Samish Island, WashingtonApril 1956

On April 4, 1956, a local weather observer in McKinney, Texas spotted an unusual bright object in the afternoon sky near Samish Island, Washington. The object appeared stationary in the northwest, about 15 degrees above the horizon, and was roughly the size of a penny held at arm's length when viewed through binoculars. The witness reported seeing it continuously for at least 13 hours, and it remained visible when the sighting was reported to Air Force officials.

The observer conducted careful triangulation measurements using compass readings and a rifle telescope. His calculations suggested the object was extremely high in the atmosphere, possibly as much as 100,000 feet or more. An amateur astronomer in the area also examined the object through a 200-power telescope and sketched what he saw. The object did not rotate or appear to have any attachments. The astronomer estimated it was moving westward at roughly 100 miles per hour, though the observer suspected that apparent motion might have been caused by the Earth's rotation rather than actual movement by the object itself.

The observer noted something striking during his observations: the object remained in the same position relative to the planet Venus throughout the afternoon. Venus was visible in the sky about seven degrees due north of the object, and as Venus moved westward across the sky, the object maintained its relative position to the planet. The object finally disappeared around 9 p.m. when darkness fell.

The Air Force's official conclusion, recorded on the case card, attributed the sighting to the planet Venus. The file notes that Venus was at the same elevation and direction as the reported object, and that Venus had been reported as a UFO in previous cases. The duration of the sighting and the consistent nature of such reports apparently supported this conventional explanation.

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