 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'. |
Balloon-Like
Object With Rapid Acceleration
January 10, 1950
Las Vegas Air Force Base, Nevada
January 10, 1950
Las Vegas Air Force Base, Nevada
| Brad Sparks: Jan. 10, 1950. 8 mi [NE?] of Las Vegas AFB
[later renamed Nellis AFB] (on Hwy 93), Nevada
10:10 a.m. Civilian pilots, father and son, observed 2 F-80 jet fighters approaching for landing at elevation angle of about 45° into the sun [in the SE at about 21° elevation 141° azimuth] and saw an object at an altitude of approximately 1500-2000 feet, about 25-30 ft in size. Object appeared "pure silver," round "like a balloon" (AFOSI found no balloons launched) and solid material like "a metal," with no external fittings, air ducts, antenna, supports, or exhaust trail, seeming no noise audible above that of an F-80. Direction of flight [heading?] was NNE with no tactical movement, or maneuver, motion was smooth, at first slow and then a very rapid acceleration in a horizontal ascent, disappearing over mountains to the E. (Sparks; BB AFOSI files; NICAP website) 25 secs 2 witnesses 1 Full Moon ? |