East of Reno, Nevada (Mountain Home AFB, Idaho), September 1949September 1949

Insufficient Data

Summary

On September 5, 1949, an Air Force sergeant and his wife reported seeing an object while driving on U.S. Highway 40 about 25 miles east of Reno, Nevada. The time was 2:04 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. The day was clear with unlimited visibility. They watched the object for about two minutes.

The sergeant, a veteran gunner, said the object was perfectly round with curved sides that came to a smooth rounded edge. He estimated it was about 40 feet across, at an altitude of 3,000 to 5,000 feet, and moving 500 to 600 miles per hour toward the west. It was silvery and reflected sunlight like an unpainted aircraft. He heard no sound and saw no smoke, exhaust, or trail. His wife thought it was spinning and believed she saw windows around the edge. His sister-in-law caught only a glimpse.

The report notes the sergeant later told police in Reno, who said his was the fifth report of that type turned in that day. He filed his official report on September 29. On the Air Force record for unidentified flying object reports (Project 10073), the conclusion was aircraft, evaluated from the flight description and characteristics.

Reported location

East of Reno, Nevada (Mountain Home AFB, Idaho), September 1949

Date of incident

September 1949

State / country

? / XX

Page count

5 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 6

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 5

View transcribed text

i PROJECT 10073 RECORD

I. DATE - TIME GROUP 2. LOCATION - Sia
~ |5 sep 49 5/1042 East of Reno, Nevada
: Moo To ip Io ram RFR ArH o
3. SOURCE 10. CONCLUSION
Military

4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS ARRORATS :

One Evaluated en flight description and charecteristics.
| 5. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION |11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS
| Two minutes Object was first sighted from a car at 10 degees elevation,
Its size was about that of a P-38 wingspan. Speed was about
jl |& TYPE OF OasanvATION 600 mph, at an estimated altitude of 3,000 to 5,000 feet. It
~ |Ground@Visual seemed to be perfectly round with curved sides that came to a
B smooth rounded edge, Object was reflecting sunlight when hesar
ll [7 COURS it, It disappeared into the west about 2 minutes after it was
: Westerly first sighted, No sound, smoke, contrails, exhaust, or sound
1 was observed,
: 8. PHOTOS
0 Yes | HS.
{ EE No !
~|9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE b
i 0 Yes x :
; XX No :
4 FORM y :
FTD sep 63 0-329 (TDE) Previous editions of this form may be used,

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28936666