Unidentified Flying Object Over La Grande, Oregon 1 July 1953

This document collection details an investigation into an unidentified aerial object sighted over La Grande, Oregon, on 1 July 1953. The primary witness was a pilot of a Navy aircraft (Bureau No. 50811) en route from Seattle to Buckley, Colorado, who observed a bright, shiny, triangular-shaped object while flying at 11,000 feet. The witness, who was accompanied by a co-pilot, described the object as stationary before it moved south and eastward. The sighting lasted approximately 35 minutes. The witness initially estimated the object's altitude at 20,000 feet and noted it had no exhaust or vapor trails. Ground personnel at the La Grande Airport also observed the object. The investigation, conducted by the 4602D Air Intelligence Service Squadron, involved coordinating with the Lowry Plotting Center and the McChord Flight Service Center. There was significant confusion regarding the date and time of the report, with initial teletype reports citing 1 July, while later analysis suggested the actual observation occurred on 19 July. The Lowry Plotting Center reported that a 'Moby Dick' balloon was in the area at the time, which became the primary official explanation for the sighting. Despite the witness's initial belief that the object might have been a 'strange' or 'extra-planetary' craft, the intelligence assessment concluded that the object was likely an upper air research balloon. The report includes various forms, statements from the pilot and co-pilot, and correspondence between military agencies, all of which emphasize the lack of physical evidence and the conclusion that the sighting was likely a balloon.