Form: 97 Initial Report
9:20-9:26 p.m. (CST). Capt. Lawrence W. Vinther, copilot James F.
Bachmeier, passengers AF Colonel and aide, and CAA tower controller
John M. Williams. At 9:20 the 2 CAA tower controllers sighted light in
the W [NW?]. After Vinther's Mid-Continent Airlines DC-3 took off, he
was asked by the tower to look for light, then while still in a
climbing 360° turn at about 1,000 ft they spotted object to the NNW
at about 8,000 ft and 4 miles away that looked like a B-29 fuselage
with wings but no engines, which blinked some lights like running
lights. Object came at the DC-3, flew across the nose within 200 ft,
they had to turn their heads to follow it then suddenly found it
instantly appeared on the other side again, paralleled them for 2-3
secs, then flew under them and disappeared in 2-3 secs to the NW.
(Battelle Unknown No. 3; cf. NARCAP)
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