Nov. 26, 1951; 25 miles E of Milwaukee, Wisc. (BBU)

4:25 a.m. (CST). Capital Airlines DC-3 pilot Schroeder saw an orange ball of fire with blue tail flying on a level trajectory. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)

Nov. 26, 1951; 25 miles E of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

4:25 a.m. CST. Larry Schroeder, Capital Airlines pilot, flying a DC-3 at 5,000 feet on top of an overcast on a heading of 260 degrees at a point 25 miles due east of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, observed a ball of fire, orange in color, with a tail behind it of blue exhaust-like light 200 feet long. There was a space between the object and the tail. The object made no sound and flew on a level course from west to east. The object passed the aircraft on the right at an estimated distance of about one mile and slightly higher than the DC-3. The co-pilot, Stowell also saw the object which was observed for approximately 10 seconds.

Nov. 26, 1951; 15 miles E of Chicago

4:23 a.m. CST. Mr. William Verplank, pilot of Capital Airlines trip #14, states that at approximately 26/1023Z, when 15 miles north east of Chicago, he noticed a bright blue exhaust-like light directly to the north of him.  He estimated its altitude at 25,000 to 30,000 feet, and its course due east. Mr. Verplank estimated the object's speed at 2,000 mph, but states it wasn't traveling as fast as a meteor or a comet.  He describes it as long with a tapered tail "like an ice cream cone on its side".  He could make no estimate of its size and heard no sound. Mr. Verplank did not observe any orange ball or other object ahead of the exhaust like tail. He states that there was an undercast below him at 2300 feet, but visibility was unlimited at and above his altitude and he was able to observe the object for possibly 3 seconds.  It disappeared in the eastern sky or over the horizon. Mr. Verplank''s co-pilot, a Mr. Leonard Padano also observed the object, but was not available for interrogation at the time this report.