FOIA: summary report of sighting on March, 10 1949

NM_MAR_10_1949.pdf
Unidentified Flying Object
A document in good to very good condition that summarizes a sighting made by an Army Corporal
Document date: 1949-03-11
Department: Fourth Army Intelligence
Author: Fourth Army Intelligence Liason Officer
Document type: Summary of Information/Report
pages: 4


Archivist's Notes: On 10 March, 1949 under clear skies, a Cpl. Paul James Hutchinson asigned to the 8457th company of the 8450th M.P. Group based at Sandia New Mexico observed one spherical, self-luminous(evidently), yellow object with no exhaust trail traveling from east to west at approximately 200 mph.

The object (about twice the size of a car headlight) moved in a straight line and was spotted at the perimeter of kirtland AFB on the "Ordinance Road" as it intersects the Kirtland perimeter fence.

It was spotted at 2200hrs (10pm) and lasted for approximately 15 minutes.

There were no other witnesses and no photos.

The Liason Officer who took the report from Cpl. Hutchinson forwarded the report to Colonel Eustis Poland.

Colonel Poland then forwarded the report with cover letter (dated 25 March, 1949) to the Commanding General,Air Material Command, Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

Description:

-Witness: Corporal Paul James Hutchinson, 8457 M.P. Co. 8450th M.P Group

-Location of Sighting: Sandia Base/Kirkland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

-Army Corporal Paul James Hutchinson observes yellow spherical light the size of 2 car headlights travelling at high speeds for 15 minutes.

-Observation took place at 10:00 PM to 10:15 PM (2200-2215), 10 March 1949.

-Object flew at speeds of approximately 200 MPH, from the East to West along Ordinance Area road, where it intersects with Kirkland Field perimeter fence.

-Weather was clear, and the object did not appear to leave an exhaust trail or make any sound.

-Object flew at an altitude of 30º to 40º elevation from point of observation and did not deviate from its horizontal path.

-Corporal Hutchinson had no previous experience as an observer.


[edit on 17-11-2007 by Prozac Heart]

NOTES:

-The matter was not reported to Headquarters until March 25, 1949 (15 days after the event)

-The document was downgraded at 8 year intervals and Declassified after 12 years.

-A report of the sighting was filed the next day, 11th of March 1949, to the Sandia Base Liaison Officer.

-The document consists of 4 pages, and as far as I could tell was not graded on reliability.

-The document was forwarded to the Commanding General at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.


[edit on 17-11-2007 by Prozac Heart]