Air Intelligence Information Report: Sighting of an Unidentified Aerial Object, Oklahoma

This Air Intelligence Information Report, dated 19 October 1950, documents a sighting of an unidentified aerial object over Tinker Air Force Base and Midwest City, Oklahoma. The observation occurred on 18 September 1950 at approximately 2152 CST. The primary witness was S Sgt Randall D. Fowler, a member of the Intelligence Section of the 513th Reconnaissance Squadron (VLR) Weather at Tinker AFB. According to the report, the object was first sighted at an altitude of approximately 3,000 to 4,000 feet, moving toward the northwest at an estimated speed of 300 to 400 miles per hour. The witness described the object as an elliptical area of amber-colored light, approximately 25 feet in diameter, lacking clearly discernible edges. As the object passed directly above the observer, it exhibited jerky sideward movements. The total duration of the observation was approximately three minutes, and when last seen, the object appeared to be at an altitude of 10,000 feet, continuing its ascent into the northwest. The report notes that weather conditions were clear up to 25,000 feet at the time of the sighting. Furthermore, a check of local air installations conducted the following morning confirmed that no local aircraft were known to be aloft during the time of the observation. The report was prepared by Captain Percy E. Sutton and approved by Lieutenant Colonel William L. Travis of the Intelligence Division, Hq MATS. The document is marked as unclassified and includes instructions for downgrading at three-year intervals, with full declassification after twelve years per DOD Directive 5200.10.