1. DATE TIME GROUP f 3. SOURCE 4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS S. LENGTH OF OBSeRVATION Not Reported 6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION Ground-Visual 8. PHOTOS 9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE PROJECT 10073 RECORD Roanoke, Virginia 10. CONCLUSION 11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS Observer sighted vrhat appeared to be an aznber light. It was slmrly and it appeared as a.,. air~lane with landing lights. Tilo light was turned off and a sound, like t h0 drone of B-29 motors, l'tas heard. Sparks were seen ti"aiJ i ng the objeet. FTD SE P 6 3 0-329 (TD!:) Prevlou edlUona of thla form may be uaed. HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS REPORT OF INVESTIGATION liNCULS.St:-ICrJ PRQJECT "GRUDGE" Incident, Roanoke, Virginia SPECIAL INQUmY 7 June 19L~9 REPORT MADE BY CHA.t'l.FS F. CRU'mHFib"LD REPORT MADE AT W/PAFB, Dayton, Ohio_ OFFICE OF ORIGIN DO #5, W/fAFB, Dayton, Ohio Hq. OOI (Incl) DO #21 (Incl.s) AFCSI FORM 4 Investigation requested by Lt. Colonel A. J. HEMSTREET, JR., Acting Chief, Analysis Division, Intelligence Department, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio to determine character- istics of ~sterious cigar-shaped object re- ported seen by several persons over Roanoke, Virginia and oth~r parts of West Virgjnia and Eastern Tennessee. Report of observers ?tas taken fro~ the Roanoke World-News, Roanoke, Virginia, Friday ai'ternoon, 13 May 1949 UNCLASSIFiED ACTION COPY FORWARDED TO Connnanding General Air Materiel Carmnand Wright-Patterson AFB Dayton, Ohio ATTl~: MCIAXS OMAS r"'. DQTI.E, . JR Captain, USAF Acting DISTRICT c o MMANDER FILE STAMP PROJECT "GRUDGE" UNCLASS1F\CD 1. Investigation was requested by Lt. Colonel A. J. HEMSTREET, J R., Acting Chief, Analysis Division, Intelligence Department, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. 2. An item in the Roanoke \iorld-News Roanoke Virginia on Friday after- noon, 13 May 1949, transmitted by Mr. Roanoke, Virginia, described the cigar-shaped object reportedly seen over Roanoke and other parts of West Virginia and Eastern TelUlessee. An extract copy of subject newspaper item is attached as an inclosure to this report. F,OR Hf#?QUARTERS OSI 1. Extract copy of Roanoke World-News clipping. (in dup) FOR DISTRICT OFFICE NO. 21, LANGr,EY AFB 1. Extract copy of Roanoke World-News 2. Guide to Investigation (in dup) Clipping. (in dup) lJNCLASSlF\ED PROOECT "GRUDGE" IJNCLASSIFIED UNDEVELOPED LFJJ)S DISTI\ICJr OFFICE NO. 21, U .. \IGI,EY Am FORCE BASE, VffiGD~IA AT ROANOKE, VmGTIiiA 1. iliJl intervieY: the following persons concerning cigar-shaped object mentioned in report, using information contair~ed in Guide to Investigation: lair S.W., Roanoke, Virginia Roanoke, Virginia 2. Will submit results of investigation to this office on AFHQ Form AT CHRISTift.l!SBURG VffiGllJJJ .. 1. Will interview the follo'r.L,g persons concerning cigar-shaped object mentioned in r eport, using information contained in Guide to Investi~ation: 2. Will subr.1it results istiansburg, Virginia Road, Christiansburg, Virginia of investigation to this office on AFIIQ For m INCIDENT NO. 327 1. Date of Observation 12 ~-y 1949 Date of Interview 2. Exact Time (local) 2000 3 Place of Observation Roanoke, Virginia 4. Position of observer Ground 5 Ylliat attracted attention to object Light 6. Number or objects 1 7 Apparent size g. Color of object 10. Altitude 11. Direction from observer Eaat 12. Distance from observer 13. Direction of flight of object(s) 1.4. Time in sight 16. Sound and odor Like clrone ot B-29 cotora 17. Trail 1S. Luminosity 19. Projections 20. Maneuvers 21. Mannor or disappoaranco 22. Effect on Clouds 23. Additional information concerning objoct 24. lloo.thor Conditions Na~ nnd address of obsorvor: 1onnoko, Va. Occupation and hobbios: Comments of Interrogator relative to intelligonce and characte r of observcr(s) UARRATiv"E SID:TI~lA.R Y s In ~omplying wlth your request tor reports on the mysterious object observed in the akios ov2r Roanoke, v~. and other sections or this State., about eight o'clock P.M. on Hay 12th 1949. I was s1ttin on the porch at rny home and saw the light or this object a ppea r trom the east at about 4000 ft high, I first thou:;ht it a star but loolcod too l u rg:e for that for a while it seeCled to be stnndin& still., In t\'JO or three minute s I oould tell it waa slowly novinG., I watched it closely nnd the nenrer it oume to me it appeared and looked liko un air plane with tho lnndin~ liehts on a ruther amber color. and about time it was well entering the Hoanoko City limits the lights wore out off and I did not see a~ other lights about it. At't9r tho li~hts were out orr it camo nearer and I could tell the rnotor or motors whioh sounded very much like tho drone or the B 29 motors when just oruiseing along with the motors out wo:y back and I could hoar plain enou1~h that one motor was not runnin~ propar it sounded like it was about half way missin~, and. r.\ S far as being able to see the object it was too dark., There are reports rrort other s aotions II that it waa seen after pasaine; ove r Roar1oke., t.1y idea Mbout this object is it must been a air Ship of some size havinr, some motor trouble and the sparks that were eeen trailing it were ooming from the exhaust port. In order to identity ~ self I am a Potal Emplo.yee at the Roanoke, Va., Post Oftioe and have boon employed there tor nearly Twent,y Eight Years. IICIAXS/GWT/amo Reoelpt ot your letter, dated 14 May 1949, wh1oh baa beeD torwardecl to th1a Beadquartera 11 reapeottully d aightlnc baa been Mde a tter ot reoorc:l and 11 helDc inoorporated into our present tucV or mJ1dent1t1ed aerial phenomau. Your aot1on lD 1t1ng thia Headquarter ntgardlng thia Mtter 1 appreo1ated Slnoereq youn, A. J. B&L!STREET, JR Lt Colonel. USAP Aot1ng Chiet, Analya1a Div1a1on IDtelligenoe Depart.ent DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE DIRECTORATE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS WASHINGTON SUBJECT: Flying Discs Commanding General Air ).{ateriel Conunand Wright-Patterson Air Dayton, Ohio Force Base 1. Attached letter is forwarded for appropriate action. 2. No acknowledgment has been made ~J this headquarters BY COMMAND OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF: DEPARIMENT OF COMMERCE CIVIL AERONAUTICS ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON 2S Your letter ot llay 14 addressed to the Civil Aeronautics Adndn18- tration, Atlanta, Georgia, has been referred to tnis office for Inas1nuch aa the information contained in your letter was not requested by tho Civil Aeronautics Administration we are forward- ing )'OUr letter to the Department ot the Air Force, \',ashincton 25, Sincerely y-ours, Ben Stern, Director .orr1ce ot Aviation Informtion ADM.-Ii1STRA1101 ATLANTA, GA Roa:1oke, Vn. Ci'vil Aeronautics Administration,. Atlan*a., Ga. Gentlemen; In complying with your request for reports on the mysterious object observed in the skies over Roanoke, Va and other sections of this State., about Bight C.Clock P. M. on . I was sitting on the poarch at my home and saw the light of this object appear from the eQst at about 4000 ft high~ I first thought it a star but looked too large for that for a while it eeemed to be standing still., In two or three minutes I could. tell it was slowly moving., I watched it closely and the nearer it came to me it appeared and l ook ed like an air plane witk the landing lights on a rather amb~r color., and about time it was well entering the Roanoke City limits the lights were cut off and I did not see any other lights about it ~J),. . .. After the lights were cut off it came barer and I couldvthe motor or motors which sounded very much like the dronecg( th~ B 29 Motors when just cruis~ing along with the motorsvway back and I c ould hear plain enough that bhe motor was not running proper it sounded like it was about half way missing, and as f11r as bein~ able to see the ob.1ect it was too dark., There are if s~sactions that it was eeen af~er passing over Roanoke., My idea about this object is it must have b 1f ir Ship of some size having scme motot' trouble and theJt t were sean trailing it were comming from the exhaust port. In order to identify my self I at the Roanoke Va., Post Office and have Postal Employee employed there . fqr nearly Twenty ~ight Years. Resyactfully yours. IN RI:,.LY RI:F'I:R TO: WfOS OCT 41 ISM DEPARTMENrne t?i}_f{~,R FORC~ , HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WASHINGTON TH~ INS~ECTOR GENERAL, USAF STH DISTRICT OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS WRIOHT~ATTEASON AIR FORC E BASE. DAYTON, OHIO 22 September 1949 SUBJECT: PROJECT "GRUDGE" Incident, Roanoke, Vir ginia SPECIAL lliQUIRY TO: Connnanding General Air Materiel Connnand tTieht-Patterson Air Force Base Dayton, Ohio ATTN: r.:CLUCS 1. Reference is made to Report of Investig~tion by Spe cial Agent CHARLES F . CRUTCilFTIL D, dated 7 June 1949, SUBJECT a s a b ove. 2. Fo:n;arded herewith are tvio (2) copies of final rep ort of Special Agent IECI: C. MilG!ICH, District Office No . 21, dated 3 Your attention is invited to Paragraph 11, AF Regul2tion 205-6, dated 1g J..:ay 1949, which prohibits the diDclosure of t he nature, sources or exisGence of investigative information to un- authorized persons. 4. With the submission of this repor t , all logical investi- gative leads have been develo-:.:ed ani reported. 1 Inc1 (in dup) UNCLASSIFIED DISTRIBliTION UNITED STATES AIR FORCE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS REPORT OF INVESTIGATION .. llC:t cen\,, .oa:..o::e, RCPORT MADE BY REPORT MADE OFFICE OF ORIGIN Investic:ation rcve~1ed an u.'Yllc-.cwn o:5~.:;,,T was sif\':ltcd by T!W!1e r ous ind:!.- vidua1s durint; p eriod 1 920 hours t o 1 930 :1au.r s , 12 ~:ay 1 949, i n vicinity of Christiansourg; and :-:oanot e , Virginia. Q :,,J. ~T was s een a t. sunset l n form of a reu-yel1ow :;low in shape of a lont;, narrovi , o i.1l on g streak moving u pward fror.t a position 40 t o 50 de.~rees above a horizon in the west to overhec.d, :Jisappeurin~; in t h e east. :l.t first si:_:htin~:, observers stated ti1at O~J~CT could have been cover e d f rom sig~1t with the t humb at anns lensth but the speed and heif:)lt c ould n ot oe accurately determined. Official we .. t_ler stations reporte d no u nusual data, vli th winds aloft 1 i~ht and varia ole, ceiline; scattered a.nd visi 0:!.1:!. t :. two! tty- five (25) miles. .t\ir activity at ti.rn.e of si~i1tin requested l\r():1l offi- cial sources re~.orted two (2) a ircraft flying in area, n weather oalloon released for ,~rinds aloft r e port s anci sch e dule d Airline f1i )1ts e.t olood- ld, RoanoJ.:e , Virginia. 0 ~JECT vras not k n o,m to have had contact v1i th the earth a.nono k nov.rn nhoto rc.ohs are in exi stance. Inte rview: s conducted and official repor t s noted. ACTION COPY FORWARDED TO COMMANDING GENERAL AIR r.~:\.Ta~;EI_ COMMAND WRIG:i'f-PAllERSO AfB DAY TON, OHIO ATTN: M C IIi )( S UNCLASSJFJF.D Roplacea AFCBI Form 4, ~ U. I , GOWUIIIUIIT ,IIIITIIIO O"ICI '- Projeot orudc- 327 ATDa Mr. J. E. 1torr111 1. It 1a requeatecl that your ottioe initiate 1nveat1gat1on of the a1ght1ng ot a 11\Yihrloua oigar-ahapod object aa roportod by 1noloaeci oopy ot paper ollpping from the tlorld-, Roanoke, Va. 2. Aa an ald to the i'lveotigating ottioer 1D ruoording cleaired data, two copiea ot our Ouide to In~atigation are alao inoloaed 1. cy Newa Clipping, 5/13/49 2. Guide to Invea. (2 Cya) A. J. HEMSTRE;ET, JR. Lt Colonel, USAF Aoting Ch1et, Analyala D1v1aion Intelligence Department Post 2ltiB IJNCLASSlFiED VILLAGE oF Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgog~ .ychv. ~rndrobwllllantys iliogogogoch FARAWAY PLACES WITH The lyricis t in a current lljt Parade favorite confe!'ses there nrc certain faraway Jlac;cs with atrange Mount.lin' names that he simply is hurnin' to ace. lie goes on to mention s uc h familiar clis!>yl- as Siam nncJ Chin;.. But the strangest sounJ. iniJ names of all he comple tely i;;rwrcs antl with good rl'a~on: thl'y nrc the lun~cst (al10vc) antl sec ond longest (bdou;) names of localities in the world and (nut paifC) the longest reported in the U.S. The pretty, gently curved t,iiJ (top cente r in the picture lx:low) of Taumatawhakatangihangakflau- auutamatcapokaiwhenuukit.w a.ahu, which cun- tains 57 lette rs , is i ~e h eart of l'' v Zcaluntl's s hrcp -rais ing cou.nt . . .an are.t whc:a m~n ha~ to get hi s clay's work don~. so it is s imply r cfurccl to a5 "that h ill." In the tJriginaJ \laori it means, "The place "''here Tamatca known t1S Lantl Eatcr played on his flute to hi!' loved one.'' Tho little vllluge of Unn f ai rpwl lg w ynl)y llgo,;cryc h wyrnl r o l,wl lila n ty~iliugngog och is (Ill the isla ntluf An;.;l~y, :\urth \Vales. In a splendid d emonlltratinn u f cl:mcwracy in a ct ion no one o f its syllahlcs i'l actcn~t-1 mcr the othe r . The natives u sually shorte n il tctml y 10 lcllcrs-Uanfair P .G. Fo r those to " h om "'''"ing through such namr1 eve n once prove" tinng, tlwrc arc wom.lcrfully rclaxins l'lace slike the \'III.J!' of A in Sweden and llolland's admiraLty simple n \'C r Y . HILL or Taumatawhakatangihangakt ... uaul :amateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu CONTINU&D ON N&XT PAGI 167 ~IAXS/GWT/amo Hoanoka, Va. Toeipt ot your communication, poatmark&d 1~ ~ 1949, 11 Your contribution baa b~en made a matter or record and will incorporated into our present atudy ot un1dont1t1ed aerial phenoaeaa. Your aotio