Spokane, WashingtonAugust 1952

On August 12, 1952, at 2155 hours (9:55 p.m.) Pacific Standard Time, a control tower operator at Geiger Field near Spokane, Washington, witnessed an unusual formation of lights moving across the sky. The observer reported seeing a formation of ten white lights traveling from northeast to southwest in just ten seconds. A second flight of more than ten lights followed the same course and direction before disappearing to the southwest.

The sighting took place about twelve miles from Geiger Field, at an azimuth (compass direction) of roughly 62 degrees. Weather conditions at the time were clear with visibility of twenty-five miles, a temperature of 65 degrees, and winds from the west-southwest at nine miles per hour. Upper atmosphere winds were recorded at 23,000 feet (23,000 feet) traveling at thirty-eight knots and at 37,000 feet traveling at thirty-nine knots.

The duration of the sighting was approximately ten seconds, too brief for the observer to provide detailed estimates of the object's distance, size, or exact altitude. A B-36 bomber had landed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington at 2159 hours (9:59 p.m.), just minutes after the sighting. The Air Force's official evaluation noted the possibility of a balloon, though the file indicates uncertainty about this conclusion.

The full case file, as held by the National Archives, is reproduced below in 13 pages.