Project Grudge Incident #374 — Astoria, Long Island, New York

This document file contains a collection of reports and correspondence related to Project Grudge, specifically focusing on two distinct incidents. The primary incident, designated as Incident #374, involves a sighting reported by a housewife in Astoria, Long Island, New York, on June 24, 1949. The witness reported observing two saucer-shaped objects, approximately 1.5 to 2 feet in diameter, traveling from west to east at an altitude of 100 to 150 feet. The objects were described as grayish with a yellow halo and were observed for approximately three seconds. The official conclusion for this incident was 'AIRCRAFT'. The file also includes extensive documentation regarding a separate incident involving a large balloon sighted in the Black Hills, South Dakota, around the same date. This balloon, estimated at 100 feet in diameter, was identified by engineers from General Mills, Incorporated, as a cosmic ray research balloon used for the Navy Department. The documentation includes various transmittal forms, indorsements, and investigative reports from the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) and the Air Materiel Command, detailing the administrative handling of these reports between July and August 1949. The file reflects the military's systematic approach to investigating aerial phenomena during this period, involving multiple commands and intelligence units to verify reports and determine if they posed a threat to national security.