Project 10073 Record — Incident 406, Galveston, Texas, 20 July 1949

This document is a formal report regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed on July 20, 1949, in Galveston, Texas. The report, filed under Project 10073 and assigned Incident Number 406, details an observation made by a civilian witness while reclining on the Galveston Public Beach. At approximately 1700 hours, the witness observed a round, bright, luminous object resembling a large star. The object was estimated to be at an altitude of 90 degrees and was traveling in an east-to-west direction. The witness reported that the object appeared to stop momentarily when it reached a 90-degree angle over the observer's position, before disappearing into the west at a tremendous speed. The entire sighting lasted less than 30 seconds. The witness noted that there was no sound or odor associated with the object, which was attributed to the noise of the surf. Weather conditions at the time were described as cloudless with an intense blue sky and a 15 mph wind. A small civilian yellow monoplane was also noted in the vicinity, flying in a north-south direction, but it did not interact with the object. The official conclusion reached by the investigating authorities was that the object was an 'Astro (METEOR).' The report suggests that the impression of the object stopping was likely an optical illusion caused by the high altitude and the angle of flight, rather than an actual cessation of movement. The documentation includes a cover letter from the Headquarters Fourth Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, dated August 1, 1949, forwarding the report to the Commanding General of the Air Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for information.