1947.07.08
The episode which most disturbed US defence chiefs happened on 8 July above the top-secret Muroc Airbase.
(Fact or Fiction: UFOs, Blundell)
What convinced the military that the sightings had some substance was a series of events at Muroc Field (now Edwards AFB), in the Mojave desert, California, on 8 July.
(UFO: The Government Files, Brookesmith)
09.10
Three officers spent ten minutes watching three silver-colored UFOs heading west.
(UFO: The Government Files, Brookesmith)
09.20
Major JC Wise, who was warming the engine of a Republic XP-84 Thunderjet, spotted another sphere to the north, yellow-white in color and moving in the same direction (against the wind). Assuming it to be the size of an airplane, he estimated its speed to be 200-225 mph (320-360 kmh) and its altitude to be 10–12,000 feet (3,000–3,600 metres).
(UFO: The Government Files, Brookesmith)
A test pilot saw what he thought was a weather balloon – until he realised it was travelling against the wind.
(Fact or Fiction: UFOs, Blundell)
11.50
A ground crew on Rogers dry lake saw a round, white object…
(Fact or Fiction: UFOs, Blundell)
Five technicians, including a colonel and a major, were watching two P-82 and an A-26 aircraft conduct an ejection-seat experiment at 20,000 feet (6,100 metres). They saw a round object, white aluminum in color, which at first resembled a parachute canopy, come into view. The ejection-seat canopy opened 30 seconds later. The UFO, clearly nearer the ground, descended three times faster than the parachute, rotating or oscillating.
(UFO: The Government Files, Brookesmith)
As an ejected dummy fell to earth, the object followed it down. The object… was totally silent.
(Fact or Fiction: UFOs, Blundell)
The men noted no “smoke, flame, propeller arcs, engine noise or other plausible means of propulsion”. The UFO reached ground level, and then rose again.
(UFO: The Government Files, Brookesmith)
15.50
A pilot in a P-51 Mustang at 20,000 feet (6,100 metres) sighted a wingless and finless “flat object of a light-reflecting nature” above him 40 miles (65 km) south of Muroc.
(UFO: The Government Files, Brookesmith)
A flat, grey flying disc was spotted…
(Fact or Fiction: UFOs, Blundell)
The UFO was too high for the P-51 to close with it.
(UFO: The Government Files, Brookesmith)
It then climbed rapidly out of the fighter’s range.
(Fact or Fiction: UFOs, Blundell)
No air base in the area had aircraft in that vicinity.