Phoenix, ArizonaJuly 1947

On the afternoon of July 7, 1947, a man in Phoenix, Arizona witnessed an unusual aircraft-like object flying over his home. He grabbed his camera and managed to take two photographs before it disappeared into the clouds. The object appeared elliptical in shape, measuring about 20 to 30 feet across. It was gray in color, moved at speeds estimated between 400 and 600 miles per hour, and performed a series of tight circular maneuvers between 2,000 and 5,000 feet altitude before ascending steeply at a 45-degree angle.

The observer initially heard a jet-like noise, but once the object came into view, it made no audible sound. He described seeing what appeared to be a cockpit canopy in the center of the craft, along with two pointed protrusions on the tail that were visible as it made its circular passes. The object had no visible landing gear or propellers and displayed what he characterized as excellent aerodynamic design. The witness compared it briefly to the Navy's new experimental "Flapjack" aircraft but ruled that out because the object seemed to lack landing gear and propellers.

Official investigators examined the two photographs and interviewed the witness. They obtained the original negative from one photograph but never recovered the negative from the second. Photographic experts disagreed about whether such an image could be produced under the conditions described, though they confirmed the images were genuine photographic material and not the result of film defects. One expert, Dr. Irving Langmuir, suggested the object might simply have been paper picked up by winds following a thunderstorm that had just passed through the area. Air Force investigators also noted inconsistencies in the witness's account and questioned his credibility. The witness later claimed the photos had never been returned to him, even though records suggest he was fully informed at the time of submission that they would not be.

The Air Force concluded the case as unidentified, though official evaluations leaned toward skepticism about the witness's account and the authenticity of the photographs. The full case file, comprising 55 pages held by the National Archives, is reproduced below.