Eau Claire, WisconsinMarch 1949

# Summary

On March 9, 1949, a weather officer driving near Eau Claire, Wisconsin, spotted an unusual object in the sky around 1500 hours (3 p.m.). The observer was a civilian weather expert traveling by car when the object caught his attention.

The object appeared to be spherical and large, leaving behind a very white trail as it moved. The witness estimated it was about 50 feet across, though at the distance observed it seemed roughly the size of a BB shot held at arm's length. The object moved upward and downward with tight maneuvering motions, traveling at a moderate speed estimated at no more than 200 miles per hour. The trail it left was intense white, extending roughly 10 times the length of the object itself. The observer watched for approximately one hour as the object remained visible from 10 to 25 miles away, at an elevation angle of 40 to 45 degrees above the horizon.

The object eventually disappeared from view when it entered clouds above Eau Claire. Weather conditions at the time were favorable for observation: very little wind, light high cirrus clouds, and unlimited visibility. The object made no sound. No photographs were taken, though the observer believed one would have been possible.

The Air Force investigator noted the observer was "completely reliable." In its evaluation, the Air Force concluded the sighting was likely contrails, a term referring to the condensation trails left by high-altitude aircraft.

The full case file, consisting of 7 pages of documents held by the National Archives, is reproduced below.