Project 10073 Record — Portsmouth, Virginia, 31 July 1949

This document is a Project 10073 record detailing a sighting reported by a civilian witness in Portsmouth, Virginia, on the night of July 31, 1949. The witness, identified as the widow of a Lieutenant Colonel, reported observing six flying discs or saucers in the vicinity of the U.S. Naval Hospital between 2100 and 2200 hours. According to the report, the objects appeared in two groups; two were observed close together, while the others appeared at intervals of one to one-and-a-half minutes. The entire observation lasted between five and six minutes. The witness described the objects as initially appearing as small white clouds that opened up to take the form of a tulip, before changing into the shape of a saucer and subsequently disappearing. The color was described as dull white and not brilliant. The report notes that the witness resided at the Harbor View Apartments and that the sighting was corroborated by other residents of the same apartment house. The information was forwarded to the Office of Special Investigation at Langley Field, Virginia, as required by naval intelligence directives. The official conclusion recorded for this incident is 'Other (CLOUD)', suggesting the phenomena were atmospheric in nature.