Project 10073 Record: Incident #370 - Tioga, Colorado

This document details the investigation of a UFO sighting reported on June 9, 1949, near Tioga, Colorado. A farm hand, whose identity is redacted, observed five round, brown objects flying in a triangular formation at an estimated altitude of 20,000 feet. The witness, who had previous experience as an aircraft mechanic, estimated the speed of the objects at 500-600 mph. He noted that the objects flew in two echelons, with the rear echelon oscillating, and that they made no sound and left no exhaust trails. The witness watched the objects for approximately 15 seconds before they faded into the clouds. The investigation was conducted by the 14th District Office of Special Investigations (OSI) at the request of the 15th Air Force. Investigators interviewed the witness, his employer, and local authorities, concluding that the witness was reliable and level-headed. Extensive inquiries in the vicinity of Tioga, Gardner, and Walsenburg failed to produce any other witnesses. Weather reports from the area indicated scattered overcast conditions at 5,000 feet. The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) confirmed there were no recorded aircraft flights in the area at the time of the sighting. The final conclusion suggested that the objects might have been a cluster of cosmic or upper-air research balloons. The report also documents the coordination between the OSI and Dr. George E. Valley, Jr., a member of the Scientific Advisory Board, who was interested in Project Grudge activity in the Denver area. Dr. Valley was subsequently contacted and arrangements were made to notify him of future sightings to assist in his research.