Project 10073 Record — Haines, Alaska, 8 June 1949

This document is a Project 10073 record detailing an unconventional aircraft sighting that occurred on June 8, 1949, near Haines, Alaska. The report, originating from the Alaskan Air Command, describes an encounter involving a C-46 aircraft piloted by personnel from Col. Worth Airlines. While flying at an altitude of 12,000 feet on a magnetic course of 165 degrees, the pilots observed a bright blue-green ball of light directly in front of their aircraft. The object, which lacked any visible tail or exhaust, forced the pilots to swerve to avoid a potential collision. The observers estimated the object's speed to be approximately 800 mph. The object was observed through 45 degrees of the horizon before it gradually disappeared. The report notes that the observers were experienced pilots, one of whom was a former Air Force officer, and that they appeared to be of normal intelligence. The investigating officer highlighted a similarity between this incident and a sighting previously reported in AIC Intelligence Report IR-18-49, as both involved a blue-green ball of light traveling at a high rate of speed. Despite the detailed account provided by the aircrew, the official conclusion reached by the Chief of Intelligence for the 501st Wing at Ladd Air Force Base was that there was insufficient data to identify the object.