Holloman AFB sightings, April 1948

Three trained balloon observers from the Geophysics Laboratory Section, Watson Laboratories, New Jersey, reported an object near Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, on 5 April 1948. Air Intelligence Study No. 203 says the object was round and indistinct, very high and fast, and appeared to make violent manoeuvres. It was in view for about 30 seconds and disappeared suddenly.

The incident summaries give one check-list per witness. Incident #122 names Mr. Olsen, who watched from the ground in clear weather (C.A.V.U.). He recorded one grey-white, rounded object, 30 seconds in sight, that completed a large loop after descending and then soared upward. Incident #122a names Mr. Johnson, who put the time as afternoon and described three vertical loops before the object left in an arc to the west. He compared its size to a dime against an orange-sized moon, and said it bore some resemblance to, but was definitely not, a balloon.

Incident #122b names Mr. Chance, who reported two objects of golden hue. He said one veered right and went down, and the other arced west and vanished. The summary records that he was the only one of the three witnesses to see two objects, and that he likened the shape to a major's insignia. Johnson stated that no sound was heard and that winds at 65,000 feet were 10 to 15 miles an hour from the west.

The compiled summaries record a common finding. All witnesses agreed the object was very high, faster than any known aircraft and rounded, and that it disappeared suddenly. The text states it was definitely not a balloon and apparently not manned, judging from the maneuvers. The Air Intelligence study lists the incident among its selected cases. The documents give no other explanation.