Part 2 - 10 - Incident 48: The Alert Crew Sightings
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A sky phenomena which had the appearance of a flaming red
cone trailing a gaseous green mist appeared in the southwest skies of
Wilmington, Ohio, between 7:20 and 7:55 P.M. Jan 7, 48. The sky phenomena hung suspended in the air at intervals and
then gained and lost altitude at what appeared to be terrific bursts of
speed. The intense brightness of the phenomena pierced thru a heavy
layer of clouds passing intermittently over the area and obscured other
celestial phenomena. CONFIDENTIAL T/Sgt. LeRoy Ziegler Statement
CHECK-LIST UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS Object appeared to be moving up and down and from side to
side. At the time the object was covered by a cloud but the light could
be seen thru the cloud. It was the same color as a star only very much
brighter sometimes changing to a more reddish hue then turning white or
yellow. At first it did not appear to be traveling at any speed. Then
it seemed to go up and down and sometimes change off and go from side
to side at what seemed to be a very great speed. It seemed pretty high
in the air too high to be any kind of a light from the ground.
There was no beam. No sound could be heard. A faint exhaust trail was
discernible when it moved up or down or from side to side. Finally it
began to move away toward the SW at very great speed and disappeared
over the horizon at about 20:00. CONFIDENTIAL
TO: WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
Inc 48A ON THE EVENING OF 7, JANUARY 1948 AT APPROXIMATELY 19:25
O’CLOCK THE UNDERSIGNED WITNESSED A VERY BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE SKY, IN
THE SOUTH WEST DIRECTION OF C. C. A. F. THE OPERATIONS CLERK AND MYSELF
FIRST WITNESSED IT AND CALLED THE TOWER AND HAD THEM LOOK AT IT THROUGH
THEIR FIELD GLASSES. THEY SAID IT WAS MOVING BUT COULD NOT MAKE OUT
WHAT IT WAS. I WENT UP TO THE TOWER AND LOOKED AT IT THROUGH FIELD
GLASSES AND IT APPEARED TO BE MOVING UP AND DOWN AND FROM SIDE TO SIDE.
AT ONE TIME CLOUDS CAME BETWEEN THE OBJECT AND THE BASE BUT THE LIGHT
COULD STILL BE SEEN THROUGH IT. AT APPROXIMATELY 19:45 THE OBJECT BEGAN
TO MOVE AWAY TOWARD THE SOUTH WEST AND DISAPPEARED OVER THE HORIZON AT
ABOUT 20:00.
T/Sgt. LeRoy Ziegler A.S. K. 17014131 USAF-SIGN1-524 Unidentified Object Seen by me at Clinton County Air
Field
Inc 48a *
Sighting:
Approximately southwest of the Air Field
*
Location:
The exact distance from the field is unknown but it was pretty high up
in the air southwest of the field.
*
Time:
I do not know what time the object appeared but I first saw it about
19:20 o’clock.
*
Weather:
The weather at the time was cold and clear with a few widely scattered
clouds.
* Reported by:
Myself
* Number of Objects
Reported:
1
*
Shape:
The shape of the object seemed to be circular or like a very bright
start in the sky only larger.
*
Size:
It would be very hard to say what size it was but if comparing it to
the lights on an airplane, it must have been very large.
*
Color:
It had the same color as a star only very much brighter and would
sometimes get a little more red then turn to a white
or yellow color. *
Speed:
At the time it was spotted it did not seem to be traveling at any speed
neither coming toward us or going away.
*
Maneuvers: The object seemed
to go up and down and sometimes change off and go from side to side at
what seemed to be a very great speed.
*
Altitude:
The object seemed to be pretty high in the air. It was too high to be
any kind of light from the ground and did not have a beam on
it as thought it was being shined from the ground. *
Heading:
At the time it was spotted it did not seem to be heading in any
direction but after watching it for awhile it started southwest at
hat seemed to be a very high speed. *
Sound:
I did not hear any sound at all from it.
* Exhaust
trail: It seemed to leave only a
very faint exhaust trail when moving up and down or from side to side.
* Effect on Clouds: A cloud came between
the object and myself only once that I know of. I thought the object
was gone but the soldier looking at it through the field glasses as the
time said it was still there and that a cloud had come between us and
the object. After the cloud passed we could see it just as good as we
could before. T/Sgt. LeRoy Ziegler A.S.W. 17614131
CONFIDENTIAL CPL James H. Hudson Statement USAF-SIGN1-517 CHECK-LIST UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
The object when first sighted appeared white then it turned
red. Its real shape could not be distinguished until it descended. It
then took the form of a cone or up-side-down triangle. (See Sketch “A”)
Sketch “A” When it climbed it was right side up (Sketch “B”)
On ascending and descending it appeared to have a green mist
following it See sketch “C” --
‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’ green mist
Speed could not be determined in miles per hour for it
appeared to hover at spots, then, when it moved, it moved with great
speed. After making a vertical descent and ascent it headed due SW at
great speed and disappeared at approx 1955 EST. Distance from the field
when first sighted was some 15 to 20 miles. There was no sound. The
trail, maybe from exhaust, was green (at least thru field glasses it
appeared green). During the time it was under observation a cloud
passed under it and the light shown thru. According to this observer the object was not a balloon, a
comet, star or any known aircraft. The light did not come from an
aircraft’s running lights. The whole object appeared surrounded with
burning gas or something which emitted a light. TO: WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. SUBJECT: OBJECT SEEN IN SKY JAN. 7,
1948
Inc 48b THE TOWER FIRST SEEN THE OBJECT ABOUT 1910 EST TO THE SOUTH
WEST OF THE FIELD FROM THE TOWER. WHEN FIRST SIGHTED IT APPEARED TO BE
A BRIGHT XX LIGHT. THE TOWER FOLLOWED IT WITH THE FIELD GLASSES THAT
ARE 7X50. IT THEN DESCENDED AND AS IT DID THE OBJECT TURNED RED WITH A
GREEN TAIL. IT DESCENDED AND ASCENDED WITH GREAT BURST OF SPEED. THE SKY
HAD SCATTERED CLOUDS AT THE TIME. A CLOUD PASSED OVER IT ONE TIME AND
THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE OBJECT SHOWN THRU THE CLOUDS WHILE THE STARS DID
NOT. IT DISAPPEARED ABOUT 1955EST. IT DISAPPEARED ABOUT XXXXX
WEST SOUTH WEST OF THE FIELD. THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY
JUDGEMENT AND KNOWLEDGE. CPL. JAMES H. HUDSON 13220875 STATE OF
OHIO }
COUNTY OF
CLINTON}
CONFIDENTIAL Before me, the undersigned authority for administering oaths
of this kind, personally appeared one James H. Hudson, Cpl, ASN
13220873 who, being first duly sworn by me, deposes and says: Subject: Unidentified Flying Object.
Time:
January 7, 1948, 1920 EST
Station:
Clinton County Army Air Field, Wilmington, Ohio
Location:
Wilmington, Ohio
Weather:
The weather at the time was light scattered coulis (clouds), with a
haze towards the South
West. Statement: I, James H. Hudson, was on duty in the Control
Tower at the time the object was sighted. It was called to our
attention by the dispatcher in Operations. He asked us to see if it was
an aircraft flare. We then looked at it with the field glasses. At the
time first sighted, the object was white, then it turned red. There was
only one object. The real shape of it could not be distinguished from
this station ‘til the object descended. Then it did, the object took a
form of a cone or up-side-down triangle. (See Sketch “A”). When it
climbed, it was right side up (See Sketch “B”). The above is to my observation and opinion the size of the
object, I could not determine, but it was much larger than any star. On
it’s climb and descent it appeared to have a green mist following it
(See Sketch “C”). The speed I could not determine in miles per hour for
it hovered at what appeared to be one spot, then when it moved, it
moved with great speed. It’s maneuvers are as follows, from the tower
(See Sketch “D”). Then it headed due South West at great speed and
disappeared, at 1955 EST. The distance from the field when first
sighted, estimated fifteen to twenty miles. There was no sound. The
trail, maybe from exhaust, was green from the field glasses. The
glasses have coated lens which may change the color some. At one time,
during the time seen, a cloud passed under it and the light shown
through. Example: Say you take a black wool cloth and pass it under a
light bulb, you see no direct light, but you can still see that there
is a light there behind it. (Continued on Page 2) Further the deponent sayeth not. JAMES H. HUDSON
cpl 13220873
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of January,
1948 PAGE II STATE OF
OHIO }
COUNTY OF
CLINTON}
CONFIDENTIAL Before me, the undersigned authority for administering oaths
of this kind, personally appeared one James H. Hudson, Cpl, ASN
13220873 who, being first duly sworn by me, deposes and says: The following information came over Plan 62:
This observation was made in Kentucky at the scene of the
P-51 crash with 8” telescope: 1. Height, 4 miles.
2. Width, 43 feet.
3. Height of the object,
100 feet.
4. Speed at the time, 10
mph.
5. Shape, Cone.
6. Color, red with green
tail. This observation was taken at Godman Field, Kentucky, with a
theolite: 1854 CST.
Elevation, 2.4 Azimuth 254.6
1856 CST.
Elevation, 2.0 Azimuth 253.9
1902 CST
Elevation, 1.2 Azimuth 253.0
1906 CST
Disappeared The following is my opinion: The object is not a comet or
star, but was man made. It was not a balloon, comet, star, aircraft of
known type. The light did not come from an aircraft’s running lights.
The whole object appeared to be surrounded with burning gas or
something that gave a light. Further the deponent sayeth not.
JAMES H. HUDSON
cpl 13220873 Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of January,
1948
George W. Hohanness Captain, USAF
(Unintelligible) S/Sgt. John P. Haag Statement
CHECK-LIST UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS Witness observed very bright light in the sky southwest of Clinton County AF Base which appeared to be the complete wing of an aircraft on fire. When viewed thru field glasses from the Control Tower the object would gain and lose altitude very rapidly xxxxxx with barely any discernible forward or backward motion. At times it changed colors (from red to green, etc). At one time it disappeared behind the overcast but its light penetrated thru the overcast. At approximately 19:45 o’clock it began to move away from the field on a heading of 210° and disappeared over the horizon at approximately 19:55. (1st acct) At the time of the sighting the weather was clear over the
Base, with a South West wind which was moderate. There was an overcast
in the SE which appeared to be a layer approximately 1000 feet thick.
The height of this overcast was approximately 5,000 ft. Object seemed
to be about 5 miles from the field at an altitude of from 15,000 to
20,000 ft. The object which appeared stationary at first resembled the
complete wing of an airplane on fire. No beam of light was projected.
After observing it with the naked eye for some five minutes, witness
went to control tower and looked thru field glasses and then decided
that it was not a comet or a falling star to his knowledge of
astronomy. With the aid of the glasses the object appeared to go from
an altitude of 15,000 to 10,000 feet without any noticeable forward or
backward motion, and then back up to its original altitude very
rapidly. This occurred some 3 or 4 times. When it moved a red light
would dominate and change to a green light and then back to its
original color. It then started to receed on a heading of 210° going
behind the overcast. However, the light was discernible thru the
overcast. It then moved very rapidly away, stopping momentarily for 3
or 4 minute intervals and then disappearing over the horizon at 19:55.
No sound was heard. No photographs were taken (From a signed statement
second account) CONFIDENTIAL To: Whom it may concern. Inc 48c On the evening of 7, January 1948 at approximately 19:30
o’clock the undersigned witnessed a very bright light in the sky, in
the South West direction of C. C. A. F. which appeared to be the
complete wing of an aircraft on fire with the naked eye. Then the
following observation with the aid of field glasses from the control
tower was made, the object would gain and lose altitude very rapidly
without much noticed forward or backward motion and at times changing
colors of red and green, at one time it disappeared behind the overcast
but its light penetrated through the overcast. At approximately 19:45
o’clock the object began to move away from the field at a heading of
210 degrees and disappeared over the horizon at approximately 19:55. S/Sgt. John P.
Haag
A.F. 17003481 STATE OF
OHIO } COUNTY OF
CLINTON}
CONFIDENTIALBefore me, the undersigned authority for administering oaths
of this kind, personally appeared one John P. Haag, S/Sgt, AF 17003481
who, being first duly sworn by me, deposes and says: The unidentified
flying object was sighted in a South-West position at Clinton County
Army Air Base at a heading of approximately 210° on 7 January 1948,
first being visible to this person at 19:35 o’clock when it was pointed
out to me. The weather at the time was clear over the Base, with a
South-West wind which was moderate. There seemed to be an overcast in
the South-West which was a layer approximately 1000 feet thick. The
height of this overcast was approximately 5000 feet. This one and only
object which was seen with the naked eye seemed to be about five miles
from the field at an estimated altitude of 15,000 to 20,000 feet. The
object seemed to remain stationary as first seen, with a light which
resembled a complete wing of an airplane on fire. There was no beam of
light projected. Then, for a period of five minutes I just took
occasional glances at it as I went up (to) the the Control Tower and
observed the object through field glasses, which I then decided was not
a comet or falling star, to my knowledge of astronomy. With the aid of
field glasses, the object appeared to go from an altitude of 15,000
feet to 10,000 feet without any noticed forward or backward motion, and
then back up to its original altitude very rapidly, about three or four
times. It seemed that when the object moved, a red light would dominate
and change to a green light and then back to it’s original color. It
then began moving at a heading of 210° and went behind the overcast
and the light was seen through the overcast. The object moved very fast
away; it stopped momentarily for three or four minutes and disappeared
over the horizon at 19:55. No sound was heard from this object or no
photographs taken. Further the deponent sayeth not. JOHN P. HAAG S/Sgt. A.F. 17003481 Sworn to and subscribed before me this (unintelligible) day
of January, 1948 Mr. Ralph L. Stirr Statement
CHECK-LIST UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
Object seemed to be some sort of flare. Witness thought it
was some aircraft in trouble. Requested the tower to take a look at it
to determine if it were a flare. It appeared, with the naked eye, to be
a very bright light the color of ordinary fire which lost and regained
altitude in the manner of a parachute flare riding on thermals. The
intensity of the light varied. This was attributed to clouds
passing xxxxxx below; however, the light was readily discernible
thru the clouds. The sky was clear to scattered. When the object was
compared to the stars there was a decided difference. Stars were of the
usual white; this object was yellow or flame color. When first seen it
appeared to be about 4,000 ft but disappearing over the horizon would
make it much higher. The movement was very slow in appearance and it
left no trails or tails like a meteor or comet. Place of disappearance
was approximately due west from position of observer. CONFIDENTIAL STATEMENT Inc 48d This is a statement of a sky phenomena observed by me on 7
January 1948, between the approximate hours of 1920 to 1950. It appeared to be some sort of flare. My first reaction to
the sight was the belief that an aircraft was in trouble, and had shot
a flare to attract attention. I then requested the tower to take a look
at the object through glasses so they could attempt to determine
whether or not it was a flare. With the naked eye it appeared to be a very bright light
with the color of ordinary fire. I was not able to maintain a watch
continuously, due to my duties, and see the whole pattern of movement.
I did observe it long enough at intervals to note that it lost and
regained altitude in the manner that a parachute flare would when
riding on thermals. The intensity of the light varied. This can be
attributed to clouds passing in front of the light, however, I was able
to see the light when clouds obscured it. The sky condition at the time was what I would say was clear
to scattered. Stars directly above me were compared to the light of the
object and there was a decided difference. The stars were of the usual
white and the object was yellow or flare color. The altitude evidently was very high. The object when first
seen appeared to be in the neighborhood of four thousand feet, but
disappearing over the horizon would make it much higher. It described
an imaginary arc from the point first seen to the horizon. The movement
was very slow in appearance and left no trails or tails like a meteor
or comet. Place of disappearance was approximately due west from my
position. Signed ______________________
Ralph L. Stirr (civilian)
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