Case Directory
  Category 1, Distant Encounters 
 
  Preliminary Rating: 5  

                                   
     

A Hynek Classification of Distant Encounter is usually an incident involving an object more than 500 feet from the witness. At night it is classified as a "nocturnal light" (NL) and during the day as a "daylight disc" (DD). The size of the object or the viewing conditions may render the object in greater detail but yet not qualify the sighting as a Close Encounter which is an object within 500'. 

3' Bright Disc Maneuvers At High Speed
July 29, 1947
Canyon Ferry, Montana

Brad Sparks:
July 29, 1947; Canyon Ferry, Montana (Helena?) (BBU)
12:05 p.m. Observer Madden saw hovering and fluttering, rising and descending thin 3 ft gleaming and shimmering object heading NE at 3,000 ft height at tremendous speed. (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)

Dan Wilson:
July 29, 1947; Canyon Ferry, Montana (some 25 miles NE of Helena)
12:05 p.m.  R. J. Maden, Steve Herrmann, and Karl Hermann observed a thin 3' circular bright disc hovering and fluttering in the air at an altitude of approximately 3,000 feet. The observers were at an estimated 2-3 miles from the object. It descended and rose through a vertical distance of 50 to 100 feet for some 5 seconds and while at the top of the ascent it suddenly swooped to the NE at tremendous speed and disappeared.

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