Reporting of Information on Unconventional Aircraft — 6 September 1951

On 6 September 1951, at approximately 1920Z, two members of the 1st Fighter-Interceptor Wing observed an unconventional aerial phenomenon while traveling west on US Highway 66, near Claremont, California. The witnesses, a Technical Sergeant and a Staff Sergeant, were deemed highly reliable and experienced in aircraft recognition. The sighting occurred in two parts. The first involved six objects appearing as bright orange lights, arranged in an irregular, incomplete circle with the final two objects positioned toward the center of the formation. The second sighting involved a single object of similar appearance. The objects maintained straight and level flight on a course of approximately 280 degrees at an estimated altitude of 10,000 to 12,000 feet. The observers noted that the objects lacked any discernible aerodynamic features, trails, or exhaust. The speed of the objects was unknown due to the distance and altitude. The observation lasted for approximately three to four minutes before the objects faded into the distance over a coastal fog bank. The weather in the immediate vicinity was clear, though the sky was darkening at the time of the incident. The report, authored by Major John A. Sanda, concludes that the case remains unidentified, noting that no conventional aircraft characteristics were observed.