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

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HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE
•
Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff'
Intelligence
Hamilton Field , Cal ifornia
4AFDA-;/l208-I
SUBJECT:
Investigation of Flying Dis cs
SUMMARY OF lNFO.RMATION.:
Information from t he Sheriff 's Off'ice, Bakers.field, California, r eve~ed
that nwrero"UB calls from r esidents in Bakersfield concerning peculiar objects
in the sky over Bakersfield, predicated an invest1c;at1on by their office and
contact With A-2 Headquarters Fourth Air Force.
On 13th March 19~, tl'() informants, Mr. George L. Buchner, and .!ar.
H • B. Nix, stated that they observed a flyinl object wh1ch appeared to be
consumed in fire, am left a br01m1sh-white plume of smoke , which suddenly
stopped an::l disappeared.
Secorx:is l at er, what appeared to be a i:arachute,
was seen to be drifting to the east.
The object, as described, appeared to be a burning fabric airplane,
consumed in smoke. Observations were ~ade in Bakersfield of object to
the south and southwest, appro:ximately ten to twelve miles distance, arotmd
1600 hours on 5 March 1948.
On 13th March 1948, informant, Mr. H. B. Nix, stated t hat he observed
an object at 0830, 8 March 1948, due north of Bakersfield, approximately five
miles distance.
'Ihe object was a large, orange-red ball of fire , s omewhat
larger than a smll airplane, appeared to remain static for a ppr oximately
thirty seconds, then split and continued to bm-n ; each visible as a burning
half.
A parachute, with a black object hanging was then observed to fall,
drift to the east an:i disappeared into the hills eas t of Bakersfield.
On 13th ula.rc:h 194$, two informants, Mrs . Callie R. Wason, secretary,
Haberfelde Building, Bakersfield, California, and Dr. J. E. Johnson, dentist
Habe:rfelde Building, Bakersfield, Cal ifomia, stated that they were in
Room 518, 11aberfelde Building, on the mor ning of 9 March 194,S.
L1rs. tAason
was a pat ient of Dr. Johnson. Both informants stated that t hey observed a
!laming object which appeared at first to be a very small airplane .
Orange
red nanes seemed to envelope the object w:i. th considerable black smoke
trailing in a zigZag manner for approximately 4,ooo to 5, 000 feet.
The
obj ect was observed Rt 1,000 feet, appr oximately due north of BakerRfield,
seven t o ten miles distant at approxi.na tely 0830 hours.
Informants further st ated that the object disappeared behind a water
tower, which was an obstruction to their view, and was near the vround .
Both in£ormants watched for an explosion, thinking t hat it would expl ode
upon reaching the ground, but nothing unusual was noted.