![]() Case Directory Category 1, Distant Encounters Preliminary Rating: 5 |
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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'. |
Brad Sparks: July 3, 1949; Longview, Washington (BBU) 10:40, 10:49, 11:25 a.m. (PDT?). Aeronautical
engineer Moulton B. Taylor with experience in USN
guided missile and pilotless aircraft development
was airport manager at Longview preparing for an air
show when someone pointed out an object in the sky
to the NW at about 30° elevation. Taylor
immediately announced this sighting over the public
address system to the crowd of 150-200 observers,
including pilots, who watched a metallic
discus-shaped object cross the sky from NW to SE
(track offset to the W not quite reaching zenith)
with an oscillating falling-leaf motion along a
straight path and occasional sun glints, estimated
altitude 30,000 ft at 300 mph, approx. size of DC-3
[about 100 ft] disappearing in smoke from a wood
pulp mill at about 80° elevation after a total
duration about 2-1/2 to 3 mins. A 2nd similar object
was seen about 6 mins later coming from the N [or
NNE] at about the same altitude/distance, at about
45° elevation, heading about due S on slightly
curved path (concavity of path away from witness,
radius of curvature about 15 miles), disappearing in
the sun (about ENE [actually ESE azimuth 116°
elevation 53° at 10:51 a.m. assumed PDT]) after
total duration about 2 mins (on a possibly 8 mile
long path [240 mph]). Then a 3rd sighting at 11:25
a.m. coming from almost due W [or WNW] at about
40° elevation, on a W-E straight line path
(passing to the N, not quite reaching zenith) again
at about the same altitude/distance at which time
the oscillations were precisely timed at 48/min, and
again disappeared in the sun (to the ENE [actually
ESE azimuth 127° elevation 58° at 11:27
a.m.]) (again on a possibly 8 mile long path [240
mph]). (BB Maxwell Microfilm Roll 6, pp. 1227-1240;
McDonald 1968) 3 + 2 + 2 mins 150-200 witnesses 1/5
- 2/5 Full Moon
Detailed reports and documents reports/490703longview_report.htm (Dan Wilson) reports/490703longview_report2.htm (James E. McDonald) |