Longview Washington — July 1949

1. ' rA. IE . -::'IME GROUP 4. NU~3ER OF OBJECTS .s. LENGTH OF OOSERVATION ( 6. TYPe OF 03SERVATION ! G:ounc!-Vi.sual . 7. COURSE Not; Stated 9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE PROJeCT 10073 RECO~D 'l. LOCATION W&. .lngton 10. CONCLUSION 11. BRIEF SUMMARY ANO ANALYSIS Objects were yellow in color and moved in a skullL,g or falling leaf motion rathe r than a movement through the axis of the disc. The three objects all had the same cha:;:o.cteristic'J they were sighted separately. The observe r stated that the first one could have been a balloon. Also the other two were identical to the first. SUbjeeta Project "SIGN" UNCLASSIFIED on approximat ely 19 June 1949. i s preparin~ a complete r ep ort including s e which will be for- JPOR THE COMMANDING OFFICERa H. GALLifiNNE Major USAF Intelligence staff Officer UNCLASSIFIED Direc':.or UNCLASSlFlC: -~ o f ~"l,ra]. I .rll i--r,ce. .~.cort of at~'=lc1ed. ~.closure (A.) is :'or:1 .r ,Jed 'lere,oritll. Air . c f e:1se UNCLASSIFIEC UNCLASSir a ... ..,is ',ri :, I lV'lli r('l1CP. c ffi.c.;p, ~eattle )9, .. ..,.s~inrtol. nidentified L:u.iects Jir':tC'd Jul~,r 3 ~t Lo!l!:Vi.ei'T. .\s reqt:estcd b:-. your .lnTe .;ti(")'t0r ,ltc c~llc-cl 0:1 us t : mom inc the enclose0 s .:etch i3 ~'~r:r r ned t. o i vJ:.c1.te ~.:~e :r:. cr'=~.l etc. and iS TCl'i:'ied b. r all ob!3erve r s !:.r e~q)erience i '1 r1.ric co!itroJ. o: "i.lotless .'!.!.rcra rt 1.. .,.i f. d missiles f or t:--e i.a11y '\t 1'A .l c.bring t1te war, a.11_: ovor 20 ~e1.rs of aircraft stur:y aoes not perni t f.\Y i c1entificntio:1 0 f t:w ob- jects w ich we r e seen. Thev oe-~'i 1itcly wer e r~ot ualloons, 'r.j r ds ' c .... :r: 0!1 a.ircr~ft, parachutes, stars, rh.:r.eror:1, paper, clouds, :>r o :1cr c : rJ tO!'l objects. They t'lovec in a regt~:!.'lr notion eit.:1er ~-;tre._.:~ cr i:1 curr' li."'les. !'h e:r .-.ere All 1.t approxiM:ttcl~ t:.e s~:-:c a::..t:.tu~c ':t~t , vc0 c t different cou rses "l, S :..1di c1.ted c-::1 the s;wt ch . ~ .. c osc:...!..l.., i _r.s \;.,re clearly vi sable a'1d ti: .ec4 on the j r c ~i.cht.i. "1:. sra GrOUp o~ peop e avn.:r en .. ne a~r,or na e r~...por <. o :-:c that the~.r l;:t ter si!:hted t h ree n.ddi ticnal ob,jects 1:1 :.er i n the or !li:-1,.. a t different ti...,es. lltese rcoorts <ue !'ro:-1 rr<.uns of rer-,~t,ble people who also saw t.1e objects \:hi e lC:. A pncne call fron Astoria from a t . t c r.e t!1iS "10r!1.- ing revealed th~t he l:'lci s :.chte object a t about 1..:000 feet uescribec as a bout the size of a :.C3 th:lt oscillat~?d as it ca!r.e covm t no co-\st and t \med t o se'l. a bout 1300 the 3r d. i s a rcputa~,le O''Si- :lCSS "!a! and licerse d oilot . :.. e said other aircrf'lft were i'1 t he air rtt t l e ti::~ ~:1.d t!1.is v~.s :1ot a co!':C"1on ~:rcr'lft. -e repor t er. th t t a dif - ent ;.ircl."tft sound attract..ed his a ttention to :.t . triPd to ale r t the local ra io s ,n. t i on to ['f>t cbserve r s to rC'por t on d:.r c t .!. .. n ~ ci n.:1;lP o f obser,n-:.ic:1 f rot.. dif:crc'1t l.::c3.l i. s and rcnor t to Me t o tt; to r.r:..1.n ul1.te T'or course ::t -:d a.l t i tu.de. -"~lo~r thou~ht i t \.ns a ptbl5.cit~, stunt cf rlr ~ct co~ pcr \ Le enou:r': 't.o c.:.r;,i" .. ettin~, tl!e ctesi:-c cnta. . ONCLASSIF a ..... UNCLASSIFIED \n. effort :rill :.)c : A. c t-0 ct .:\( l('IC1.l neHsnrlncr LL on tlH~ Wl.l' le nf si.r:11lt.1.r.ecu s oo::;c r r1.t ; '1S ::t'Ht r w~ll as r:lan~' possibl~ mieht nal.c a siri tin. ".\!ld thts e r!::_t ccrn)iling speed an,:! elevation c4'1tn. I f ~ can be of an~ ' urther assi.sV.nce, <!CI r ot :1-?.s;=.A.:.c t.:: c:1J l c:1 me. ' ' cry truly your s , Com:r~'1ncJer St\~ '1,3.3;1 Fi_le ?ulOS UNCLASSIFIED / ,.: !IUT PILOT ltf~U ~\f.J:., . OF EAlliU UFO SIGt( 'G ... M following L*O repott tfsough one .lih. early sighting CCIIel t.. ,_.tlc"'- volwe becau. oft._ l._.tlty of the dtlef w itneu, Commander M. L Taylor, US,.. a.ti r.d. ~.,Taylor ,a foostr Ml:.,. p ilot, was officer-ln-d.gl of gwlch~ miu ile worit ~., AdMINI O.l .. r S. Fahrney. This ,..port w:w forwu1hd to NICA' by Cotrrr tod1r Taylor at the Mol ~ttion of Admiral Fahrney, when hea~ Chairman of NICAP'a tc etd of c;o..,.,.,.. My good frl~ Ad...i,.t 0.1 Fahnw, hal wgpsted that I write )"'Y .. lrectty In regard 10 our eJq~erience In the flying toucer f ield, Comer Mll1r Taylor told NICA,. During Worl .. W 2 .. ._. extensive experience in theoctual hwedllng of guided miui In ored pilot I .. olrCNft by means of radio comtol, ualng ,.levlalan and radar directlor~, tatvet luke~, etc. we flow the first ;.t end roc'-t power.d c~trolled Mlall eucc 111fwlly launched In thia co""try ored occuee:uloull hours of flying olrcroft of arlo:. types by remote control. W. bell._,. this experience qwlifled ua riMwkul ,_ tho remote obu,..,.tlon of aircraft .,.. flight phena me no. The dotoila of ea .. a llu T-rlar'a ropcwt follow: locotion -Longviow, Woathor -Cl .. r with bright NtUght, visibility """-' .... On thia p artlcYier d1ta Oft AJr hw tuat getting wnd~r wey_... lew alu~y had gathered, inch,..lng a fUt hr. of q.-lifled ptlotl. Catna r..Jayt..<~n chorge of tM public !ddt .,. ... , a 1 1 cCMMWnting on the al&r-wrlting v \ISirt of a StnwWM 10,000 leet wt IR brilliant, ra~ object MsiW&FIIy ...,lad ftOM tho welt. n. object deflnl ' ; ""!.'.,.; -rtt. en undtdetlng MOtion, ,;a,., alder Tr , ...... ftt tftat4 ft.'llp Ia M I roc. J le~l-tt.ough 60-~lfaa ~tie. oltzn, all el ~ enid on tho local 4it 1 ctbla, 1gaiNt which tho ebfoct a nd; ltl ,.,._,., uMuletloft, ltl .. tolllc ...,,. lib_, ita wet \Uity a:d n lngly rltht a4le COfY~ It cawl4 fwft ftvoah. Its ..... OCIIDM tt. lky; helthf .bove fht alc)'W'itlno; 1$ It aft aJze 1ft ca P a ;~ wht. the Sh a nan., .,.. ottr 'nnatloN which n-'ly pracltad fhe pc!Miblllty of ltl ...... 0 CIAentlonal ruo aft, llalloan, tho like. 1'M httw IJOUUid dak, Ca .. uhr Ta,lor f ,, .... ~ .... G~llrvJt~ who It with .30 , ........ ld It loc*td MllJCh ua. a dltcta !JII .. In "de au tnta. Tho obJect eo 16 d II I.e wllll&ll -- whn .... - fiMIIy ,..._ lha r6ght a cis .. n ah ef It, the Ca., .. 1r'1 up!Wt eofttlnutl. Mt ouR t~nruatloea to alae lllliiOUW ba n. ~act, wNn oln a 1t dhactlyalli - turM4 to t+w aoutt.. When It a 1 ..... ight el 20,000 hat. n.;, height wh 1f d tt. ._., ol .._direct'- ., .. &I fu tn CWUZIUta, ..t ftae luu npltfl., the llt)"M'Itl .. pilot. 1'ho C.t : iu Tayler llwlul.._ 1M obfoct ef .. at tlw AJr hw 1 w only one auci-1 ,.._,, W wt. GrYiwd ahortlv oftene 1 .. P Nil ~ _,,. yp to a dozen at-.~-kr tt. t i-. hoerycne ud .._, t+w a~,.a. object (nan at the AJr Shaw) eJ nn 11 &II 1ft w a pursu t T.yler tndtu tWa unclua&o..: fM afaht"'e -definitely of eome .. ...,_hl?tlt fUWtd t ... n Ill" lA pi fwu. Ill If ud c 11 .. ai It ,.,,,. aAtlnt ... mr.o a7tt-lng thenor ave" gtly -~ It OF'J'IUid to '""~ wltbatJI U Jd"8 e lhucA. wave or .,,,wr .., .. , eltfll ... h ffl during th. Jo lltu J&l fll Itt fllahf W I IUCh tNt ~ ta'\.'uad UNCLAS~'c-'r. IriCIDE:JT lJO 1. Date of Observltion 3 July l 949 2 . Exact Tir.1o (local) (1) lOU> D.ltC of InterviC'.r 3. Plac~ of ObservationLon~iew,Waahin~ton 4. Position of observer Ground at airport 5. Whi!t attracted attention to object. 6. Uumbor of object~ 1. "'\pparent size ot head ot pin a t arms lencth s. Color of object 10. Altitude (1) 30 when tirat sizhted ll. Direction fron obser ve r 12. Distance f ror:: observer Direction of fliGht of object(s) Tine in sicrht 16. Sound and odor 1S. Luninosity 19 . Projections 3 llinutea 20. lmneuver s altitude 1D larse aro. 21. Ito.nnc r of disappea r ance Loat troaa ~iew direotly owrhe od 1n aUD. 22. Eff ect on Clouds .\dditional Info~ation concernin"' Obj t-Definite, regular oaoillation, timed at c ~ per minute. .leat he r Gontli. tions. Wind {aurtaoe) troa SW, CAVU I. J r:LASSlFlE.t.l t:aro a.nd addr ess of obsorv~Jrs Occupation and hobbie s : UNCLASS\F\ED (observed by 150 other people u t ar. Air Show) Aoronuu~ioal Eng1Deer Airport Mt.U'\&ger Comm~nts of Interrogator r o lutivo to intolliguncv and ch~racto r of obs~rvor(s)a Appeara to bo reliable "At l040T 3 July 19UJ, , Cocdr. SA(3), US?~a, 7 610S, s ir;htod what he thou.~ht to be a flyinG <.liao while sto.ndin at the airport at Longviaw. ~Yf&ahington. ia an attronautical onginoer anu rnD.D&i~or of the airport at Longview. statod that while on activt~ duty he had had oxpor1ence with tho pilotlesa aircraft ~nd euided misaile program. atatod that when he first aightod the disc, it appeared to be at an alti of approz1..'18.tely 30,000 teet northwest o1 the airport und tru.velinS in a aoutheasterly dir9ct1on at 300 miles por hour. \ 1hen first sir;.hted, the disc had about 30 degreoa of altitude. It remained in view three tninutoa, travollnc at a constant altitude in a larcw arc from the position or initial si.:hting until loat directly overr.eacl in tho aun. A dofini te, r~gular oscilla tiou was obsorvod and waa timed at thA rate of 40 oscillation ~r minute. He described thia motion aa a akulling or falling lt action rath\Jr than a movement throur;h the axia ot the cliao. The wind was at all t a obaerwed to be from the aouthwest at a definite angle to the line or fiight or the diao. Thia direction waa cor.tirmed by a con- atantly riaing colucm ot emolat from an 1nduatrial plant and by amo;ce fron sky- writing at 10,000 r~et. reported ceiling and visibility unli~ited at all a with wiapa or ciiTWI clouda in a amall tr~ctionnl portion of tho aky. He deacribed the object aa the ai&e ot the head of a pin held at nrma length. It waa mtallic in color and caat a retlootion upon each oaoillation. lie atated it waa definitely circular ratho r thtLn oftl or globular in ahape. He waa ur.able to eatL-:,ato ita thiclawaa. llo amoke or .. apor trail waa obaervod. Upon the saoo occaaion roporta obaerving a aocond diao at 1049T and a third at ll25T. lie describe u identical to the first obser9ed. Theae wre initially al;htecl at an altitude of ~5 dee;ro~a from -the-wo.st at approxir.>ately 30.000 teet. Thoy also diaappeared into the sun overheacl attur a three minutea observed fliGht. A local air ahow was achvdulod tor thtt att ... rnoon or this dq ar:d t here wore approximately 150 people on the t'iold at thia ti.::".c~e All or those presont saw the objects. son, a atunt pilot or Big Bt>ar, Cttlitornia, a r:reea with and oontirma Ur. obaerwtiona. Arthur Robertson, Loncview, .. ashin ton, an aeronautical e~ and an employee ot' eati.L.atoc1 altitude of theae UN Cu\S S l rl E~ UNCLA55\F\ED I!o.oo o.nd o.ddrvss of obsurvurs Occupati on and hobbio s Comments of Interrogator r c l ut i vo t~ into lligc.mc.;J and ohq ra.cto r of obs~Jrvor ( cliaoa ~t 7,000 feet and fe l _t the t1 1i .. 9JlO . . ~oul\l hi Yo . bo:Jn a . bo.lloon S. atated it waa yellowish ir. color. In hie opinion. however, neither ot the last two obaerved could have been b&lloona. l!ARRA ? rv::: S tn.Ih1AR Y s ~ experience in radio control of pilotleaa aircraft o.nd guided miaailea for the travy at NAKU during the war, and over 20 year a oi' air- oratt atudy doe not permit my identification of the objects which were aeen. They definitely were not balloons., birds, common aircro.t't, plr& ohutea., stare, meteors, paper, clouds, or othor common objeote. They mo~d in a re~lar motion eithor atrai&ht or in curvod linea. Thoy were o.ll at at approximately the samd altitude but mo~d on different course as in- dioated on the akotob. Thu oaoill&tiona were clearly visible and timed OD the 3z"d a i r:hting. A aall v-oup of people away from the airport have reported to me that they later si~ted three additior.al objeota later in the mornin~ at dif f orent ti Theao report are rroa croupa ot reputable people >'~ho tilao saw the objects while at tho field. A phom o11ll from ~toria fror.1 a 1.11". J. l!al- lberg or 466 Jamea st. to m this morning revealed that he hud ai.~hted an objeot at about ~ feet uoactibed as about tht~ ai&e or a DC3 ~halt oaoillatod as it caoo down t i1o coast and turz:aed to aea about ljOO the 3rd. a a repul:able buaineas man and licenaud pilot. ne aaid other raft were i n the air at tho time and this wa~ not a common aircr~ft. Be reportedS that a different aircraft sound attracted his attention to it. I tridd to alert the local rdio atatiou to get obs~rvara to report on direction aDd angle of observation troo different loo&litiea and report to .. to try to trian~l~t~ for course and altitude. They thought it waa a publicity stunt and did not cooperate enough to permit ~tting ~ de aired data. UNCU\SSJFlED . INCJ ASSlFlEDI A I R ~ E-f'tlf ~ t C 0 M M A H 0 25th A I R e E FE HM D I V I S I 0 H (DEF) P.O. 80X 909. EVERETT. WASHINGTON SUBJECT: Pro j eet "'SIGN" ~.ommanding General Air Materiel Command wright-Patterson Air Foree Bese Dayton, Ohio Attn: MCI.Uo-3 Commanding General Continental Air Command 111 tehel Air Foree Baee, New York Attn: Director or Intelligence Chief or starr Ubited States Air Foree Washington Dir or Intell , Requiremente DiY Commanding General Fourth Air Foree Air Foree Base California Attn a Director of Intelligence Ill COJ11llianee with par. 1, ConAC Letter 200.1, 25 ~far JJ!, Pnd par. 5 and 6, Letter Fourth Air Foree, file OI-350.09/2, dated 18 Feb 49, the following additional information, as relayed to this head- quarters Yia the District Intelliy.~nee Officer, Thirteenth NPval District, is submitted relative to subject matter eont~ined in letter, this headquarters, eubjeet "Project "SIGN", tile OI 350.09, dated As requested by your investigator who called on us this llOming the enclosed eketeh ie forwarded to indica tP the general detaile of the sighting whieh oeeurred on the monring of JUly 3, 1949. This was observed by upward of 150 persons ~ho were at the Longview Airport getting ready for the JC Air Show. It ?'ee .tewed b,y our engineers, many pilots, pollee, prominent citizens, eta. and is verified by all observers. Subject: Project "SIGN" r rNCLASSIFJEQ l J Jul 49 clouds, or other common objects. They moved in a re~er moti on either straight or in curved lines. They wer e ell et eonrox- imately the ~a.me altitude but moved on different courses as indicated on the sketch. The oscillations ~ere clearlv viseble and timed on the 3rd ~ight.ing. A small group of people ar.ay from the airport have re~orted to me that they later sighted three additional obje,ts l ater in the morning e t different times. These r~ports are from ~roups or reputable people who elso saw the objects while ct t he field. A tihone call from Astoria from a or St. to me this morning r eveal ed that he had sichted an object at about 4000 feet describe~ a s about the size of a DC3 the t oscillated a s it came do~ the coast and turned to ~e~ about 1300 the 3rd. s a reputable busines~ man end licensed pilot. said other aircr~ft ~ere in the eir at t he time and this we e not e common aircrPrt. He r~oortPd th~t a different eircraft sound attracted his e.ttention to it. I tried to alert the local ~dio st~tion to get observPrs o report on direction and angle of observation -rrom differ ent oealities and report to me to try to trian~ate for course and altitude. They though it was a publicity stunt e.nd did not ~rate enough to permit getting the desired data. ' An effort will be made to get the local ner.spaoer to print a story on the value of simultaneous obseivations and I will try to get people to report eny future si2htinr to t he r adio station so that as many people as possible might make e. sivht- ing and thus permit compiling speed and eleve.tion data." l'OR tHE COlNANDING OF'FICERt