Air Materiel Command Report on Unidentified Flying Objects, 1947-1948

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4 Ma,r 1948
KEl{O FOR LT·. OOL. THOMAS
The undersigned officer was participating ·as pilot on a local
flight on Fridq, 30 April 1948, in NaV7 aircraft, SNJ Buno 90731. At
approximlte~ 1015 local time, at an altitude of about 5500 feet, on a
magnetic Leading of about 180 degrees, j at south of Anacostia Naval
Air Station, an object was sighted ahead to the left and about 1000
feet below a-; a distance of about l mile.
The object resembled a
7ellow sphere estimated at 25-40 teet in diameter. The flight path of the
object was in approximatel,- a South to North direc'ti,on (despite upper
wind from North Northwest) and apparently followed a constant altitude.
Pilot did not p rsue object f't:rther because it was entering the
prohibited fi,-1.ng area, U.S. Capitol, White House Area.
'!be object appeared to pilot to be a yellow (or bright colored)
balloon and attracted attention principally because of its flight path.
No external fittings or attachments were observed on the object. The
speed of the object was estimated to about 100 KPH.
/e/ llarcus L. Lowe, Jr.
Lt. Cdr. US Navy­
/N'e,,f-./