I. DATE TIME GROUP l. NUMBER OF OBJECTS i. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION Three Seconds i. TYPE OF OBSERVATION PROJECT 10073 RECORD Astoria, Long Island, New Yorlt 10. CONCLUSION 11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS Object was grayish (surrounded by yellow liEtlt). Sauce~sha.J=e Object had a level. fii~t then slight climb. Disappeared int b the haze. Object was first seen in the West, easterly W'len Grour.:i-Vi.sual laat seen. I ' PHYSICAL EVIDENCE =TO SEP 63 0~329. (TOE) PNIoae ed.IUon of thle fo;a .. ,. be ueed ~o eot Grud e -374 UNCLASSlFlEr loll ! tJ l~ BQ CONTINENTAL AIR COMMAND, Mitchel Air Force Base, New York fOa Commanding General. Air Materiel Command, Vlright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio I '!'TINT ION a Jrl: IAXS I Completed in~etigation ie attached (Inclosure 3). FOR THE CO&A.NDING GEllERALa 3. Air Intell. Into Rpt #UF Air 491. 30 Jul 49 w/1 Inol CONTROL NO. Illd DIECIMAL fFILIE No.-r-_,..- 8U8.JIECTc PlsoJe ..... SIGH JI'OLLO~ U ~ ON No. INCLS. t RECORDING RECOAD~D 1 DATE !t:STABLI8HE:D BY IINITIAL51 DATE TRANSMITTAL AMC I'"OitM "'O IU a CJTHR DISPOSITION YMDOL) .COPY NO. COPY NO, REC' D BY SEE OTHEI't SlOE FOR f'.:MAI'tKS DATE P.C:C'D COPY NO. REC ' D BY DATE RIZC'D DESCRIPTION, RESTRICTED y (FULL SIGNATURE) RE:C' D BY RESTRICTED DATIL REC'D DATE RILC' D DATE RILC' D DATI! RIEC' D DIPARTM5NT OF TWE AIR FORCE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WASWINGTON dNCl.ASS\FlC.. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL USAF 20 DISTRICT OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS 87 BROAD STREET I NEW YORK 4, NEW YORK SU3J~GT: i .:oject :Zrudge -:.374 Cofill':!andin::; .:J.ener~l, Contir11~nta l I:itc hel Ai r r orce 'base , ~'I\J York .-1tt n : Jirector of I n t elligence ht tache d corl'Cspon..ienc e for.Jarded your v1it h tel ephone ccnv e r s a t ionJ t:ti s date. Ltr f r ls t :h":!1.y, subj ~s abov~, dll 2 Jul 4~ Lt r fr - :~, s"bj as a bo-.,e , Colone , U.:J.,r' Jistrict Go.1~,1anue r UNCLASSIFIED ~ojeot Grudge -3J4 HQ. CONTilffiNTAL AIR C0 1AND, J{itchel Air Force Ease, New York Commanding General, Slocum, New York First Air Force, Slocum Air Force Base, Fort 1. Attached correspondence forwarded your headquarters for necessary 2. Request this Command be furnished the results of the investigat.ion. BY COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL WEITEHEADa Project Grudge -374 HEb.DQUA:<TERS FI~S'E AIR ~'ORCE, Slocum .A.13, 1~ew Rochelle, Cot!!IllandintS General, Continer..tal Air Command, . i tchel AF3, ATT~:: Director of Intclli~ence Investi~ation has been completed; result s are bein._; forwarcied unL.e. separate cover. 1 cp Ir:cl 'if 2 w/d AIITi'KB-EX H OQUARTERS FiRSt A~,,.. GOVERNORS ISLAND. NEW YORK 4 . N . Y. UNCLASSIFIED SUBJECT: Project Grudge -374 co, . vifice of Specj aJ Invest i[;ation District, #2 67 Broad Street N~7 York, Nm~ York AJ:'T".carTION: COL SOLI:.~S Confirming telephone conversation be~veen Col Hicks, your office and Col Kaylor, this headquarters on 11 July 1949, the inclosed papers are fozwarded for necessary action. FOR THE J._. C. OF S., G-2 : Ltr fr .A1~C, subj as above, d/7 July 49 w/2 Incls. ftJNCLASSIFIED Frl day, iluc.o 24 dis:.l;1i)ca" ill h~.z~. A TRlJ!, COPY di~.n:etcr b.:-.lloon 'l'~:w; ~c,:Lnry DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WASHINGTON 5D-OSI/J E.~t/ elh THE: INSPECTOR GENIERAL. USAF STH DISTRICT OFriCE OF S PECIAL INVESTIGATIONS WRiuHTP-'TTERSON AIR FORCE BASE. DI<YfON. OHIO 16 August 1949 IN REPLY IUFU TO: 5D 24-21 SUBJEC'l': PROJECT GRUDGE SPiCIAL INQUIRY TO: Commanding General Air Materiel Command Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Dayton, Ohio ATT:mTION: MCIAXS . 1. The inclosed report of investigation by Special Agent WILLIAM 8. LILE, DO #13, dated 10 August 1949, is forwarded for TOUr information and rue. 2. This investigation was not requested br this office ~nd DO 1Dveatigative action concerning subject incident is being conducted by this District. EROME M. BRAUN R/I dtd 10 Aug 49 (in dup) Acting District Commander WF05 OCJ 41 ISM UNITED STATES AIR FORCE THIE INSPECTOR GENERAL Ol'fi'ICE OP' SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS REPORT OF INVESTIGATION IALLOO SIGHTED IB TICI~Ift OJ IAPID OI'l'T, SOOTH D~OTI. REPORT MADE BY WILt. UN K. LILli REPORT MADE AT DO llJ, Offlltt AtB OFFICE OF ORIGIN DO ~-.~13, Offutt AFB IPJkliAL lllQ,lJII! oae, th1e le all initial reporl Inveetigation predicated upoa receipt of verbal instructions from Lt Ool MATTHEw !HO SON, AD-902812, District Commander, 13th 051 Dietr1et, Offutt Air Force Bane, Omaha, Bebraska. Balloon sighted over Black Hilla area approximately 24 June 1949, eescribed ae approximatel7 one hundred (100) feet in diameter, either white or silver in color, with some obJect auepended from the under side and a tail of a.pproximat (10) feet in length. SubJect balloon identified b7 Mr. 1neer for General Mills, lnco~orated, of Minneapolis, Minneeo , as one being uaed for co BJDic rq r esearch tor the Jtavy Department. ~alloon re alnecl in this area for approximatel7 three (3) or four (4) da7 Present location unknown. DISTRIIUTIOII AC110N COPY FORWARDED TO PILE STAMP AfMQ fOIII Replaoes A FCSI Form 4, 23 t:l)o..:J o Jiffl. lllTUIEW THOMPSOI Lt Colonel, USAr DiAfrlct Commond. us-an..-a U. I , CIOIIIIIMIIIT PII111'111G Cln'IC& 1. Jayee\lcatloa prH!oa\e4 ~ reoelp' of yerbal lnetnc\loaa fro M\ Col M~HEW fHOMPSOI, A0-902812, Die\rlc' er, 13th OSI Dltrlct, Ottut\ Air Force Baee, , Be'braeta, at,er haY1DC beeD 1nfonae4 of the 1acl4~\ Yerball7 bT the wrt\er. A!l RAPID c I'fT I SOUTH DAXO!A 2. Oa 29 .July 1949, Mr , 01 ty Dl1 tor for the lapld Glt7 Journal, R~pld City, South Dakota, vae 1nter..-1eve4 and &dYleed the wrl\er that SubJect balloon vaa fire\ e1ght~4 near Deadwood, South Dakota, oa approxt tel7 24 June 1949, and at that \1 W4.1 appro%1mately 5,000 tee\ high and 'l"~A.red to be atA.Dd1~ pra.ct1 still. !he J)ereoa wbo gaTe \he first r~ort (n~ not tnovn) deeer1be4 'he balloon ae apnroximately one hun4re4 (100) feet in diaaeter, either white or ellYer in col~r. with what a~p e4 \o be a tail of appro21aately tea (10) teet in 1 had eoe obJect nqpnded fl'f') the under eide of the ba.llooa. Mr. er a4Tlae4 th.~' on 28 Jae 1949 Mr. J. 11Ac1neer for General Mills, Inco~rated, of Mlnnea~lie, Mioneaota, arriYed 1n Rapid Cit7 .~d st&,~d tha\ \he balloon vae one aanufaotured b1 hie firm which was being 4 by the aT.Y Depar,men-~or coem1c raJ reae3rch, aod had been relea fro C~ R1pl M1nneao,a, the preceding we6k. According to Mr that SubJ ec' ballooa va oarryinc h&rmleas rq reaea inetrnente an4 tha' he would p&7 a f1Ye dollar ($5.00) reward for \he plaatic balloon and a tventy-flTe dollar ($25.00) reward for the in- 1\I'Uileat. Mr. XALISZE\iSII deecr1be4 the ballooa a a being wnade fro platley. 105 teet ln di .. eter, white in color, aa4 wha\ waa reported aa beLQc a tail pro\a\17 pan of the aooriJic rope. ID CI'l'Y AIJl ~BCIJ BAJ.I, VR&VEI SOllTH DAJCO!A On 21 Juae 1949 an aircraft piloted b7 Lt. Col. A0-115599. aa4 MaJor WMD B. IW04, M>-46014, vae dilpatche4 a the retu' of the vrl\er to aearch the eatlre 3lack Bill area for \he ~ oa. )[owner ao traae of the ballooa ooul4 be tovD4.. - the las\ report oa SubJect 'ballooa waa reoelTe4 oa l JuT 1949 Ina a Kr. , 1lap14 City, SouUl ta, who atated that he aaw tile ballooa yer7 hlp oYer Bapl4 01 tT at a;pprox111a t lT 2000 hour a oa 5. llaoe 1 JalF 1949 aD latoraal VAoff1c repor\ waa rece1Ye4 tllat \he \alleon retv.raed. to \he riciai t7 of M1nneota and had. coAe 4owa waa ta the ot feaeral Kill1, Iaaorpora,ed, Minnaapoll, AJ FO.RM 112-PART I UNCLASSIFtL Af....OVED I JUNE IMI RII'OitT NO (&4 V8 IJLANK) United States lAF AI R 49-1 AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT 11.r':3 L m ; r~O cr.ell e r. h q 2nd CSI ui st, c!td l l. Jul ~"-) 1./2 .cl s !~. I s t Iwl, .r.t. CuHhC, u tc.i 1 . J L:i 4 9 Mrs se\'li :e, reported t r.at on the even i w:; of 24 Ju.:1 4S , between 1830 and 1845 hours, s he observed thro ue h her kitchen viind m; a pair of unidentified objects resecblin[ platters a pproxir.u:.tel y 1 1/ 2 to 2 feet in diameter travelling in a v1est t o east direction a t an al tituc.e of approxime tely 1 50 feet. These o bjects were reported t o have been SUrTOuncie d by a halo of l ir:,ht a nc CiSa!Jpcared a f ter a n observa tion Of approxir.la tely 3 second s I n c l # 1, statement by All or ato.bd DOWNGR:\DED AT 3 Y!~.\U INTERVAL~: DECLASSIF IED .\FTEH 1~ YEARS. Mill THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ICf', 50 U. S. C.- II AND 32. AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHiiiTED BY LAW. IT MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART. BY OTHER THAN UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE D I RECTOR OF INTELLIGNCE. USAF. 18 IIIII 1 .. L aeWIIIT NIIITIM ,.. AF FORM 112-PART II API'ttOVED t JUNE IMI f.JNCLASSIFI0 AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT ntOM (Aifnq) REPORT NO. Hq, lst Air Force, Sloe um Al"B, Asteria, LOr!:_ 1slau.:, VIas lr.tcr- viewed at-0930 hours, 23 July People pre~ent: l..r. .t..rs . .Scaife and the write r . A previous che ck with i.irs. employers indicate t.hat ~he ha s helci her present posit i on wit h Com Products nef'ining Com!J~ny lor 30 yea!s a na is considered a stable type of perso n , not prone to ey~ggerat.ion o r verbosity. fnrther check of her character o r ba ckgr ound we.s performed . rt of Interview: Mrs. r e ports t ha t on the eveni n.:-of 24 Jur.e 1949 she returned from wor k at 1830 hours and i.-natediatel~' sta rted to prepc.re supper. She turned on the radio at t lle same ti:.e so as to hear LOwell 'l'..vJu .... ~". 'l'he reported objects a ppear ed , accor ding t o u.rs prior to the advent of the Lowell Thomas program, which vroul d place her time of observati on bet. ween j The ob.i ects were described by lLrs. be i n.:. round anll oE:t ween 1 l./;:. and 2 feet in diameter, gray in col or, surrour..ded by a halo of li~ht. ana travelli ng i n the direction of west t o east, disappear i ng into a "cloud b::-,nk The objects appeared to be travelling in a horizontal direction .for t i.e first two seconds and t hen appea red t o descri be an upwo.rd a r c j~ t prior t o disappearance. An interpretation of ~.rs. Scaife's description of t.he pos i t-iu11 of t he objects would place them approxilratel y lCO to 1 50 f eet in ttle air. It must be borne in mind , however, that determina tion of altitutie v.:ir.r1out adequate reference marks is practically impossible for the averag e lay pE::r son. Within a minute (estilllated) o f the t ime tr.at the objects were si~hted, a single engine fighter type" airplane appeared f ro::1 the s outh ana was ooserved ~.~rs. Scaif e to circle the a rea a nd then disappear i n a southerl y Jirect.ion I at an estimated altitude of 1,000 feet. _ _/ Attached herewith i s a slip of paper, signed by Mr written by her within two hours following the time of her phenomenon reported . observa~ion o f the Comments of p r eoaring of f i cer: The o bserv!ltion w::. s made through a n ope1i wine ow, and it i s my belief tha t Urs a clear unobstructe~ vie .. , of the area. Ther e are definite p oints of landsca~e which affor d a n easy method of orientation. The house is so situated that t here i s a clear unobstructed view to a clump of trees approximately 150 years distant followe d by another grove of trees which are a pproxjmately an additional 1 50 feet a way. A visit was made to t h e weather station at La Guardia Fi eld, Station v.HAS. The following fficial observations were noted by~. E. Morin, observer on duty at llOO hours, for t he time o f 1723 to 1800 E.S.T. on the date of 24 June: SSE 18 miles Clear, 10 mile visibility, temperatur e