U.S. Air Force Analysis of Flying Objects in the United States, 101-172

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

Observer noticed what appeared to be a small black cloud between two white ones. Seemed peculiar because the weather was clear and there were a few white clouds in the sky - but no other dark clouds or formations of any kind. The black cloud did not have any definite shape but looked like an anti-aircraft shell a few seconds after it explodes. Suddenly it stretched out into a wide streak with smaller vertical streaks, then rapidly turned and twisted, moving into a different direction and disappearing. In three or four seconds, the smoke burst appeared again spontaneously, approximately 20° west of the place where first noticed. Smoke pattern dark, very large, and dispersed rapidly, appearing again as a wide streak a mile or so in length which appeared to twist from a wide to a narrow streak and then back again changing direction as it twisted. Moving in westerly direction against light wind. Plainly visible altho far away and very high. No sound heard. Seemed like a streak that would be made if a flying wing with several engines was banking and turning and leaving exhaust trails.

Note: Yantis was in the war and had seen a lot of anti-aircraft shells burst and many vapor trails from planes but had never observed anything like this. He states: "It was so spontaneous like a rubber band which is round, then suddenly is stretched at length and twisted, and then disappears without a trace."

Agent's Note: Yantis drew the sketches below

Streak twisted and turned - suddenly disappeared

width same - length estimated at 1 to 2 miles

1st position

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