Project 10073 Record — Sacramento, California, 31 August 1949

This document contains the official record and intelligence interrogation regarding a sighting of an unconventional aircraft near Mather Air Force Base, California, on August 31, 1949. Two Air Force officers, both rated pilots and familiar with celestial phenomena, observed a large, dark, fast-moving object while identifying stars. The object was described as having a short, rounded nose, very short stubby wings, and a dull gray or silver finish. It traveled in a straight, level path from the direction of Polaris toward the southwest at an estimated speed of 600 to 800 miles per hour. The witnesses reported that the object made no sound, left no trail, and had no visible exhaust, lights, or control surfaces. Both witnesses independently estimated the object's size to be comparable to a B-36 or C-54 aircraft. The sighting lasted between three and ten seconds before the object faded into the moonlight. The officers provided sworn statements and sketches of the object, noting that the experience caused a 'weird sensation' and was 'hair-raising.' Despite the witnesses' insistence that the object was not a celestial phenomenon, the official conclusion recorded on the project record was 'Astro (METEOR).' The report includes correspondence between the 3535th Bombardment Training Wing and the Flying Division of the Air Training Command, confirming that the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) was continuing to look into the matter due to other similar reports from the base. The document is marked as confidential and includes the original interrogation questions and answers, as well as the formal statements provided by the witnesses.