U.S. Air Force Analysis of Flying Objects in the United States, 1-100

Text

A machine read this text from the scan. When the text and the image disagree, the image is right.

Object appeared elliptical in shape and had a diameter of 20-30 feet. When first seen it was at about 5,000 ft and traveling from 400 to 600 MPH. Its grey color rendered it difficult to perceive at a distance as it blended with the clouds. Although a jet-like noise was heard prior to the object's appearance no audible sound was produced while it remained in view. The tail of the object had two points on the outside area, visible as it made its two left-to-right circles which had an approximate radius of 1/4 to 1/2 miles. The object had what appeared to be a cockpit canopy in the center which extended toward the back and beneath the object. The "cockpit" did not protrude from the surface but was clearly visible with the naked eye. The object did not revolve on its own axis. It had no discernible landing gears nor propellers. It appeared to have an excellent air foil (tapered from wing tip to wing tip). Mr. Rhodes thought that the 10-15 MPH wind velocity which caused a rustling of tree leaves might have made it impossible for him to hear any noise connected with the object. He also stated that he thought the object was the Navy's new "Flapjack Plane" but altered his opinion since the object seemed to have no landing gears and no propellers. (The Navy ship is illustrated as having both). Rhodes managed to take one photograph of the object at its lowest point (about 2000 ft) and another as it turned out of its second spiral and started upward.