquiries with the CAA Weather Station in Medford, Oregon, which confirmed that weather conditions in the coastal area were open and clear on the day of the sighting. Further investigation involved contacting the 505th Aircraft Control and Warning Group to determine if the object had been detected by radar. Colonel J. L. R. [illegible] NITT, the Commanding Officer of the 505th, confirmed that the vicinity of Gold Beach was not under radar coverage by his unit or any other unit at the time. The official conclusion recorded in the project record for this incident was that no data was presented to indicate the object could not have been an aircraft. The report is classified as a special inquiry under Project Sign and includes references to previous reports filed by Special Agent Charles E. Brooks.