Air Intelligence Information Report: UFOB Sighting, Bellingham, Washington, 4 September 1955

On September 4, 1955, at 0530Z, a Ground Observer Corps (GOC) observer named Charles Saunders reported a sighting of an unidentified flying object in Bellingham, Washington. Mr. Saunders, a grocery store clerk, was on duty at a GOC post when he observed a single, round, white object. He described the object as appearing to be the size of a pinhead held at arm's length. The object was observed for 15 minutes under clear and unlimited weather conditions. According to the report, the object moved erratically in both lateral and horizontal directions. Notably, the observer stated that the object moved in reference to a known, stationary object, traversing approximately 30 degrees across the Big Dipper. The observer also reported that the light of the object appeared to intensify when it was in motion and grew dim when it became motionless. The investigation was conducted by Flight 1-A of the 4602d Air Intelligence Squadron (AISS). Investigators checked with the 635th AC&W Squadron at McChord AFB, which could provide no information. Additionally, they consulted with Sandpoint NAS in Seattle regarding potential balloon launches. It was determined that a balloon released at 0231Z on September 4 could not have been in the Bellingham area due to prevailing northerly winds, which would have pushed such an object far to the south. The preparing officer, 1/Lt Richard E. Hansen, concluded that a positive identification could not be made, though he noted that the available information did not preclude the possibility of astronomical phenomena. The report was forwarded to the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) with the final classification of 'unknown'. The document was approved by Colonel John M. White Jr.