Fort Bliss, TexasMay 1949

On the morning of May 19, 1949, soldiers stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas saw a flashing silver object in the sky near the Hueco Mountains. The object appeared about the size of a thumbnail held at arm's length and had a thin, round shape like a quarter dollar. Around 0830 (8:30 a.m.), it caught the attention of enlisted men from the 39th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion standing outside their headquarters supply room. At least one observer, Corporal Leroy Heminger, initially spotted the object with his naked eye, while others used binoculars to get a better look.

The object remained visible for approximately five minutes. It moved away from the observers at a heading of about 100 degrees, slowly descending at first but then slowly ascending again as it traveled. During this movement, the object engaged in irregular rolling and tilting motions. The soldiers estimated it covered about 15 to 20 miles during the five-minute observation period, which would put its speed at roughly 180 to 240 miles per hour. The object gave off a reflection of light rather than producing its own glow. There was no sound or odor, and no visible trail followed it across the clear blue sky.

The military investigated the sighting promptly. Officers interviewed the witnesses, whom they found to be reliable in character and intelligence. Weather conditions at the time were favorable for observation: bright sunshine, no clouds, calm winds aloft, and excellent visibility of 50 miles. The investigation checked whether any military aircraft, weather balloons, or testing devices released by local installations might explain the sighting. All installations in the area were contacted with negative results. No photographs or physical evidence could be obtained.

The Air Force ultimately classified the object as unidentified. The case file, which contains witness statements, weather data, and investigative notes, is reproduced below as held by the National Archives across 10 pages of microfilm.