Pittsburgh, 1948: "parece um balão", diz o coronel; o capitão discorda e os dois seguem o objeto por 7 minutos

INCIDENT SUMMARY SHEET | Incident No. 217 | 1. Date and Time of Observation: 9 Dec 48 at 15:20 (Zonal by 24 hr clock) | 2. Where Sighted: 8 to 12 miles SE of Pittsburgh on heading of 300° | 3. Observer's Position (i.e., ground, air, control tower, etc.): Air on a heading of 300° | 4. Name and Address of Observer: Col J. K. Brown & Capt E. G. Mulling, Guided Missile Group, DCS/O Hq. USAF, Washington | 5. Occupation and/or hobbies: Pilot and co-pilot | 6. Attention Attracted by: Capt Mulling called attention of Col Brown to the object | 7. Number of Object(s) Seen: 1 | 8. Size of Object(s): Appeared slightly smaller than a quarter on windshield of aircraft | 9. Color of Object(s): chalky white but not shiny | 10. Shape (Sketch if Possible): appeared perfectly round | 11. Nature of Luminosity (directed beam of light?): Was observed to shimmer - possibly due to extreme speed and to distortion of light waves | 12. Altitude of Object (estimated): Undetermined - 12 to 16,000 feet | 13. Estimated Distance of Object from Observer: Unknown - thought to be 4 to 5 miles when first sighted. | 14. Estimated Speed of Object: Unknown, but evidently very fast as during the 7 minutes of the sighting it moved from 60° above horizon in a straight line to 10° (time of disappearance) | 15. Time in Sight: 7 minutes | 16. Tactics: Moved in straight line - horizontal flight | 17. Sound Made by Object(s): Could not be determined | 18. Direction of Flight of Object(s): On a course of 270° | 19. Apparent Construction: Undetermined | 20. Effect on Clouds: N/S | 21. Exhaust Trail (Color of): A slight shimmer was observed - could have been exhaust | 22. Manner of Disappearance: Last seen 10° above horizon - became too small to see | 23. Weather Conditions at Time of Sighting: Alto-stratus clouds around Akron | 24. Peculiarities Noted: A jittery motion or horizontal shimmer was noticeable at all times | 25. Summary of Incident: (over) (See attached page)

Incident: 217 | On 9 December while on flight from Washington, D. C. to Patterson Field, shortly after leaving Pittsburgh range some 8 to 12 miles southeast of Pittsburgh Capt Mulling asked Col Brown if he were interested in seeing a flying disc? Col Brown removed his flight goggles, took a quick look and said "Looks like a balloon to me". Capt Mulling didn't agree since the object evinced a very definite movement and was proceeding in a southwest direction at a pretty fair rate of speed. Col Brown then decided to watch the object again. The object appeared perfectly round and of a chalky white color but did not appear shiny. It was whiter than the clouds and was seen against a background of strips of blue sky alternating with strips of thin broken stratus. It was much whiter than the clouds. It appeared to be traveling fairly rapidly through or above the clouds disappearing behind them and then reappearing but always pursuing a straight course. When first sighted it appeared at 60° above horizon and seemed from the observer's viewpoint to be about the size of a quarter - thought to be about 4 to 5 miles in front of the C-45. A horizontal shimmer or jittery motion was noticable at all times. The C-45 was pursuing a course of 300° and then changed to 270° with the object almost parallel on a course of 2[?]0°. The C-45 was cruising at 180 MPH at 6,000 feet. The object appeared to be 12 to 16,000 feet and was above clouds. Object last seen at about 10° above the horizon and was about the size of a beebee shot.