Incident #201 Sighting Report — Azores, 31 October 1948

This document compiles reports and correspondence regarding an unidentified aerial object sighting at the Army Air Base in the Azores on 31 October 1948. Multiple witnesses, including Staff Sergeant [illegible], PFC [illegible], and PFC Theodor Vlas, reported observing a flat, round, white or yellowish-orange object moving in a northerly direction. The witnesses provided varying estimates of the object's speed, ranging from 25 to 800 miles per hour, and altitude, estimated between 2000 and 5500 feet. The object was described as weaving while maintaining a forward course, swinging forward and backward, and eventually disappearing behind clouds. No sound was heard, and no vapor trails were observed. The A-2 intelligence office investigated the incident and concluded that the object was a weather balloon with a light swinging from it. This conclusion was supported by records from the 8th Weather Squadron, which indicated that a weather balloon was released at 0245Z on the same date. The document includes incident summary sheets, internal military correspondence, and references to Project Sign and Project Grudge. It also highlights the need for more precise reporting in future sightings, specifically requesting that observers distinguish between vertical and horizontal motion and provide details on radar equipment if used.