Carawell AFB, Ft. Worth, Tex., July 1949 - Incident Number: 411July 1949

On the night of July 24, 1949, a radar observer and pilot stationed at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas, witnessed an unusual aerial display. The radar observer's wife first drew his attention to the phenomenon around 8:30 p.m. (2030 hours). The observers watched seven objects flying almost directly overhead at what they described as a phenomenal speed, moving from south to north. The objects emitted a dull white light, similar to the glow of a fluorescent clock dial. The entire formation appeared to be roughly the size of a fist held at arm's length when viewed from a distance of about five miles. The sighting lasted only four to five seconds before the lights gradually faded away into the northern sky.

The Air Force investigator noted that one observer, a captain and pilot, suggested that the seven lights might have been part of a single object, since the distances between the lights did not change during the sighting. The second observer, a major and radar operator, and the major's wife, who witnessed the event as well, were all considered very reliable witnesses. Both officers held security clearances and were regular Air Force personnel.

The investigation found no radar confirmation of the sighting, no sound or odor, and no visible trail. The weather was clear with only starlight. A weather balloon had been released by Carswell Air Force Base earlier that morning, but the file contains no determination of whether that balloon might have been related to the sighting. The investigator noted in the file that a similar sighting of seven objects in a V formation was reported by a pilot over Boise, Idaho, on the same night.

The Air Force's official evaluation of this incident is not stated in the case file. The complete case file, as held by the National Archives, is reproduced below in its 15 scanned pages.