Sighting of Aerial Phenomena on 20 August 1949 at Llano, Texas

This report details an investigation into a sighting of an unidentified aerial object reported by a rancher in Llano, Texas, on 20 August 1949. The witness, a 54-year-old male, reported observing a copper-colored, semi-rectangular object, approximately 15 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide, rising from behind a mountain near his home. He described the object as containing eleven smaller, quarter-moon-shaped features. According to the witness, the object rose vertically to an altitude of 250 feet over 15 minutes and then moved horizontally to the south for 1500 feet over the course of two hours. The witness reported that the object was extremely bright, causing pain to his eyes, and cast shadows on his buildings. He also noted that his radio experienced significant static interference during the period surrounding the sighting. The witness's wife, who was also present, stated she saw the object but believed it was merely the moon. The investigating officer, Robert E. Cassady of the Office of Special Investigations, conducted a thorough review of the incident. He noted that the witness appeared somewhat eccentric, citing the witness's claims that the constellations were out of position and that his property contained rare mineral deposits like uranium and diamonds. Furthermore, the investigator observed that the witness had read a newspaper article about 'flying saucers' the day prior to the incident. The official conclusion reached by the investigation was that the object was the moon. The report includes references to the witness's radio interference and his general character, ultimately dismissing the sighting as a misidentification of celestial phenomena.