Project 10073 Record: Sighting at Longview, Washington, 3 July 1949

This document is a collection of reports and correspondence regarding a UFO sighting that occurred on 3 July 1949 at the Longview Airport in Washington State. The sighting took place during an air show attended by approximately 150 people. The primary witness, a Commander in the USNR and an aeronautical engineer, reported observing three metallic, disc-shaped objects at an altitude of approximately 30,000 feet. He described the objects as moving in a 'skulling or falling leaf motion' rather than a standard flight path, and noted that they oscillated at a rate of 48 times per minute. The witness, who had extensive experience with pilotless aircraft and guided missiles, explicitly stated that the objects were not balloons, birds, or conventional aircraft. Despite this, the official conclusion recorded on the Project 10073 record form is 'BALLOON'. The documentation includes a sketch of the flight paths, correspondence from the District Intelligence Office, and a copy of a statement from the primary witness. Other witnesses, including a stunt pilot and a local businessman, also reported seeing the objects, with some noting that the first object could have been a balloon, though they were less certain about the subsequent two. The reporting officers attempted to gather more data by alerting local radio stations and newspapers to encourage public reporting, but these efforts were largely unsuccessful due to the public perceiving the request as a publicity stunt.