Air Intelligence Information Report: UFOB - Los Angeles & Riverside Counties, Calif.

This Air Intelligence Information Report, dated 20 July 1955, documents an investigation into three separate sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOBs) that occurred on the night of 9 July 1955 in the Los Angeles and Riverside counties of California. The investigation was conducted by M/Sgt. Richard A. Holm of the 4602d AISS, under the authority of Captain Patrick O. Shere. The report details accounts from three witnesses: Ernest L. Dunn at the Glen Avon Ground Observer Post, Larry C. Spears at the Arlington Ground Observer Post, and Albert Delong at the Hollywood Ground Observer Post. Each witness reported observing a round, white object that appeared suddenly and faded out. Witness Ernest L. Dunn described the object as being the size of a silver dollar held at arm's length, moving on a horizontal plane at a very high altitude. He estimated the object's speed at 4,800 miles per hour and noted that it changed colors from white to red to a hazy light blue. The investigation included consultations with the 6th Weather Group at Norton AFB, which confirmed a temperature inversion of five degrees Centigrade between 1800 and 4700 feet, a factor the report suggests could contribute to optical phenomena. Additionally, experts from the Mt. Wilson Observatory and San Bernardino Valley College were consulted. Dr. Bowen of Mt. Wilson stated that no meteor sightings were reported from their observatories that night, while Professor George Beattie of San Bernardino Valley College characterized the information as contradictory and unreliable, though he suggested the moon rise and optical phenomena might explain the sighting reported by Mr. Dunn. The preparing officer concluded that the reliability of the observers ranged from 'poor' to 'fair' and that no definitive conclusions could be reached because each object was only observed by a single witness. The final assessment suggests that the sightings were likely either optical phenomena or meteors, noting that the duration of the observations in two of the cases was consistent with meteor activity. The report was approved by Colonel John M. White Jr.