Project 10073 Record - Incident 398

This report details an investigation into a series of sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena over Baltimore, Maryland, on June 29, 1949. The primary witness, a former U.S. Air Force tail gunner and current commercial art student, reported observing 15 to 20 black, boomerang-shaped objects darting in and out of clouds between 1830 and 2030 hours. The witness, who was on his porch at Wilmont Court, described the objects as having no visible engines, fuselages, or tail assemblies, and noted they moved at a high rate of speed, estimated between 500 and 700 MPH. The witness summoned his wife and neighbors, who also observed the objects. The witness attempted to contact the Baltimore 'News Post' and later the military authorities to report the incident. The investigation, conducted by Special Agent Claudius E. Belk of the Office of Special Investigations, included interviews with the primary witness, neighbors, and personnel from local aviation and military facilities. The investigation sought to determine if the objects could be attributed to experimental flights, advertising banners, or other conventional aircraft. Records from the Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Company, the 104th Fighter Squadron of the Maryland Air National Guard, and the National LEN Radar Station were consulted. None of these organizations reported any experimental flights or radar contacts that would explain the sightings. The report notes that the Baltimore area was experiencing a high volume of 'sky watchers' due to a local radio contest involving a banner-towing aircraft. Despite the thorough investigation, no definitive explanation for the objects was found. The investigator concluded that the witness was a reliable and sincere individual, and the report remains closed with no definitive identification of the objects.